On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 23:46:00 -0400, Dave Smith >
wrote:
>
> I have heard that prices were considerably higher after switching to the Euro, apparently
> the vendors looking for those magic figures that make their prices appealing or
> unappealing. The last time I was in Paris we found a place 3-4 blocks north of Champs
> Elysee where we got a fantastic 3 course menu for 140FF each, which would have been
> about $25US at the time, and you wouldn't get a meal like that in a restaurant like that
> around here for that price. In Reims the 3 course meals were around 110FF, but the best
> prices we found were in Verdun, where the best menu deal was 90 FF. We were stuffed by
> the time we finished out appetizers. My wife's shrimp and avocado had more shrimp on top
> as garnish that we would get here for a serving. I made it about half way through my huge
> steak.
>
> One real find was at a little town a few miles north of Verdun where we had a fantastic
> lunch, a carrot salad, a pasta dish, baguettes heated by an open fire, flan for dessert,
> carafe of wine and coffee for 55 FF.

We heard the same complaints rising prices from other tourists in
France. Our restaurant meals in Paris averaged at least $65 USD for two
people with wine (and nothing expensive, either). Cheaper for cafes and
picnics, of course. We ate breakfasts in the apartment, which helped.
Neither of us are big breakfast eaters anyway, and usually don't drink coffee.

> There are definite advantages to using a car. You can get into smaller towns. Rail was a
> terrific way to tour Europe the first time because their rails system is so good. You can
> go from anywhere to anywhere, perhaps needing an occasional taxi/ Train stations are
> usually close to nice and reasonably priced hotels. On the second trip I was part of a
> party of five, one who wanted every minute of the trip planned out ahead of time. I won't
> bother with the details, but just say that was the last group trip I will ever go on.

LOL... I did plan out most things and had our hotel reservations,
car rental and train tickets set. Everything else was left open according to
what we felt like doing that day.

> On the last trip we had some things we had to do in Denmark, a place to see in Germany,
> find the house where my wife's grandfather was born in Holland, visit a friend in
> Holland. Then we had time to wander aimlessly. That was the best one of all. We ended up
> following the battle lines of WW I, seeing some of the battlefields and visiting a number
> of war cemeteries. The best one was the American war cemetery in the Argonne where my
> father in law had seen action with the US army in WW I. That cemetery was beautiful.

I regret we didn't get to stop there. it took us unusually long to
get from Honfleur to Mont St-Michel, and we did a lot of wandering around on a
lot of (admittedly pretty) back roads. Maybe next time...

Ariane