Mmm, chocolate, bikes and Paris

Just in case any of you are planning a trip . . . .

Le Tour du Chocolat

THE French have elevated many things to high art: fashion, flirting, foie gras. Chocolate is no exception. With boutiques that display truffles as rapturously as diamonds, the experience of visiting a Parisian chocolatier can be sublime.

The problem, of course, is squeezing in as many of these indulgent visits as possible while also giving the rest of the city its due. My solution: devote one full day to chocolate boutiques, and do it in style. So, on my last visit to Paris, I took to the city’s Vélib’ bike system and mastered a two-wheeled circuit of eight of the chocolatiers that had the best reputations and most glowing reviews in city guidebooks and online message boards. It was exhilarating and exhausting, not to mention decadent. It was a chocoholic’s dream ride.

Rest of article is here:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/12/14...urneys.html?em

that was a great article.

Chocolate or not, Velib is the best thing that has happened to Paris in a long time (along with the miles of bike lanes!). I saw more of Paris by bike last May in 10 days than I had when I lived there for 6 months in 1999--simply because I got around above ground as opposed to by Metro.

Add that article to my growing pile of vacation plans for next year...