Delta #28 the 3rd at 6:15 am I think Cindy and David in same time too but not sure

United 914 Arrive 6:35 AM on the 3rd.....aunt and uncle too....

We're coming in by train from Copenhagen. Is the hotel close to the train station?
Jim

Thank you.
That is a good start!!
Seems to be a number of you arriving around 6 /6:30 am time frame.

Jim,

We are flying AA #48 leaving Dallas 12/2 at 5:05pm arriving Paris 12/3 at 9:40am. We are in cabin 302.

Carolyn and Don

Thank you.
Got it on the "roll call"
I see you are on the same flight with Ken & Ngaire.

Jim, no flight info for us; we will meet everyone in Trier.

GEEEZZZ Delta made small change but still get in same time same flight - enabled me to fine tune the outbound and return no fee!!! Delta is fee happy these days -

You got that right Joanna???

They are very special, they gave me a whopping $75 credit for losing my bag for three days from our trip last year to JBURG...... I am a Gold Medallion member with them too....

Nice compensation!!!! But they sure know how to charge those Fees!!!!!

FV

Fortunately got great gal today on phone - I knew I could change return THEY made it impossible to clear customs in Atl with enough time - she said is that all? Told her my outbound is tight in Atl can I change too? She said OK take this one, tried for one I originally wanted but could not get no dice - happy until they change again :mad: :mad:

Joanna, the things we do in order to get to our cruising...ARGH! (It will all be worth it in the end.)
:D

Just glad booking on Regent not so difficult as booking air when we do it on our own, as many of us do with points! However, my next two cruises are "air" cost free with points! I was lucky.

I have Andre and Andie on roll call but
noticed that there has not been any contact from them since.
I have sent emails but no response.
Does anyone know if they are they still going?

Jim, are you taking the overnight train connecting to Thalys? If so, I would just take a taxi from Gare du Nord. On the Thalys train from Koln to Paris, they will come through the first class car asking if you need a taxi; just sign up then. Someone will be waiting for you upon arrival in Paris to direct you to your cab.

Looking forward to seeing you and Pat soon.

Is anyone with us on the 10:40am Amsterdam to Atlanta non-stop Delta flight on 12/13 ?

YES!!!!!! :app: :app: we leave ATL at 5:10 PM :ch: :woh: <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" />

Thrilled about this Joanna!!! We leave Atl @ 4:15 so no long layover.

Jim:

We had a cabin change..... You can put us down as 307. We decided it was going to be too lonely down below on the ship and we need to be where the party is...

Thanks
FV

I made the change Frank. :D

WOO HOO right across the hall Frank!!!! How much fun will this deck be for escapades????

It looks like Jan and I are at the back of the bus!! I mean ship!! :eek:

Jan was talking with some people and the subject of Paris came up.
They were there last year and commented about going to see the Eiffel Tower. Said the lines were about 2 hours long. Realized the problem was that tours received priority over people in line.
Can anyone comment on this? Any suggestions if true?

If I read it right our 1/2 day "tour" through the cruise line is more of an overview. They really don't stop at any points of interest. Right?

Thursday 09/17/09
Just updated the roll call list in case anyone is interested.

Yeah Frank and Carla!!!!

Oh Yes!!!! Start the wine flowing!!!!!!!

FV

And Sambuca!!!

I almost forgot!!!!! we better make sure that Amacello has our speciality drink Joanna , or it will be the special Medicine bottles making an appearance if you know what I mean!!!!!!

FV

I KNOW what you mean!!!!!!!! Just threw some medicine beauties out - Tony said WOW!!!!!!!! KEEP THEM for emergencies!

I am getting pretty excited about this trip!!!!!

me too Cindy !!

The countdown has begun!!!!!

Hi Jim - sorry I haven't gotten back to you. No, we're not going on this trip after all. Once NILE was announced I decided to do that instead since I was able to convince my husband to go. I know you'll all have a great trip though!

Will miss you Andrea! YES I am excited but guess not enough for friends who keep asking "are you excited???" YES I AM!!!! Best bunch of fellow cruisers!!!

Andrea Sorry to hear you are not going!!!!

Will catch up with you on Nile though!!!!

FV

I will miss seeing you again, Andrea :( But that NILE trip is truly a great one!

We'll be in Big D for HO DOWN so I'm sure I'll see some of you then!!

I had a hunch you were not going Andrea.
Sorry we will not get a chance to meet. :(

For those of you who have been to Paris before.

When looking at the itinerary
We arrive on 12/03 and have the rest of the day free to do what ever.

12/04 we have a morning tour which I assume means drive by but not really stop at places.

12/05 We have ALL DAY to see Paris.

What would you recommend we do during all this free time in Paris??
And what would be the best way to do it?

