Notes

The Eurostar train is fast (110 mph), quiet, vibration-less and is an easy way to move between London and Paris. But compare fares--there are plenty of low-cost European airlines that take even less time and don't cost as much as some of Eurostar's fares ($49 to over $350). When entering the train lounge at Wellington Station (London), you immediately pass through French immigration, and after that both Pounds and the Euro are accepted.

I arrived in Paris on July 13th to find the Champs Elysées decorated with red, white and blue banners, and grandstands lining the broad avenue. So what celebration was occurring on the 13th? None--but the next day is Bastille Day, the French equivalent to the American July 4th.

Yes, just like Samuel L. Jackson noted in the movie, MacDonald's does call the Quarter Pounder something different in Paris--it's the Cheese Royale. The MacDonald's is two-story, about 30-feet wide, but almost 150 feet deep.

Are you walking Paris? Be prepared, because it was laid out on a grand scale. It can take you a long time to walk what's considered 2-3 blocks, because the blocks are huge and the streets are often very wide.

Yes, Apple board member Millard Drexler was CEO of Gap Inc. when the clothing company opened the Paris store in 1999. Perhaps he brought with him some design advice for Apple's Paris store.