Thanks very much for your trip report. Some day I'm hoping to go to Paris/London with my currently 7-year-old child so this report is very useful. My main concern in Paris is eating dinner at restaurants. I don't see any problems in cafes and brasseries but will we be comfortable in full fancy restaurants? We live in Manhattan and therefore she's grown up eating out, mostly neighborhood and informal places in NYC and more fancy but still child-friendly places like Chez Panisse Cafe and Mr. B's Bistro when we travel. Did you eat earlier in the evening? Can we order an appetizer and salad for her?

Paris restaurants usually do not open until 7:30-8:30, so I made dinner reservations as early as possible. I mixed it up with a couple of nice lunches - those evenings we'd go to a creperie or a cafe for dinner. At Some restaurants she would order only a large salad - she really liked french salads.<BR><BR>Even if we ate a big lunch from 12-2, she was very hungry by 7:00. I solved this by keeping fruit and yogurt in the refridgerator in my room. She fell in love with Clementines. Try getting yogurt from a cheese shop - it's drinkable - made fresh daily - it is absolutely out of this world - try vanilla. She also fell in love with Feuillete D'abricots - an apricot tart at most of the boulangeries-bakers.<BR><BR>Funny story-My daughter first went to Paris with me when she was 7. I did not realize just how much she had loved it until in September of this year- I told her I would go to Paris in November. She started crying because she wanted to go. I said, "Well, I had not planned on you or your brother going, but I guess if you bought your plane ticket, you could go. My ticket cost 428.00." About fifteen minutes later - now she is 9-she returned to my desk with 428.00 in cash. NOw this child never spends a dime of her money. She won't even spend money her relatives give her for gifts. She really likes Paris, and fully intends to go again. In fact, this time, she was navigating our way around with the map sometimes- just to practice for when she comes back!<BR><BR>I think it all depends on the child. My son could not care less about going. But my very mature and level headed daughter took to PAris like a duck to water. And, the Parisians treated her like a little princess - that probably had something to do with it too!

Erlsegaard: I don't completely agree w/you, but there is definitely a snootiness feel to this thread. I like the most recent post: A 9 year old with $428 cash in hand! I don't keep that kind of cash around the house. I'm guessing the butler holds it for her.

mariacallas,<BR><BR>You make me smile. My first trip to Paris was with my mother. I think I was 9 years old. And you're right, the Parisians were extremely kind to us. Because of that first experience I have always thought of Paris as a friendly place, and two subsequent trips as an adult proved me right. I don't understand why people say the Parisians are rude. I guess it's people who are unaccustomed to cities in general, particularly cities like Paris and New York where people are always busy and in a rush to get somewhere, but are actually quite kind to visitors (particularly nice, charming ladies and their little daughters).<BR><BR>Your post has me champing at the bit to get back to Paris. We're planning another trip to France next year, and we will definitely be spending a few days in Paris. Thanks so much for the informative and fun report. :-)

P.S. I guess it goes without saying, but please ignore the sour pusses! I think your post is terrific!

The 428.00 was her entire life's savings from every allowance dollar she ever earned and every five dollars granny ever sent. My point was - she really really wanted to go to Paris.

Gotta love that daughter. My first trip to Europe was when I was 20, but I also wiped out all my savings - the account went back to my first communion and all birthdays, etc. It was worth every penny. Money is only money; memories are magical.

Mariacallas - love your posts, they're informative however they show just how egotistical you really are. I don't think it is up to you to tell us what phrases to say when ordering dinner or riding the metro. About your daughter's savings account. That is more than we need to know.

Am I the only one who wonders who keeps topping this? Could it be that Maria Callas wants more than her 15 minutes of fame?

Here we go again. The gremlins can't abide an engaging thread.

I am surprised that a person who speaks fluent French would say "excusey moi" or "marveilleux", both are wrong. There is something about this that doesn't seem real but I can't pinpoint it, ranging from the expensive continuous vacations, living in oil country, spending a lot on restaurants and stores (who deliver to the hotel, wonder what they are delivering that can't be carried), grandmas sending $5 to wealthy children, sniffing at the Crillon as not being up to par, etc.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way about this French woman wantabe. What really sent me over the edge was her almost dictating how to act, what to say, etc. And yes, even though I don't speak the language very well I noticed all the "errors" in her French. <BR><BR>Telling us how to ask where the toilet is? Please. Give us all a break. You are so narcissistic I can't believe it.

