What follows are links to 12 photo albums of our recent trip to France. Below most photos are descriptions and comments. Compared to the reports we have read here, this is a Reader's Digest version. Within the next month or so I intend to return to this thread and give more details from our journal.
Lastly, after the links I have listed some of the tips we scribbled down under the heading of 'Tips for Fodorites'.
Enjoy!
Michèle
P.S. There is one photo in the first album that was only taken with the esteemed Robespierre in mind. And while waiting for the TGV in Dijon, all I could think of is Coco.
1 - Paris 1 (May 11-16)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&y=njtbtx

2 - Versailles (May 17)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&y=ufvp2f

3 - Avignon and Les Baux de Provence (May 18)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-1r4sfa

4 - Les Baux de Provence (side trips on day 2 - May 19)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&y=iyyewq

5 - Lourmarin (May 20)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-oii4dt

6 - Lourmarin (side trips on day 2 - May 21)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&y=a1kafq

7 - Cassis (May 22 &23)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&y=5kzyo6

8 - Aix en Provence (May 24)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-y1kjgw

9 - Lyon (May 25)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-nviv6f

10- Beaune (May 26)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&y=wug2o5

11-Beaune (day 2 - May 27)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&y=sf0kic

12-Paris 2 (May 28)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-3vy93u

TIPS:~ For people accustomed to smoke-free eating: aside from choosing a seat outside, arrive earlier than 8PM. We also found that it gave us more time to ask questions about the menu without feeling rushed.
~ On the other hand, if you would prefer to eat dinner at the same time as the natives, be sure to make a reservation earlier in the day.
~ For co-pilots: unless you have a GPS system in the rental car, aside from the obvious map(s), my husband highly recommends bringing a compass.
~ Be aware that unlike the U.S. where roads are marked with a name & direction (i.e. Route 1 South), the roads we traveled on only indicated the name of the town.
~ There is a Post Office located at the Louvre. A clerk there recommended that rather than buying stamps for postcards, to buy prepaid envelopes with the postage right on them. He told me it would be cheaper and faster. My mother, to whom I was sending daily postcards, reported the latter to be true.
~ In order to avoid the rush, DO plan to be at CDG -at least- 2 if not 3 hours before a return flight. At this writing, once we thought we were through checking in, and were checked 3 more times by security (Homeland Security should take notice - I never felt safer!), we then were taken on (according to a sign) a 17 minute shuttle ride to a separate terminal. It is all because of construction but we did not expect it.
~ Worried about being stuck with extra Euros? Don't be because at the café in the terminal I asked and was able to pay by first giving the cashier whatever I had in Euros and the balance by credit card.

Hi Michele
What a pity you didn't have some time for a little GTG! ;-)
I've only watched your Beaune albums (of course) and your photos are great!
It is late here I'll see the other ones tomorrow.

And don't forget it is boeuf bourgUignon!
coco
PS I wonder now what time you were waiting at the train station because I drove there an Australian guest at 10am...

Thank you for posting these pix-they are beautiful.

Coco,
Shame on me for not catching the 'bourgUignon'. It took me 3 weeks to assemble the albums, usually in the wee hours of the night, so I'm not surprised that I missed only one error.
As for the train: on May 28 we arrived in Dijon Ville (from Beaune) at 7:20AM and took the TGV at 8:15, or possibly later because it was delayed.
What exactly is GTG?

Many thanks, laartista for your kind words.

Michèle

Very nice, a lovely collection.

Michèle, thanks for posting these. They're wonderful photographs, and it looks like you all had a great time.

I loved the photos of the "air show" going out and coming home. I see you flew right over my house on your way back to Boston. (Well, almost overhead--I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia and it looks like you were pretty close.)

Anselm

Lovely pix which bring back memories - the bottle brush (callistemon) plant you asked about is an Australian native, there's many varieties in gorgeous colours, the flowers attract honey-eating birds. www.anbg.gov.au/callistemon/

GTG means "get together". Coco is Queen of the Fodor's Get Togethers, I think. A very, very gracious Queen at that!

Merci cc!
As I live near the city of the Dukes of Burgundy, I'd rather be the Duchess! ;-)

Michèle, remember when you wrote "Wouldn't it be wonderful if the 'regulars' like Stu, Coco, Scarlett, StCirq, Underhill, Travelnut, Rex, Robespierre, et al, could get together in one place for a reunion of sorts?" ? I thought you knew what GTG meant! ;-)

Beuatiful so far! When I get home this evening I'll savour the rest.
Thankyou for sharing!!
Rosie

Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures .. what a great time you and your family had! Looking forward to the trip report.

Hi Michele,

Thanks for your lovely pix.

Looking forward to your trip report.

I do like the ring of that, "Duchess Corrine." Very, very regal.

Perhaps it was the extra letter "G" that kept me from figuring it out.
Michele

I can't wait to read more details of your trip! We're heading to Paris and Lyon later this year, so I really appreciated the photos you shared. Looks like it was a fabulous time!

Michèle, I just spent an hour looking at your beautiful photos. Thanks so much for sharing them! I look forward to reading your report.

Thank you so much for sharing the tips and photos! Makes me sooo anxious to be in Paris...less than 3 months!