Hi, Jim - I have had the good fortune over the years of showing many friends, relatives, and business colleagues a bit of Paris, anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks. I am not sure where you're staying; so I can't tell you how close you are to certain things. Therefore, I will simply give you some suggestions of my favorite things to do and see in Paris. Much will depend upon your inclination to walk, to take the Metro, to spend time in museums, etc.

Frankly, the time of year you'll be there may not be ideal in terms of weather, as Paris can be cool and rainy in the winter. But, and this is a very positive but, there won't be zillions of tourists. So, for what it is or ain't worth, here are some ideas:

Best views in Paris:

1. From the top of the Eiffel Tower. Of course, you certainly must go to the top for the best views; but the restaurant on the first level - Altitude 95 - is quite decent and has wonderful views, especially at lunch when it's not so crowded and you may be able to get a table by the windows. Here's the Eiffel Tower restaurant website: http://www.restaurants-toureiffel.com/ Here's the main website for the Eiffel Tower: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/ There's a very fancy and very expensive restaurant in the tower called Jules Verne. I've read that it's quite good but not worth the $$$ compared to other high-end restaurants in Paris. It's also fairly dressy, which irritates me.

2. From the steps in front of the church of Sacre Coeur in Montmartre. (See below for more dope about this neighborhood.)

3. From the top of the Grande Arche de la Defense - http://www.grandearche.com/international/english.html Most tourists don't do that last one because they don't go out to the high-rise business complex of La Defense. But it's a very cool perspective of the city, as the Grande Arche is in line with the Arc de Triomphe and the smaller Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel at the Louvre end of the Tuileries Gardens. Thus, you get a splendid view of the main corridor of Paris. Quite spectacular. When you take the train or metro there, don't get off at the station nearer the Seine (Esplanade de la Defense) because you will then have to walk the whole length of La Defense (quite a long ways) before you get to the Grande Arche. Rather, get off at the station called La Defense (or maybe it's called La Defense Grande Arche).

Do you have a map of Paris yet? If not, you can get one at Barnes & Noble or Borders. There will almost certainly be free maps of the city at your hotel, usually provided by Galeries Lafayette, one of the big department stores.

Here are some random remarks about several of my favorite places and things to do:

1. Notre Dame - When you visit Notre Dame, try to go up in the tower. The views from the top of the towers are wonderful and it's fun to see the gargoyles up close. You also get a much better sense of the remarkable aspects of gothic architecture when you are in the towers. As I recall, the entrance to the towers is via a separate ticket booth around to the left side of the cathedral (left side if you're facing the cathedral). The steps are pretty steep and worn stone; so wear good shoes. Another good thing to do at Notre Dame is to walk all the way around it on the outside. Most people never see it from the back. There is a nice little rose garden at the back as well.

2. Sacre Coeur - The best way to get there is to take the Metro to the Pigalle stop and then walk up the hill to the church (or to the Funiculaire de Montmartre which takes you the last ways up and saves quite a few steps). Montmartre is an interesting neighborhood to walk through on the way to the church. Just around the corner from the church is the Place du Tertre, which has all kinds of (mostly terrible) artists and (mostly mediocre) restaurants. But it is great to visit, both during the day and at night. If the weather is good, it is fun at night because all of the restaurants set up outdoor sections in the square. Even though the restaurants there are only okay and are a bit expensive, it's a real Parisian tourist experience. I like to find an outside table and just have some wine and a basket of frites (fries) and maybe some moules (mussels) and watch the whole scene.

3. Sainte Chapelle - The most beautiful gothic church in Paris (and probably anywhere in Europe) is this little jewel box. It's in the complex of the Palais de Justice, just a block or two west of Notre Dame on the Ile de la Cite. You enter through the gates on the Blvd. du Palais and then follow the signs to the ticket booth for the church. You enter on the lower chapel level, which isn't too interesting. Then, you go up the little staircase into the magnificent upper chapel, which has fantastic stained glass windows. A few years ago, a business colleague of mine was in Paris and went to Ste. Chapelle at my suggestion. When he returned, he told me the place was pretty boring. It turned out that he never went to the upper chapel and thought the whole place was the lower chapel, duh!!

4. Tuileries - In the fall, the Jardin des Tuileries can be quite quite lovely, with the leaves of the chestnut trees turning color. Even if they aren't, it's fun to walk through the gardens and look at the statues. A stroll from the Arc de Triomphe du Carousel by the Louvre through the Tuileries, and then down the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe is a genuine Paris experience.

5. Versailles - Try to go on a week-day, as it can be very crowded on week-ends. The only reason to go on a week-end would be if the fountains will be running. They're magnificent and might balance the negative aspect of big week-end crowds. The best way to get there is by the RER (regional train). After touring the chateau, wander about the grounds. They are quite beautiful.

