The past couple of weeks have been consumed by planning for our trip to Europe in September. We are going to spend 5 days in Rome, 5 in Florence and 5 in Paris. This is a dream come true. The trip of a life time.
So far we have our flights booked to and from Europe using the miles we have been saving for the past 10+ years. First class there and back. That in and of itself is a treat. We fly from SFO to London and then from London to Rome. That flight is booked also.
From Rome, we'll take the train to Florence where we will stay in a little apartment we found on VRBO right near the Medici Chapel, very close to the Duomo. We'll likely do one or two day trips from there to Siena and possibly San Gimignano.
From Florence we will train to Pisa and then fly to Paris for our final leg of the trip and where we will spend our 22nd wedding anniversary.
OMG. Seriously?
Yes. The trip of a life time. Although we fully intend on going back a second and third time if we like any or all of the places we visit especially well, you never know, so we are treating it like a once in a lifetime trip.
Although Italy was the main destination, we ended up needing to fly home out of Paris and so the little girl in me who sat through three years of French class and dreamed of the day she would see the Champs-Élysées and Notre Dame and Hemmingway's Paris is giddy beyond belief.
I've taken to reading several blogs on a regular basis that are about various aspects of Parisian life. So far, my favorites are the Hip Paris Blog, The Little Brown Pen, Girl's Guide to Paris, and Lost in Cheeseland.
And I've begun talking to myself in French.
Parce que, je ne veux pas à regarder comme un idiot à Paris. Et parce que je l'aime !
It sounds like a fantastic trip--I love Paris! Florence was my favorite Italian city that I visited. :)
Posted by: Margaret | January 06, 2012 at 08:49 AM
Margaret, if you can think of any lesser known MUST SEE/DO in either place, let me know. We are doing all of the major sights in each place but we have also left a lot of time for discovery etc.
Posted by: Kris | January 06, 2012 at 04:35 PM
You will truly love Paris. Their night life does not start until about 10:00pm. they eat dinner very late. I loved sitting on a monument at 2:00am watching all the young people walking around. watch out for cover charges at bars. Our first one was $250.00. Yikes. There is a restaurant (a boat) across the river from Notre Dame that was great. You sit and eat an amazing meal and just stare at Notre Dame....of course being with Jim we did Disnyeland which I am sure you will skip! But I did enjoy it and seeing the differences in all three Disneylands...I can't wait to live this trip through your eyes.- mom
Posted by: nancy Troutner | January 10, 2012 at 11:29 AM
There will be no $250 cover charges for us! We're doing most of this on the cheap. Thanks for the tip on the place across from Notre Dame! Sounds perfect. Can't wait to talk to you more about your experiences there. So many things to see and experience.
Posted by: Kris | January 10, 2012 at 11:43 AM