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Paris Trip Report With 91 Year Old, Wheelchair and Walker-Spring '05

Paris Trip Report With 91 Year Old, Wheelchair and Walker-Spring '05

Old May 9th, 2005, 02:49 PM
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Paris Trip Report With 91 Year Old, Wheelchair and Walker-Spring '05




My husband, 91-year-old father and I just returned from a wonderful week in Paris. We thank all of you who gave us information and suggestions to make the trip smoother.

I can’t say enough about how good we were treated by USAirways and PHL and CGD airports going over to France. We did curbside check-in and by the time the skycap had our boarding passes, he also had the escort ready for us. We were whisked right through to our gate. There was no line at security-surprisingly. In Paris we waited for the plane to empty and the escort came right onto the plane with a narrow wheelchair looking for my father by name. Again the escort whisked us right through to the baggage claim.

Our friends Raija and Veikko from Finland were waiting for us with Jean-Marie our driver. Jean-Marie was a Godsend. He speaks perfect English, is very professional and personable. He took us on several tours and with 5 of us, it was cheaper than the Parisvision Tours, plus we had door to door service. This was very convenient with the walker and wheelchair.

On Sunday, it was sunny and about 80 degrees. Jean-Marie took us on a city tour and then dropped us off at the Bateaux Mouches. We had picked up some wine and had an enjoyable Seine River cruise. Our first stop on the tour was Sacre Couer. My husband and Veikko had to push Dad in the chair uphill on cobblestones for several blocks. Our destination was the view of the city in front of the church. Had I known that, my father and I could have stayed back and bought post cards and watched people. With the companion chair, which has 4 small wheels, the wheels would get caught in a rut and my father was almost tossed out. The footrests were moving with the vibrations and his feet were almost off and hitting the ground. It wasn’t worth all that. The guys struggled pushing, Dad had to hold on for dear life and I had to watch the crowds and his feet. It was May Day and very crowded. Perhaps a chair with large back wheels would move over that area easier.

Monday we rested at the timeshare and went to see the show at “Lido” that night. It was a cool and windy day, about 65 degrees. Fortunately, we had Jean-Marie drive us again. Taxis were few and far between after the show.

Tuesday was quiet again and our friends went off on their own. We had thunderstorms that afternoon and showers that evening. We met at the Eiffel Tower for dinner and my father and I went home while the rest went to the top of the tower. They said the view was breathtaking.

Wednesday we went to Versailles and had a Fodor’s get together that evening. It was a rainy day and evening. We met 3 lovely women and enjoyed wine and good conversation. Hello Sue, Shon, and Glenda!

Thursday was an early day going to the Normandy Beaches. It was very moving and brought the war to life. It started as a windy rainy day and turned bright, sunny and about 70 degrees.

Friday we went to the Louvre which was a nightmare. We had trouble navigating the museum with the wheelchair and found the staff very unhelpful. Of the 2 hours we were there, we spent quite a bit of time in the elevators. We did see the 3 main things, Mona, Venus and Victory, but it was work.

We then walked to St. Chappelle and Notre Dame. It was a nice day and the sidewalks were regular cement so it was easy to push the chair. We ended the evening with dinner in a Greek restaurant on the left bank.

Coming home on Sat., we had to wait about 10 minutes at CDG for an escort. When we landed in Philadelphia, one of the flight attendants pushed my father into the terminal, gave us a cart for luggage, and then we were on our own. That was awful. At the end of the moving sidewalk the wheels stuck and Dad almost spilled out of the chair and I got hit in the legs with the luggage cart and almost fell. It was a mess getting off the moving sidewalk with the wheelchair and we pushed the rest of the way up the corridor.

The French people we met there were wonderful. On May Day, we were talking to a group of people who spoke little English and we spoke little French and it was fun. We all got our ideas across and they finally helped us find a good place for dinner that night. The same night after dinner, we found ourselves on a street with little traffic. One young man came by and told us to go to the end of the street for a taxi, but that was in the opposite direction of our place. A few more young people came by and told us the same. Then the young woman called for a taxi and it showed up in a minute. We met a few surly taxi drivers, however, how much enjoyment could there possibly be doing that job.

Our timeshare unit was in the 19a in a residential neighborhood. There was a supermarket down the street and a few brassiers nearby. Of course, we were there for May Day, the day after holiday and Ascension Day in the same week so the area shut down for half the time we were there.

Overall, a good time was had by all. We saw quite a bit of things at a slower pace and maybe that was okay.


