Paris 

  In Paris we stayed at a hotel just blocks from the Arc de Triomphe (Accor if you're interested).  It was a very convenient spot from which to see the city.  We purchased unlimited Metro passes for 3 days (I think it was 3 days) and often took the Metro further west itno the heart of Paris.  From there we usually spent the whole day walking around until taking the Metro back to the hotel.  We did a LOT of walking.  Due to some bad planning we frequently crossed our own tracks during the day.  One day I think we walked past (and through, as I recall) Notre Dame three times.  It's free to enter, you know.

  As mentioned on the France page, our favorite parts of France were eating, drinking coffee and visiting the sites.  Some of our favorites were the Eiffel tower (something about braving the freezing temperatures waiting in line to get to the top makes you feel you accomplished something), Sainte Chappelle - by far the most impressive chapel we've seen anywhere, and we've seen quite a few (In its way it rivals St Peter's Basillica), Notre Dame and the Tuileries.  I'd never been to a park that was so *alive* as the Tuileries.  From the open air cafe to the children sailing boats in the fountain to the people sitting and watching the sunset, it was great.  And this is not to detract from the other sites of Paris, it was all wonderful.  Everything seems to have been built with beauty in mind.  Rarely do you see anything that was done for cost over beauty.

  It was particularly helpful for us starting off that Kathy speaks French.  She got us through the tough parts, and so by the time Melissa and I were on our own (Kathy had to go back to Brussels for work) Melissa and I felt comfortable enough to travel around on our own.  The Metro is very easy to use and the free maps of the city are great.  That's not to mention the walking.  It's very easy to walk anywhere, and we did!

Click here for pictures of Paris