Lovely report, Ira. Some queries. Did your sister have a good time or was it a bit difficult for her? Curious to know what sites/books you used to research the restaurants. Did you get to do anything you hadn't done before?

Finally, I think I might have been in the same place in Montmartre. The "toilet" was inside though, not "out back." But it was just a hole in the ground with metal grate to put your feet on. Does this sound like your place?

Ira:

Your trip reports are the kind that make me want to print them out and save them for a time when I can curl up in a comfy overstuffed chair with a cup of freshly brewed tea or glass of chilled white wine (depending on the time of day) and savor every word while I mentally picture every scene, sight, etc. that you describe.

Thanks for letting us enjoy a lovely trip to Paris through your eyes.

Thank you Ira... WOW, whatta guy!

Beautiful report, I smiled to see yet again, you put your money where your posts are, you stayed at the Bonaparte...

(Do you, by any chance..er..um...have a brother?)

Ira,
Thank you for the report. Love all your details. Glad you and your mom had the chance to travel together. Lucky both of you.
Judy

That's a really nice trip report, I didn't see it before today. You always write so well and make things interesting, but you had a lot of specific details that would help other people on things (like time on arriving, problems with Bee Shuttle, etc.). I hadn't heard that about Balzar, so found that useful, also.

Thanks for the kind words, Christina.

Hi ira,
What a great report. You seem to enjoy everything soooo much. So far, when we travel we are too much the tourist--seeing what is a "must." When I grow out of my "tourist phase" I want to have experiences like in your report--less tourist and more of a visitor enjoying people and surroundings. Many more happy travels. Your mother is most fortunate.

<i>&quot;Thus, the four cardinals are not Cardinals</i>

I just got this :O.

Love the subtlety of your wit, ira.

Thank you mimipam.

Elle, I can't take credit. It was the French lady at the square who told me the story.

I just saw this myself.
great report, welcome back

I'm rereading this and think about my father who is a year younger than Ira's mother. I know he wouldn't mind traveling overseas again but he won't go without my mom who's younger and doesn't care to travel again. Anyway, again, this is a great trip report.

Ira,
Thanks for the great trip report! How wonderful that you took the trip with your mom. I was walking along with you in my mind's eye :-) We were there such a short time ago that everything is still fresh in my memory.

Best,
Sandy

Thanks elaine and Sandy.

Francophile: Start working on your Mom. If she doesn't get up and go to Paris, she will become old and cranky.

just adding

Ira's mother

to the text in this great posting, so the search function will pick up on it

Thanks for the report, Ira! I've copied down more than a few notes (the mouth-watering ones...) and we plan to try some of your restaurants. Merci!

Ira:

I really enjoyed this report and am topping it, hoping you can provide some words of wisdom regarding bringing an &quot;older&quot; person to Europe.

I am planning a trip to Rome with my Mother-in-law (83). She is fairly healthy and a real soldier! I know this trip must be very different than the ones I usually do (I generally start my day at 9am, walk all day and don?t return to the hotel until my sore feet are bleeding ).

I can't ask my MIL these questions, because I KNOW she will not be candid! She is an 83 year-old that THINKS like a 43 year-old and I don't want to insult her pride. I would prefer to anticipate the problems, plan around them and then present her with a reasonable itinerary and then ask her for validation. Could I ask you a few questions please?:

- How long should a day be? I will get an hotel in the center, as I am sure she will need to go back to the hotel during the day to rest. I think that she should probably be able to do 2 hours in the morning, then have a nice long lunch followed by an hour or so for a nap and then another 2 hours in the afternoon. Does that sound reasonable?

- To what extent did you include your mother in planning the days and what sparked her interest? I know my MIL wants to see the Pope and St. Peters and probably some other interesting churches. I'd like her to get involved in the planning, but don't want to overload her with information. Any suggestions?

- I get the impression that just sitting and watching the world go by was an important aspect of your trip. Did you plan for this, knowing when she would have enough of the sites, or did you just watch and observe? I am a little worried about this; as I said, she is a &quot;soldier&quot; and I know that she will keep going until she drops, concerned that she will spoil our trip. But this is HER trip and I want her to do everything she wants to do, without exhausting her. I noticed that you brought &quot;backups&quot; and so will I. My husband will be there, of course, and possibly a friend, whom she knows well, may also accompany us. Any suggestions?

