The humidity continues but it is supposed to break sometime today or tonight.
Please?
Since I stayed indoors yesterday, I got a lot done around the house. Remember, I’m always more efficient when Don isn’t here and he was in the city yesterday. Also – my part of the deductions is finished, Don’s in the middle of putting his part together and we will be done on time. Ta dah!
My friend Barbara, a reader of this blog, recently contacted me and asked if I wanted her Arthur dollhouse kit, as she had never used it. If you remember, I need replacement parts for my rescued dollhouse, which is an Arthur. Yes, I said! So she sent them off to me and the other day I went to the post office and there was a big package from Barbara.
All of the Arthur components. Yay!
Being Barbara, she also added a few little gifts.
A beautiful painting that looked kind of familiar. As I turned it over I saw this:
Wallace Nutting! Perfect.
On a side note, if you look to the right, you’ll get an idea of the globs of glue I need to remove from this dollhouse.
A sweet stool with pretty flowers on the seat.
And two charming plates.
Thank you so much, Barbara! For everything!
Yesterday, I started to address the glaringly empty mantel/shelf that is over my desk. It used to hold many of my figural egg cups.
Here’s what I came up with:
The beginning of shelf full of sheep. There are four putz sheep and one little sheep, most likely from a nativity scene. (Putz sheep were also used in nativity scenes.) The one in the middle is the official Lamb With a Party Hat that I bought in California many years ago. I made a hat for her and she became the logo for this blog.
I look forward to collecting more sheep and adding them to the shelf.
Our Big News
Here’s what’s on the docket for October. We celebrate 20 years of marriage on October 12th. Considering we didn’t meet until we were in our forties, 20 years is quite a big deal for us. This year has been both incredible and heartbreaking and we want to finish it off on a positive note.
So…we’re going to London and Paris with a stop in Edinburgh and we’re in the midst of planning it right now. We’re going to make our flight reservations tomorrow. We figure we’ll be gone about 2½ weeks, maybe a bit longer. We’re so excited!!!
We have been discussing this for a long time, trying to pin down where exactly we want to go. Last week we suddenly changed the itinerary to Paris and Venice, which would also be wonderful. But we ended up changing it back to London and Paris. If we can afford another trip in the future, we’d love to do Venice, Budapest, Prague, etc. This morning we firmed up a lot of details, now we just have to sit down tomorrow and figure out travel times, how many days in each city, and book the flights.
It’s a big, big deal for us as we don’t have a lot of discretionary income and this may end up being a one-time-only sort of trip. If so, we figured London and Paris were the places we simply had to visit. A romantic anniversary in Paris sounds pretty darned wonderful.
Since this is coming out of my inheritance, I thank my mom and dad for this opportunity for Don and I to travel to Europe together.
We’d love to hear where you’ve stayed, what you suggest we see, any tips on reasonable hotels, etc. I haven’t been to London since 2001 and that trip was with my students and it was planned for us. The one thing that Don and I want to do is explore the cities and walk a lot. Yes, we want to see certain well known tourist attractions, but our main focus will be on discovering little side streets and cafes and the architecture and beauty of each city. And we’ll see a couple of plays while we’re in London, as well.
Cannot wait!
Happy Thursday.
I’m so excited for you and Don! I wondered if it was the trip to London & Paris you mentioned a few years ago. How wonderful. I’m coming up on my 5 yr anniversary of my Paris trip. A once in a lifetime trip for me also. It truly was a thrill of a lifetime. I saw museums and a few other tourist spots but my favorite times were walking the streets, cafes and shopping the open markets on the Rue Cler. I often wish I could go to London and who knows but for now it doesn’t seem possible. A 20th anniversary in Paris is perfect!
Love the shelf with the sheep. So adorable and really fun. So many sweet gifts from Barbara!!
