Fred, I am printing this out and taking this with me. Thank you for taking the time to write this all out. I have been to Paris several times but not visited many of the places you mention on your write up.

Really looking forward to it and now we just hope we have nice clear crisp winter days. I have never been to Paris during the holiday season either and understand that Paris is special at this time of year.

Will be here before we know it.

I love reading about Paris!

Here are a few more ideas:

for the foodies:

Take a cooking class - we have taken several classes over the years from Samira Hradsky of Food Unites the World . You meet her at a metro stop near her fabulous neighborhood market on Rue Poncelet near the Arc de Triomphe for shopping and then the class is held at her gorgeous apartment, followed by a long lunch featuring the fruits of your labor. She is absolutely delightful and so much fun.

Take a walking tour with Paris Walks . Last time we were there we took the Paris During the Occupation walk which was fascinating. They are every bit as good as London Walks.

On our last visit we went to two museums which were new to us:

The Cluny , covering history and art of the middle ages and the Guimet museum of Asian art.

Fred.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! :app:

Crown Plaza Hotel
Paris - Republique
10 Place DE LA REPUBLIQUE
Paris, 75011 France.

Hmmm?? Check in time 2:00 pm.

Wonder what the early arrivals are suppose to do
until check in??

One thing to note about Paris in December is that the sun doesn't come up until 7:30 am and it starts to get dark at 4 or 5.

It snows there too so one way to see it on an all day trip is to do the Hop on Hop Off which was very good. If I had a day and a half, I would not miss the Musee d'Orsay which you can combine with the Seine boat ride and Eiffel Tower for one day and the Hop on Hop off the other.

I agree with Kathy, the Musee D'Orsay is a don't miss! Much more do-able than the Louvre. And, of course, one must have macaroons at Laduree. Have a great time!
-------------
Helen

Jim, Drop your luggage off at hotel, grab a cab or limo and head for Galleries Lafayette. Take the elevator to top floor and marvel at the Christmas decorations, then shop shop. Silly boy, what to do in Paris, Sacrebleu!

Thanks Suzie. :)
Great idea.

fyi: AMA just announced a sale on select Holiday
sailings in Dec 2009:

http://www.travelpulse.com/Resources/Editorial.aspx?n=61352

Wes, not much of a deal on PARIS. Same price we paid but we also got early booking and AARP discounts so we are cheaper. ;)

Gee. And here I was hoping we would all get big refunds! :D

Are there people missing from the roll call? Olivia, what cabin do you have? The folks in 311 and 312, if not part of our group, might wish they were located somewhere else. :D

It sure will be nice to be on same level as lounges. We can get a "cart" and roll drinks down the hall stopping at each cabin to deliver. ;)

Marc the bartender!!!!Room service from my Husband! This trip sounds better and better!

I just booked the 4 of us shuttle from
CDG to the Hotel.
Everytime I would look at the Euro / dollar exchange
it would go up.
Decided on using Airport-Connection.
Why?? I don't know really. Guess it was because their web site was user friendly.

Bing, Carol, Jan and I got together last night
to discuss our plans for the trip.
I lost the flip of the coin so will be driving to Billings on December 1st.
Bing and Carol have been to Paris and Jan has been to Amsterdam so we had very interesting conversation.
We are on the same flight going over and different flights coming back until we get to Salt Lake where we meet up again to fly back to Billings.
We are READY! :banana:

30 days from today most of us
will be getting on our flights to Paris!
:banana: :app: :3smile: :woh:

WoooHooo Jim! What a fun trip this is gonna be. I am jealous!

Just received an email from Debbie Tate
that our documents will be arriving soon! :banana:

Are any of the ladies taking a fur coat or jacket to wear on this trip?
Pat

Hmmmm?? I hadn't thought about that. I have a beautiful silver fox jacket given to me many years ago...wonder if I'd get paint thrown on me ? It hasn't been out of the closet in 18 years. Are you taking one Pat?

