grunblack
Full Member
Can't wait to get back...
Posts: 132
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Post by grunblack on Jul 9, 2007 6:33:57 GMT -5
After reading various posts on the forum I decided to hunt down a Paris City Notebook and finally found one on ebay. It arrived today and I am really happy with it so far - great size, great resources. All I need to do now is add all of those great places to eat I have heard so much about ;D and ponder over what my sections will be dedicated to (not as easy as it sounds!). Thanks for the great suggestion.
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Post by mez on Jul 9, 2007 6:42:43 GMT -5
...and ponder over what my sections will be dedicated to (not as easy as it sounds!) Me too!!! I've got an MS word document long enough to paper my bedroom walls but I haven't written anything in my notebook. Do I divide by arrondisement? by themes (ie. eating, sites)? I guess I better make up my mind soon. ;D Mez
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Post by holger on Jul 9, 2007 7:07:13 GMT -5
Have been thinking of ordering one of these. Bit does it have information already in it or is it a blank notebook? The latter is generally what we travel with and fill with our own information both before and during the trip. I can't tell from Amazon.com Thanks.
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Post by Happygoin on Jul 9, 2007 7:37:02 GMT -5
I'm wondering the same thing, Holger. Like grunblack, I have a list as long as my arm and it's just filled with info in a willy-nilly fashion. I'd love a good alternative...
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Post by sistereurope on Jul 9, 2007 7:52:24 GMT -5
Good, I'm glad that I'm not the only person who's confused! I thought that they were just blank notebooks...
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Post by luvparee on Jul 9, 2007 10:46:53 GMT -5
Mez -- I too could paper my bedroom (perhaps the entire house!!) with my Paris Word document(s)! What I have done (starting in perhaps 1977 or so) is put everything by arrondisesment and listed as restaurant, cafe, shopping, shopping, cheese, chocolate, etc., etc., etc. I then broke it down to those on the same street, and then broke it down into ascending street numbers and those "things" that were on just one street were all grouped together as a last entry. That way, if I find myself on any given street, I can check my list and see what's on it that I might like to dine in, have a glass of wine at, shop at, etc., etc.
On my last trip, I found a great perhaps 8" x 5" notebook with the elastic band around it. I then used a smaller font and formatted it to the size of the paper, cut each page to size, and then taped the print-out onto the page in the notebook. I bought tabs and separated the pages by arrondisement. I have a bus route listing, separate patisserie listing, times/days of museums and other sights, the Batobus stops and schedule, etc., etc. I know I am totally obsessive compulsive, but it was a very fun project and now that it's in a good form, I can just write in additional "things" as I learn of new "things." I may try to sell copies, make tons of money, and move to Paris!!!
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Post by Happygoin on Jul 9, 2007 11:46:18 GMT -5
luvparee, that's a great idea. When the list threatens to take over your house, it's time for a new way of doing things. I may have to try that. It sounds like it requires a good deal more organizational skills than I have, but it IS a good idea! (Maybe I could hire you to do it for me???) My problem is that, with the list so long/old, half of the places are now probably out of business.
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Post by parisfan2 (was 'paris-fantic') on Jul 9, 2007 12:37:11 GMT -5
The book comes complete with maps of the main part of the city (that tourists would be interested in) and large scale ones of the centre. There is also a street index and a metro map. To go with the maps are overlay sheets (like transparent post-its) so you can annotate the maps without writing on them (sacrilege!) Then there are blank and tabbed pages and inside the back cover an arrangement like a folder to keep loose pages. You can also get them for London, Rome etc but not Venice!
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Post by luvparee on Jul 9, 2007 14:39:09 GMT -5
Happy -- I am thinking the same thing about closings and shops, etc., now being out of business. However, most of my list are things that are pretty standard in Paris (chocolatiers, long-running patisseries, fromageries, markets, etc., etc.) that will probably be around long after I'm in Heaven! However, I have more than enough information and places to see, shop at, drink at, and dine at that it wouldn't make any difference anyway!!! I don't think any of us will every see and do it ALL anyway!
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Post by holger on Jul 9, 2007 16:05:59 GMT -5
;D
Luvparee,
What great work. You probably could sell these. Most of the shopping guides are highly opinionated and personalized so a more extensive street by street guide would be terrific. Guess I will order the moleskin--in fact two, since husband and I frequently look different types of places.
Since I did not break anything, it looks like a go on August 26th, returning on September 19.
