MaiTaiTom's Paris When It Sizzles; Paris When It Fizzles Anniversary Trip
Mar 22nd, 2015, 09:32 AM
#383
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Tom, I was going to come back here and tell you about our wonderful meal at L'Ange 20 but we never made it there, due to being stuck in the lift in our building. Now that was quite the adventure. Other than that it has been a pretty wonderful week here in Paris. Thanks to reading your report we do go out to the Marmottan too. Flying Air Tahit Nui back to LA tomorrow.
Mar 22nd, 2015, 03:13 PM
#384
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"due to being stuck in the lift in our building."
Were they paying Love In An Elevator? Seriously, that's too bad. I know they only hold reservations for a short time since they are so small. You'll just have to return. Hope you like the Marmottan.
Were they paying Love In An Elevator? Seriously, that's too bad. I know they only hold reservations for a short time since they are so small. You'll just have to return. Hope you like the Marmottan.
Mar 22nd, 2015, 11:49 PM
#385
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Should have proof read. We DID go to the Marmottan, it was a highlight of this week. Yes, they did tell us they could only hold the reservation for 15 minutes. We did call to explain, not wanting to be deadbeats. Trust me, getting out of that lift was also a highlight of my week.
Mar 23rd, 2015, 09:01 AM
#387
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Dear MTT - thank you for a fabulous read! I've not only enjoyed your story but also added some things to my list of what to do in Paris in May/June. I really like the way your sightseeing isn't really sightseeing but more like mini-tours of specific (and off the beaten path) areas of Paris.
As I'm taking my sister to Paris and it is her first time we'll have to see some of the "big guys" but I'm hoping to alternate those days with some not-so-big-guy days. The Buttes Chaumont (spelling?) has been on my list of to-sees for some time and I WILL see it this trip!
The most important tip that I've learned from your report is to be positive when traveling, no matter what happens; really, you and your lovely Tracy are a living testimony to that tired old (but still true) cliché that "life is what you make it."
Wishing you bonne santé and bon voyages!
As I'm taking my sister to Paris and it is her first time we'll have to see some of the "big guys" but I'm hoping to alternate those days with some not-so-big-guy days. The Buttes Chaumont (spelling?) has been on my list of to-sees for some time and I WILL see it this trip!
The most important tip that I've learned from your report is to be positive when traveling, no matter what happens; really, you and your lovely Tracy are a living testimony to that tired old (but still true) cliché that "life is what you make it."
Wishing you bonne santé and bon voyages!
Mar 23rd, 2015, 09:01 AM
#388
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I've enjoyed your report and hope that you are feeling better, Tom! No place like home, I assume!
You and Tracy enjoy looking at the magnificent works of art and architecture. Do those artist names and works just roll off your tongue or do you have to look in a guide book (like me) to tell you who painted what? I'm impressed either way as you have such vast knowledge and interest.
You and Tracy enjoy looking at the magnificent works of art and architecture. Do those artist names and works just roll off your tongue or do you have to look in a guide book (like me) to tell you who painted what? I'm impressed either way as you have such vast knowledge and interest.
Mar 23rd, 2015, 09:33 AM
#389
Original Poster
"The Buttes Chaumont (spelling?) has been on my list of to-sees for some time and I WILL see it this trip!"
Next trip for me. Have a great time.
"Do those artist names and works…"
I do a lot of pre-planning (some would say way too much) and get lots of pre-info that way so i know what I'm looking for in many instances. Between that, audio guides, written info handed out, and people or guides on sight, we get most of the info. Tracy is the details person. If I see a photo I took of something we saw that we did not write down or remember or there was no info, I try to look it up before I write about it (I'm curious, too)…not always possible.
Next trip for me. Have a great time.
"Do those artist names and works…"
I do a lot of pre-planning (some would say way too much) and get lots of pre-info that way so i know what I'm looking for in many instances. Between that, audio guides, written info handed out, and people or guides on sight, we get most of the info. Tracy is the details person. If I see a photo I took of something we saw that we did not write down or remember or there was no info, I try to look it up before I write about it (I'm curious, too)…not always possible.
Mar 23rd, 2015, 12:41 PM
#390
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Thanks again, Tom, for your interesting and helpful trip report and blog. You are a seriously fabulous writer and spectacular travellers. I've read your Sarlat and Loire Valley posts and your trip to England as those are our next trips. We, too, will go for 4 chateaux in a day! So glad you're back to good health and may it continue! Cheers, NOLA.
Mar 23rd, 2015, 02:42 PM
#391
Original Poster
"We, too, will go for 4 chateaux in a day!"
Thanks. That's the spirit…anybody can stop at two! I've never quite understood that "two chateaux" theory. Chateaus are like potato chips…once I start…..
Thanks. That's the spirit…anybody can stop at two! I've never quite understood that "two chateaux" theory. Chateaus are like potato chips…once I start…..
Mar 25th, 2015, 09:08 PM
#392
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I am so very sorry that your 20th anniversary plans were not completed as planned and that you were so very ill from mid-visit.
