"I had diarrhea this morning."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"I mean, are you REALLY sure?"

I don't think he answered my last inquiry. Obviously it wasn't what I wanted to hear, and even more so, certainly not what DH wanted to of been experiencing.

The sun was shining, we had the big window open, we had a little breakfast at the apartment. I ran out to the pharmacy for meds for him, then went out solo to give him time to regroup/relax/whatever.

Meandering on Rue St. Louis en I'le. Pyones is a fun shop that gets a lot of play here on the forum, Diwali has numerous locations in Paris, I always pop in and purchase a scarf or two. Wondering how DH is doing, I had hoped to venture out to the Marche d' Aligre Market and Pere-Lachaise, then maybe to Canal St-Martin today. I call him and we agree that we'll meet on the bench overlooking the Seine in front of our apartment.

Well, he shows up and he's doing his best at being a good sport, he's telling me he is better, but he's looking a little wobbly to me. When I suggest we go back up to the apartment he does not disagree. I am thinking that he needs food and DH isn't comfortable with the idea of being in a cafe. We devise a plan to find take-away soup. Up, down, and around, we finally find a market with soup in glass jars. Potato and leek soup, one of our favorites!!!! Purchased two jars and headed home. I was certain he is going to be up to par after a little soup and bread.

I had the tiniest little taste of soup, like what you would feed a baby. I had a crumb of bread the size of my thumbnail....my stomach clenched, the next thing I knew I was flat on my back outside the bathroom after having vomited violently. I laid on the floor a little while, then the chills came. My teeth were chattering and I was shaking. I crawled into bed, thank goodness it is a big king size bed with nice linens and lots pillows, and a quiet apartment. Another huge comforter is located in the wardrobe and I am cocooned.

We sleep on and off for the rest of the day. I can only lay on my back as it is too uncomfortable to be on my side. We can't speak to one another as we do not have the energy. I won't say that I've never been this sick, although I don't know if I've ever been this weak. Feeling vulnerable as we are BOTH sick, we're away from home, and we really have no idea how sick we are, or what stage of this sickness we are in.

Later that evening DH is feeling better as he is talking and sitting up. He goes out and purchases Coke and pretzels. We are both feeling better as we eat pretzels and drink warm Coke in bed.

It has been a long day.

Hmmmm... no proof of food poisoning. You must do this entire trip again and see what happens.

Usually order tartare at one of the South Beach steakhouses we were just at...skipped it this time.

SwinChick: Love your report. Would love more info on your houseboat rental in Amsterdam as it would be the only way my DH would go there - well the beer would be reason #2.

Sucks...my husband got sick our last night and we dreaded the
day traveling to CDG and getting checked in, of course our flight was very delayed in leaving. Thank God we were in business class or he wouldn't have made it. He was so miserable and he was asleep within 15 minutes of us walking in our house. I luckily did not get it but was terrified it would hit me while we were on the plane. Glad you survived!

we both had a reaction to something we ate whilst travelling on a train in Tunisia. Fortunately we were in the "comfort" section, with decent toilet facilities. we were VERY happy that we were not in 3rd class with the goats.

I got very sick on our last trip to Paris in February. I can tell you that it is not fun to travel home (on Icelandair, connecting in Reykjavik)with only the facilities available on the plane or other public places. I went to the doctor the day after arriving home and was sick for over a week. Now I have to go back to Paris to get that horrible memory of being so sick out of my mind. I certainly don't want that to be my last memory of Paris.

ttt

OP - just wondering, do you have any idea which meal, item? made you ill - I scrolled back thru the thread a bit but its long and I'm lazy.

Food poisoning normally kicks in 12 to 24 hours after you ate the offending food. Sounds like the steak tartare to me!

tartare, frites, salade verte could have been the tartare or salad. You are left so weak after that. It sounds like food poisoning since you both got it together. Bummer.

The reason we scheduled this trip at this time was to attend Mode City, which is the European swimwear show. We both slept well and felt a lot better after the food poisoning escapade yesterday, and are determined to attend the show, held at Porte de Versailles. We are feeling a little cautious, but know we have business to take care of. As it turns out, we have no issues, the show is great.

We have 19:00 tickets to a concert at Sainte Chapelle that evening. We were already running a minute or two late when we hit their door, or rather couldn't find the door. The signs say "Sainte Chapelle Entrance" however the big black doors are bolted and locked (they couldn't convey "closed" any more than they did). Sooooo when YOU go know the entrance is just to the right of the big gold palais gates, you will see the small sign that says "Sainte Chapelle Concert".

The stained glass is soaring and beautiful. What a lovely venue for a concert, the acoustics were good. The seating was open, since we were walking in as the musicians were tuning up, we slid into the first pair of seats we spied. It was full, but not packed. We enjoyed Vivaldi's Four Seasons very much. (The talkative Italian family of six behind us, not so much). The concert lasted an hour, possibly an hour and ten minutes.

Walking back to the Ile St. Louis the streets are lined with souvenier shops, which I have a particular fondness for, although DH does not share this fondness. I ducked into a few shops across from Notre-Dame, pretty much all the same, backtracking to Aux Chimeres de Notre-Dame, as the shopkeeper was so polite and the store was so nice. When I told the shopkeeper this is why we returned he beamed and said they had been in existance since 1944.