We’ve very excited, Linda.
nice gift from barbara, sweet sheep shelf and glad about the progress on your taxes, but …
wow and yay for you and don to celebrate your togetherness with a trip to europe!!! i am very happy for you two! unfortunately it’s been too many years (45; i went as a kid) since i was in europe to be able to give you any meaningful suggestions, so i’ll just say i am glad you two are making this big trip and have a safe and fun time!
kathy in iowa
We are giddy at the thought of it!
Wow, Claudia, how exciting! So happy for you both – the memories you make will last the rest of your lives. I haven’t been to London since 1982 (!) but I’ve been twice to Paris in recent years so now you are going to be bombarded with my breathless advice on my favorite city in the world. I was traveling with Dean who had business and my first time was in the spring and the second in December. While Paris is a breathtakingly lovely city any time, I was glad my first time was in spring so I had plenty of time to walk everywhere since in winter it gets dark by 4 p.m. and the sun doesn’t come up until almost 9 a.m.
Anyway, If you are spending a week in each city, do book an apartment. It’s so much more comfortable, and cheaper, than a hotel. Plus you have a kitchen. That Dec. trip, our apartment in Paris was in the La Marais neighborhood and right down the street was a bakery. I would nip down to get my fresh croissant to go back and eat with marmalade while I waited for the sun to come up before heading out for the day.
If you are short on time, skip the Louvre and do the Musee d’Orsay. Not so overwhelmingj (our first time in the Louvre turned into a “death march”) and then go across to the Tuileries Jardin and see the Monet water lilies at L’Orangerie. Of course, visiting the city with a husband conducting business with the French government sometimes colors your view differently than the average tourist, but the particular senator he was dealing with took us to dinner at a restaurant on the top of the African American History Museum that had a spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower. Otherwise, we avoided actually going down TO the Tower, preferring to view it from a bit of a distance or from the Seine.
Sorry to be so long-winded, but you guys will absolutely love walking around Paris.
Have to go to the Louvre. I have to see the Mona Lisa. Don has seen it, but I haven’t. We’re just going to let it happen and discover what we discover.
That’s the way to do it for sure. As I said, you will love walking Paris and finding something new around every corner. Re the Mona Lisa, you just have to be patient and fight the crowds if you want to get within viewing distance.
Yes, Don has mentioned that!
And be prepared that it’s not a large painting at all. But it’s her eyes; they follow you.
I know that. Don has seen it and prepared me for the size. Can’t wait to see the eyes.
Don’t know how it works today, but I couldn’t take any of my personal belongings into the Louvre; had to leave my purse/tote bag with the front kiosk/security, which didn’t make me feel too secure since it had all my key stuff in it like passport, guide books, wallet (money), etc. I wasn’t very prepared (unseasoned traveler; inexperienced) but I shoulda known because even all those years ago at Windsor Castle, they thoroughly went thru my bag although I was allowed to carry it in.
xo
I agree on the louvre! But we liked the gardens there, as the Luxembourg gardens. Hit all the high lights. We were in an air b n b in Montmartre, loved it, the neighborhood and cafes…easy to get to other areas and quieter. Love London but we’re also there on business so someone else paid the bills! What a wonderful time you will have. Oh, and you must see a play, smaller more intimate theaters, I knew you would do this😀😘
Oh, and Edinburgh! We went to the Tattoo one year!
I spent two weeks in Edinburgh during the Festival many years ago. Saw just about everything. It’s such a gorgeous city and I know Don will love it.
I’ve seen plays in London – in the West End and at the National. Excited to find out what will be playing when we’re there!
Oh my gosh!!! London, Paris, and Edinburgh!! Heart be still! Wow, just wow!
Thoughts: I was first going to say go to Hye-on-Wye for the bookshops, but that is a bit of a jaunt. So, go to Giveny, to see Claude Monet’s gardens. There are different trips and tours from Paris that are available. Of course, there is Le Louvre! There really are so many, many things to see and do. I would need years to do and see everything on my list!
I am giddy for you guys!
There are a lot of places I’d love to go in England, but we only have so much time – have to be back to vote!
That’s so amazing Claudia! What a wonderful way to spend your 20 year anniversary! We have 30 coming up in a few years and we are planning a big trip.
