Just checked in a wonderful couple that are visiting our area in Canada from Paris.

When I told them I was going next October and they started asking about my plans and we talked for about 30 minutes.

They loved my French and they gave honest opinions on all the activities we wanted to do and the time-frame. They said that the advice I have gotten here has surely helped a lot because I was not trying to do too much in too little amount of time.

When I told them I was going to be in Paris for 12 days, (one day at Versailles and one day lost to jet-lag) they said that it sounded good to have 10 days.

I also asked what they thought of the 7th and they said I would love it as it's quiet but you can still walk to a lot of activities at night if you wish (just what I wanted...quiet)

They mentioned Rue Cler as a nice little street that would have the essentials but also said Paris has lots of these streets around. (They mentioned Rue Cler before I did as he has friends who live right there and they like the atmosphere there as well)


All in all, they gave me a few ideas as to what to see and when, what the temps are going to be like, they also gave me their business card and told me to let them know when I was coming so we could maybe meet for drinks at their favorite bistro...I already forgot the name of it...Too much info in too little time.

It just proved to me that Parisians are very friendly and stylish...She was dressed beautifully for an older woman...such Panache...

Glad you had this experience although slightly concerned about the ageist remark at the end.

Hi Photobear, it is always so good to get advice from residents of where one is going to be visiting. I hope you will call them..imagine you would have fun meeting with them..that was a nice invitation.

Dukey and I are on the same wave length. By older, I assume that you meant that the well dressed woman was at least 107 years old. Maybe when she was a younger woman she didn't dress well, but learned as she matured.

Or maybe because she was touting r. Cler, she was Rick Steves' well dressed mother.

Nina

Before I finished reading the post, I knew they were "old" (rue Cler). Not to mention coming to Paris and looking for "quiet."

My, goodness... someone had a nice encounter with some Parisian natives and was sharing their pleasure... You guys are feeling a bit snotty today, I guess.
Rue Cler is an ACTUAL STREET IN PARIS, you know, it isn't a section of Disneyland. Yes, it's been played many times, yes there are many streets like it or better. So what? I guess Photobear should have straightened those Frenchies out.

Someone wants to actually SLEEP AT NIGHT ! What a thought! Yes, the 7th is quiet and thus perfect for SLEEPING AT NIGHT. For the same reason, I stay in the 14th, away from the maddening crowds.

OK, the slip about 'older woman' was innocent, and I'm sure you have pried Photobear's eyes wide open.

Hi P,

>She was dressed beautifully for an older woman.<

Oh, my Lady Wife is going to get you for that, if she has to hang out at the Rue Cler for the entire month of Oct.

The 7th has somewhat of a reputation as a retirement community, so someone who likes it is often assumed to be (or turns out to be) around retirement age.

That district is indeed very quiet, but there aren't very many activities to walk to after sunset. That's why it is quiet.

Good grief, I took Photobear's comment as a lovely compliment about the French lady. Everbody, lighten up, lol.

As an older lady, myself, I must say that older French women seem to have the art of dressing to suit their age but also look very stylish.
It is a great art and nor ageist at all to remark on it.
I have occasionally been addressed as "Madame" in Italy and have taken it as a compliment.

".... she was beautifully dressed for an older woman..." that is what I took offense at. As if older woman normally don't dress well. Whatever - the wording bothered me, and I said so. Fini.

Nina

All the posts above are oh so human including the ones that made ageist comment. No malice, just different perspective. So all is well. Am I too optimistic?

I'm still quite years from retirement but when I stay at 7th (do it more than half of the times I'm in Paris recently), after dinner so in great mood having had lots of wine, I like walking on the grass (never mind potential walk on some, hopefully dried, dog caca) of Promenade from Place Breteuil (nice view of illuminated Eiffel Tower) toward another illuminated les Invalides. Some youth and not so young do jogging here or young people sitting around on the grass picnicking, some playing the guitar in warm weather. I can understand if some says mostly elder people live in this area (noticed some expensive looking apartments)but I actually see those youth too.

Photobear - thanks for posting and sharing your interactions.

I am with LoveItaly on this. Photobear is a regular poster who was sharing a nice experience and WHAM! She gets it right between the eyes.

Photobear, you're lucky to have met an interested and gracious couple who are generous enough to want to share travel ideas. They sound lovely and so do you, with your friendly nature.

People with a friendly affect and kind attitude do tend to attract the same sort of people. I'll bet Photobear only meets very nice people on vacation.

I had no idea I had offended anyone. Around here, most women over 65 dress in matchymatchy polyester fabric clothing and white shoes with socks...Some do dress well but the east coast of Canada has never been known as a fashion mecca...

Therefore, when a woman of her age came in looking so well put-together, so stylish and not in toursit gear, I noticed. She looked amazing. That is all I meant...If anyone takes offense, too bad...

Wow, it does not take a lot to set most of you off...Sorry...It was just an observation. Nothing else.

BTW, we are in our early 30's, we like QUIET at night, we like to sleep soundly on vacation...Sorry if we don't fit your profile of how we should be.


All in all, they made me feel comfortable about my choices. That is more than I have to say about the attitude I am getting from some of you.

To all who read my post and saw that I was not being mean, thank you for the nice replies.

...If anyone takes offense, too bad...


The expression most people use is..
If anyone takes offense, I'm sorry.

<i>The 7th has somewhat of a reputation as a retirement community, so someone who likes it is often assumed to be (or turns out to be) around retirement age.</i>
Sometimes I wonder where people think up the things they say on here...There is a school across Rue Grenelle from Rue Cler.. very day we saw mothers and children walking to and from school, home, shopping. Sitting in Cafe Rousillon across from Rue Cler, we would watch the young men on their motorcycles and the young ladies meeting, walking and coming in and out of the apts along the streets.
It is quiet at night compared to Rue Jacob ..
Maybe &quot;for an older woman&quot; just meant more stylish than expected ? Perhaps the older ladies in Photobears neighborhood like the baggy clothes with elastic waists that I saw a lot of in Florida?

Photobear, I stayed in the Rue Cler area at the Londres-Eiffel Hotel my first day in Paris as a solo traveller last summer. I enjoyed it so much - I was a short walk to the Eiffel Tower, did a boat tour on the Seine, came back to shop at the fantastic markets and had a wonderful dinner, all within walking distance.

I was able to see the Eiffel Tower light show right outside my window and all I could say was &quot;WOW, I'm really here!&quot;

I agree that the French women have an elegant way of dressing and I didn't feel your remark about her was insulting. I do find that a lot of North American older women (and I'm over 50, the new 30 ) do dress very casually. For example, I saw some older women (at least over 60) wearing shorts and Tshirts with running shoes when shopping at the mall in a fairly large city here in Southern Ontario. I don't think European women would ever be seen in public dressed like that, JMHO.

&quot;Perhaps the older ladies in Photobears neighborhood like the baggy clothes with elastic waists that I saw a lot of in Florida?&quot;

Oh no! Another generalization. Can't we leave the &quot;older&quot; women and how they dress alone? I live in Florida and see plenty of &quot;older&quot; women in the same styles as women of other ages -- capri pants, jeans, linen shirts. I doubt that sales of baggy clothes with elastic waists are limited to Florida, and are certainly not limited to an age group.

Next time perhaps poor Photobear could just refer to us older woman as the French do... &quot;une femme d'un certain age&quot;
has a certain cachet - worldly, experienced and usually chic.

Could be anywhere from 50 to 90....

Patricia