Before attending a trade show in Lyon recently, I traveled to Paris first. What better way is there then meeting friends for lunch, for tea time and for dinner – and always seeing the famous sights as backdrops wherever you go and sit. It is quite spectacular.
 I really had no time to spare when I got off the RER train from CDG airport, arriving at the Gare du Nord. I basically ran down the Blvd. Magenta to meet webmaster & friend & host Josef and Ric who hosts the site for InTouch Travel at the Place de la Republique. Off we went to a restaurant close to Josef’s work. You’d think this buisnes lunch would be serious. Instead it was carefree and light hearted with a Josef who is a little on a shy side but with a tremendous smile and spirit, delightful to be around. Josef promised to do these corrections and updates to the InTouch Travel’website. Yet his world is really the world of photography. So as we sat across a market hall where he had taken photos of fashion shows for Vogue. He was thrilled about the fact now needing to learn the java script language for his project at Matphoto. Rick who just arrived at that morning from New York was amused by Josef and me comparing our newest toys: IPod and Blackberry and he took many photos to capture our smiles.
 Soon enough I found myself in a metro going to see my friend & host Larry who lives with his family across the Ecole Militaire, as back drop here you find the Eiffel Tower. When I walked up to the fourth floor I was greeted by a whisteling tea kettle, a cat and a 17 year old very old doggie, and a beaming Larry. I always enjoy Larry’s company with his quick wit and good humoredness. He has an acute sense for buisness ideas and making quick bucks. I enjoy immensely our brain storming about this or that. Larry’s 12 year old son Chas and his wife Deboarah had just returned from school. Chas began a conversation, mind you, not in English nor in French but in German. It blew me and his parents away. Here is a 12 year old boy studying German for just 8 months exchanging opinions, and a banter going back and forth…and holding his own. Amazing. To soon I had to leave them.
 I hopped into bus number 87 that would take me to one of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris: Place Odeon & St. Germain. Here is where our new host Emmanuelle awaited me in the quiet elegance of the Relais & Chateau Hotel Catherine. Emmanuelle has plenty of stories to tell: She married an American and spent most of her married life abroad: England, Germany, Switzerland and the United States, before returning once more to Paris after her husband passed away a few months ago. Foreign diplomats seek her services to guide and navigate them not only through Paris but also through French life. She also offers her services to language school where students are eager to be taken around Paris. We definitely enjoyed a wonderful and peaceful time together surrounded by such a distinctive elegance and atmosphere before she headed out to check on her son working on some papers at home.
You or your guests can have the same enchanting visit in Paris as I did. You can become locals by meeting a real person for lunch, tea time or dinner with gorgeous backgrounds! This experience is something you can make happen if you connect with any of our 100 personable hosts featured on the InTouch website.
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