May you have safe travels and the most incredible adventure you e ever experienced! Blessings.
Thank you, Belinda!
Is Don taking his cameras? Oh, the photos he could take! Oh my goodness!
Sorry for the second post .
No! Those cameras are WAY too heavy and we’re traveling light! I’ll take my big girl camera and he may take his vintage Canon 33mm camera. And our phones, of course!
Good morning!
What a wonderful & generous gift from Barbara!
I too, haven’t been to London since 2001 and Paris, even far longer. But I have been pulling together a list of things I would do and/or sound interesting, if I got a chance to visit London, again. Maybe something would interest you?
Enjoy!
Do:
Emirites Air Line (cable car) – http://www.emiratesairline.co.uk
Walk:
Kensington Walk: https://www.thelondoner.me/2018/06/scents-and-sensibility-kensington.html
Thames Path/Walk:https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path
Visit:
Strawberry Hill House:
http://www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk/visit-us/
Thank you so much for the links, Deborah!
What fun to plan and celebrate!
The Kensington area in London is lovely.
In Paris we stayed at this hotel – https://www.hotelaumanoir.com/en/
A beautiful, small boutique hotel. Note: the lift fits about 1 person and 1 suitcase! It was so central to everything and we walked everywhere.
Thank you so much, Julie!
What a wonderful gift from Barbara….very thoughtful.
And…what excitement! I am thrilled for you. Planning is half the fun….that will be a wonderful trip. Having never been to Paris or London, I have no suggestions. But…I will ask my son if he has any out of the way spots he might recommend in London. They are out and about almost every weekend, and might have a suggestion or two.
We only spent a short amount of time in Edinburgh. I loved that city…very old world…almost like stepping back in time. You will have a fantastic time making new memories…and planning the next 20 years! ;)
I spent a couple of weeks there in the nineties (with Rick!) when we took our students to perform in the Edinburgh Festival. I loved it there. Not every city has a castle right in the middle of town!
In the Fringe Festival? That’s exciting!! We live outside Edmonton, Alberta, which hosts the 2nd Largest Fringe Festival in the World, with Edinburgh being the first of course. Fringe just finished here after 10 days of amazing performances. I’d love to attend Fringe in Scotland one day …. a dream!
X Chy
Yes – it was in 1991. Incredible experience, both with our students and the two productions they brought to the Festival, and the opportunity to watch so much great theater. That’s where I had the chance to see Alan Richman on stage. Unforgettable.
Wow!!Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary. One suggestion I would make is to go to the area where amatuer artists are in Paris and have a drawing made of both you and Don to commemerate this trip. I don’t know where it is because it has been over 30 plus years. And also the Notre Dome Church. I wouldn’t take the boat down the Seine. I don’t remember much of it because my husband and I fell asleep on the boat. Of course the Louvre. I would be curious of your response when you see the Mona Lisa. :)
I think you’re speaking of Montmartre.
I know the Mona Lisa is quite small. I’m prepared for that.
Thanks, Trina.
Your big news is great – that will be a wonderful trip. I’ve been to London, but not Paris. We spent our honeymoon in England 24 years ago and we combined a few days in London with a country side visit where each day we checked into a hotel and they phoned ahead and reserved the next night where our travels led us. You have to rent a car of course to do that. We saw Starlight Express by Andrew Lloyd Weber in London and visited a couple castles. There is so much to do and see!
There is, indeed! Thank you, Karen!
What lovely news!
My downfall is books and as well as the countless wonderful second-hand bookshops around London, the Tate in London has an amazing book/gift shop.
Forgot to mention the little stool is from Lea’s Atelier Miniature – wouldn’t it be wonderful if you have the time to see her RL shop when you’re in Paris?
So very happy for you both..
I’d sure like to find time to visit her shop, Barbara! Thank you for EVERYTHING!
Beautiful gifts, wonderful news! So happy for you! But, remember—and this is of life and death importance—Look the Wrong Way First, before crossing a street in London! (Just from experience.)
