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An American Girl in Paris
serious crayons:
Del, have you bought any guidebook? I would recommend getting one by Rick Steves. People make fun of Rick Steves because he's kind of like a dorky suburban dad, not particularly hip or cool, and also because he's so ubiquitous. (When I was in Italy a couple of years ago, I kept seeing people everywhere wandering around reading their Rick Steves Italy guidebooks.) And I wouldn't use a Rick Steves book to really learn in depth about the culture or history of a place.
But for all the little concerns like, what do I do when I go into a restaurant, and what happens if someone asks for my ID, and what hours is this museum open, and should I make reservations, and is it better to use a train or bus to get from here to there, and I have only two days to spend in X city so what are the most important things to see, and ... well, all that practical traveler stuff, he is great.
I don't know if he'd directly address the artificial sweetener issue, but he probably covers just about everything else. The friend I went to Italy with used his book to find our hotels and plan a lot of our activities, and he never let us down!
Ellemeno:
ineedcrayons, Rick Steves is actually one of my minor heroes, and a local boy here in Seattle. And to my surprise, a few years ago I discovered that dorky as he is, he is very involved in the movement to get marijuana decriminalized in the United States. http://www.ricksteves.com/about/pressroom/activism/marijuana.htm
Delalluvia, he has a great website, full of good info. Remember that packing list for women that people were posting about, pre-BBQ? It was from his website. http://www.ricksteves.com/
And Leslie, I got one of these bags about two months ago, right before the trip to Colorado. I use it every day. There's a pocket for each of the things I carry: wallet, keys, Palm, cell phone, sunglasses, reading glasses, pen, comb, plus three other pockets for miscellaneous other stuff. And all those pockets line the inner walls of the bag, so when you unzip down it vertically, there is a surprisingly roomy open cavity where I keep: a pint bottle of water, an actual whole change of clothes for my pre-schooler, a paperback novel. I discovered while travelling in Colorado, that I could even roll my rain jacket up tightly and fit it in there. ANd this thing is not a large bag. In fact it's their size SMALL! The one I got is an aubergine-colored micro-suede that is just beautful. I am in love with this bag. Because I got it right before the BBQ, some of the people on that trip were forced to had the opportunity to get a tour of the inside of this amazing bag. Plus it works well either hanging off one shoulder (shoulder bag style), or strapped across my back (messenger bag style). I cannot get over what a good thing this is. I normally am pretty frugal in the purse/bag dept, so gulped at paying over $50 for it, but it was so competely worth it. I am so in love with this bag that I feel like we are even more kindred spirits now, knowing you're into them too.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Ellemeno on June 23, 2007, 01:41:28 pm ---ineedcrayons, Rick Steves is actually one of my minor heroes, and a local boy here in Seattle. And to my surprise, a few years ago I discovered that dorky as he is, he is very involved in the movement to get marijuana decriminalized in the United States. http://www.ricksteves.com/about/pressroom/activism/marijuana.htm
--- End quote ---
Thanks for sharing that, Elle! I will never call Rick Steves dorky again. As someone who also supports having marijuana decriminalized, I now see him in a new light. When I use his travel books, I will no longer feel the need to hide them inside a Rough Guide or Lonely Planet! :laugh:
--- Quote --- I normally am pretty frugal in the purse/bag dept, so gulped at paying over $50 for it,
--- End quote ---
Completely OT, but that is my gulping point, too. I'm always astounded when I see, say, a segment on the Today Show about fashionable new spring bags, and and they'll talk about a $250 bag as being very affordable, and a $700 bag as being a little pricey but so cute it's worth it.
Who actually buys that stuff?! Never mind, don't answer.
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: ineedcrayons on June 23, 2007, 10:54:49 am ---Del, have you bought any guidebook?
--- End quote ---
Yes, I have 3 including a Phrase Book and Dictionary (one guide book and the phrase book are from Rick Steves :) I have a picture of myself standing outside of the classic red phonebooths in London and I'm holding a Rick Steves travel book).
I used my ATM card in London to pay for things and get cash and I expect to do the same in Paris since I've read that the currency exchange is better through the ATM banks. I had no problem before. And thanks for the reminder Leslie to call my bank and let them know I'd be out of the country. Almost forgot about that.
I did use one of those money belt things in London to carry valuable jewelry, money, my IDs and ATM card because I didn't want to leave those in the hotel - we didn't exactly stay in a 3 star hotel, you know? And some of the 1-2 star hotels we looked into in Paris have stories from tourists who talk about money and jewelry stolen from their hotel rooms, or finding the concierge in their room when they came back in. But the belt thing was awkward, so I got a neck thing this time. And I carried a Coach backpack to London
but I didn't carry anything of real value in it, just maps, my glasses/sunglasses, guidebooks and home addresses of people in the states, aspirin, that kind of thing, so if any thief tried to pick it through the back pockets, all they would find would be makeup and kleenex.
Thanks for the la carte thing guys!
Elle, I've never traveled where I didn't know the language, so that's why I'm getting myself all worked up about the trip and asking a zillion questions. In London, we were sitting in the wrong section of the train out to Glastonbury and we barely understood the accent of the steward when he came to ask us to move and he was speaking English! I can just imagine myself in the same situation in France, standing there like a dummy because I've no clue what I'm being told.
opinionista
Thanks, for all the advice. We're going to be mostly eating in cafes where it's cheap-er, so I was just wondering whether we wait to be seated or just sit down and who/where to pay.
As for the cops, I was just worried some plainclothes security guy or cop at a checkpoint - do they have those? - would ask for my ID and I wouldn't know who he was. OK, despite the terrorist bombing in London the year we went, there wasn't a lot of fear in the city, so I'm going to keep my fingers crossed about Paris. I hope Paris is a open minded in the big city as was London, but it was in Madrid and Germany that my brother got nasty looks from people, so one never knows.
delalluvia:
For you frugal travelers - I am one, too - so you guys don't think I'm buying designer everything. Yes, Coach backpacks are pricey, but I bought mine used and on e-bay so I got quite a steal, paying much less than $100 and it's made out of soft, lightweight, weather-resistant leather and will probably last forever.
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