I’m Off to Paris! Bon Voyage.

I’m Off to Paris...but in My Dreams!

The ActiveRain Point Store certainly offers a wealth of cool stuff to buy with all those points you’ve been saving up. Not only are the options diverse but in the point world they seem well priced. Unless you are miserly about your points and want to hoard them. But that's no fun when you can spend 'em.

I took some time reading and found it pretty tough to decide. Quite honestly I would have preferred to simply enjoy 1 of each, but that seems kinda greedy. And since the rules for the July Challenge say to pick 1, I did.

And I’m off to Paris, France. Incroyable!! This photo is Les Jardins des Tuilleries!

I was in Paris several times when my wife had to travel there for business, and once for my birthday (photo at the very top is that birthday trip - do I look Parisian hanging out at a cafe?).

So you might wonder why not pick something different? But I fell in love with “La Ville Lumiere” my first trip and given it’s been quite a few years a return trip seems in order, and certainly hoped for. And I spent ALOT of time there on my own, exploring this beautiful and very walk-able city.

That, combined with being a bit of a foodie and having the opportunity to enjoy a popular, and well-known, Parisian restaurant by Alain Ducasse with 2 courses prepared by Chef Endre, made this selection pretty easy after all, n’est-ce pas?

And with a view of the iconic Eiffel Tower (that’s definitely something I would visit again, particularly in the evening when the city lights are just coming on - c'est magnifique!), this meal, enhanced by Endre’s culinary creativity, is sure to be fun and delicious, mais oui!

I’ve stayed in a number of Parisian hotels, but never a French Chateau, so that will be a treat. I’m wondering which arrondissement it’s in? Or perhaps we will be hosted outside Paris in the countryside somewhere, maybe near the Palace de Versailles (I’m hoping for a return visit there – it was amazing to see in person). Regardless, no doubt our accommodations will be oozing in French history, charm and joie de vivre!

As a huge art fan I am also looking forward to return visits to my favorite museums, and perhaps checking out some new ones if time permits. At the top of my list are the Centre Pompidou (contemporary art), the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée de l’Orangerie, the Musée Marmottan Monet, the Rodin, and, naturellement, the Louvre. This photo is the I. M. Pei Pyramid at the Louvre.

It seems a couple other Rainers will also be enjoying this wonderful ActiveRain Point Store offering, and I look forward to joining Jim Paulson and Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP  on the trip along with guest chef, Endre Barath, Jr.! Perhaps there will be others, too!

There’s so much to see, do and experience in Paris - strolling along the Seine, the Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre, cafes and restaurants, shopping, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, the RIve Gauche - alone or with good friends, and no doubt the time will be far too short.

But if time permits I'll look up our family friend, Jean-Claude. It's been a few years since we last saw him, but if you decide to head to Paris I am happy to hook you up for guidance on where to go and what to do!

So here's a BONUS!

I have a bunch of points and I would love to share them. DISCLAIMER - SUBJECT to permission from the Challenge hosts, I'm offering as many as 5 Rainers to join me on this trip - my points, my treat - if you can properly identify the City I relocated from to California, and the year I made the move. The first 5 win!

Bon voyage!