Cholmondley_Warner

I am very amused at the idea of taking a live lobster to Paris!

What would it look like on the x-ray screens?

Aduchamp1

If you're found in posession of food items (at least coming into the US) they are confiscated --

Wer have brought prepared, boxed, or otherwise finsihed food into the US many many times. You cannot bring raw ingredients, plants, and seeds into the country.

Cholmondley_Warner

Homards?

lanejohann

how about one of those tshirts with slogans like:
'so many boys ...so little time'
or
'it's all about me'
or
my favourite-
'look busy
Jesus is coming'

or maybe the french invented them but stated it all in a classier way

seriously
i wouldnt have a clue so i really shouldnt have even tried to contribute
sorry lol
i loved the us...so im not having a go...the tshirts though we very amusing though and have no doubt crept their way even to pakistan by now

Nikki

Vye, do not rent a car in Paris. It will be a burden rather than a help. Personally I would take a taxi from the station to your hotel. I would not want to navigate the metro with a large group and luggage.

StCirq

No, no no, do not rent a car in Paris! It will be worse than useless. Take a taxi. There are van and station wagon taxis at the airport, and the attendant will make sure you get a vehicle large enough for you and your group and luggage. Make sure you're at the official Taxi stand - the cabs will all say Taxi Parisien on them. It should cost you about 50-60 euro to get to your hotel.

Bonne chance!

Nikki

I think StCirq may have not noticed you are arriving at Gare du Nord, not at the airport. A taxi should cost much less than that from the station to your hotel.

vye

Thanks Nikki & StCirq. We're so used to the American way with using a rental car despite a hard lesson learned from driving in London. May God bless you!

staceym

I travel to see my inlaws anf freinds every other year. They love the pot-holder towel sets that have a country look, table runners or kitchen rugs. These are all light weight and easty to pack. Another novel idea is the can openers, spooons etc at Pier one that look like animals

craisin

When I was a student in Italy, I brought with me a photo book of my city, See's and Ghirardelli chocolates, and some California wine (I'm from California). They loved all of it (said they did, at least)! I had also brought jelly beans thinking that there would be kids in the house - there weren't but on Halloween, the one kid who knocked on their door on Halloween was so happy to receive them...not to mention the fact that my homestay family was relieved because they were not prepared for a trick-or-treater or Halloween, in general!

Sure they have great wine and chocolate in Italy (maybe better) but they definitely enjoyed the California wine and American chocolates as well!

Good point about how American items may be readily available in Paris but not all GOOD WINE is imported - a lot of good wine (and great locally brewed beer) never make it out of the U.S.!

stokebailey

I'd bring them an armload of flowers from local stall.

Cholmondley_Warner

I'd give 'em a live lobster. But I'm like that. I'd put it in the bath (despite what you may have heard the French do have baths. They have, however, lost the instruction book).

A decent bottle of bourbon would be my real suggestion. Frogs don't have a lot of spirits available - and those they do are minging.

Failing that - take a walk down the Rue Fauborg and if you can't find something there - give up.

Or take 'em out for a meal and a booze.

ps Don't give US wine to a frog. They refuse to believe that anyone else can make wine (really they do - look at the wine lists in restaurants etc). They'll take it as a sleight.

RM67

What about a lobster in a Ziplock bag?

That might be a way of satisfying both US and French sensibilites.

Cholmondley_Warner

I'd give 'em crabs...