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As I was sitting at a sidewalk cafe in Paris near Notre Dame, I was enjoying watching all the people walk by, viewing the wonderful variety of clothing, hairstyles, shoes, bags, bicycles and motorbikes. I noticed the man sitting next to me was also enjoying the view, but instead of photos, he was drawing some of the sights that were in front of us. I took this photo surreptitiously, so that he didn't know I was taking the photo of him, and I love the play of the pencil, the drawing, his hand, the glass of wine and the bottle of water behind the wine. This is my favorite photo of our visit to Paris.

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Paris Café Life
by Sarah Canez, San Antonio, TX

Sarah's Dream Trip
The Venice-Simplon Orient Express

When I was young, I read stories of long ago about ladies traveling on the Orient Express. The tales always started at a beautiful hotel in Paris and told of romance and mystery in the air while shopping and sightseeing before embarking on the train to Venice. There, the sun would kiss them and they would find their true love.

My dream trip would begin in Paris with my own true love—my husband, Daniel—at the regal Georges V hotel on the Champs Elysées. We would first go shopping for couture fashion, and then ascend the Tour Eiffel and see the City of Light from the top. Once our feet became too tired after visiting the Louvre, we would stop at a small bistro to share a carafe of wine and a plate of cheese.

Next, we would travel on the most luxurious train in the world—the Venice-Simplon Orient Express. In the richly appointed dining car, we would watch the French countryside zoom by while enjoying the world-class cuisine and white linen service. The train's sway and the clacking of the rails would lull us to sleep in our own cabin until our morning arrival in Venice.

A car would take us to the exquisite Hotel Cipriani, where our gracious suite will be in the historic Pallazzetto building overlooking St. Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace. Our suite would include a private butler who would cater to all our needs. Candlelit dining alfresco with regional Italian cuisine are specialties of the hotel: pasta or risotto, shrimp or sea bass, and, of course, a sweet for dessert. A gondola ride after a day of seeing the art of Venice would finish a romantic day at the end of a dream vacation.

Sarah's Travel Tips

• Before departing on your vacation, schedule a tour online for the first day of your trip. That way, you can get a feel for the town's layout and to view sights that you will want to revisit later.

• Street food anywhere can be a wonderful cultural experience. If there's a line of people waiting, it's bound to be good. Don't be afraid of traditional street food—especially if it's fried. Most of it is prepared right in front of you; one could argue that the food is safer than restaurant cuisine, where anything could be happening back in the kitchen.

• When packing for a lengthy trip, keep your suitcase light. If you find that you need a sweater or jacket, you can always buy one locally. Include synthetic, thin items of clothing that you can easily wash by hand in the evening and that will dry rapidly. If you plan to do serious shopping on your trip, pack a foldable, light duffel bag in your suitcase for your overflow purchases (or your dirty laundry!) to bring home.