Paris: Limited Walking

Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 09:26 AM
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Paris: Limited Walking

I've recently recovered from a knee operation and I'm planning a trip to Paris next month. I'm a little worried about all the walking, any suggestions for sight-seeing if I get a little tired?

Thanks!
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 09:33 AM
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The narrated bus tours that go around to the various monuments and sites, would give a good overview of the city?
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 09:34 AM
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Metro stairs can be a killer. Plan on taking more taxi's. Budget for it ahead of time and don't wait until your knee starts hurting.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 09:37 AM
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Plenty of stops at cafés and jardins... it may actually enhance your visit!
If you can raise up to step on board, the public buses are neat to ride - metro has a lot of stairs.

Do museums offer wheelchairs at all?
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 09:38 AM
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The city buses can take you from place to place quite conveniently. Check to see if your hotel is conveniently located for the buses. I agree the metro could be difficult. Not only are there stairs, but there are often long walks underground.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 09:50 AM
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You don't want to aggrivate your knees so take it easy. My SIL has arthritis in both knees, really needs replacement but that's another story. We were in Paris and London two years ago and she DID manage but....she tried the tube in London and the stairs were just way too much for her so we used the buses and taxi's. The museums did have elevators so that helped a lot. We used the hop on/hop off buses...just a couple of steps into the bus so that was OK. I will say, the walking WAS limited and I did miss that..but, you have to see how you feel because you just had the surgery and you don't want to jeaporadize your healing process by pushing too much. The cab fares weren't too awfully much so plan on some of that if you find yourself at a distance from your hotel and just don't have the energy to walk another step, ya know? If you don't speak french at all, have a card from your hotel with you to show the cab driver. Also, as someone suggested, the city buses would be very good to get you close to your destination without having to walk great distances. It can be worked out and you will just love Paris. Bon voyage.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 09:55 AM
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The Musée d'Orsay loans wheelchairs to visitors. Here's a link to their access page:

http://www.musee-orsay.fr/ORSAY/orsa...p?OpenDocument

The Louvre doesn't list this service on their web site but you could contact them (or other museums) by email. Good luck!
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 10:12 AM
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Hi eeyan,

You don't have to walk all the time.

As noted, the buses are frequent and you get to see the city.

During a recent visit with my mother, age 87, I noted that she wouldn't admit to being tired and I had to make her sit and rest. Don't you do the same thing.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 11:34 AM
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When visiting Paris with my similarly limited mother we did this:
1. Start with a half day minivan tour - picks up at hotel, drops you off closer to the attractions than you could get otherwise, provides a nice overview of the main attractions
2. Use the bus system rather than the metro - avoids all those stairs, and you get to see more of Paris as you are riding around, also often gets you closer to your destination than Metro.
3. In rare instances that even the bus requries too much walking, spring for a cab.
4. Wheelchairs are available at most museums, but you may have to ask. Mom was not, at first, keen on the idea but when she realized she could see more in greater comfort she was sold on it. Also, the accommodation granted to WC users sometimes allowed us to avoid long waiting lines (an unexpected extra benefit!)
5. Plan the day with frequent breaks, and without making her feel like an invalid, check occasionally to see if things are OK or a break is needed.
6. If there is something that one person absolutely wants to do that inevitably requires lots of walking, just agree that they will do it alone and make arrangements for the other to do something less demanding (a different activity or even just resting at the hotel.) Afterward, plan something "special" to do together - a nice meal, etc.
If it is any reassurance, we had a great time. In fact, the little bit of slowing down the pace actually let me savor some things more than happens at the typical tourist-trot rhythym.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 11:49 AM
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The Transport Authority has a whole site dedicated to "special needs" passengers. The maps show which Métro stations have provision for people with mobility issues.

http://www.citefutee.com/orienter/accessibilite.php

A real treat for tired knees, and an excellent introduction to the city, is the #42 bus from Gare du Nord (your starting point if you fly into CDG) to the Eiffel Tower. Here's the tourist bus map:

http://www.citefutee.com/picts/plans/gif/reseaux/bus_touristique.gif

I concur with everything said above concerning the Métro, but would add that if your route doesn't involve connections between lines, it's not too bad.

