Oh so glad I found this! What a delightful report. Though it looks like you just cannot go to France without sustaining an injury...sliced toe, broken knee.......Welcome home.

Hi mms,

Love your report.. I remember you booking the Travelodge. I opted for the Waterloo one for my son and his girlfriend. I think this is in a quieter location plus it's newer.

I feel like a kindred spirit after spending my summer vacation in Europe with 4 teenage girls plus my DH and son.
One of the girls (my son's girlfriend,19) was rather moody but it was never clear what exactly was bothering her.
I tried for a few days to be as patient as you but after a week it was obvious that something had to give and luckily she was old enough to 'ditch' LOL.
We suggested an early start for the last few days and 'Moody' preferred to lie in so we just met up for a pre-arranged dinner.

I'm going back to London for a week in November, solo this time but my DH will join me for the last 2 nights and I'm looking forward to doing exactly what I want!

cmcfong--I know, lol! Even my dad missed the last step at the Eiffel Tower and tore his rotator cuff. So I guess it runs in the family

sassy cat--I remember you too I kept asking DD how we could ditch her friend, but this girl was like glue. Like you, most of the time we had no idea what her issue was. How fun to go go solo!!!

I have been talking to my friend a lot. She really wants to go to Paris, so I look forward to that. It will probably be at least a year, maybe 2, til we can pull it off, but I am glad she is looking ahead and still wants to go. We travel really well together, so no issues there, lol.

Today is the first Sunday of the month, so free museum day. Our plan was to be up early and be at the Louvre when it opened, but we didn't get moving quite that early. We did arrive just before 10, so it wasn't too bad. We got off the metro and headed to the Carousel entrance there. There was a long snaking line, but it moved very fast. I would guess it took us at the most 15 minutes to get in. We have all been there several times, so we didn't stay too long, maybe a couple hours.

On the way out, we stopped at the Fragonard store there in the shopping area. I saw a cute totebag that I had to have A beautiful pink floral pattern with brown leather straps, in case anyone is interested, lol.

We wandered over to the Palais Royal gardens. Near the fountain, there are 4 things that were rather interesting. They were set in a square, outside of the fountain, and my best guess is either "art" or windmills. Anyway, the red ones looked like ladybugs, lol.

While walking in the garden, a cat approached us. OMG, this was the ugliest cat I have ever seen in my life!!!! Not really sure it was a cat. The cats face looked more like a pug, but then the cat was hairless, fat, and then had a rat or armadillo looking tail. It had a harness on and was walking sort of with a couple that was passing us. It seriously looked like what you would get if you crossed a cat with a rat.

After that we headed up Avenue de la Opera, but most things were closed as we had guessed. However, one place was just opening, which was Foucher, a chocolate store. DD and I had been there before on our last trip so we had to stop in. We bought a box to take home, and then tried these peach marshmallows that the sales clerk insisted we try. Wow, those were good!!! And so pretty...almost too pretty to eat.

Walked over to Creperie Genia for lunch. Then to the Champs Elysees. At one point, we were choking on the smell of cologne. Yup, we had neared Abercrombie and Fitch. UGH!!! The smell so far away was awful. Thank goodness the girls don't care for that at all, so we hurried past that. We did go in Louis Vitton. The scarves there were so nice, that we almost caved and bought one. But common sense kicked in in time After that was Laduree. The line was long, but moved pretty fast. We bought a small box to take home for our family, and DD bought a box for a gift.

Then it was on to the Arc d' Triumph. We didn't go up this time, but just wandered around the bottom. We also hit a few of the car showrooms along the street. Renault and Peugeot. Then the girls wanted to shop at H&M (which has some very different stuff than what we can get at the same store near us) and NafNaf. Both girls found some great deals.

We took the metro back to the apt and hit the boulangerie across the street for baguettes. Dinner was more leftovers.

Today is our last day in Paris. When I arrived, my 21" rolling bag was maybe half full. I pack very light, yet did not need to wear anything twice (unless I wanted to). The key for me is fabrics. Anyway, DD had accumulated lots of stuff over the course of nearly 2 months in Paris, and with some of our purchases, we needed to ship some stuff home. So first thing in the morning, I headed down the block to La Poste and bought a box which I brought back to the apt to pack. We took that back and got it shipped out. Today is Monday, and the box arrived later this week on Friday, to Oregon, so pretty darn fast!

We start the morning at Cafe Vavin for cafe cremes. Yum!!!! Vicky, the apt owner, suggested this. I REALLY wish I would have started each morning this way, with or without the girls.

After that we head to Monoprix and get some croissants. It is really windy and we try crossing the street to Galleries Lafayette and just about get blown over. So we head inside to escape for a bit. After that we head over to Les Halles just to wander, but none of us are interested so we leave and head for Notre Dame. The line was very long, but moved quickly. We have all been there several times, but it was still nice to go in and check it out. After that, DD's friend wants Creperie Genia for lunch. Finally, I just couldn't do it anymore, lol, so DD and I let her get that and then we eat later. We did stop across from Genia at Creperie Suzette and got a nutella crepe to share. Yum!!!