Oh, I know! I’ve been there three times! I did just mention that to Don this morning, though, because he’s never been there.
Oh my goodness, this is so exciting! Brian and I want to do a trip like that someday. Right now, we can’t because of our beloved kitties – no one to take care of them. They’re on special diets and two are on medications. And Zippo is so old now (19!) that I would never leave him – it would probably be too hard on him. So yes…”someday”! ;-)
I think your parents would be very pleased that this is how you’re spending your inheritance. Definitely a trip of a lifetime.
That’s the reason we couldn’t do it before now and why we have held off adopting another dog. We wanted to get this trip in. Our dogs were in hospice-like care for 6 or 7 years, total. I understand.
Thanks so much, Melanie.
Congrats on planning trip – I knew in the back of my mind that might be the surprise. Been to London and Paris (and other places many times), as my bff was transferred to Belgium for several years and I went to visit her several times and we went around to different places. Anyway, she just spent her anniversary in Paris last year and went on the Bateaux Mouche (dinner on a boat that travels around the on the Seine) if you do at night its breathtaking. We did together many years ago. Aside from congrats, I have some info, I follow a blogger who is from CA not far from here, she married a frenchman many years ago and has lived there ever since. Her name is Corey. Her blog is http://willows95988.typepad.com/tongue_cheek/ and they have an apt that they rent out sometimes. They actually live in Provance. It looks charming and she’s filled it with many things from her antique shopping/selling/visiting. Thought this might be just the thing for you. Bon Voyage…
I know of Corey – I have followed her blog for years – and I did contact her but the apartment is booked in October. Quel dommage!
Thanks, Diana!
So pleased to hear you are coming to this side of the pond. I live in Wales now but lived near Edinburgh originally and you will just love it. Paris is fabulous and do try Venice,I went there for the first time on a cruise in May and I still look at my 500 pictures almost every day.I am a great Donna Leon fan and it was just like being in her books! London we go to as often as we can and we always stay in the Tavistock Hotel in Tavistock Square near the British museum.It is an Art Deco hotel,is very reasonably priced(for London!) and is near buses,underground and easy to walk everywhere. Enjoy,you have earned it.
p.s. I celebrate my 50th anniversary at Christmas and am thinking where to go….do you recommend New York? shame I don’t fly.
I think Venice will be a future (fingers crossed) trip. I really want to see that beautiful city.
Thank you for the tip about the Tavistock hotel, Megan.
Yes, I always recommend NYC – it’s a gorgeous and fascinating city. You should visit!
What exciting news. The weather should be nice that time of year. Barbara sent you a nice package of goodies. What a good friend. Enjoy.
Marilyn
We’re very excited, Marilyn!
Congratulations,I don’t know anyone who deserves this more. What a very unique couple you are!So much a like yet so different. That little Blue stepping stool is the prettiest doll Furniture Ever! What a lovely friend ooxo. Judy A
Thank you, Judy! We’re so looking forward to this trip!
What lovely gifts from Barbara!! You have such generous subscribers!!
I wonder if you follow Susan Branch? They just got back from 2 months in England, Wales & Scotland. Their trip was a LOT of walking and spending time in and amongst the people. She has a couple of wonderful posts with many many pictures about that trip. Might find a few ideas!
We lost our humidity yesterday. It is wonderful!! Hope this is headed your way!
Yes, I follow Susan. She is so fortunate to be able to spend so much time there! Thanks, Chris!
Sounds wonderful! Enjoy every minute of it!
Thank you, Tana!
