@Denisea -- Yes, I can confirm, hers is a bona fide footwear fetish! Good to see Mom has kindred spirits among the Fodors faithful! :)

@Northie -- Love your outlook! I'm a few years off from 72, but fully plan to be rocking heels too when I get there! Well done!!!

From one New Englander to another (Maine), I loved your report. Thank you for talking about Fountaine de Mars. I had one ok meal there and one not so good one. Nice to know I am not the only one who has had just an ok meal there. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing as everyone on this board seems to really like it there.

Loved hearing about your Mom. She sounds like a fun traveling companion. I am slightly older than her and gave up heels years ago, and especially in Paris. I am really impressed that your Mom takes two hours to get ready before venturing out in the morning. I am sure she looked oh so Parisian. At my age, if I took two hours I would have to take a short nap before starting the day.

I hope you have many wonderful adventures with your Mom and sisters in the future.

I just returned from London and so have finally had a chance to catch up with you.

<<I think she probably came perilously close to naming one of her daughters Gruyere>> had me literally lol. I'll have to share that with my own daughters.

The description of your lovely evening strolling the Champs Elysee was perfect.

I also hope the two of you have more wonderful adventures together and that you return to tell us all about them.

@Benitakaren - Thanks for your nice note! I agree with you - everyone seems to love Fontaine de Mars, but to me it just felt very dated. I love antiques and all, but not when my meal falls into that category. And yes, I guess I'm a very lucky 20-something to be able to say that my Mom is probably my favorite traveling companion! But in any event, I won't let her know that you've hung up your heels for good! :)

@LCBoniti - How was London? I hope you had a great time. I'm hoping to get there in the fall. Best - The Girl Not Named Gruyere! :)

@KendraCB - Hi again! Sorry! I totally forgot to respond to your comments! Where are you going in Greece? Have you decided yet? We were a few Jenevers in by the time we met them, so the only suggestion I have from our conversation with our Greek friends is that if you go to Rhodes, Lindos is supposed to be worth a visit. They were raving about it and said there are nice, less-crowded beaches to be had in that part of the world too!

As for Hubbie's question, you can tell him that we can confirm that the Genever collar does exist! ;) And that, like wine collar, it too entails lots of giggling! I didn't mention it in my report, but probably the funniest part of our whole conversation at the bar was Cristos & Sophia's adamant assertion that Ouzo is better than Genever. Mom has pledged to try it some time and e-mail them her thoughts :)

Blondie, London was just perfect. It had not gotten too warm and/or humid when I was there so lovely spring-like weather. The temps/humidity rose just after I left. :)

It's the first time I have seen London when flowers were blooming. I usually go off season. It may be difficult to travel in snow again. ;)

@LCBoniti - Glad the weather was so perfect during your recent London visit! I've seen London in nice weather and not so nice. It's funny, but I think the city holds up well in both! I'm definitely a sun-sun-sun girl, but there's just something to that romantic dreariness when it's foggy! :)

LCBoniti- I love London in all seasons when we were there in April it was 10 c and raining the first week. A few years ago we arrived on Easter Monday to snow . 6 years we were there in September for a wedding and it had been a hot summer (for London) and the buildings were still hot and humid . Weather is the topic for Londoners always.
Bostonblondie226 - I agree it holds up in all weathers .

Thanks, Blondie, for another fun read! I loved this report too! I was in Amsterdam several years ago and had the exact same feelings as you about both Dutch Pancakes and the Rijksmuseum (which I, personally, found overwhelming!). Next time you visit you should make sure to find time for the branch of the Hermitage Museum that is in Amsterdam, the Vondelpark and Rembrandt's house! (But understandable that you couldn't get there given your limited time!).

Also have to say again that I loved your writing style! Very descriptive and entertaining. The personal touches in your report were great and a nice departure from the typical laundry lists of places visited . . . keep them coming! Also great that you got to share these adventures with your Mom. She sounds like a fun travel buddy . . . especially after a few drinks!

I also have to add that when I opened the pantry this morning, I noticed that my husband seems to have purchased some stroopwafels somewhere along the line! I hope he hasn't been to Amsterdam without telling me!

@CSmith - Thanks for your nice note and additional Amsterdam suggestions! We so badly wanted to get to the Vondelpark, but were just short on time and couldn't make it. I'm sure it is great though. And I'm still holding out hope of seeing the Hermitage Museum in actual St. Petersburg one of these days! So glad you have a stroopwafel supply of your own! Maybe I'll track one down for myself today! :)

@Blondie, I meant to ask, where did your Mom get off to after you had to go back to the USA? I'm sure she had other great adventures. 3 weeks or so in Europe sounds like a dream! :)

@CCC - Hi Again! I agree -- 3 weeks in Europe sounds dreamy to this millennial :) I have to hand it to Mom, she's taking advantage of her freedom and planning another month or so trip to Europe again this fall. (I'm red with jealousy!)

Anyways, after I said goodbye in Paris, Mom's next stops were:
- Paris - 4 more days.
- Reims / Champagne Region - 2 days
- Milan - 3 days
- Innsbruck - 2 days
- Munich - 3 days

No surprise that she loved Paris, Champagne Region and Milan. I think she was pretty underwhelmed by Innsbruck - maybe too slow for her. She did seem to like Munich, however (although admittedly I spoke to her shortly after her visit to the Hofbrauhaus). :)

Thanks for a most enjoyable & shall we say, "rollicking" read, Bostonblondie. Hope you & your Mum have many more adventures together - and report on them here ;)

Why thank you, Bokhara! We had a great time in Amsterdam and on our big Europe trip last fall. Trying to put together another trip with Mom for the later summer or fall, but we'll see. Hope all is well! :)