Figure out whether you need a Carte Orange (weekly) or Mobilis (daily) card for your public transport.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 11:50 AM
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Hello eeyann:

I will be in Paris later this month and my recent knee replacement gives me some pause. One of the multitudinous inconveniences of growing old. Although I've ridden the Metro in years past, I never paid attention to whether or not there are escalators. From the posts responding to your inquiry, I assume the answer is in the negative. Could someone please point me to a website that will provide bus route information. We will be staying in the 7th.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 11:57 AM
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To make use of the buses, I suggest getting The Paris Mapguide [amazon], which show bus routes; in Paris a bus guide, which shows the routes overlaid on maps of the city, including where you can transfer from one bus to another. I carry the pocket version of "Le Bus." All of the stops have names, and using the guide you can follow along and see where to get off. This is important, because stops can be spaced fairly far apart. You can also look up maps and routes on the ratp web site.

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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 11:57 AM
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We spent three days in Paris last week, by which time the cortisone shot in my knee that I had before we left for France was beginning to wear off just a bit. So we avoided lengthy walking and used taxis, which were fairly easy to commandeer--and mostly new, very clean, with drivers who had GPS systems for the most part. We didn't get lost once this time around.

When we visited the Musée d'Orsay I saw the paintings mostly from the banquettes that are placed in most of the Impressionist galleries. At the Louvre we made coffee and a lunch stop, and I was able to find a place to sit in most of the rooms when my knee and back began to hurt. Be sure to get one of the Louvre guides on entering so that you can locate the elevators in each wing of the museum.

If you use a cane, you may be offered reduced admission at some of the museums. At the smaller ones without public elevators one of the guards will often shepherd you into a staff elevator.

As for the métro, even when there are some escalators there is frequently a flight of steps going from the entrance level up to the street. I'd stick to taxis.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 12:03 PM
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www.ratp.com
Click on the English flag
Click on the "interactive map" (left side)
When that map opens, a bar will slide over across the top of the screen - click on the bus map.
You can print it on a color printer but the type may be small.

You can click on the Line Numbers to see that line 'flash' on the map, or to open a window so you can click on "line map", which is great to print b/c it is easier to follow. I've printed the 3 lines that run by my hotel to carry with me.

If you buy the "Paris Practique par Arrondissement" when you get there, it will have a bus map as well as the Metro/RER maps. (small dark blue booklet about 4x6" for about 6-7Euro).
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 12:04 PM
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I had knee replacement last year, (some scar tissue complications, but it's coming along_ ) and the other knee is going bad FAST. We have a trip planned to France and Lisbon in 4 more weeks, first week in Nov...for two weeks. I have given up using the metro THIS time, for I KNOW from experience there are a lot of steps and LESS escalators than in London.And steps is the one thing I am trying to avoid. Someone one time said the #69 bus might include an interesting area...and I imagine there is a "Hop on hop off" tour bus group.I plan to do more research about various city busses and their routes. This is our 5th trip, Paris, but plan to just walk as much as the ol' knee allows.
Some suggest taking a walking/hiking stick or cane which does help, but the jury is still out on whether I'll fool with mine. We'll have a car, driving down to Annecy in the Alps and also a car in Lisbon.......but I am still a little apprehensive about the Paris part THIS time. We'll only be there 2 1/2 days however. I ,too, will be watching this site for other ideas and hints.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 12:07 PM
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More on buses.

The first URL has a good-sized route map [also taxi info]. The second allows you to look up routes.

http://www.parisby.com/transpor/transpor.htm

http://www.ratp.fr/ParisVisite/Eng/P...st_bus_eng.htm

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Old Oct 2nd, 2004, 04:06 PM
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You might also want to check out the comments on the Traveling with Disabilities at the bonjourparis.com web site--many good suggestions, including where not to go (such as the Cluny Museum, with its many stairs).
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Old Oct 3rd, 2004, 02:25 PM
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Thank you all for your excellent suggestions. Lot's of great ideas. The links to the bus route information are very helpful. I think we'll try taking taxis more this trip as well.

Eeyann
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Old Oct 3rd, 2004, 05:52 PM
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One final bit of advice: you might consider taking with one of those combined walking/sitting canes. Very useful when lines are involved or even for viewing things ina museum without having to stand and stand. I really wished I had had one this trip.
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Old Oct 5th, 2004, 07:13 PM
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Eeyann,
I have bad knees, so we usually take the bus, unless we know there's an elevator or escalator in the metro station. For example, there are two elevators in Abbesses, and the D'Orsay station has an escalator.

Sandy
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