So excited for you and Don. In London I’ve stayed at the Day’s Inn on Kennington Rd, just south of Waterloo. Not necessarily an English atmosphere, however great location. On 3 bus lines, without traffic, just 12 minutes to Trafalgar Square, across the street from a tube station. Not too long a walk to the South Bank. Local pubs and restaurants nearby. So many places to visit but I think you’d like concerts at St. Martin-in-the-fields in Trafalgar Square. There’s a terrific cafe there in the crypt, not very expensive. Another spot you’d like is the Persephone Books shop. They specialize in reprints of fiction and non-fiction by mid-twentieth century mostly women writers. And it’s close to the British museum and the Times Literary Supplement bookshop. Also do you know the “A lady in London” blog? It’s written by an American ex-pat who lives in London. She has described many neighborhoods and given walking tour directions of different areas. One way to see the cathedrals without paying the entrance fee is to go to a service or organ concert. You can’t wander around but if you’re pressed for time it’s a chance to at least get inside for a look. If you’d like a look at a historic home there are a couple of National Trust properties in or close to the city – Osterley Park, Ham House and Fenton House ( which is close to the Keats House and Hampstead Heath). As you can tell I love spending time in London and enjoy finding out of the way places. Also check out Oyster Cards for using the bus and tube.
Thanks so much for all the tips, Kathy!
Wow, that’s pretty darned-big news; congrats! I know you’d been putting this trip on hold since your dad died.
So long/too long since I did that trip; I was a baby, just into my 20s. I loved the town of Windsor at the time. And the English countryside not too far outside of London, like ‘Shakespeare’ country of Stratford-upon-Avon. Very pretty to drive thru areas with the green pastures bordered by low stone walls/hedgerows. Henley-on-Thames was pretty in my memory. Again, not far out of the city. I hope you’ve been keeping up with all Susan Branch’s posts of this last year; she only got back from Britain/Ireland in July I think; last year included Scotland. Definitely had a post about Edinburgh. All that is archived on her blog and is a terrific travelogue if you will.
I was on a budget/whirlwind tour; always thought I’d get back and then never did…so, very short on time and with London being my first stop, and I was alone, not yet acquainted with anyone on my tour, I stuck to the organized jaunts and didn’t get out and walk the streets like I would today. But I was very excited to see the Changing of the Guard, and to gaze across the water at Big Ben. Today, I’d love to see Notting Hill and some of London’s glitzy neighborhoods with their private, walled gardens (take a peek in!). Didn’t you at one time look in on Janet Korff’s blog, The Gardeners Cottage? Her husband is so sick right now and she’s only blogging infrequently but, if you go back into her blog archive, she took a wonderful trip to England and France on her own a few years ago, so she has lots of photos and spoke of lesser-known gardens, shops and cafes in both London and Paris. Like, walking around on her own a lot of the time.
A standout memory for me in Paris was climbing the city staircases in evening in Montmartre. Views of the city from above; eerily foggy. Images in my mind of Toulouse-Lautrec. Today, I’d for sure take a little cruise on the Seine in the daytime. You could take two weeks and still never see everything in the Louvre but how can you not miss the Mona Lisa?
A blog I used to like to visit was from the culinary enthusiast, the Brit named Rachel Khoo. (Wiki) “After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu, she worked at the Parisian cookbook store and café, La Cocotte, where she ran baking workshops and served as the store’s pastry chef. Khoo opened a small restaurant fit for just two diners at a time. She prepared and served food out of her Paris flat in the Belleville neighborhood.” She lives in Stockholm now because she married a Swede but she wrote of her travels throughout France in one or more of her published cookbooks. I enjoyed her shows on TV. Another blog I used to visit is called My French Country Home and that owner/author would make several trips a year into Paris from her home in Normandy; she’s probably got all kinds of interesting tips and photos about Paris in her archives as she knew all kinds of out-of-the-way places (untouristy) to go. Gosh, there’s a jillion stuff on Paris on the web; it’s a fave blogging topic out there, too.
Today, if I won the lottery, I’d go spend a month in Paris, leasing a tiny apartment on one of the off streets, walk everywhere in comfortable flats, a midi skirt and pullover sweater (neutrals, and no jeans) with a scarf around my neck, take a cloth shopping bag and load up on farmstand food in bins at the storefront of small grocers, buy a good bread and cheese (and chocolate), read in a park, drink a coffee at a sidewalk café; just soak it in. Buy some flowers in a seller’s stall. French architecture alone is almost too much to absorb at first. Spend some time in the lovely Tuileries Garden and take a ride on its gorgeous carousel.