With newly purchased souveniers tucked into my purse we are now maneuvering onto rue St. Louis en I'le. We had seen the restaurant Souza the other night, it had a magnificient red glow with a slick black and white interior. Full house, tiny space, however two seats open. Kir for me, red wine for DH. We both had the parmesan souffle which came with a simple green salad, risotto St. Jacques for me, DH had chicken with vegetables. Dessert, I had chocolate mousse, huge, with a thin layer on intense mint flavor on the bottom, a thin layer of liquid chocolate on top, and a generous amount of rich, creamy, dreamy chocolate mousse inbetween.

The people sitting next to us were American. It seems as though we NEVER have Americans anywhere near us in a restaurant, so I was almost startled to hear them speak English. (We usually hang in the 6th, so it is not as though we know the out-of-the-way places that tourists don't frequent). Patti and Mike, from California, had funny stories to share of traveling with their kids, 9, 5, and 3 years old. They also were in Amsterdam the same time we were, had friends who took them boating on the canals, perhaps they were on one of the boats we waved to passing our houseboat.

Soon we have the next table engaged in our conversation as well. She was born in Italy, lives in Germany. He, born in Germany, studies in the U.S., returned to Germany (+ sounded American). She showed us her new Roger Vivier flats (grey suede with tortoise buckle) as he showed his Laduree macaroon purchase, which he offered to share. She poked him on the coast of the macaroons. I remained mum but thought about the probable cost of her new shoes...

Today we felt back in the swing of things, we got our business done, and ended the day with a great meal and enjoyed great company.

Glad you recovered well from the food poisoning. Still following along.

Curious-did you get your tix to the concert at St Chapelle online or during your trip? We have thought about doing this and found an online site for tix but weren't sure of its legitimacy, so we skipped it. If you got them on a website, would you be willing to share it?

Also glad you were well enough to go to show and concert. Yes, where did you purchase your tickets?

(Restaurant last night was Sorza, not Souza).

Sunday, our last day, we had tickets for the Musee d' Orsay and the special Manet exhibition. The advance ticket purchase was appreciated as the line to purchase tickets was horrendous. I purchased these tickets as well as the Sainte-Chapelle concert tickets at www.ticketnet.fr. I paid for them online and picked them up at a Virgin Megastore upon arrival in Paris. The Manet exhibit was the icing on the cake for our Impressionist-intensive trip.

Afterward, hungry, we headed back to I'le St. Louis and to Aux Anysetiers du Roy. Small, with fabulous food smells as you enter, you can hear the sizzling in the kitchen. "She" cooks, "He" is your waitperson, they go back and forth constantly in French. French onion soup for each of us, served with the croutons and shredded cheese to be added at the table. I had the goat cheese salade, DH ordered the sole menuire, which he loved. I wished I had ordered it also. (I watched as DH deftly deboned his fish. I didn't recall this ability of his, and said so. "I saw it watching Julia Child" he confided).

Shopping, shopping, shopping followed in the Marais district as their shops are open on Sunday, it was slammed. People all over the place, it was just on the borderline of being TOO crowded.

Back to the apartment for the champagne (that I was worried about not being able to enjoy when I was lying in bed sick), frommage, smoked salmon, bread. Dessert was Berthillon for framboise sorbet.

Metro to the Eiffel Tower to get a little more up close and personal. Crowded, full of energy. (Also full of the souvenier hawkers - how does that work when they all have the same merchandise offered one foot away from one another?)! We take a few photos and head back. Had a citron and sucre crepe. We make these at home, kind of a house specialty, however there is nothing like a crepe on the streets of Paris.

The next day 7am we are on the Metro headed to the airport, terminal #2. Full, but we are able to stow our luggage and sit. Upon arrival at #2 we discovered we are really going out of #1, which DH said happened last time we flew out as well, took tram to #1.

DeTaxe Tax Refund line. It seems as though I am not the only one arguing with my spouse about whether or not we should wait in this line, the couple behind us appear to be having the same conversation. The line moves quick.

We were never rushed, it did seem like we spent a lot of time in lines. I did not have the opportunity to spend the Euro change in my purse pocket; I was hoping for a glossy French magazine...

12:07pm "Wheels Down" in Newark, 1:05pm in President's Club. Everything was smooth sailing until we hit a jam up going through security, it was mayhem for a bit there. A layover, and then finally headed home.

A great, great vacation. A bit more relaxed than previous trips, not as scheduled and running from place to place as we usually are, which made DH really happy, however which made me, the planner, a little uptight at times, although I hope to take the not as scheduled philosophy forward on our next trip. A great, great vacation.

thanks for the ticket info...glad you made it home (you are probably a little sad about that now, I always am).

have never done the VAT refund, I am too lazy and the stress of the airport and more lines...maybe this trip

glad you had fun!

Same as denisea. I was always to detail person so I understand how you feel! Very enjoyable TR.

we are in the process of booking our lodging in amsterdam and have been considering a houseboat from frederic (also found in the rick steve's book). Is there anything we should know about booking a houseboat? thanks Diane

Dianejo this is such an old thread, the OP may never look at it again.I suggest you post your own thread for replies.