Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: What is it about Paris that makes it. . .

What is it about Paris that makes it everyone's favorite city? Coming in first, even after Madrid, New York, and all the top cities, for me Paris is a never ending magical trip of avenue upon avenue of the most impressive buildings, statues, gardens, etc. Take for example Les Halles, one of the most interesting buildings (so as not to say ugly) I've yet to see. How about the Centre Georges Pompidou, which was built "inside-out", thus giving it an unfinished look. Yet it is purposely surrounded by scaffolding, multi-colored gigantic pipes, and ducts.

When we first visited Paris with Victor back in the fall of 1996, we stayed in a hotel in Montmartre where the room was so small that only in single file could one get to the closet, into bed, or take a look out the window. So small in fact was the room, that Victor had to take an adjoining even smaller room for himself. I think you get the picture. Three years ago, the spacious room Cristina and I had originally thought we had booked, turned out to be something out of a horror movie. It was in essence, an eerily dark closet with a cot for a full-size bed. On top of that, we had to haul our suitcases four flights up a steep dark and then winding staircase. The minute we entered the room, I knew we that we had to get out of there. Like pronto! We should have guessed what awaited us, when after checking in the male front desk clerk handed us two see-through, dried out towels, which had we used them would no doubt seriously have damaged our skin. I flatly refused to honor that reservation! And so, after some finagling we got out. After again fighting our way back through the group of potheads in the narrow street below, we ended up in a similar joint again. Yet somehow we found paradise at the Holiday Inn right in the heart of the city. A call to RCI on my recently purchased mobile phone saved the day!

That time, we hustled, struggled with, and ended up on the metro with our heavy suitcases until finally reaching the safety and comfort of the smartly decorated, thoroughly modern chic Holiday Inn. Thank God for American hotels!

On this last trip to Paris however, again we had the most comfortable and affordable sleeping arrangements at the Novotel in Roissy en France, a beautiful suburb of Paris. Although, due to a big misunderstanding, we ended up paying twice for the same accommodations. Ah, the perils of budget traveling!

Centre Georges Pompidou

Montmartre where we stayed in 1996

Les Halles - once a market is now a shopping center

But don't let these little anecdotes deter you from visiting Paris even on a budget. The sights will astound you! The cuisine will floor your taste buds! And the vibe is sure to hook you, time and again!