I’ve been to Edinburgh, so I’m fairly familiar with that city, but it’s been a while!
As far as Paris goes, we’ll be walking most everywhere, so comfort is paramount. If that means jeans, it means jeans! But we’ll packing lightly and wearing a lot of black, which will be easy to coordinate.
Black is a smart way to go; good thinking on your part. Saw this about that – – one of those (many!) ‘What to Wear in Paris’ articles (I think the piece was written within the last five years; didn’t copy down the particulars; I edited for content [it doesn’t seem too preachy]):
“You can never go wrong wearing black in Paris – in fact, you’ll notice that this is the color scheme that most of the locals live in…black is slimming, always in style, and versatile – a black sweater or pants can be dressed down for daywear and easily spruced up for a night on the town…as a traveler, black has the added benefit of not showing the wear and tear of a trip…”
“…don’t over-pack with too many outfits; bring basics that travel well and that you can mix and match…Paris is a city made for walking and you’ll be on your feet more than you can imagine…unsavory types try to prey on tourists, so don’t make yourself an easy mark for pickpockets with the white tennis shoes (leave them at home, but don’t be paranoid about the pickpockets either – just carry what you need, leave excess cash and valuables in a hotel safe, and use your common sense when wandering around tourist hot spots; women should wear a purse with the shoulder strap draped diagonally across the body…if in a highly trafficked area with a lot of jostling, pull the purse towards your abdomen and hold it across the front zipper…men should carry their wallets in an inside front pocket); invest in shoes designed for walking…one day of climbing steps up monuments and navigating cobblestoned corridors and you’ll understand why…can be best to wear a pair of flats, loafers or short-heeled boots that have been battle-tested at home for walking…remember, Paris is not the city to break-in a new pair of shoes…”
“…jeans are OK – five years ago, we never saw anyone in Paris wearing jeans except teenagers…today, denim is a growing Paris trend…jeans are everywhere – upscale restaurants have even lessened their dress codes to admit designer-jean clad customers…we advocate being comfortable – you are on vacation…but, unlike the U.S., common places such as shops and cafes are often considered part of a Parisian’s ‘home’ – so, with dressing it up even slightly, you are showing respect, and this respect will translate into better treatment in cafes, shops and restaurants…”
“…don’t worry about your hair and make-up; a bonus about visiting Paris is that Parisians tend to favor a natural look even more than their American counterparts; hairstyles are unstructured and air dried…in many European churches, showing bare legs and shoulders is a sign of disrespect – this idea must have spread to outside the church, because you rarely see Parisian men and women wearing shorts in public…”
“…for the French, the social aspect of LINGERING over a coffee is the point…since getting coffee in a rush isn’t a priority, you’ll notice that service is slower than in the States; there are less wait staff working more tables…and, unlike the ubiquitous ’20-something’ servers in the US, you’ll notice many servers in Paris aren’t actually ‘spring chickens’ (they’ve worked in the same cafés for decades); if you’re in a rush, do what the locals do and order a café at the bar (you will save a few euros and you’ll be ‘in and out’ in no time…” (An aside from Vicki – – don’t know if it’s like this now, but I remember in Paris never getting a soft drink with ice in it; no ice!)