We were in Paris the same two weeks and could not be more relieved that we ran into you nowhere in Paris.
While I am totally sympathetic to your "situation", I am quite astonished that, once you were diagnosed by a doctor with a contagious illness, you went all about, coughing all about, insinuating your condition to be the result of cigarette smokers. Even if that were so, it seems you made no effort at all to avoid them.
It makes no sense to me, whatsoever, that, once you knew you had a virus, you continued to go all over, and with a cough to spread your infection. Day after day, Then, to the airport, and also on a plane with hundreds of other (ostensibly healthy) people.
Typically, when one is advised (by as SOS doctor) of a viral infection, one would STAY PUT and allow the virus to run its course, rather than go all out and about and spread it all around, particularly since you had travel insurance. All in all, it's just one of those adjustments one whose responsible would make while traveling.
As for the Air France strike, you were incredibly lucky to acquire a convenient flight home. There are hundreds of reports throughout many forums of those who were severely inconvenienced, many of whom spent days of their Paris stay in line at Air France offices. And, many others, without web or e-mail access stuck in airports over many days, with young children.
Personally, I cannot possibly imagine going to the airport, with an infectious/communicatable, and coughing all over the place, then boarding a plane and subjecting hundreds of others to same.
I say this as one who has often "picked up" a cold, serious sinus infection, bronchitis, just about every other trip home, so, to me, this could not be more inconsiderate of you
Fortunately, we never crossed paths with you those two weeks, and were not on your flight
And,despite your considerate "teases", this was overall an ordinary sort of trip where this or that when wrong and surely not to the level or all the "hype" or recovery period required.
We were in Paris the same two weeks and could not be more relieved that we ran into you nowhere in Paris.
While I am totally sympathetic to your "situation", I am quite astonished that, once you were diagnosed by a doctor with a contagious illness, you went all about, coughing all about, insinuating your condition to be the result of cigarette smokers. Even if that were so, it seems you made no effort at all to avoid them.
It makes no sense to me, whatsoever, that, once you knew you had a virus, you continued to go all over, and with a cough to spread your infection. Day after day, Then, to the airport, and also on a plane with hundreds of other (ostensibly healthy) people.
Typically, when one is advised (by as SOS doctor) of a viral infection, one would STAY PUT and allow the virus to run its course, rather than go all out and about and spread it all around, particularly since you had travel insurance. All in all, it's just one of those adjustments one whose responsible would make while traveling.
As for the Air France strike, you were incredibly lucky to acquire a convenient flight home. There are hundreds of reports throughout many forums of those who were severely inconvenienced, many of whom spent days of their Paris stay in line at Air France offices. And, many others, without web or e-mail access stuck in airports over many days, with young children.
Personally, I cannot possibly imagine going to the airport, with an infectious/communicatable, and coughing all over the place, then boarding a plane and subjecting hundreds of others to same.
I say this as one who has often "picked up" a cold, serious sinus infection, bronchitis, just about every other trip home, so, to me, this could not be more inconsiderate of you
Fortunately, we never crossed paths with you those two weeks, and were not on your flight
And,despite your considerate "teases", this was overall an ordinary sort of trip where this or that when wrong and surely not to the level or all the "hype" or recovery period required.
Mar 25th, 2015, 11:20 PM
#394
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She does have a point, however.
I have a similar conundrum, in that I have a lung condition that sometimes makes me cough a LOT! I can tell when it is making folks nearby understandably nervous, and can see them casting anxious/annoyed glances my way and edging away. If possible I make sure it me that leaves the area, but I have learned the phrases in a number of languages to assure those trapped in my presence that I have a NON-infections lung problem, and to apologize for the annoyance.
I have a similar conundrum, in that I have a lung condition that sometimes makes me cough a LOT! I can tell when it is making folks nearby understandably nervous, and can see them casting anxious/annoyed glances my way and edging away. If possible I make sure it me that leaves the area, but I have learned the phrases in a number of languages to assure those trapped in my presence that I have a NON-infections lung problem, and to apologize for the annoyance.
Mar 26th, 2015, 09:28 AM
#395
Original Poster
I'll try to be brief.
"insinuating your condition to be the result of cigarette smokers. "
I said that the cigarette smoke made it worse…not that cigarette smoking caused my illness, and yes, I did try to avoid them by eating inside and sitting as far away at that last restaurant outside.
"Personally, I cannot possibly imagine going to the airport, with an infectious/communicatable, and coughing all over the place, then boarding a plane and subjecting hundreds of others to same."
I guess I could have stayed in Paris for a few extra weeks, but since I work for a living and didn't have unlimited funds to spend three more weeks in Paris, that would have been hard to do. I also don't think the flight would have been as bad if we hadn't had to run through the airport thanks to Air France overbooking the flight, but life doesn't always work out as planned. We also had no idea what the trip insurance would and would not cover as they weren't very forthcoming when we talked to them on the phone.