Marie:<BR><BR>Hmmm... You think so? I suppose if you're making some large purchases the shops will be glad to deliver them. Depends, I guess. Having restaurants call taxis struck a note with me. But maybe they do that. I didn't take taxi's in Paris. I could never find one, and never asked anyone to callme one. <BR><BR>I've just scanned through mariacallas's posts again, however, and I don't see where she claims to speak fluent French, turns her nose up at the Crillon, claims to live in oil country (I thought she said NYC?) or to be wealthy. Are these remarks from her posts in other threads?<BR>

Well, she must be all that and a bag of chips.... after all, French men are giving her free taxi rides and sending crepes on fire to her table and it is so very charming how she squealed with delight on the ferris wheel.

Correction: of course, she mentions a town near Houston.

Oui, oui: That was a CAROUSEL she mentioned, not the ferris wheel. I just thought it was a slip of the tongue.

P.S. I do like this thread anyway. It makes me miss Paris.

Hate to tell all of you this but she's giving you a snow job like you wouldn't believe. She's quoting right out of the guide books. Sorry to disilusion you. She's a fraud.<BR><BR>Ess don't be so naive where her banter is concerned.

Ess,<BR><BR>In the first post she says she speaks fluent French. She says “Of course I am a single woman travelling with a charming little 9 year old girl - and I speak fluent french” <BR><BR>- Many people who say they are fluent are often just proficient at conversation. <BR>

Huge sigh! Duped again! :-) This is why I don't visit as often as I used to. And the fact that someone is living their schizo fantasies, or whatever they're up to, on a travel board where people are looking to exchange ideas and converse about travel, well it's just kind of weird, isn't it? That's why I don't post my real name or my email address.

Maria--are you implying that in New York, for instance, tourists and foreigners should not speak on the subway unless THEY speak perfect, fluent English???

Maria - It's not that I really think you're so disagreeable, it's just that I have nothing to do but stir up trouble. Me and all my personalities do this to everyone who might possible have a life.

ttt - fraud maria - speak up. Now that we've exposed you, you have nothing to say do you

I read a second time Maria's post, and I see no obvious reason to state she's a fake. I don't know if she's egoistical, but anyway it has nothing to do about her travel being for real or not.<BR><BR> Her way to spell french is far from perfect, but a lot of people on travel boards have a lax understanding of the word "fluent", so it's not that surprising. It doesn't mean she couldn't be understood, anyway.<BR><BR>I don't think she's quoting from a guide book, either. I don't think a guide book would be so critical about the modern art collection at the centre Pompidou (though personnally I share her opinion). Neither a guide would print a factual error like stating that the building at the Palais Royal were the former king's residence, while a genuine tourists, misled by the name, easily could.<BR><BR>Her comments about metro's safety rule are probably over cautious, and she probably read them somewhere. But would could really give advices on this topic based on personnal experience apart from a professional pickpocket or a police officer?<BR><BR>Of course, one could suppose that she deliberatly criticized a restaurant or museum to make her travelogue sounding more "real", introduced delibarate errors, etc... But anybody could do exactly the same. The only way to be sure that a travelogue is a fake is when it includes obviously wrong statements. If someone say that the trains in the metro are painted in red or that the Manneken Pis is just beside Notre-Dame, for instance.<BR><BR> I see no reason to believe that her travelogue is less real than any other one I read here.

I got good answers to my inquiries above and I don't see where it matters whether you folks think mariacallas is a "fraud" or not. (I personally think not, but you can think she is.) Is there travel advice you can use in her postings? I found there was for me...

I'm surprised that anyone could find something about this travelogue to get so uppity about. MariaCallas appears to be an enthusuastic francophile who wants to help others enjoy their time in Paris. Perhaps Bonkers is right - that this nastiness is the work of one really screwed up individual with way too much time on their hands. What a shame, and how weird. Ewwwwhhhhh!

Well, I only posted the one thing with my name on it. I do still find the whole sort of mindset exemplified by this post to be extremely bizarre and yes, a little threatening if this is what is to pass for good taste now. And while you're right that I can click X and exit the page, when I'm actually in Paris escaping people like this is a bit more problematic, so anything I can possibly do to reduce the number of people who think this is a charming way to carry yourself about the world I feel obligated to try, for my own sanity's sake, though I certainly don't expect to find much success. Really I was just trying to have a little fun, which as far as I could tell was one ingredient conspicuous by its absence from this person's recommendations for going to Paris.

