Last Paris Installment

I would love to write 50 entries on Paris, but, dear reader, I have other things to share with you not related to Paris. Here are some random thoughts, feelings, suggestions, etc.

Money is always a constraint on travel, especially with a dollar that isn't worth much. Unless you have enough wealth to stay at The Four Seasons or Ritz everywhere you go, you'll want to economize where you can.

Hostels are one option (they're not just for students anymore), although the quality can vary considerably and I'm at the stage in my life where I don't want to share a room with people I don't know, as is common at many hostels.

Bed and Breakfasts are abundant in Europe, and are often cheaper than hotels. Many include breakfast (always check on this) which takes care of your first meal of the day. B & B owners often are quite helpful. B & B's may or may not be listed on sites such as hotels.com or expedia, and some prefer to be paid in cash.

Hotels are the usual choice and I use them often. Some include breakfast, but the ones that don't often overcharge for breakfast.

More recently, apartment rentals can be an excellent option. In particular, for the Paris trip we rented from a company called "Citadines Apart'Hotel." It is just like renting your own place, and you get a fridge, cooktop, coffeemaker, dishes, pots, pans, etc. The Citadines at Bastille Marais is clean, modern and conveniently located. My Citadines stays have always been nice.

Why do I want a kitchen when I'm on vacation? With a fridge I can buy and store juice, milk, bread, cheese, etc. and make breakfast and lunch tasty. Second, Europe has incredible open-air markets all over the place, so you can buy fresh ingredients and cook for yourself.

Finally, cooking for yourself saves you mucho. A basic cheese fondue for 2 people in Paris, with a half a carafe of wine, costs around 45 - 50 euros (that's about $60 - $70). Meal costs add up very quickly, and it's easy to spend yourself into a hole. My theory is to splurge some, and save some by cooking for yourself sometimes. Also, think about making lunch your big meal for the day, which can be less expensive than a big dinner. OK, enough of that, here are some other images of Paris.

Paris has little kiosks all over the place that sell all kinds of things like books, postcards, tourist trinkets, stamps, etc. They're fun to look at.

One of the markets near Bastille Marais. The freshness and high quality of what was sold was impressive. Here they are selling produce.

In addition to produce, this vendor is selling fish.

I forgot to show pictures of Notre Dame. This is a very popular place in Paris!

When (not if) you go to Paris, you have to have a crepe at least once. Get your crepe from a creperie that makes the entire crepe, from start to finish, in front of you. This means they pour the batter on the crepe pan, spread the batter, flip it over, add the topping(s) you want, fold it up, and hand it to you. Some places will pre-make the basic crepe during times of high demand, and then add toppings later and reheat it. You deserve the "full" treatment, and part of that is getting a beautiful new crepe, made freshly for YOU! It takes a little longer, but it's worth it.

Note the pre-made crepes on the far left. The customers asked the young man making the crepes to make theirs fresh, and he obliged. Some places won't do this even if you ask. My general practice is that if I see any crepes sitting on a plate, I go to a different creperie.

I think my favorite building in Paris is the Hotel de Ville. This picture doesn't do it justice, but it's so beautiful.