“…do ride the Metro, just don’t throw out your ticket – hold onto your ticket until you exit the station (the Metro Police occasionally stand at the exits, and using hand-held scanners, inspect every exiting ticket; if you don’t have your ticket, you will be asked to pay a fine on the spot)…most tour books advise getting to the Eiffel Tower via the Bir Hakeim métro stop…technically, this is the closest stop, but exit at the Trocadéro station directly across the Seine instead; walk across the grounds of the Palais de Challot, and marvel at the view of the Eiffel Tower framed by reflecting pools and dancing fountains; cross the Seine on the Pont D’Iena and be amazed at how imposing the Eiffel Tower is when you are up close…”
“…in the afternoons, tours that spend the mornings sightseeing at museums, disgorge their customers in the Grand Magasins district…hundreds of tourists spill out of buses and into the Printemps or the Galeries Lafayette; it’s hard to walk through the crowds, let alone shop, so get to the stores at opening (10:00am), and be enjoying a café creme at 2:00pm when the crowds arrive…avoid expensive cab rides; walk or take the metro; Paris is a compact city, about 6 miles across, and no building in Paris is more than a few hundred yards from a Metro stop…”
Of course all that’s just one travel site’s opinion (I’m sure you and Don, as you do your travel research, are coming up on all kinds of tips and suggestions/advice; and with all the time you’ve both spent in NYC [and you, London; Don, Paris; European travel already in your background], you certainly know the drill about safe travel in any kind of big city – – I did once work with a guy whose rich friend wore some big glittery necklace and got it ripped right off her neck on a Manhattan sidewalk but, you know, she was a walking advertisement wearing such a flashy piece!). Reading all this stuff online about what to wear and do, and what not to wear and do, you just have to take what you need (if any of it at all), then discard the rest; you are totally right to do intuitively what’s most comfortable for you. (In retrospect, if I was going to Paris myself today, I probably really would wear my collection of unattractive black Croc clogs…because nothing else works for me, and it’s important to do what works!)
Oh, Claudia, do walk down the mile-long Champs-Elysees for me! I never got to do that; I was SO sick with near-pneumonia by the end of my trip that, to my ever-since regret, I missed a lot of Paris; last stop before coming home. Paris is such a beautiful, beautiful city; you and Don are going to have the time of your life (a very romantic trip for you)!
Thanks, Vicki!
Well, I certainly can’t be of much help with travel plans – haven’t been to Europe since 1973 – but am still thrilled to bits for you. You’ll have the best time, I’m sure. Personally I’d stick to London myself. I know it’s hugely controversial to say, but I just didn’t care that much for Paris, at least not the “regular Parisienne citizen” part of it. The uber-wealthy areas are wonderful, but not being uber-wealthy, all I could do was look at it whizzing by in a bus or cab. Travel bummer. London was something else entirely. I could live there easily and never run out of places to see or wander about aimlessly. And the parks! And the shopping. And the West End! Oh my – you’ll have no shortage of things to do, that’s for sure. Looking forward to hearing much more. Hope you’ll be blogging “on location” too! Peace.
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
I know what you’re saying. Even all those years ago, I sort of geared up for what many told me was a common Parisienne attitude of being cold, aloof, unfriendly and almost rude. But I had someone ‘in the know’ explain it to me at the time: It’s not easy to own a business and work in Paris; not everybody who works in Paris can afford to live there, so they commute in and fight traffic just like we do, fight the crowds, and then the city is so expensive, it’s not like they can afford to eat lunch out everyday; that sort of thing. A lot of those people are just like you and me, struggling to make a living and get on in their lives. Then they see all these Americans come over there on vacation, apparently with money ‘to burn’ and it sets up a resentment about rich, entitled Americans. They don’t realize that a good portion of those Americans have saved for YEARS to be able to afford a trip to Europe. But ‘ugly’ Americans have come before us with the Bermuda shorts and tacky t-shirts, cameras hanging down their fronts, insisting on ‘how much does this cost in U.S. dollars’ (forgetting we are a GUEST in these countries), refusing to learn one word of the language and expecting everyone to just automatically know English. Americans have gone to Europe with a certain arrogance that’s not appreciated by the inhabitants of these foreign countries.
