Fresh off the trip, there are many contemplations that I want to write before the memory fails. I've organized them into some smaller categories and expect this section to grow as the entire experience gets processed.

Londoners: Those we met were very friendly, but had little time for extra conversation. The economy of words extended to "no nonsense" customer service people and those we met at tourist locations. Helpful but curt. I enjoyed the variety of culture and language as we walked from location to attraction. It is indeed a cultural "bread basket" and languages from all over the world are heard. London is busy... a pace much like that we experienced in New York. Yet, more civilized in nature. I believe the comparative level of "noise" was the factor that most distinguished this, as Londoners were far less likely to blast horns and argue street side.

Parisians: In contrast, we found Parisians more open to conversation, with more interest in who we were and where we were from. Further, the normal city bustle (other than those driving) had a more relaxed energy. Street side cafes, evening walks in markets and the many parks were being used, even in the tougher March weather. Food (or at least the meal) is important to their culture as it seemed to be a focal point of the day. Surely statistics would conclude that the French work day is substantially less than ours, as it seemed a little later to wake, and a little earlier home.

Planning: Organizing this vacation was, for me, a huge part of the fun. We selected what we wanted to do and arranged those items within day tours that made the best use of our time and resources. The internet was essential, as we had accessed all travel arrangements, many attraction / entertainment tickets (any that were available) and our accommodations all prior to departure. We dealt directly with the businesses involved and had no issues with any (yes... none) of our arrangements. Further, the volume I learned about these cities prior to our departure and during this planning stage made for trouble free touring while on the ground.

Citizenry: It should be very much understood that we frequented what I would consider "sanitized" areas of both these cities. Apart from some homelessness and people in distress near Gare du Nord, we saw little of the realities of poverty that must exist. I would suggest that the huge economic engine of tourism in downtown areas has facilitated the "push out" of urban poverty from main areas of these cities. That being said, we felt totally safe in both cities, and we moved very freely without consequence.

Europe in March: As for weather, we saw neither great sunshine nor heavy rain. Temperatures ranged from 10 - 14 degrees Celsius. Some windy moments, some sunny breaks... mostly windbreaker weather. Paris, especially, would have been very nice to see in full bloom. That being said, a non-peak arrival had many benefits. We avoided much of the summertime heat and humidity, line-ups were minimal and transportation modes were uncrowded. Other than the odd class trip/March Break excursion, we avoided large groups and tackled attractions/exhibits/entertainment at our own pace. We probably got better deals on accommodation as well. In short, I would not hesitate to travel again to Europe at this time of year.

Food: Traveling without the family allowed "delicassies" that would have been difficult to sample with children. In both London and Paris we dropped by several street side shops for coffee, sandwiches and snacks. London's breakfasts got us through the early days of the trip, and were a great start to days that we spent much of our visits on foot. We had several restaurant/pub stops and sampled local fare in both countries. However, what we especially enjoyed was the street markets, filled with fresh fruit and vegetable, wine and cheeses, and meats and breads. We harvested from these most days and often enjoyed late evening meals at home, especially in our room in Paris.

Transportation: Wisely choosing not to drive in either city and avoiding the stress that would have created, we had planned very carefully the travel concerns in getting to London and Paris, as well as moving about while there. Our travel plans to specific attractions required informed transport info so we could ensure on time arrival for timed events. Interactive web sites for both the London and Paris public transport systems enabled a high level of organization. I have nothing but great things to say about the services we used. Got to be a real pro on the subways. Our bus trips were also fun as we saw more of the city than the subway allows. Also advantageous was the fact that both cities were more foot traffic friendly than I would have imagined. Walking times and distances to attractions were continuously quicker/easier than I had planned. It made our busy schedule comfortable.