Muriel

This question seems very heated, eh?

To ask this question based on a myth, it is slightly ignorant. Common sense would dictate that the answer is yes for some, no for others. Just like most stereotype myths end up being.

Travel on the Nile sleeping one night above deck to see the biggest sky and the darkest, loneliest world.

That just made my skin crawl with excitement.

I want to do such a thing one day.

Oh, I’ve tried Google. Among other search engines…

I just thought there would be something on traveling the west coast on Highway 01. But it all seems to be about California’s piece of the pie, which is the least of the part I need since I live here.

I’m mostly concerned about drive time (without stops, let’s say) – trying to figure out how long it will take instead of the 5 fwy.

I do have AAA actually, and I use their TripTik. The documents came in yesterday. But, they tell you to take the 5 fwy, as all the directions do…

I suppose I’ll just manually go in and choose places along Hwy 1 and see what AAA says?

’Ello!

I have never stayed in the yurts, but they look nice. It seems they may be for the more outdoors-y person, instead of obviously staying in a hotel like The Ahwahnee. It does seem like a great compromise for you and your wife though.

Did that person tell you why they didn’t think it was a good idea? Did you consider what type of lodging/camping person s/he is?

I think it looks wonderful, but photos can be a bad representation. I still would love to try out a yurt someday; it’s all about the adventure, eh?

Have fun regardless! Yosemite is magnificent and one of my favorite places. (My beau proposed to me at Vernal Falls =D)

Well, I’m not going to try and convince you because frankly, Vegas is a place for a certain kind of person or mood.

If you have a lot of money, eat at the best restaurants there (and make reservations!).

If you like to gamble, try you’re luck at roulette tables with a low buy in and see if you can double your money on red.

If you like to dance (and can deal with the high cover charges for the popular clubs), then shake it like a polaroid peeeture. But beware what weekend you’re there; my friend and I almost went to a club and were told the cover charge was higher because Jay Z or 50 Cent or whoever was performing there.

(I’d say call ahead of time for anything you plan to do.)

If you like smoking, oh heavens, Vegas is a paradise for that. (I actually hated that aspect of Vegas. You can’t get away from the smell if you’re life depended on it – or maybe if you drove away from the strip.)

Vegas can be really fun and exciting, but it’s not very cheap. I guess if you’ve never been, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of chance, then I would say go for the experience. And remember, valet parking is FREE at major hotels like the Bellagio, Venetian, etc. So if you have you’re own car, it’s cheaper than taxis and such.

I’m not sure what you mean by “goes with”, but here are links of information when I just searched Google for “wearing furisode kimono”

http://www.hanamiweb.com/kimono.html

http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/fashion/kimono.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furisode

I’m sure you know there are little details in wearing a kimono that may symbolize your marital status, age, etc. The symbols may be outdated or unused, but still recognized by those ‘in the know.’ Also, a furisode is formal attire for single women, which means the obi is tied in a more fanciful way and should match the kimono fabric.

You would need the kimono underwear, collar lining, all the ties for around the waist both under and above the obi, obi pillow, tabi (socks), zori (slippers)…

One tip that is the utmost for wearing a kimono is to make sure the collar doesn’t sit flat on your neck. If you know how to tie an obi though, you know more than me – I couldn’t figure mine out. Although now, there is a probably a wealth of information online.

(Most of my knowledge is with kimonos worn by geisha. If I remember more info, I’ll post again.)

Thanks!

I think a festival would be nice, if it weren’t our honeymoon. We’d rather stay away from the drones of people visiting and the lodging prices skyrocketing.

Mostly, I love Japan’s culture. So we would probably want to experience as much of it as possible.

I don’t think we would want to stay in Tokyo, just because it’s city life and we’re not planning on shopping til we drop.

I’ve heard many mention to visit Kyoto, Shibuya, Shinjuku (sp?)…

Oh, of all the things to see, so many have mentioned great places.

But, it does depend on your budget and interests. We walked the entire Louvre (minus one wing because it was closed) in one day (about 6-7 hours). We saw all the “main” art pieces and slowly saw everything else as we walked by.

Of course, that’s not the way to see the art work if you’re really into art, but we still specifically set aside an entire day for the whole museum. That was the minimum I could do for such fantastic work.

Sadly, we missed Orsay – which everyone tells me is better than the Louvre.

Besides pickpockets, watch out for the men making bracelets at the bottom of Sacre Coeur. They’ll spot you as a tourist, take your wrist, and act all friendly as they tell you about their lives in Africa while they braid a string bracelet. Then you find out it’s not free. It’s not even cheap. We got caught in that and they wanted 20 EUROS! I ended up giving them $20 for two bracelets; my cousin said she was followed and bothered by the guys all the way to the Moulin Rouge!

There are also beggars under the Eiffel Tower; one girl reached into our bag of food and took off with our cherries from Mireille’s shop! ON MY BIRTHDAY! DURING MY FIRSTVISIT TO THETOWER! Anyway.

Mireille’s (at Rue de Verneuil and Rue de Beaune) is a great little grocer, she’s very friendly and her husband speaks English. Her shop is catty-corner to Eric Kaiser’s boulangerie. Nice place.

I have more stories and places, but that’s enough for now =)

OH OH. The oldest chocolate shop in Paris is in Saint Germain. Very expensive, but oh so pretty. It’s across from the medical school; exit the metro on Saint Germain.