kerouac

I'm impressed that you were able to spend almost 4 hours in Père Lachaise. I burn out after about 100 minutes, but then again, I wander in and out of there at least 5 times a year...

Traviata

lauren,

Enjoying every word........love being transported back to my favorite city in the world. Great report!

Belinda

Crefloors, have you consulted your doctor about your hip? It might br that a hip replacement would solve your problem and you can enjoy Paris next year pain free. I've had both done and am so so so glad! It was really a pretty painless process.

kerouac

I have a British friend who came to Paris saying that "this is probably my last trip" (he is in his 80's). But then he had hip replacement surgery and has been back 5 times since then.

northie

Kerouac - Musee de quai Branly was promoted very well in Australia due to the indigenous artists who were invited to do works for it .

djkbooks

I have really been enjoying Altecocker's visit to Paris after 5 years, third person, quirks, and all. The entire blog is amazingly well organized and also quite well written, along with being chock full of incredibly useful information regarding all the many places she has visited and other important travel topics.

Personally, I don't mind the complaining (though I see it as just as to what's what) as there is much to complain about while traveling, more so with advancing age.

Despite my best efforts, I'm one who's becoming older and with less and less energy and enthusiasm, worried that my get up and go has gotten up and left.

I so admire Altecocker's adventures these days, as more and more, I am reluctant to make plans because by the time to go, I often really do not feel like packing, getting ready, going, and sometimes cancel, when I really should just go (which I haven't regretted so far when I have)

And, you have to hand it to Altecocker - she's honest. So many trip reports omit all mishaps, inconveniences, inadvertent errors in planning or during travels.

It's like everything else on this forum. You have to plow through a LOT of useless for the little that is useful.

I, for one, am positively thrilled that Altecocker came back to this forum with a link to her blog. Anyone can take or leave it. No need to even comment one way or the other.

<<. Why "irony'? Bec. this takes me back to the old AOL travel board, which you, Alte C. might remember. Personal attacks, insults, name calling, one-upsmanship, and on and on. Se ya.>>

As that is, truly, in the (long ago) past, and clearly not a component on the blog, so what?

LancasterLad

djkbooks. Good posting.

I'm off to Vietnam soon, and want to get hold of an Altecocker T-shirt before I go!

pink_fatamorge

I really don't like the writing 3rd person but the blog is quite good

crefloors

I too have never seen the Eiffel Tower twinkle and that is on my bucket list.

I'm kind of like djkbooks regarding travel. It often seems daunting and I don't have the stamina I once did. There are some trips I am going to do and Paris and London are places I love and on my list to do for sure. I'm not just about ticking off places just because although if younger and had more money I could sure have fun doing that.

Also the idea of flying economy these days for the 11 or so hours to Paris just is not a fun thought. I have to keep thinking of the "end game".

lauren_s_kahn

Thank you for those who have made positive comments. The Paris blog is now over as I begin a home exchange in Salou, Spain.

A link will be posted on the Spain board, not here.

As for the negative comments, well, I suppose it goes with the territory.

lauren_s_kahn

By the way, a self appointed expert in Yiddish would be a "maven". "AlteCocker" means what I said it means. If your family--or you--choose it differently (or to attack me in a nasty fashion), you are using it wrong.

The title of the blog was, of course, meant to be funny. For those of you who see it as otherwise, tant pis.

crefloors

I enjoyed the read lauren.

lauren_s_kahn

Thanks crefloors. Amazing how many read anything about Paris and how relatively few are interested in Salou Spain. Well, I did know that.

I will be in Salou thru August 24th. Then Barcelona until I return home August 29th. I will be home for less than two months before I leave again--for Taiwan and Chiang Mai, Thailand, for the winter. If I am going to see these places, I need to see them fast, as I am not getting any younger.

crefloors

Me neither...the younger part. I'm heading out next year. I am going to read your Spain report. I have no burning desire to go to Spain but am always interested in reports from all over the place so will read. Having said that, there ARE some things in Spain I find interesting, especially the architecture. So keep posting and I'll keep reading.

rialtogrl

While you are in Salou try to take in an exhibition of castellers (human towers.) It is an extraordinary thing to watch. You can check out the schedule here - http://www.cccc.cat/contents/calendar-of-performances-6

Shouldn't be too hard to get from Salou to some of the locations.

Micheline

I've been to Salou so I'll be interested to read your report.

lauren_s_kahn

Salou is not Paris, but I went to Montserrat yesterday--a must see by any definition. There are lots of really spectacular places in Europe that are missed because people from across the Atlantic have such limited time when they go to Europe.

I have been so fortunate to have traveled in Europe so much and so often. Home exchange has given me opportunities to travel beyond what would have been possible had I been obliged to pay for hotels all the time.

lauren_s_kahn

LancasterLad, I found an "Altacocker" apron online but, alas, no t-shirts. If you find one let me know. I am not particular about the spelling.

Perhaps I should create one. Hmmm. . . .

Sue4

This has been rather amusing to read. It's amazing to me to see all the criticism that occurs on a travel forum. Anyway, I'm curious now and intend to read the blog when I have more time. If I'm bored, I'll just stop reading - simple!

But in any event, I was VERY interested in what Belinda and Kerouac mentioned about successful hip replacements. I'm in need of hearing that at this point, as I hate the thought of giving up my wonderful Paris trips due to walking pain!

lauren_s_kahn

The photos from my trip are now up on my website. They are not yet edited or captioned but that should be done in the next week.

The general photos are here:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...15-photos.html

I had so many from Pere Lachaise Cemetery that I set up a separate file for those:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...-cemetery.html