I’ve read about this, of how European travel became more affordable for ‘average’ Americans in the 1960s and into the 1970s to where tour buses of us were running up and down and all over the place in Central/Southern Europe. An American invasion! Maybe we overwhelmed some of these countries/people. So, I think it just makes common sense that, before going out of the U.S., show some courtesy: Learn the money of whatever country you’re going to (although of course today, I guess the euro is everywhere, right?), learn a couple of words in that country’s language (like please and thank you)…and, again, just remember that we are guests and they are host. Show some respect. I can remember being in a good-sized shop in Paris and the woman who waited on me behind a counter just seemed incredibly bored, like she’d seen enough of tourists in general (and, to her, we were NOT special). Mostly, she just seemed tired. But I can remember being in the south of France, in Nice, and haltingly speaking my school-girl French to a kindly pharmacist (chemists, as they’re called, I think) who was doing his best to figure out the right medicine for my sore throat. He wasn’t snobbish or disdaining at all.
My overall impression of walking the streets and being in Paris although it was only for mere days was that it’s formal. The people have reserve. I thought about it a lot later; that Paris is…elegant. Upscale. If I did see a woman in slacks, she had a nice blazer or well-cut coat over those slacks. I didn’t see Parisians walking around in ‘trainers’ (running shoes or, goodness, the Crocs I often wear; no…just, NO). Maybe things have changed; again, it’s been a long time since I was there, but…big, cosmopolitan, international city with serious professionals elbow to elbow in a busy workweek, everything abuzz with activity and motion. I remember feeling self-conscious and dressed down, like my travel clothes weren’t good enough for Paris. I bought a silk scarf the first afternoon I was there and it didn’t come off my neck til I was on the plane home. I needed a little extra ‘something’ for Paris…
I’m sure I will not be elegantly dressed like most Parisian women. I’m going for comfort and ease and, frankly, I’m NOT Parisian, so why try to be?
I think any trip is what you make of it. As we plan to walk through neighborhoods and explore, we will explore wealthy and not-so-wealthy neighborhoods. There’s nothing to stop us from walking anywhere!
Twenty years plus London and Paris!!!…WOW…What a dream come true..I will be with you in my mind and in my heart!…hugs
Thank you so much, Nancy!
In 2010 we stayed at the Delmere Hotel in Sussex Gardens. A Best Western, but in an old townhouse. Three minute walk from Paddington Station, close to bus and Tube, lots of small, very reasonable restaurants. A bus tour – hop on, hop off – would give Don a good overview. The one we took included a short boat trip on the Thames from the Tower.
Don’t miss Harrods food halls!
How about a day trip to Oxford?
Thanks for the hotel reference, Margaret.
I’ve been to Harrods food halls, but I know Don would love it there!
I’ve been to Oxford and since Don doesn’t care, I think we might do Cambridge this time.
Delighted for you!
I wish I still lived in London as I would have been delighted to host you
Can however give you lots of tips for London- the V and A is a must as is Tate Modern- particularly on a Friday night for the Tate Late which I used to really enjoy- and I hope you would too
In Paris I love the Rodin Sculpture gallery- beautiful setting which is breathtaking and a lovely oasis in the city, with a great little cafe selling grand coffee
My daughter currently lives in London ( sadly she has no spare room to offer you) but I will ask her advice from a current Londoners perpective
If you fancy a day outside of the capital BATH is about 80 minutes on the train and is beautiful- and I could be your tour guide!
Have a great time planning your trip
Siobhan xx
I’ve been to the V & A. Not sure Don will be up for it, but we’ll see.
We’re planning some day trips, maybe Bath, maybe Cambridge, maybe Stratford-on-Avon – we’ll be deciding on those once we arrive!
I think (especially with your Shakespeare background) you would LOVE to walk around Anne Hathaway’s cottage, Claudia; I remember the garden as being really, really lovely and, oh, that charming thatched roof … it’s just a mile from Stratford, ancient farmhouse … run by a Trust and is a museum, but I just remember the atmosphere as being very tranquil and quiet after busy London, my senses heightened with the sound of bees buzzing amid the garden flowers and the welcome feel of warm sun on my head after some rain. It was mid-May of a year. Any bit of English countryside you can grab will be well worth it!
I’ve been there. Many years ago, but I’ve seen it. If Don wants to go, we’ll go, but I’m thinking he won’t. Liverpool is his Mecca.