Salsagirl, if worse comes to worse and your other offers don't go through, my husband and I will be going to Paris at the end of September. Indytravel will be there too, and he lives not far from us. If the bike can be dissembled, perhaps I can put a front wheel in my luggage, a back wheel in my husband's and Indytravel can carry the assembly directions!

Hi, everyone! I just got home and read all the suggestions. The way I communicatd with salsagirl was via her AOL address, but haven't heard from her since I sent the message about the airline possibly charging $60. There is the time difference to consider.

But, Indy, you have a good point. It's such a small bike, it really is smaller than many suitcases. Bet the airline won't charge that much once they actually see and weigh the box.

A friend sugested taking the bike to the nearest airport and sending it "freight forward" (ie. the consignee pays the charges)". Problem is, the nearest airport is two hours away from where I live, which would be a four hour round trip there and back.

I had hoped to save salsagirl the delivery charges from walmart.com to my house by purchasing the bike locally. Today, I checked both the Walmart stores and ToysRUs here in town, no luck.

At this point, I would really like to deliver the bike myself, to make sure it gets there OK. My plane tickets and rental apartment in Paris are already paid for, so I'll definitely be going there the first week in October.

Also, I LOVE the idea of playing Santa!

And I know that lots of Fodorites would do the same, given the right travel plans and opportunity. It's kind of like an adventure, isn't it?

Croque Madame, we'll be in Paris the last week of September, and then again on the 6th of October, the night before flying home. Will our visit coincide with yours?

Croque_Madame,

You might ask if your Wal-Mart will order the bike delivered there for you.

I know when I order from JCPenney I can have it shipped to the nearest store for no charge. I checke walmart.com and didn't see anything like that but you might check. Of course Wal-Mart being Fortune #1 is there own world.

Also I will arrive in Paris at CDG on Saturday morning Sept. 25th. I pack very lightly and usually don't have any checked bags. I wouldn't mind checking a Dora the Explorer bike for a special Christmas.

Croque, Indy. Dln have a great trip and hopefully get the bike there
kiss, kiss

Hello
Before to start, I want to say to each of you : thanks a lot for your help "du fond du coeur". I read all your messages only 5 minutes ago. One of you "croque madame" spoke a lot whith me on my aol adresse "[email protected]" and she easily understood than I didn't now how to read my messages on this website. The firt time I came, red my messages but after I was looking for a sort of mailbox and I didn't find it(Ihope you unsterstand me because my english is not very good). So when I said to croque madame that I had no answer except her, she explained to me how to read my answer. I don't want you to think" why she does'nt write? Is she serious?..." I congratulate you for your generosity. Thanks a lot to each of you and a very special thanks to croque madame who explain me to use thi website today and who decide, just after reading my message to take with her in Paris the bike for my daughter.
Croque Madame, I really hope it will not too heavy for you . If one of you as questions before a trip to Paris, keep my E-mail and write me. I will help you. Maggy. PS: I 'm very happy to see that we can find very nice people on forum. Cigalechanta thanks for your "soutien" from the beginning

Ah, salsagirl, how could the bike be too heavy? It is a gift for a child, which makes it as light as a child's wish!

How else do you imagine Santa Claus manages to carry so many toys in his flying sleigh? Besides, if I have a problem, there will be a useful reindeer with me, my granddaughter.

She is prepared to suffer when traveling with me. My grandson, who accompanied me to Paris last Christmas, has warned her of future misery.

How well he remembers carrying my shopping bags through the long Metro tunnels, especially the bags heavy with jars of honey and L'Occitane products! (Of course, back home it was he who ate most of the honey!)

I thank you for trusting me to deliver something that is clearly important to you as a loving mother. The joy in your daughter's eyes when she sees the bike will be your greatest thanks. Mine, too.

Way cool Croque_Madame! I'm glad you were able to work things out. You are an angel.

Yes David, Croque_Madame is one special Lady.

I cannot believe that I missed this wonderful thread !!
This is better than any fictional Christmas story! Salsagirl, what a dear thing for you to try so hard to find that perfect gift for your little girl. I know, when they are that young, how can you ever say no?
Croque Madame, I have thought you to be quite a special person already, this just makes it official..you are one in a million!
A story like this definitely restores a persons faith in human kindness~

OMG, you guys are sooooo wrong about me! But thank you anyway. I will try to live up to your delusions!

Actually, earlier tonight, salsagirl and I were IM'ing back and forth like a couple of excited kids. She even has a sister the same age (18) as the granddaughter who'll be delivering the bike with me and we hope to all meet up together.

I suggested a cafe, but when I admitted regretting that I know little of French family life, salsagirl opened her home to us for a meal of our choosing! And/or driving us anywhere we might be interested in seeing, such as Versailles.

This trip to Paris is just getting better and better and we're not even there yet!

Now, if when we meet, I can just overcome my usual shyness and not talk like a total idiot, becoming known as the fool who disgraced the entire family of Fodorites.

"the fool who disgraced the entire family of Fodorites."

<i> You would never be able to do that, it is just not You.
Besides, the title is already taken:)
</i>

Oh, I hope you will take photos of this extroadanary, lovely soon to be happening!

dln: Please accept my apology for skidding right past your question.

Yes, I will be in Paris on Oct. 6th.

But if it's a face to face meeting that interests you, be forewarned: at the keyboard, my fingers may fly, causing words to materialize on the screen like magic, but without a role complete with script (&quot;police officer&quot;, &quot;social worker&quot;), I am basically inarticulate in public.

We can certainly meet in Paris if you and your husband would like that, but kindly be prepared to chatter like squirrels to fill the gaping conversational chasms that plague my social exchanges.

Croque Madame, we are not so very much different from you so have no fear! My husband and I will be returning to Paris from Provence that Wednesday, and we'd be delighted to share a cup of coffee with you. Will you email me at dln929 at hotmail.com? I hope to hear from you.

dln: You are both &quot;not so very much different&quot; from me? Most excellent!

So, if my granddaughter joins us, shall I reserve a table for three mutes and a minx?

Mais bien sur, Croque Madame!

I wish I were going to Paris this fall ..
I could volunteer to do all the chatting while the mute minxes listen and smile :D

Did you notice there's not one post screaming &quot;troll, troll&quot; &quot;don't trust her.&quot; How wonderful. What kind hearted folks you all are.

What a wonderful thread, and what a group this is. It's so heart warming to read posts such as these. :-X Scarlett, as I was reading the thread now, but before getting to yours, I was thinking what you said--it's like The Christmas Story, but real, the Daisy Red Rider BB gun replaced by Dora the Explorer. (So glad you can't &quot;shoot your eye out&quot; with a bike! :))

Croque_Madame, you are now officially heroine of the board. I do hope someone will capture this on film. We'd all love a peek at this Christmas story. This is exactly the sort of thing that news human interest stories are made of, you realize!!

By the way Croque_Madame...I have met dln and her husband--you will not have one thing to worry about, not even for a second, I guarantee. They are both a delight and you will feel immediately &quot;at home&quot;.