KarenAG is offline  
Old May 9th, 2005, 03:18 PM
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I admire your courage to take on Paris with a man in a wheelchair. It looks to me to be not really at all accessible by wheelchair. It was a wonderful thing that you did for your dad. Did he love Paris? I hope so.
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Old May 9th, 2005, 03:23 PM
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Wow! I'd love to read your Dad's trip report.
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Old May 9th, 2005, 03:33 PM
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Karen, thanks for posting and glad you had a good trip overall. I took several trips with my mom at about that age using a companion chair, but not to Europe. I can see where those little wheels would be a nightmare on cobblestones. So knowing what you know now, would you have opted for renting a regular wheelchair in Paris?
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Old May 9th, 2005, 03:42 PM
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What a wonderful memories you gave to your husband dad..
He is a very lucky man to have such wonderful and caring son and DIL.

My compliments , is not easy to travel this way, but your family made it ..
It is such pleasure to hear stories like yours in today troubled world.
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Old May 9th, 2005, 03:45 PM
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Ooppss, is your Dad you are talking about...Your husband must be a great guy also..
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Old May 9th, 2005, 03:47 PM
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My mom and I also found the French very helpful regarding mobility issues. Mom walks with a cane and had difficulty managing the stairs. I was amazed how many people went out of their way to help her enjoy her vacation to the fullest. We have terrific memories to share. I'm glad you have them to share with your dad too!
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Old May 9th, 2005, 03:55 PM
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Thank you for sharing. I always love hearing about other people taking trips like this. Over 35 years ago my grandparents went on a trip, including one in a wheelchair fulltime, and I loved hearing their stories. It definitely gives you a different perspective. I am sure you all will look back on this with fond memories for years to come.
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Old May 9th, 2005, 07:01 PM
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Hi Karen,

Thanks for you post. We have friends in Paris now, one of whom can walk a bit with canes, so we are seeing the city in a different light. Could you share the contact information for your driver? Does he work for himself or for one of the limousine services?
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Old May 10th, 2005, 03:30 AM
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Hi K,

Glad your visit went fairly well.

Thanks for posting.

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Old May 10th, 2005, 05:07 AM
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Beautiful. Thank you Karen
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Old May 10th, 2005, 10:06 AM
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Karen, what a special trip with your Dad. Although it wasn't easy getting around, you all have some nice memories of your time together in Paris. Thanks for sharing!
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Old May 10th, 2005, 11:04 AM
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Wonderful trip report. If I live to be 9l I can only hope that one of my children will be as kind to me as you were to your Dad. Would also like to know name and contact number of your tour guide. Thanks.
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Old May 10th, 2005, 06:24 PM
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Thank you all for your nice comments and kudos.

Hi benitakaren, so do I.

Marilyn, I don't know. I think we'd just avoid cobblestone walking areas. The companion chair was fairly light compared to the usual ones. Dad complained about being uncomfortable by Friday. We'll see.

Grasshopper. That would be fun to write his trip report. Written daily it could be surly. 'Everything is different, I don't know what I'm eating, where is the water, orange juice ... these spoons are too big, next trip I'll have to find out what's going on". Then in walks Raija and the world is spinning just fine. She will be the "good daughter".

Now it's turning rosy, fun and "let's go to......".

kismetchimera - my husband is wonderful and was great with my father the whole time and at home-since Dad now lives with us.


I thought I had answered earlier about Jean Marie. I'll give the info again just in case it was lost.

Jean Marie Ceccaldi is a very professional, personable man and safe wonderful driver. He has a Renault minivan with 2 seats in front, 3 in the middle and 2 in the back. He is an independent operator and has been doing this for many years. For our longer tours he removed the middle seat.

He graduated from the Sorbonne with a history degree and he loves his job. He shared many interesting stories about where we were and different experiences he’s had.

He doesn’t have to advertise at this point. We were fortunate that he was available. With summer coming he will be busier. He goes to his house in Corsica for the month of August.

He does airport pick-up; classic tours like Paris city sightseeing, Versailles, Normandy, etc.; or charges by the hour, 1/2 day or day.

He can be reached at his cell number from here dial: 011 33 0609 033 153; fax: 011 33 0140 930 732.

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Old May 10th, 2005, 06:49 PM
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Thank you Karen !
You are a good daughter and I am glad that you both did enjoy your time in Paris.
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Old May 10th, 2005, 06:59 PM
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ttt
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Old May 10th, 2005, 07:15 PM
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Thank you Karen, for Jean- Marie's "coordinates." That's a keeper. I did considerable research around private limousine-van service for the visit of an elderly friend who can walk (a little) with canes. Plenty out there, but in most cases, the person you get is luck of the draw. Say hello to your dad for me. I admire you both!
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