Bonjour from France! This week we begin a three-country trek through Europe following the path of Dan Brown's novel (soon to be a major motion picture), The Da Vinci Code (DVC). We begin in Paris; if you want to come along, make sure to keep an open mind, bring your DVC book and your sleuth gear -- because we're off to crack the the Da Vinci Code! (If you're in a hurry or have ADD, don't worry; there's a 2-minute Johnny Jet video at the end of this week's story.)

LOS ANGELES TO NEWARK
I was home for only a couple of days � just enough time change my clothes and go to the Amazing Race premiere in Hollywood. (Did you know it takes a two-month commitment of seclusion -- no phone or email -- to be on that show?) The next day I was off to Europe via Newark on Continental. I figured might as well make the layover to my advantage, so I visited friends and family for the night in Connecticut (50 miles away). Because I changed my outbound flight by a few hours I lost my plush coach seat 16C -- an exit row aisle with a reclining seat on Continental's 737-900 series plane (see SeatGuru.com for the best seats on a wide variety of planes). That was a mistake. The plane to Newark was packed. The only decent seat I could get was 17F (a cramped window seat). Continental needs to start removing a few rows. I'm not particularly tall (6-0), but my knees were jammed. I have no idea how the 6-5 guy sitting next to me in the middle managed. I felt like I was in solitary confinement, because the one time I got up to use the loo, the woman on the aisle gave me attitude. Does that piss you off or what? (Pun intended.) Listen, people: If you don't want to get up, then sit by the window!

CONNECTICUT TO FRANCE
As expected, Connecticut in March was miserable. I'm glad I don't live there anymore � who wants to deal with such cold, depressing weather? It was nice to see everyone � I just wish they'd all move to California for the winter. Eighteen hours after I landed at Newark, I was back � this time on my way to Paris. Yeah, baby -- everyone get up and dance! I took Continental's 10:10 p.m. departure, and was amazed to find that it was a 757, filled to the brim. Can you believe they fly a single-aisle plane to Europe? Talk about being cramped! (Continental's 6:45 p.m. departure to Paris is a wide body 777.) The good news is, I scored an aisle with cool and tiny seatmates, and flight time was only six and a half hours. Gotta love the jet stream going east. For more click HERE.