Can we please return to the initial intent of this post....Paris tips!!!!!

this is just a reply to the woman who was looking for advice with a 7 year old in restaurants. <BR><BR>we, too, figured most places wouldn't open until 7:30 or later-and then we discovered brasseries and bistros-they are what we would call 'restaurants', but they are a bit less formal and they're great. we found the menus had terrific, authentic cuisine and probably better prices-furthermore many were open throughout the afternoon and evening-which meant we could have dined at 6pm -or whatever we liked. we wound up eating late due to needing naps after long days-but it was nice to know there was a way around the late openings if we wanted it. i'd suggest these places with a child because i think they may offer more options and be more relaxing.

Maria, please enough of your cheese stories and all your other stories. We have heard enough. I agree with the person that said you were quoting from guide books. I too agree that you are. Of course not word for word. But please quit flaunting the fact that you have money or wanting us to believe you have it. Remember now no talking on the subway!!!!!

Oh ignore the naysayers and postbashers mariacallas. It takes money to travel- where exactly do they think we get airplane tickets. Thanks for reminding me of fromages.com. <BR><BR>I learned about the metro when I lived in Paris for a few years. Although some are joking about it, you are right. I have watched pickpockets pick their targets, usually loud, gregarious Americans broadcasting that they are new to Paris. The French speak very little on the metro.<BR><BR>I do not think it is bragging to refer other posters to a place you can buy French cheeses. So, keep up the good work mariacallas. I copied your post for my neighbor who is taking her family to Paris. Thank you for writing out all of the information so I don't have to.

Good old Maria is probably not a fake. However, she seems to be out of the "real world", at least moneywise. In spite of her protests, a $428 treasure chest for a nine-year old is far from being commonplace. As far as her Paris daily routine is concerned, I would estimate it to be on a 1500-2000 FF basis without the hotel. No harm with that, a good for her - and for our economy ! - but readers be aware of that !

Thierry,<BR><BR>I agree with you 100%. She is definitely out of this real world. But she has definitely stretched the truth a lot.<BR><BR>Have you ever worked at Le Welcome Cafe? Someone on these boards was looking for Thierry and was wondering if you are the same Thierry

The part I find hardest to believe is the second guy who tried to pick up mariacallas up by sending a crepe to her table. The first one maybe, but two guys with the same MO? I think Frenchmen are more imaginative than that.

I think Maria Callas (Please) ate one too many liquor-soaked crepes. If I hear anything more about her precocious daughter I will scream.

I'm sick to death of this post and wish it would go away. Maria is the kind of person who "wings her way eastward on a silver bullet" She's read too many travel brochures. Let's just stop topping it!

As a mental health professional, I am certain that one person has posted at least thirty times under different names on this one thread alone. What a heartbreaking waste of time and energy. Please, (you know who you are), consult with your local mental health facility. You need professional help.

I must say that I too do not find Maria to be a fraud. I just have returned from my 5th trip to Paris and find many of her observations right on target. I seem to get by in France even with my terrible French because I do try to converse in the native tongue although most people in Paris seem to speak much better English than I do French. I think some of her words are just play and my experience is that all mother's think their children are wondeful. <BR>It is probably true that her daughter has more saved money than most her age but who are we to be envious? <BR>I also agree after using the Taxi's several times this last visit that they are not that expensive and can be conveient. This is especially true if you have more than one person. They can also save time depending on where you are and where you are going.<BR>Trying to blend in with the people of Paris in order to avoid thieves is interesting but not something I do as I think that although all the things Maria mentions may be helpful in blending in , they probably do not cover up alot of the nonverbal things we do that tends to mark us as being tourists. Being careful, like in all large cities is my rule.<BR>I think Maria has gone through alot of work to give us her opinions and opinions whether you like them or not are what makes these posts interesting.<BR>Rather than be personally critical, which may inhibit other's from posting their opinions, perhaps we should take this epistle for what it is, one person's enthusiastic thoughts about her trip to Paris.<BR>

Wow! Very helpful thread, merci. <BR><BR>

Aargh, Maria Callas, I just spent 20 mins. writing a missive on how lovely the Parisians are & how this one gentleman helped me find the way to the other side of the RER tracks so that I might go the opposite direction, but I lost the entire thing!<BR><BR>Suffice it say, that you have a lovely trip report here, very charming in spite of your jetlag-induced typos. Glad you had fun. Welcome back!!!<BR><BR>I,too, have a 9-yr. old (& a 12-yr. old). Your 9-yr. old had loads of fun? How did she fare in the nicer restaurants? What a great holiday gift for her.<BR><BR>BTW, LOVE your arias!