I have long to my ankles fur coat and rarely have opportunity to wear - thinking about it - just so heavy....but may be handy to have it is warm!!!!

Funny....2 from FL and 1 from CA with these fur coats...no wonder they never leave our closets. I think I will bring mine, so seldom I would have opportunity to wear it here.

Huh??
I thought this was an all casual cruise?

Won't be anything like that from our group. LOL
Maybe more like a ski jacket or something.
Was not planning on taking anything dressy.
Think that is a mistake?

I have been watching the weather there and it has been in the upper 50's, lower 60's lately. Hope it continues.
9:20 am
(Ok I just checked weather again and it has been in the upper 40's and low 50's lately and long range forecast is for about the same.)

I'll wear mine if you all will wear yours!

I have a full length mink but not dragging it all the way to Europe. I might bring my parka that I got on Silversea Artic cruise or my Regent Explorer parka. They are very warm. However, that is not that cold if it only gets down to 40 degrees do not really need that much coat!

Oh but Jim, a fur coat goes with anything from fancy to jeans. :p

Have fun you'all, I wish we could join you, I even seriously thought about convincing Frank to just do something spontaneous, but sighhhh, then I realized that Dec 5 is the SEC championship playoff, which Alabama has a strong chance at this point of being in and he would go nuts and I mean nuts if he couldn't see it. He has been really good this year, missed two games while we were on our Princess cruise and never complained. All he could get was the score now and then along with phone calls from Chris, on the ship and then the same at LAX, on the way home, so guess I better not press my luck

Looks like a great group and I'm sure Ngaire, that it will be very successful as a group cruise.

Yes I wear with jeans!!!!! I agree with Ngaire I feel my coat would be similar to another piece of luggage -

Well I have decided to take the fur jacket it's not that big and I love it with jeans....I plan to wear it on the plane...also we are spending a week in Copenhagen with Dr. Claus before we join you in Paris.... no need to stay home as FLORIDA will win the SEC game...Pat

Well I know there are several of you FLORIDA fans out there - but we are BAMA fans through and through, so ROLL TIDE! I always tell everyone that I had to sign a "pre nupt" that I would become a die hard BAMA fan!! :D Of course the fact that our son went there certainly helped.

Pat - I am sure you will look stunning and if we were going, I'd bring/wear mine too.

I have a shearling coat with a hood that i am bringing....it is so warm, and i wear it with jeans and everything! Jim, did you really get an email about docs! I have been anxiously wondering about that wonderful day!!!

I believe they are going out on Monday.

Yes Cindy I did. Debbie wanted to make sure where to send the documents. (I always have them sent to work where there is someone to sign for them). Ngaire's comment kind of answers the big question. :D :app:

yipee......

Docs arrived this morning. Two weeks from today we leave for 4 days in Copenhagen and 2 days in Brussels before joining the group at the hotel in Paris.
Jim

Thanks for the update Jim.
Ours should be arriving soon. :app:

Here is the debut of the PARIS pin:




Just so you know the "thought" behind the pin.

Blue, White and Red are the colors of the French Flag and the packages indicate the shopping that will take place at the Christmas Markets.

Ngaire

Sweet!


:lct:

That pin is a winner!!!!!

OMG I LOVE that pin!!!! Waaaaa, I wanna be there. :mecry:

JoAnn if we (Tony and I) each get one I will send you one - XXOO

You are a sweetheart Joanna! Maybe I could just stow away in your cabin?????

Good thing I didn't push booking this as it turns out, since BAMA is definitely in the SEC Championship game, as well we have tickets on Sunday the 6th for Jersey Boys, so it wouldn't have worked in any case, and Frank would have been going NUTS, not seeing the game. Sometimes it just isn't right.

So all I can say is ROLL TIDE!!! Sorry, know you'all are big Florida fans, but its in my pre-nupt! :D :ch: