Paris Diaries: tips, impressions and dispelling of the common myths about the City of Lights and its inhabitants

Most Americans traveling to Paris tend to fall into one our of two groups. One group had watched "How to Steal a Million" and "The Devil Wears Prada" a few too many times and expects to be dropped off in the middle of Paris Ritz complete with designer luggage and wardrobe consisting exclusively of Givenchi and Chanel.

The other group is convinced that all French - and particularly Parisians - are arrogant, rude and just plain mean. The members of the second group travel to Paris with the sole purpose of proving that their assumption is correct. They bustle around complaining loudly about slow service, snooty store clerks and not enough people speaking English.

The author of "Paris Diaries" belongs to neither of the two groups. In fact, she hopes to convert those who do to her own approach: that of low-maintenance sophistication, good humor and unabashed love of romance, good wine and delicious French pastry.

What to pack? What to read? What to eat? Sit down with the dryly humorous and unfailingly amusing Maria K. to find out.