"And,despite your considerate "teases", this was overall an ordinary sort of trip where this or that when wrong and surely not to the level or all the "hype" or recovery period required."
Perhaps, but this was the first time I had ever been administered oxygen on an airplane, so that's a little unusual. Sorry, you didn't like the report. I'll try to be more boring next time.
"Fortunately, we never crossed paths with you those two weeks, and were not on your flight."
On that point, I agree with you 100%.
"insinuating your condition to be the result of cigarette smokers. "
I said that the cigarette smoke made it worse…not that cigarette smoking caused my illness, and yes, I did try to avoid them by eating inside and sitting as far away at that last restaurant outside.
"Personally, I cannot possibly imagine going to the airport, with an infectious/communicatable, and coughing all over the place, then boarding a plane and subjecting hundreds of others to same."
I guess I could have stayed in Paris for a few extra weeks, but since I work for a living and didn't have unlimited funds to spend three more weeks in Paris, that would have been hard to do. I also don't think the flight would have been as bad if we hadn't had to run through the airport thanks to Air France overbooking the flight, but life doesn't always work out as planned. We also had no idea what the trip insurance would and would not cover as they weren't very forthcoming when we talked to them on the phone.
"And,despite your considerate "teases", this was overall an ordinary sort of trip where this or that when wrong and surely not to the level or all the "hype" or recovery period required."
Perhaps, but this was the first time I had ever been administered oxygen on an airplane, so that's a little unusual. Sorry, you didn't like the report. I'll try to be more boring next time.
"Fortunately, we never crossed paths with you those two weeks, and were not on your flight."
On that point, I agree with you 100%.
Mar 26th, 2015, 11:04 AM
#397
It seems to me that the list of diseases that the airlines is looking for is very short: Ebola, SARS, things like that. Hundreds of thousands of other sick people take flights every day, just like they take subways, buses, tramways and go to shopping malls and offices every day, just because they have no choice.
I think that Maitaitom made the best of an unfortunate situation. Perhaps he would have done things a bit differently if he had been fully aware of his condition, but wouldn't we all?
I think that Maitaitom made the best of an unfortunate situation. Perhaps he would have done things a bit differently if he had been fully aware of his condition, but wouldn't we all?
Mar 26th, 2015, 01:39 PM
#398
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Wonderful report again Maitai. My only regret is that we were not with you in Paris! That city is magical, even if you are a tad under the weather.
My diagnosis is that you got that virus on the flight outbound for sure. Remember, I play a doctor on our trips.
Too bad that djkbooks takes such a negative stance. We have travelled with you MANY times and have never gotten ill from your germs, just the bad puns. You always keep it to yourself when you are sick out there. Perhaps this other traveller has never gotten ill from a plane? How very interesting.
Looking foreword to our upcoming trip to Spain!
My diagnosis is that you got that virus on the flight outbound for sure. Remember, I play a doctor on our trips.
Too bad that djkbooks takes such a negative stance. We have travelled with you MANY times and have never gotten ill from your germs, just the bad puns. You always keep it to yourself when you are sick out there. Perhaps this other traveller has never gotten ill from a plane? How very interesting.
Looking foreword to our upcoming trip to Spain!
Mar 26th, 2015, 01:50 PM
#399
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Maitaitom, count us in as avid readers and supporters of your entertaining reports!!! And friends who really enjoyed having dinner with you and Tracy in Paris.
We didn't know that "Nurse Ratchet" posted on Fodor's, digressing from the topic of travel to such judgmental comments. Kerouac above expressed our thoughts very well.
And, on a more upbeat topic: our "beloved" Xavier Muskies are playing in LA tonight. They have their work cut out as they're playing Arizona, whose coach was the former coach of Xavier. It's March Madness Mania around Cincinnati as several teams in the vicinity have been involved. Lots of UK Wildcat fans here. Sorry about your Aztecs, but they can hold their heads high because they certainly performed well this season.
We didn't know that "Nurse Ratchet" posted on Fodor's, digressing from the topic of travel to such judgmental comments. Kerouac above expressed our thoughts very well.
And, on a more upbeat topic: our "beloved" Xavier Muskies are playing in LA tonight. They have their work cut out as they're playing Arizona, whose coach was the former coach of Xavier. It's March Madness Mania around Cincinnati as several teams in the vicinity have been involved. Lots of UK Wildcat fans here. Sorry about your Aztecs, but they can hold their heads high because they certainly performed well this season.
Mar 26th, 2015, 03:19 PM
#400
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Maitai Tom,
Thanks again for an entertaining report of your trip. I look forward to reading more.
Grandma & WesserTree.....I didn't watch L& O when it first came out, but can't get enough now. I've probably seen them all at least 6 times. Sort of like Seinfeld.
Thanks again for an entertaining report of your trip. I look forward to reading more.
Grandma & WesserTree.....I didn't watch L& O when it first came out, but can't get enough now. I've probably seen them all at least 6 times. Sort of like Seinfeld.
