Flights:

We flew BMI from LHR to CDG as it was cheaper than taking the train. We got free cocktails, which was nice, even though this flight was the most expensive part of our trip! From BVD to CIA we flew Ryan air. If anyone has ever said anything bad about Ryanair they must have been lying. Not only were our flights smooth, but we were a half an hour early both times!

Accommodations:

Our hostel turned out to be a hotel! Although the room was cramped with three beds and a cot, it was quite nice, and more importantly clean. Our bathroom was very impressive! The room had a window, although it looked our onto the center courtyard (exhaust pipes and drainage), but we weren't there for a view! The hotel was 2 stops from the Mulin Rouge, and about 10 min from the center of town. Our TV did not work, so the hotel manager let us have the key to another room so we could watch the election results. Good thing that was worth waking up for! not... Anyway, breakfast was included, even though it was nothing special - rolls, toast and cereal. We took quite a bit of it with us for the days adventures. The lobby was pleasant, and the reading room back by the lift was very cozy.

Public Transportation:

We were 50 feet from a metro stop, which made getting into town very easy! If the metro couldn't take you there, you could easily pick up a bus. Once we broke past the language barrier we managed to make good use of the metro. The RER (like the English National Rail) took us to and from the airport. Note to the wise, BVA airport (the Ryanair airport) is in the middle of nowhere, literally a 1.25 hour bus ride from the edge of Paris. We ended up taking a shuttle bus there, which left at 6:20 am.

Food:

Here's where the real fun starts! I love the French - is seems like they invented the concept of good food! Allot of that cones from pesant history, where poor people were only able to obtain poor cuts of meat but still wanted to make good food. One can tell that a lot of thought has gone into traditional french cooking. I'd give examples, but I wouldn't even attempt to spell those French words!

Our first night was a very basic dinner at restaurant near our hotel. The wine was excellent, soft and fruity, and our dinners were fresh and tasty!

The duck place: I think we all died and came back at least twice over the course of this dinner! Matt's recommendation turned out to be spot on! The 32 euro menu, which included a cocktail, bottle of wine, app, main and dessert, was worth every penny. We ordered an array of items, and shared them so we could all have a little taste of what the chef had to offer. My meal included a nice helping of the house pate (they brought the entire terrine to the table and let me eat as much as i wanted - bad idea guys!), duck breast in a red berry sauce, and portiferoles. My favorite main was the duck in a spice sauce (the front of which was nutmeg), and Matt's fua gras was my favorite app. I can't spell, I know. The wine, which was from the restaurant's private vineyard (or relabeled at the least) had more of a body than the wine from the night before, which was good when standing up to the pate, but it was not overpowering when eating the dick. Clearly a well thought out decision by the chef. Matt ended up taking one of the empty bottles home with us! He had a fun time explaining that one to customs in England!

On our last night we were going to try to fine the bistro where my mom and I ate on our last night in Paris. My memory didn't serve me as well as I had hoped, so we ended up getting chinese at a place near our hotel, a mutual craving by all parties involved. This was after finding out that a burger at Planet Hollywood was 14 euro, about $20! The dinner was very inexpensive, which was nice compared to the pervious evening, fast and tasty. The food was all pre-made which was a little weird, but we were all so hungry that we didn't even think twice about it.

Other food notes: We did not really eat lunch as we stole enough food from the hotel to hold us over. We did, however, frequent the local crepe stands! The group's favorite seemed to be nutella and banana (when they had bananas!).

Attractions:

We saw everything, as slave driver Matt had intended! This turned out to be a great way to see the city in the limited amount of time that was had. Matt, having spent a little time a few years previous, had a good idea of where to go and how to get there.

We went to the Tour Eiffel (and I went to the top this time) to get an amazing view of the city. Liz was a little freaked out on the way up (fear of heights) but she ended up being fine! We all found it amusing that the dishes on the menu for the Tour restaurant started at 45 euro. The elevator was smooth and quick, and being a weekday we had only a short wait before getting on. I sent my post cards from the post office on the second floor. I'm not sure if they are going to be post marked as the Tour Eiffel, but that would certainly be cool! I had to take one of the stamps on so I hope it gets there ok!

The Louvre was an excellent experience as well! We ended up waiting till the evening for student prices, but it was well worth the wait. Matt told us that it takes a full four days to see everything, and after only spending two hours there I can see why! The place is totally massive! We saw the Mona Lisa, along with some other interesting works that all looked the same. Matt is convinces that non of the works are real - that they are all reproductions! I'm not going to take a side on the arguement.

The arch de triumph (again, spelling i know), was a good first attraction. We went up to the top which gave us a nice view of the champs, and the foggy skyline. We could see the Tour Eiffel in the distance.