We head to Sephora as DD wants to check out some nail polish. Then the girls take me to a boulangerie that was near their university, and it was very good. We got baguettes for dinner and croissants for the morning.

After more wandering, we head back towards the apt, but one street over, to rue du Montparnasse where there are creperies lined up. This was the plan, to have lunch/dinner here instead of Genia. DD and I spotted the place that our family ate at 10 years ago, so we went there. La Creperie Bretonne is the place and it was good DD's friend didn't eat, but did sit with us. As much as I like the paninis at Genia, I was more than ready for a change, and this was perfect. Mine was ham and cheese, and DD had something with mushrooms. Anyway, it came to 14 euro total, so very inexpensive.

I should explain about Genia a bit. The girls were on tight budgets while on exchange, and food was included in the program. But the place where the food was, basically the cafeteria, was no where near the university nor their dorm, so they rarely ate there. Instead they used their money to eat, which meant they ate cheaply. So Genia fit the bill quite well. The paninis were good, and the ladies that run it are very nice. Really I have nothing bad to say about it at all, except I don't want to eat the same thing every day, lol. The place has an area upstairs with lots of seating, and there were lots of regulars there. Lots of students too.

Anyway, back at the apt we pretty much packed up. Had to shuffle quite a bit to make it all work, but we got it. Then it was off to the Eiffel Tower as I bought tickets before we left. Backing up a bit, yesterday I glanced at the ticket printout to make sure of the date. I couldn't remember if we were going on Sunday or Monday night. I glanced, and saw the date, and thought Monday. So we arrive for our scheduled time and darn it, but I goofed! UGH!!! When I glanced, I glaced at the month, not the date. I felt so bad for the girls. They would not let us up, but said we could buy new tickets. At that point we all just said no, forget it. I bought these tickets right before I left home, in the midst of trying to get DS home from Alaska and so I dropped the ball on this. The girls were very nice and said they were ok with it.

So we went over to the Trocadero and hung out there for a few hours. It rained hard for a few minutes, so we took refuge under the big trees off to the side, and then when it cleared we went up to the top area and found a nice spot to people watch. There was a double rainbow after that, so we got some nice photos of that. We actually waited there at the Trocadero for nearly 3 hours! The girls were intent on seeing the tower twinkle on our last night. It was cold, and we were shivering, but we were going to wait it out. The fountains came on, including the cannons, so that was fun to see.

Also saw some group gather down near the fountains. They had big signs that read "Jesus rose 4 U", and two of the men wore long brown robes. The police were there just in case, but it was peaceful. We people watched, and especially enjoyed everyone posing for pictures. One guy, he had his girlfriend run and jump and he was clicking away. Then she had him do the same thing, but he turned around and mooned her as she shot the photo. So it was entertaining We waited for the tower to twinkle, and took lots of pics, and then raced back to the apt as we had an early morning.

I was fine with taking the RER back to CDG, but DD's friend refused and so we did a taxi. Vicky, the apt owner, arranged that for us and the driver arrived exactly on time. He took me to terminal 2e, and then the girls to terminal 1.

It took me only an hour to to the VAT refund thing, check in, get through security, etc and get to my gate. I know CDG can get busy, but I lucked out with the timing, as did the girls. So I spent my time shopping at the airport, lol! Seems DD did the same thing. Great minds

I flew to Minneapolis and then onto Seattle. I arranged it that DD's flight and mine came in roughly an hour apart. DH stayed at work a bit late, and then just picked us both up. We got back to his place quite late, and then he took us to the Amtrak train station early in the morning to head back to Portland, where DS picked us up and brought us home. Plaines, trains, and automobiles, lol!

It was a good trip, although traveling with someone you have not traveled with before is always hit or miss. This one wasn't ideal, but you do have to make the best of it. I really wished the entire time that my friend would have been able to come along. I know DD would have loved that too. Her son passed away before the trip, and there was no way she was ready to go. She and I have already said we will go in due time, so I look forward to that. She and I travel very well together, which I will appreciate even more, lol!

Like all things in life, with travel you need to adjust as you go and be thankful for what you have. This was not the trip I envisioned when we first planned it, but we still came home with big smiles on our faces

Great report and loved the details!!!!!

As usual, an excellent trip report.
Do you only injure yourself in France ? Maybe Italy would be a good idea next trip
I have already told the Yankee that I am gathering new info for our next trip .. his brilliant idea is to go to France and stay for a month or 3 .. wandering.
So I am taking notes like mad.
Besos.. how is the toe ?

LOL! I have not hurt myself in other countries, besides France and here at home. We went to Italy about 12 years ago and absolutely loved it...and didn't get hurt BTW, the toe is good.