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Post by cybee on Jul 9, 2007 16:25:37 GMT -5
Very interesting . I was also thinking that these moleskins were all blank pages to write on...but Parisfan2, you say that there is a specific one that has maps , etc. of Paris (and of course, room to write?)? That sounds excellent! Would these then be found in the journal areas of bookstores or with the Paris books and does it have a specific title (to differentiate from other moleskin journals?) ? Oh, dear....maybe I missed a post that already explained these specifics..but thank you anyway..this has been most helpful! I am very haphazardly putting together all my Paris info and it would be nice to have a snazzy way of properly compiling the info!
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jul 9, 2007 16:30:53 GMT -5
Holger, we are all relieved to hear that you won't need to postpone your trip!
cybee, there was an earlier thread about getting organized that also had some information about these -- I just ordered from Amazon, after all the positive comments. (My husband is one of those people who always has a binder with all the various documents, etc., and that's very helpful, but I would like to have something small that goes in my bag and stays with me at all times, and this sounds like a good one for that purpose.)
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Post by greyghost1 on Jul 9, 2007 17:38:20 GMT -5
I got the Paris one but found the maps too small and besides I can't visit Paris without my L'Indispensable. I didn't like the dividers but I used the stick on symbols on my regular red moleskine notebook. I just make my own tabs for it with what's important for me. I hate being confined to defined spaces.
So I made up Paris moleskine with trip reports and into a sort-of scrapbook of our trip and sent it to my sister as a souvenir.
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Post by Shoesy on Jul 9, 2007 17:44:13 GMT -5
Holger - I somehow missed your thread telling about your fall, and I only read just now. Sorry to hear what happened to you, but very glad that you have no broken bones and that your trip will take place as planned. I'll tell my sister to make sure she takes care of "your" room in Relais du Louvre - LOL .
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Post by mez on Jul 9, 2007 17:52:43 GMT -5
Great ideas everyone!
I really just need to make those first couple of entries and then I'll be OK.
My old DIY guides are actually those really thin moleskine notebooks. I use then to store info from guide books (so i don't ahve to lug the guidebooks around) and I also use them as diaries - they are so compact and light that I can easily carry it with me daily.
Mez.
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Post by holger on Jul 9, 2007 21:58:41 GMT -5
Thanks all. Just ordered two Moleskins from Amazon. One is the Paris City Book and the other a Travel Notebook that we can fill for the Loire, Dordogne and Provence. They should arrive next week so we can start transfering the pages from the binder which would really be too hard to carry. I may also take a small note book for specific site and shopping info. and also to jote down my thoughts. Bedroom airconditioner just died so have set up some fans and will hope for the best. Need my own bed to prop up pillows for wrist and leg. If that doesn't work will use twin in guest room. Cats are going nuts--can't figure out why we are rearranging things. Oh well--that's life--always some new challenge.
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Post by cybee on Jul 9, 2007 22:06:01 GMT -5
Ah, so it is the Paris City Book..I will have to take a gander at Amazon.com and check it out! (or buy!). Good idea to have two for your differing needs, Holger! OH, dear, Holger! Your AC is out!? Yikes! Hope it is not too hot there! It is blazes here..was 104 degrees on Saturday, but today there was supposed to be a cold front moving in...don't think it has hit yet...sigh! Well, heal up , my dear, and stay cool! Now you will have fun getting your travel books in gear! (oh, and isn't that the truth..life is always a challenge! My mother liked to call those challenges "adventures" somtimes..ha! For that matter, "challenges" is another good word for these ..er..."hiccups" along the way!).
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Post by Shoesy on Jul 9, 2007 22:08:54 GMT -5
Holger - I can really identify with you. First, because of your cats, and second, your injury. I injured my arm (I guess it's actually my shoulder) in March, and although it's much better, I can still feel it when I move it in a certain way. Well, at least it won't stop me from walking down the aisle with my daughter next month.
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Post by iank9 on Jul 10, 2007 1:13:15 GMT -5
Hi,
Following grunblack's recommendation, I ordered a Moleskine which is now filling up quite nicely with recommendations from this board! Thank you all.
Holger: sorry to hear about your fall. Our son did likewise nearly a year ago. His knee was braced for a short period but he made a speedy recovery: "Mam can you...., Dad pass this and that....!"
Re your cats, in the UK we have a product available at vets called "Feliway". Made and developed by a French firm CEVA, it is based on a feline facial pheromone produced naturally by a cat when it deposits its own facial pheremone in its environment. I recommend it to clients when they are moving house, having alterations done, introducing new animals or a baby, for example. It may help the cats settle! (A similar product available for dogs is known as D.A.P.- Dog Appeasing Pheromone).
Best wishes
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grunblack
Full Member
Can't wait to get back...
Posts: 132
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Post by grunblack on Jul 10, 2007 5:00:54 GMT -5
Sorry I couldn't contribute again - it was night time here and I missed all the questions and conversation! I do like the extensive street directory. I think I'll start with the food recoomendations....
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