6. River Seine tour boats - Along the quais near the Eiffel Tower are a number of services offering city cruises on the Seine. It is very touristy and absolutely a must to do. If the weather is good, pick one that has seats outside on the top deck. They're good both during the day and at night and give you a totally different sense of the lay-out and architecture of the city. I would advise against taking a lunch or dinner cruise, as they are expensive for dreary food and, more importantly, you'll be distracted from the wonderful viewing of the city. If you can do it, try a cruise during the day and another at night. Most of the monuments and important buildings are lit up at night and quite cool.

7. Getting Around - The Metro (and for places like Versailles, the RER) is the way to go. A several day pass will be the best deal.

8. Picnics & snacks - Toss into your checked (not carry-on!!!) luggage a good pocketknife, corkscrew, and a couple of metal or heavy plastic glasses (we don't take wineglasses - we just take small tumblers) for picnics away from your hotel. That way, if the mood suits you, you can buy a baguette, some cheese, sausage, a bottle of wine, and some tasty pastries and have the best food experience in France.

9. The Louvre - People tend to overdose at the Louvre by trying to see the whole collection at once. My strong advice is to spend no more than two or three hours there at a time. After that, you just get punchy and all the art starts to fog together. There is no requirement to see every stupid painting there anyway. I love the museum but will not spend more than two hours there at a time. The museum passes allow multiple visits, as I recall.

10. People Watching - Parisians like to spend time at cafes just sitting, chatting, sipping coffee, wine or beer. It is lots of fun to do the same at any of the hundreds of outdoor cafes, particularly in the Latin Quarter, along Blvd. St. Germain or the intersection of Rue de Buci and Rue du Seine.

Any specific questions, fire away. Paris is my favorite big city; and I love to do anything I can to help friends discover its delights.

Cheers, Fred

Fred,
That is such a great list of suggestions I printed it out for the next time Carol and I visit Paris, which I hope will not be too far into the future. Appreciate the time you took.

Jim -

A few more ideas for spending your time in my favorite city in the world:

Paris Opera House - It's absolutely gorgeous inside, well worth a visit (and, I think, included in the Museum Pass if you get that pass).

Pompidou Museum - Unless you really love modern art, it is not worth the bother to go to this museum. The building itself is hideous - it looks like an oil refinery. The layout of the collection is very confusing. (You might have guessed that although I love modern art, I hate the Pompidou.)

If you like Rodin sculpture ("The Thinker", etc.), a visit to the Rodin Museum, which is housed in a lovely old villa called Maison Biron (or something like that) is fun. Rodin's sculpture is quite sensual and wonderfully displayed at this museum.

The Tomb of Napoleon in the Museum de l'Armee at Hotel des Invalides is worth a visit. You will also note that for some of his generals, their bodies will be in one museum or church and their hearts will be in another!! Creepy, no???

When you are on the Left Bank, you will be close to my two favorite markets in Paris, which are very different from each other:

First, the street market in Rue de Buci is a classic local French market, with a number of wonderful shops, selling everything from fish to cheese to bread. It's at the intersection of Rue de Buci and Rue de Seine (as I recall). You'll find Rue de Buci just a block or two before Blvd. St.-Germain when going from the Seine towards Blvd. St.-Germain.

My other favorite food market in Paris is the incredible food hall of the Bon Marche - La Grande Epicerie de Paris, 38, rue de Sèvres. It's a wonderful adventure in French food. It's also the best place I can think of to get some goodies for a picnic, either in a park or in your hotel room. I can’t find an English website; but here is the French one:

http://www.lagrandeepicerie.fr/en/html/services/services.htm

The store is located just south of the intersection of rue de Sevres and Blvd. Raspail, a block or two from the Metro station "Sevres-Babylone"

The food halls at Lafayette Gourmet in the Galleries Lafayette at 48 Blvd. Haussman are also quite good, although not nearly as vast as those at La Grande Epicerie. Have fun. Yumm, yumm!!

A bientot for now. Cheers, Fred

Fred, thanks for all the advice.

I concur about Saint Chapelle; seeing that before Notre Dame really made the latter less impressive.

As for street markets, they seem to be everywhere. I imagine that in December the sidewalk cafes won't have outdoor seating; or will they?

Marc (on Arlene's computer)

Our dear Fred is the very best tour planner. His advice is right on target.

We were there last December and you can definitely eat in the patios. If you have an opportunity to go to Fauchon - the gourmet market - you can eat there - which was some of the best food we've ever eaten for lunch. Also the Lafayette Gourmet was magnificent as was the fine restaurant. We had Thanksgiving there - Magret with Cranberries. (Duck). I can still smell the Chestnuts and the holiday shopping was wonderful at Printemps and Galleries Layfayette. If you are a dog person, then you will notice all the dogs everywhere. We saw one all dressed in Burberry - a West Highland White Terrier - just adorable.