kerouac

I don't want to be a wet blanket, but I do understand how people who knew Paris in the past can be disappointed with Paris now. It is a lot more crowded, it is a lot busier, it is a lot less unique in terms of shops and food.

However, this is the same for just about any major city, and you must never overlook the fact that so many things have improved -- most cities are cleaner, easier to navigate, cater more easily to special needs, have improved their language skills, have greatly improved the quality of their hotels, to name just a few things. (Yes this comes with new, modern prices.)

You have to be extremely adventurous these days to find towns anywhere in the world that have not been at least partially "spoiled" by cultures such as ours -- chain stores, fast food restaurants and less sincerity.

suze

I'd go to Paris. It's a unique city. If you go in with an open mind (not expecting it to "be" one way or the other), to me is always the way to travel. Wanting something to be how it "used to be" or meet some kind of preconceived expectations is always asking for disappointment.

I like either Paris only, or Paris/Venice, or Paris/Amsterdam. Each would be a lovely trip. It's not going to be freezing cold in Paris in April. Just get an umbrella. Seriously.

Treesa

Kerouac, my sentiments, exactly.

aguamineral

If cold and rain bothers you, then April in Paris is going to be the wrong introduction to Paris.

go_laura

Cold and rain do bother me, and also aggravate an otherwise manageable health condition. I'm not at all saying I won't go to Paris, this thread and others have more than convinced me it's still on top on my list! But it is making me think that maybe I'll go somewhere else wonderful this time (there's no lack of choices in this world), and save Paris for when Sept. can be my travel month, which will be only a year and a half later.

It sounds like rather than just some drizzles or a small chance of cold, it's a rather large chance of significant rain/cold, and I don't think I'm up for that.

Kerouac, I agree, I live just outside a big city (Phila.) and certainly the chains etc. are there but it's not what I focus on, I focus on the architecture, history, byob's that we're known for, unique small concert venues, museums, parks, etc...reminder well taken to plan to do the same everywhere else. Suze, also well taken is the reminder to put aside any preconceived expectations, a good philosophy in all aspects of life! I just might be applying these good reminders to a warmer, dryer place come April (and promise to self not to whine at all if it turns out to be a glorious april in Paris and instead to just enjoy wherever i am!)

suze

OK, I agree then. Save Paris. And don't even look at the weather forecast once you decide.

And thank you. I find most often travel disappointments are not anything to do with the reality of a place, rather than people had the wrong idea in the first place and therefore are disappointed when things do not match up.

You want sun and certain warm weather? Why not head back to Mexico, somewhere new. The entire Caribbean coast is easy to get to for you. Or a Caribbean island? Lovely in April.

danon

agree with kerouac

Paris is such a big city, tourists stick mostly to the beautiful, famous
loactions. Makes sense.
But, if one venture
( no real reason to do it) to some areas further, let's say North- East,
the " picture" is not all that pretty.

TPAYT

April,sun,sand,French = St. Bart's!

mlgb

I still think you should think outside the Euro=centric box and consider Peru. April is a good month. There are several interesting cities, Arequipa and Cusco, as well as the more ruralSacred Valley, Machu Picchu. Lima is a big sprawly city but has a World Heritage Plaza Mayor, great museums and unbelievable food.

Arequipa
https://picasaweb.google.com/kiwifann/Arequipa
https://picasaweb.google.com/kiwifan...alinaMonastery

Lima
https://picasaweb.google.com/kiwifan...ndBarrancaPeru

Food
https://picasaweb.google.com/kiwifan...AndBolivia2011

go_laura

Yes, Peru is on the short list now too, just hadn't mentioned it since I'd posted this in the Europe forum, the original focus being Paris. Thanks for sharing your pics! Going to be doing some general reading up on Portugal, Southern Spain, Morocco and Peru (and maybe more), and see what's calling to me!

Michael

<i>let's say North- East, the " picture" is not all that pretty.</i>

really?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623299527007

Guenmai

Paris has gone through changes as have most places. I've been going there, almost annually, since 1976 and sure there are times when I liked it better. But, if one hasn't been there and thus doesn't have previous experience with the city, then a first timer has no other time period to compare it to. You should be fine in Paris. There will be a lot to keep you busy.

