Paris is everything you dreamed it to be...
and more!
And you can't describe it. The feeling is just there.
A peaceful fountain in Luxembourg Gardens.
Wandering around town is a favorite pastime.
Paris is full of cute gardens and well-appointed apartments like this one. I love how all the balconies are decorated with flowers. Everything, from meals to wardrobe to landscaping and design, is thoughtfully treated with care.
A cruise on the Seine is one way to get around town... or see the town! I remember the sights along the way - the Notre Dame, for example - but I especially recall the families who cruised with me. Parents bonded closely with their children, holding hands, pointing out sights, playing patty-cake, and just enjoyed each other. As I would soon find out throughout the tour, that's just how it is in France. Contrary to the stereotype, the French are some of the nicest people I have ever met!
On the plane I sat next to a young man close to my age named Joris, who is from Marseille in the south of France. He had studied in the States and dreams to one day play professional basketball; he asked me to keep an eye out for his name when he "became famous." But for now, we were both heading to France: me on vacation, Joris home. He writes for me a long list of French foods and desserts I absolutely have to try, recommends local musicians to discover, and fills me in on his country's culture and etiquette. I have arrived in Paris early to enjoy some of the city on my own before the tour begins. My hotel is famous for its coffin-sized elevator, and the bathrooms are shared, but that's part of the experience. So as to not get lonely, I meet some friendly folks from The American Church at a nearby mall for coffee and a Bible study.
It's called the City of Love for a reason. Couples attach locks to bridges and throw the key
into the Seine as a symbol of endless and unbroken love.
At night, Paris transforms into the City of Lights. The town is bathed in a soft orange glow. Couples sneak kisses. Restaurants come to life. Romance is alive. Paris takes on a whole different aura.
Our tour meets this evening at Hotel Castex. Its lobby is like a dining room, neat and welcoming. I mention this to Octavio, the friendly front desk clerk, who thanks me for my keen eye to detail. Just then, a man in a red jacket walks in and heads downstairs to the cavernous dining hall. "Did you happen to notice who that was?" Octavio asks. "Our tour guide?" "Yes." While our guide prepares our reception, I get the key (yes, these French hotels still use real keys!) to my chambre, # 605. This is the courtyard right outside my room, which comes with a complementary bottle of wine too!
At 5 p.m. we come together for our Welcome Reception. We meet Patrick Vidal, our tour guide, and then introduce ourselves and toast to a wonderful trip ahead.
We explore some of the Marais district (along the Right Bank of Paris, and now a lively, thriving little community with many shops, restaurants and Paris’s largest Jewish community) before and after a lovely dinner. Tonight I have grilled sea bass with broccoli and mashed potatoes, with apple crumble for dessert.
Meals in France are long affairs and best shared with people close to you. Our dinners together are some of my most treasured memories from this vacation.
At 5 p.m. we come together for our Welcome Reception. We meet Patrick Vidal, our tour guide, and then introduce ourselves and toast to a wonderful trip ahead.
We explore some of the Marais district (along the Right Bank of Paris, and now a lively, thriving little community with many shops, restaurants and Paris’s largest Jewish community) before and after a lovely dinner. Tonight I have grilled sea bass with broccoli and mashed potatoes, with apple crumble for dessert.
Meals in France are long affairs and best shared with people close to you. Our dinners together are some of my most treasured memories from this vacation.
Patrick was an extremely professional, knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly guide, always willing to answer questions, give recommendations, and point you in the right direction.
Curious about the French government, or the health and education system? He’ll tell you all about it. Need to brush up on your French – greetings, numbers, food? There will be lessons during longer bus rides. Patrick can even tell you from which part of France each car is from based on a number on the license plate. Worried about being left behind on the Metro? Don’t worry, he stresses that he will always be the last on and last one off. For our younger travelers, Patrick was always thoughtful enough to provide at least two varieties of whatever juice he has selected. And he does this all with a sense of humor... Someone once asked for tea; Patrick jokingly responded: "Tea? This isn't England!" (And speaking of beverages, holding up one finger in France indicates you would like TWO of something. Use your thumb instead; stories abound of Americans who order "one" coffee and end up with two.)
Curious about the French government, or the health and education system? He’ll tell you all about it. Need to brush up on your French – greetings, numbers, food? There will be lessons during longer bus rides. Patrick can even tell you from which part of France each car is from based on a number on the license plate. Worried about being left behind on the Metro? Don’t worry, he stresses that he will always be the last on and last one off. For our younger travelers, Patrick was always thoughtful enough to provide at least two varieties of whatever juice he has selected. And he does this all with a sense of humor... Someone once asked for tea; Patrick jokingly responded: "Tea? This isn't England!" (And speaking of beverages, holding up one finger in France indicates you would like TWO of something. Use your thumb instead; stories abound of Americans who order "one" coffee and end up with two.)