- Was there a point when the traffic, noise and crowds got too much for your mother? I am a bit worried about this as Rome, even for me, can be too busy. I am thinking of planning a jaunt into the countryside so she can get some peace and quite.

- When I offered this trip, Air Canada was flying directly from Toronto to Rome and they are no longer flying that route. We now have to transit through a hub, which will probably be Paris. YES, I know Paris is a nightmare hub, but when my MIL discovered that, she then declared she wants to see rural France on this trip as well, so I am trying to plan two weeks in total, with a 7-9 day holiday in the Languedoc-Rousillon area and perhaps 4-5 days in Rome. Needless to say, organizing the travel logistics is driving me insane! There is no easy way to do this and I am worried about her ability to handle a transatlantic flight PLUS an inter-European flight or 4 hour train journey, back-to-back. She had taken trans-Atlantic flights twice a year for the past two decades to Ireland, so I am not worried about that (and I am flying her Business Class, on points). I am wondering if I should break the journey, spend a day in Paris to let her recover and then take the next leg the following day. What do you think?

Ira, I would welcome any advice you can provide. I will hire a private guide for a couple of days in Rome, but want to plan a preliminary itinerary before I do that and want to plan the trip based on realistic expectations of what my MIL can do in a day.

I would appreciate any jewels of wisdom you can provide.

Best regards Ger

Hi Ger,

You are a great SIL.

&gt;How long should a day be?

Are you planning on starting the day at 10:00?

I think that if she is in good health, she could easily go from 9-12, if you allow for rest stops. I found that my mother wouldn't admit to becoming tired, but she did need a 15 min break every hour or so.

She did find that going back to the hotel for a nap at about 4:30 was refreshing.

&gt;To what extent did you include your mother in planning the days and what sparked her interest?&lt;

I had to drag her to Paris. I did all of the planning.

&gt; I know my MIL wants to see the Pope and St. Peters and probably some other interesting churches.

Make those your high points, then give her some suggested daily plans with options. You'll quickly see what interests her.

&gt;I get the impression that just sitting and watching the world go by was an important aspect of your trip. &lt;

This is an important aspect of any trip to Rome, no matter how old you are. It is also important because she will need to go to the ladies' room more often than you might expect.

&gt;Was there a point when the traffic, noise and crowds got too much for your mother?&lt;

My mother was born and raised in NYC. She gets lonely without traffic noise and crowds. She loved being on the Champs Elysee on May 1.

Don't know about your MIL. I do suggest that you always keep an eye out for a bench or a cafe. Look for groceries and other places that sell bottled water. A craving for gelato on your part is always a good reason for slowing down.

&gt;I am thinking of planning a jaunt into the countryside so she can get some peace and quite. &lt;

She might be less concerned about this than you. My mother never stopped looking.

&gt;We now have to transit through a hub, which will probably be Paris. ...she then declared she wants to see rural France on this trip as well, so I am trying to plan two weeks in total.

This might be too much. My mother was ready to go home by the end of the week, not because Paris was tiring, but because she was getting sensory overload.

&gt;Needless to say, organizing the travel logistics is driving me insane!...What do you think?

It would be tough for anyone. If MIL hasn't been to Paris, I suggest a week in Paris and a week in Rome. One doesn't have to go to the countryside to find places to relax.

Plan on taking buses and the metro (they are more interesting), but be ready to hail a cab.

Include strolling through parks as a means of relaxing.

Figure that your walking pace should be 1/2-2/3 normal.

Have a great trip.

This is the Pay Off for being a good mother or mother in law :)
I can only hope my children have such a great idea and plan to take me to Paris or Rome or somewhere ! someday~
I think I will let them both read this so they can start saving now ...

Thanks Ira, I appreciate the advice. &gt;:D&lt; I'll keep you posted on the progress. &quot;I had to drag her to Paris&quot; : SNORT!!!!

Scarlett: We had her over to dinner just before her birthday and over the starter she expressed concern about all the flying I was doing. Over the main course, she advised me to use them up in case Air Canada went bankrupt. Over dessert, she declared she wanted to see Rome before she died! :-d ! What option did I have other than offer her the trip for her birthday. But, I have to say, I have never had any reason to complain about her ? she has been an excellent MIL!!!

Thank you Ger, I know now what to say ( during which course) next time the children are having dinner with us :D