Any last minute Europe advice?

[salsabike]

In Avignon, make sure you walk all the way up the hill past the Palace of the Popes. At the top of the hill, there's a little grotto with a cafe. In the small pond, there are a pair of swan mates, one black, one white. I'm not kidding about this. It's one of the most romantic sights in the world. I have a pic, but it's on my home computer so I couldn't post it till tomorrow. Not to be missed.

And Arles has a Museum of Antiquities that is incredible.

[kelownagirl]

Thanks for the tips everyone! I will look for the swans, Salsa!

[salsabike]

PS London has WONDERFUL museums. My personal favorite: the Victoria & Albert. But they're all unbelievable.

PPS In Arles, they serve a tiny clam with aioli---tons of them in a bowl. Try to find those too!

[Thorn]

Have a great time!!

If you're a history and/or buff, just outside of St. Remy at the Roman ruins (Glanum) there is a cafe that serves "authentic" Roman cuisine. All of their dishes are based on recipes from Epicius. If you go, get the tasting menu--it is a quite the experience. But, no, they don't serve deep fried mouse, despite it having been a Roman delicacy.

Enjoy!

[pooks]

When it comes to tours and such, I HIGHLY recommend Westminster Abbey's "Verger's Tour," (with a live guide -- an abbey verger) rather than any kind of self-guided or audiotape tour. The same goes at the Tower of London. The Beefeater's Tour is the way to go. These people generally LOVE their roles and love bringing history to life for you, so if you want a strong dose of English heritage and history, I recommend those two things. (A lot of people love going to Evensong at Westminster Abbey, but a more unusual thing is to go for Morning Prayer. I believe it's at 7:30 a.m., but if you go, you'll be one of a handful of people, and the others will most likely be employees of the Abbey. It's a totally different experience to enter the Abbey when it's empty and be led back to an small chapel that is the oldest part of the Abbey. When it was over, the priest showed my husband and me into the cloister and turned us loose saying, "You're seeing things most people never see." We just wandered around and watched the students rushing into school in the uniforms -- shades of Harry Potter without robes! -- etc.)

A good way to spend your first day (trying to stay awake, if you arrive early morning like most of us do) is the Hop-on/Hop-off bus that has already been recommended. Sit on the top so you're getting lots of sunshine and fresh air -- important if you're trying to stay awake! -- and hop off frequently to walk a bit, just to keep the blood flowing. You'll get a good feel for the lay of the city and have lots of opportunities to just soak in the atmosphere, and plan what you want to come back and see later!

Have a blast!

[kelownagirl]

Awesome suggestions! Thanks for the feedback ladies. I'm taking notes as I read this!

We're taking off for the airport in about an hour, and leaving Vancouver at midnight so we'll be landing around 5pm London time. I'm going to try not to sleep on the airplane so by the time we get to the hotel, I'll be ready for bed.

See you all in 3 weeks!

[indysteel]

What an awesome trip. I second the recommendation for the bike tour of Paris. The night ride is particularly fun. I did it two years ago and had a blast.

I've been to Paris a handful of times. I can talk for hours about the city and have way more tips and recommendations than I could put in a message, but if you have specific questions, PM me. What neighborhood are you staying in? Frankly, my favorite thing to do in Paris is taking an endless stroll, mixed with a little light shopping, eating and people watching from a sidewalk cafe. I have enjoyed any number of the museums and historic sites, but I tend to save them for a rainy day.

Also, dining in Paris can be a bit overwhelming. There are more places to eat than you could ever imagine. If you don't go over there with some specific recommendations, I would ask for some at your hotel's front desk. Depending on your tastes and budget, they should be able to point you in the right direction. Ask them to make a reservation for you. Especially this time of year, they're a must.

If you can, try to sprinkle your conversation with a few choice French phrases, even if it's just the basics. They appreciate that immensely, and it will get you off on the right foot. I have found Parisians to be very helpful and friendly, but they adhere to certain niceties (like saying hello and goobye when you enter/leave a shop) and expect others to do the same.

Have a wonderful time. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and I look forward to
your trip report.

Kate