fables

I don't doubt that for a second ira. Let's hope I have many years to make it before then.

fables

I appear to be a glutton for punishment 330east. No pun intended. I can be quite sarcastic at times so Fodor's is just practicing a little karma.

" Paris is just plain beautiful " might be the most convincing opinion yet. Thank you 330east.

fables

Thank you Mimar for the advice. I started out very logically with a calender and counting nights and travel times and then just got too enamored with the adventure of it all and lost my way.

The train from Paddington station to Moreton in Marsh seemed a breeze which would enable to me to do the better part of 2 days ( 1 night ) and see enough to quench my thirst. Kent might be sacrificed as renting a car is not really what I want to do but appears to be necessary to do that area justice.

I realize I am all over the place. It is a work in progress but this is helping to hash things out. Thanks again.

fables

Thank you nytraveler for helping to correct some of the incorrect pre-conceived notions in my head.

I am a little confused when you say " This is a small area with short trait times ". Does that mean I should stay in one hotel in AC for 4 days and do day trips ?

Thank you.

fables

I think one of my problems Masterphil is that I am trying to treat this trip like a math equation.

London(familiarity) + Paris(beauty) + Rome (frantic) + AC (retreat ) = a successful trip

fables

I'm figuring out something Belinda, just not sure what.

I will be traveling alone and in my U.S. trip experience I am very matter of fact, with a strict schedule and a to do list to accomplish. It works well for me and I am able to smell the roses while maximizing my time with little regrets.

Domestic road trips and a first time in Europe all definitely different animals so I will take heed of others warnings.

Thank you for your support.

Leely2

Rome is not that frantic. Some find it so; others do not. And I find Rome, with its ochre-colored buildings and countless church domes, incredibly beautiful. I love Paris, but find it quite gray (not as gray as London, of course), less golden, less exciting/sexy.

All this is to say you won't know until you get there. A trip is not an equation but an exploration. You can't go too wrong, really.

Have fun!

fables

I sure hope Justified is being recorded on my dvr right now.
Any Justified fans out there.
Sorry, wrong site for that I guess.

fables

Thank you for the sound advice Ackislander.

fables

Thank you for setting up an account and helping me out ke4. Very kind of you. The layout for Paris does seem very conducive to just exploring on foot and discovering the city's beauty.

Oh, and I probably shouldn't admit this, but one of my early trip drafts included the ferry from Southampton to Normandy and d-day tour. I might be a travel schizophrenic.

fables

Thank you for your advice gardendiva.

fables

" Ummm, Puhleeze. We have ALL chased those pictures that the National Geographic photographer/CondeNast photographer took. Please be real.
If this is your first trip there are many things you will have to just "deal with" --they're called "glitches".
simplify your trip and TOTALLY enjoy being wherever it is you are and decide to be. You will be SO happy if you do. You'll be amazed when you think back on it."

Gretchen:
the above is a fascinating combination of cynicism,existentialism and tough love. maybe.

sorry, i might be getting a little punchy at this point. I get your very intriguing point.

fables

east indian food. got it justineparis. thank you.

your favorite dish ?

fables

Thank you for your conviction ruedebuci. I am starting to think you are correct.

fables

I tried to express the same sentiment in my post orangetravelcat1 but clearly I didn't do it as well as you. Thank you.

fables

" A trip is not an equation but an exploration. You can't go too wrong, really."

Bless you Leely2. That seems the perfect comment to end the night on. preposition sorry.

Thanks again to everyone.

dwdvagamundo

"Maybe before this September's trip I should buy the plane ticket for 2015's trip and then I will know I will see then what I miss now."

As you're going to come back to Europe (and everyone who is young enough and wealthy enough comes back), then I like the idea of England and France this time. Then next year Italy, which is really worth a separate trip--we've been six times now and three of our trips were spent exclusively in Italy. And if we live long enough, we'll go at least one more time.

I do not think you should drop the Cotswolds, Kent, etc., and now, having seen where you're coming from, do not think should you drop the AC if you decide to go to Rome. At least half the charm of Europe is the countryside. The Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast are probably the most beautiful places I've ever been.

dwdvagamundo

Should have said "southern England and northern France this time."

J62

I've been to Europe probably about 20 times now. Most trips have been work related, usually with some vacation tagged on the end, and a handful of personal trips.

I've yet to visit Paris and have no regrets at all. The more I travel the more I realize I prefer small villages, countryside, and nature/wilderness areas far more than I enjoy cities. Same holds true at home in the US.

Yes, the energy of a big city is exciting for a day or a few, but for me I am far more energized by open space and slower travel. Different strokes.

kerouac

To take a little pressure off your fear that Paris is too sophisticated, let me offer a link of how "ordinary" Parisians dress. I have been criticized for this because most people want to see only the beautiful people in the fashionable areas, but frankly the great majority of people in the residential neighborhoods dress like this during the summer months: http://tinyurl.com/p4cszun