Must-Takes to Paris

 *ALERT! Travel Infomercial today.

No Paris nostalgia on the menu so you might want to pass.

I got my new TravelPro Crew4 suitcase this week (made especially for flight crew members). You can see how fatigued my old darling is on the left. Too bad the pullout handle gave up the ghost after 19 years...

 The new TravelPro looked really big to me so I called StopOverStore for confirmation it would fit in the overhead compartment. They assured me it would.

 Back to back...

 And belly to belly. This new bag is a sturdy number. Everything is more ample.

 Inside too. I like the see-thru compartments. Time will tell. You get a FREE crew baggage tag of the airline of your choice when you buy. Weeeeeee

 Now for the Canon face-off.

My old fatigued S90 vs. the new Canon S100.

 The LCD screen is bigger on the new camera though why did they move the replay button or whatever they call it?

Why do they have to change ANYTHING I wonder...

 The S90 is somewhat smaller and lighter. The picture-taking button is shinier and more obvious and it has GPS (not sure what I'll do with that?). They said the senser is bigger so it's sharper and the colors are brighter. Yay! I'll take both and get a better idea through practice.

 I never leave home without my L'Occitane sachets perfect for your shoes overnight. You can find these in the airport duty-free. I'm addicted to Arcopedico molded shoes for travel. Though you must add foam liners inside to avoid blisters etc.

 I always take my Metro dish towel to use on the train but this time I'm taking along a Metro placemat. Then I can plot journeys over morning hot chocolate. This is from the La Vaissellerie chain in Paris.

 For onboard I bring Earplanes, those special travel kneesocks and headphones with volume control since airline headphones suck.

 For swimming in Paris piscines I bring along an Aquis Microfiber towel from Amazon.

 It may seem like taking coals to Newcastle but I bring along a macaron box

 Jean-Paul Hevin makes the perfect 5-mac box with plastic liners so you can buy just 1-2 macarons they won't get crushed in a paper bag. Just pop them into the box. Oh well not everyone is this nutty. The chocolate macaron is a wax candle so stop drooling svp.

Of course Bear is coming. Don't worry! Plus my giant macaron bracelet from N2-les Nerides. Even AirFrance attendents flip over this monster. The ladybug is for some French good luck.

What's your 'must'-take alongs for a trip?

Paris To-Dos

Bear is packed and ready to leave for Paris on Thursday. I am not.... It's easy to take the suitcase out of the closet...
But it is SO HARD TO OPEN IT UP.
Does this happen to you?
Why is that?
Or do you start packing months in advance..?
Ah, the almighty making of To-Do lists when you're going away... And then moving at a snails pace when it comes to actually doing them... I did get to the bank to buy some Euros...

Of course the dollar$ had just fallen steeply that day :(

I did get a pre-trip haircut on Friday...

Cross off another 'To-Do'!

Yay

I LOVE looking at maps before I go away. That's fun.

I even have a Metro map plastered on the kitchen wall and Metro placemats on the table to immerse my brain unconsciously. Are you a map nut?

Harder than what to wear in Paris, is what books to bring?

Books are so darn heavy.

But you can photo-copy just the pages you want.

Why do I end up taking 100's of pages I never look at :(

As for clothes - I take basic black and pick up the latest tendance/trendie thing at H&M once I'm there. That's the funny thing about Paris. If something is trendie you can find it all price points everywhere like the trenchcoat or ballerinas. The French are a bit like Lemmings when it comes to trends...

I always take my lucky dice bracelet with me...even if I'm just going round the corner. Do you have a talisman you always take on a trip?

They say the absolute BEST part of travel is all the anticipatory planning and dreaming BEFORE you actually leave!?

I would like to go to NEW PLACES this trip.

Not the same old, same old...
I want to explore NEW arrondissements (like the 11th which I keep meaning to go to and never do).

Your suggestions are most welcome!

Another thing I'd like to-do is start thinking about coming home. Re-entry into the real world is always such a shock.

Why is it we rarely plan for 'The Return'?

BONJOUR PARIS TO-DOS!