> Anyway, my reason for posting: who has been to Paris? What do you recommend? I know of some online resources, but I'd like to hear some opinions from people I know and who are somewhat like me (please don't take that as an insult :).
>
> Thanks...
> Jess

My parents went to Paris for my mum's birthday, back in November. We've all been at one time or another, so the really obviously touristy things were out. They told me that it reminded them of London during the last recession - when we were all there in 1995 it was vibrant, all the shops were open, people walking along looking generally happy - in short, what London looks like in summer, and even when we went to do Christmas shopping last weekend. Now, there are closed shops, there's an air of gloom around the place, and everyone looks like life is something to be tolerated - again, what things were like during the last recession. I was there in 2000 and things didn't seem that different from 95, so I think we can blame this on the single currency. According to my parents, the only things that were the same as six years ago were the Metro still runs on time, and the drivers are still clinically insane.

Who knows, maybe they'll have turned it all around by May. I'm not trying to sound negative, just passing on helpful information.

Zarn"purveyor of second-hand information"iwoop