Marrakesh, Morocco is also an interesting place. I used to fly from Paris to Morocco and also Paris to Tunisia.

I just now read some of your comments above, and see that you might be apprehensive about the weather in April. I have gone to Paris, in April, more than a dozen times and have usually found it not that bad. But, it can be iffy. There can be rain of course, but I expect rain in a lot of Europe, in many different times of the year, and thus never leave home without an umbrella. I can't remember a time that I've been to Belgium when there hasn't either been rain or dreary weather or both.

Several times, I've actually gotten quite warm weather, in Paris, in April. I remember it was warm in 2010 and hot in 2011 and I remember that the week that I was there in 2005, it was hot. The other times, in April, I don't remember exactly, but they must not have been that bad, weather wise. But, March is a different story. I remember March. But, since I have a very fixed vacation schedule that falls in either March or April when it comes to spring, then I just take my chances.

As for the your possible choice of Argentina, I've only been in Buenos Aires (2008). I liked it there a lot. I went in December though and it was hot and one or two days, it poured raining like tropical style rain. There would be downpours that wouldn't last that long. I love the vibe of Buenos Aires. And it's interesting that a lot of the architecture there looks similar to Paris.

Good luck in finding the right travel fit that will suit you best.

Happy Travels!

Rubicund

I lived in Paris in the mid 60's as a student for a year and have revisited at about 10 year intervals since, the last being last year. The place is certainly more scruffy than it was and I do feel that people are more enamoured of the idea of Paris than of Paris itself.

We walked from the Gare du Nord down to the Seine and I was disappointed in the general, dirty appearance of the place. kerouac is right that a lot of big cities have lost their uniqueness with many chain stores and fast food places that could be anywhere. It really is "plus la meme chose".

Michael

<i>I lived in Paris in the mid 60's as a student for a year and have revisited at about 10 year intervals since, the last being last year. The place is certainly more scruffy than it was.... </i>

Same time span, although more frequent visits, and have the opposite impression; particularly in the Marais.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623310709181

ira

Hi K,

>I do understand how people who knew Paris in the past can be disappointed with Paris now. It is a lot more crowded, it is a lot busier, it is a lot less unique in terms of shops and food.<

Gee, Gloria said almost the exact same thing to Ernie, Jean-Paul, Simi, and I just the other night.


Or was it in

suze

I have never found any major city to be "romantic" in and of itself. I've never understood when people say that.

cigalechanta

You can't find romance unless you bring it with you.

Michael

<i>It is a lot more crowded</i>

The city proper has had a declining population between 1962 and 2008, but not the equivalent of our SMSA.

Surfergirl

I agree with Michael.

When I first visited Paris in the early '70's, the buildings were covered in soot. You should have seen the Notre Dame, for example! From a breathing standpoint, it was not terrific. In fact, there was an old saying then that no one looked up at the sky to see the smog because they were too busy looking at the ground to avoid stepping on the dog poop.

Having said that, I still fell in love with the place, sooted buildings, smoggy sky and dog poop on the ground. I didn't even mind the fact that everyone and their pet dog smoked like chimneys.

Yes, there were a whole lot more unique shops and cafes, and you'd be hard pressed to find a Big Mac anywhere other than on the Champs Elysee. But you did see a lot of wealthy Americans in red plaid golfing trousers acting a bit sophmoric and entitled. It was, after all, the days when young people came to paris wearing Maple Leaf arm patches to avoid being branded American.

So these days, the place is all cleaned up and spiffy, and the Eiffel Tower is all decked out in pretty snazzy lights with its maybe 50th coat of paint. And yes, I can get a burger on any street corner, if I wanted, but I can also get a baguette filled camenbert sandwich with hot mustard on any street corner that tastes as yummy as it did 40 years ago. Americans have mellowed, and so have my Parisian friends, and more people are smiling, and less are smoking, and there's still dogs everywhere, but people now pick up the poop.

And as Molly Bloom said, when I think of Paris, yes I said yes I will Yes.

cigalechanta

surfergirl, I pushed my like button