Derniere Minute Travel tips

Bear is ready. I am not...same old, same old.
Bear's bag is neatly packed.
Mine is not, comme habitude...
 A French travel tip I noted waiting at JFK. Many disembarking Frenchies had ribbons tied to their suitcase. The better to spot their bag on the carrousel. Who knew?
My secret tip - take New York apples to Paris. Are all French apples mushy?

I took your advice and bought a ticket to the Vedette boat (save 4 euros online).

I bought an NY MTA T-shirt with matching socks. Let Parisiens get directions from my shirt...

One of my all-time top travel secrets is to hide my valuables in a sport bra - Now everyone knows...ahem

A must-do before I leave is buy Fr Girl her Murrey's bagels. Bagels in New York have become monsterous, but posting this picture, I fell victim. I ate 1/2 a bagel. I hope FG doesn't see this...

Deciding which books to take is maybe the hardest...

I'm crazy for Japanese books on Paris, so I'm take this Metro guide. No, I can't read one word of Kanji but I love the graphics.

No matter how much you prep can you ever be ready for a national transit strike/le greve? Next week in France...

I watched an excellent French film, Human Resources (1999 Ressources Humaines) this morning so I'll be prepared.

I got my Place Vendome drawing done, so I'm almost ready. More to come once I'm in Paris!!

BON WEEKEND!

Prepping for Paris

I found an empty old sketchbook with a watercolor done 5 years ago. I'll take it with me to Paris and fill it up j'espere que oui.
As soon as I finish my job today I'm heading out to buy Euros & pounds.

My old Oyster card can be filled up at Waterloo Station so I'm set for the London underground from the getgo.

Red marker on the Metro dish towel is a must.

BEAR's medications - Oddibil 250 - the best cure for indigestion and Compeed makes the best blister pads - must get a refill on these.

A new mini mouse is causing twinges...

Elbow twinges so I'll take this along.

The worse thing you can do in Paris, next to committing murder, is lose your host's or rented appartments keys. I always take a red lanyard thing for safe keeping and wear it #@!Paris keys cost a fortune to replace.

This time next Monday I'll be in Paris!

I arrive at 6 AM

First thing stop for a cafe au lait.

Then head to Gerard Mulot for tarte au citron meringuee which Louise of Raids-Patisseries says is numero #1 out of 12 Paris tartes.

The night before we depart, Bear and I will be sleeping upright in chairs. Practice, practice, practice!

BONJOUR NEXT LUNDI!

Paris To-Dos

Bear is packed and ready to leave for Paris on Thursday. I am not.... It's easy to take the suitcase out of the closet...
But it is SO HARD TO OPEN IT UP.
Does this happen to you?
Why is that?
Or do you start packing months in advance..?
Ah, the almighty making of To-Do lists when you're going away... And then moving at a snails pace when it comes to actually doing them... I did get to the bank to buy some Euros...

Of course the dollar$ had just fallen steeply that day :(

I did get a pre-trip haircut on Friday...

Cross off another 'To-Do'!

Yay

I LOVE looking at maps before I go away. That's fun.

I even have a Metro map plastered on the kitchen wall and Metro placemats on the table to immerse my brain unconsciously. Are you a map nut?

Harder than what to wear in Paris, is what books to bring?

Books are so darn heavy.

But you can photo-copy just the pages you want.

Why do I end up taking 100's of pages I never look at :(

As for clothes - I take basic black and pick up the latest tendance/trendie thing at H&M once I'm there. That's the funny thing about Paris. If something is trendie you can find it all price points everywhere like the trenchcoat or ballerinas. The French are a bit like Lemmings when it comes to trends...

I always take my lucky dice bracelet with me...even if I'm just going round the corner. Do you have a talisman you always take on a trip?

They say the absolute BEST part of travel is all the anticipatory planning and dreaming BEFORE you actually leave!?

I would like to go to NEW PLACES this trip.

Not the same old, same old...
I want to explore NEW arrondissements (like the 11th which I keep meaning to go to and never do).

Your suggestions are most welcome!

Another thing I'd like to-do is start thinking about coming home. Re-entry into the real world is always such a shock.

Why is it we rarely plan for 'The Return'?

BONJOUR PARIS TO-DOS!