Thoughts on Costco

Why does Costco only accept American Express? I was under the impression that AmEx is actually more expensive for vendors to accept, so why the exclusivity? Someone must know this, or be more willing to look it up than I am.

The running joke is that a gallon of milk at Costco costs you $85, since you end up buying twenty pounds of beef, eight gallons of soda, a 96 pack of power bars, etc. Yet a few weeks ago I managed to get in and out spending only $1.30. Can you beat that?

Paul's Guide to Paris

If you are planning/desiring to visit Paris, here is a little Q&A that might be of interest to you.

Q. Where should I stay?
A. It depends on what you're planning to do (and to spend) while you're there. We had a nice stay at Hotel Eiffel Rive Gauche (Left Bank Eiffel Hotel), which was reasonably priced at around 100euros/night. The room was small, but very nice and clean, and the staff was helpful, friendly, and spoke English. However, a location a bit further east, perhaps near Musee d'Orsay or the Jardin du Luxembourg, may be a better bet, as there is a higher concentration of interesting sites to visit in that area. The best bet of all, though, is something on top of a Metro stop. The city is walkable to some extent, but your feet will thank you for a quick ride on the 1.

Q. How do I get around the city.
A. A nice mix of walking and the Metro. Even at 1.40euro per trip, multiple Metro trips a day won't be that much of a hit on your money belt. There are about 12 lines that comprehensively criss-cross all over the city, but are very easy to navigate. The RER train ( for you Bostonians, RER : Metro :: Commuter Rail : T ) runs a bit further afield and can take you to/from places including Versailles and Charles de Gaulle airport, for a few euros more.

Q. Where can I get a good croissant in Paris?
A. That's like asking "Where can I get a Yankees Suck t-shirt near Fenway Park?" You'll find it hard to walk two blocks with passing a boulangerie or patisserie in most arrondisements. Stop in for a quick snack during the day (these establish seem to close up around 6:30-7:00PM).

Q. Do I need to learn French?
A. No, not really. Most people, at least those you as a tourist will be dealing with, understand/speak enough English for you to get by. However, learning a few key phrases before you is both fun and helpful. Asking for the location or the nearest restroom ("Ou est la toilette?") or Metro station ("Ou est le Metro"?). Just watch the pronunciation: "Ou est" is really "oooh A," sounding sort of like the Kingsmen singing 'Louie Louie.' If not, "parlez vous anglias" is perhaps the handiest phrase of all. Finally, it may be helpful to learn some food names, in case you end up at a cafe where the menu doesn't have subtitles (many do).

Q. I see dead people. What sites do you recommend I visit?
A. Pere Lachaise cemetery! You can visit the graves of Jim Morrison, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Moliere, and even the evidently-legendary Heloise and Abelard.

Q. I'm looking to sign an international peace treaty. Is Paris a good location for this?
A. Absolutely! You can follow in the footsteps of Woodrow Wilson and Georges Clemenceau (among others) by heading to the Chateau at Versailles. However, you should know that the hall of mirrors of partially under construction through next year.

Q. This Clemenceau guy you mentioned - where can I see a statue of him?
A.

I'm glad you asked - there is a large statue of Georges on the Champs Elysses, about halfway between the Arc de Triomphe (not to be confused with the smaller Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel located by the Louvre), and the Place de la Concorde (site of the infamous revolutionary-era guillotine). The statue is unofficially known as "Georges Going For a Walk on a Chilly Autumn Day in Paris." A statue of Charles de Gaulle, inventor of the airport, sits a few blocks to the West.

Q. Is it easy to blend in with the Parisians, or will it be obvious that I am a tourist?
A. When you walk around Boston, do you take pictures of the John Hancock building? Do you speak German to the waiters at Bertucci's? I didn't think so. That being said, it really doesn't matter, especially when the line of people waiting to go up Eiffel Tower can be seen from outer space.

Q. I have more questions about Paris, can I pose them to you?
A. Sure.