happytotravel

suec1: We did not have to say yee hah, but were told to do other various embarrasing things by our leader.

yk: I thought about going alone, but when she said yes, I really thought it would be my opportunity to open her eyes to the world a little bit. I certainly am not a saint, but I am an activity director for the elderly,so I am used to getting a few blank stares once in a while. I also knew that the more people participate hands on, the more they enjoy it. In fact I tried to book us everyday for some activity, but due to the late notice, many were booked (cooking, painting, tastings, etc.)

Days 2-3: Started off very hopeful. She woke commenting on how the yogurt was the best she had ever tasted. I felt this was a very good sign. We continued on visiting the Louvre, Sacre Couer, Champs Elysees, Sainte Chapelle. It was after Sainte Chapelle, that I realized Paris was not for her, how can someone enter that beautiful jewell without even a slight sign of joy, I'll never know, but she did it.

We took the bus everywhere. I managed to get us where we were going easily by using www.rapt.fr , but upon leaving we would be on a different street or someplace else entirely, so we needed to usually check 1 or 2 different bus stops in order to get the right one. This was a little frustrating for her, but she would not use the metro or walk.

Ice Cream: This is funny, I asked her if she wanted to try Berthillon, not because I like it, but many people do. Her comment was " I don't understand the lines, they don't even have Rocky Road."

Day 4: A day of not playing tour guide, we took the Fat Tire bicycle Monet tour. For those that don't know, you can easily do this on your own without a tour, there are bicycle rentals next to the train station in Vernon, and its a very short flat ride to Giverny. Our tour guide was american, but he had a degree in art and architecture, so the commentary was very informative. This was my friends favorite of the entire trip, relief at last. However, she did not let on that she liked it, until we were home.

Day 5 : We spent more time shopping, visiting the Monoprix wherever we saw one. She brought quite a few things to bring home. She even brought a plug adapter for her next trip to Europe, I saw this as a great sign.

yk

happytotravel, let me say this again, you ARE a saint! I also cannot comprehend how anyone could not be awed by Saint Chapelle! I honestly cannot travel with people who don't share my interests, or appreciate the same/similar things that I do; unless we split up to do our own sightseeing.

I think it'll be truly fascinating if your friend would come here and post *her* version of the trip!

suec1

"She did not let on she liked it until we were home" - funny that line reminds me of when I traveled with my daughters when they were teenagers! In fact, many aspects of your trip remind me of traveling with teenagers - not looking in guidebooks, little interest in the fabulous french food, not liking the Metro.....next time you find a super fare, call me - you deserve a more enthusiastic travel partner but who knows maybe with your patient tutoring you will have given birth to a new fan of european travel.

kerouac

Oh, I am cringing more and more!

But I have come across numerous "blank stare" tourists who seem to be interested in nothing yet who give glowing reports of their "adventures" once they are back home.

thursdaysd

Oh happytotravel - you are definitely a saint! I agree - how can anyone not love Ste Chapelle? And refusing to walk in Paris!!!

Treesa

Happy, you deserve a medal. I would have ditched her on day one, forget the consequences. Don't let people suck the joy out of your life. It appears some grown ups need babysitters.
Are you still on friendly terms?

Sooosally

If someone has never travelled before, especially to places so far from home, I think they don't appreciate that preparing for the trip is a big part of the adventure. It just builds your anticipation. Also, I think that someone going to a foreign country for the first can be intimidated by the language difference and by their own preconcieved ideas about the area. I'd say the woman really did want to travel. Otherwise she wouldn't have said yes. Hopefully your kindness will open her eyes to the joys of exploring areas far from your comfort zone. You are very kind to work so hard for her to have a good time.

whoknew

Gosh happytotravel, I admire your fortitude and patience. What is this person like on a daily basis? Is she really reserved as a rule? It's really hard to read people like that.

I'm a little on the introverted side, and I travel alone a lot so I don't do a lot of "oohing" and "aahing" out loud. I'm already considered strange enough as it is!

But I cannot imagine traveling with someone who makes no comment at all. My dear friend does no research, but her enthusiasm and excitement once she's there makes up for all the itinerary planning I must do for the both of us.

kerouac

I grew up in a bi-national family and was always completely aware that different and interesting parts of the planet existed. However, I went to school in a rural isolated U.S. location where the teachers drilled into every head the whole concept of "USA #1" and the "fact" that the entire rest of the world was inferior, backwards and worthy of disdain.

Perhaps modern media have given more people the opportunity to have a different opinion, but I do believe that quite a fesw people have no interest in any part of the rest of the world because they have "learned" in school that their country is the best in the world and that therefore the other countries are a waste of time.

happytotravel

Day 6: Champagne tour: another day off for me. We booked through Viatar, and we headed to Champagne, we could have easily done this on our own, I just didn't want the hassle of being responsible. I didn't ask her if she wanted to do it, I just booked it because I like champagne. This was another day that I think she enjoyed, but sipping champagne throughout the day can make anyone a little happier.

Day 7: home, DH picked us up from the airport. He is quite inquisitive by nature, so he asked her all kinds of questions. Basically, she had a nice time, she probably wouldn't go to Paris again, and Colorado (were we live) is really a nice place.

She is reserved in emotions on a daily basis, so it is not so surprising that I couldn't tell what she liked or didn't like, just more difficult for planning. We are still friends. I wish I could say that I opened her eyes to the world, but sadly I don't think so. It just means there is one less person in Paris, all the better for those of us that truly enjoy it.

yk

Hi happytotravel - I DO think you opened her eyes, otherwise, she wouldn't have bought the European adaptor for her *next* adventure!

kerouac

I confess that I am generally secretly relieved when people do not want to return to Paris. The overload of tourists started about 20 years ago (I sort of attribute it to the 'opening' of Eastern Europe and Russia, millions of people who had been waiting to join the flow to Paris for almost 50 years, followed by China). I do not begrudge the desire to see Paris, but when I first moved here, there were never lines to enter the Louvre or Notre Dame or lots of the other places. You would just visit them at your leisure at random. Those days appear to be gone forever.

Leely2

<i>She is reserved in emotions on a daily basis, so it is not so surprising that I couldn't tell what she liked or didn't like, just more difficult for planning.</i>

Oh, so you traveled with my mother!

Royal

Wow - what patience you had.

Some people just don't get it. They are happy to live all their lives in familiar surroundings and have no curiosity. Obviously, she is one of them.

lilaki

hi happytotravel,

wow ... i gotta say, i read your report and my jaw was practically on the floor! you have a LOT more patience and generosity that i do!

btw - here's the million dollar question - would you do it again???

palette

I could have written this entire post on my trip two years ago with a very well traveled friend. But Paris seemed to leave her cold. I was familiar with the city and therefore fell into the role of tour guide. But she sat outside reading while I went into museums; the food never met her needs; there was no enthusiasm about anything. And we were there for two weeks. I will travel again with her but only when someone else is running the show.

Nikki

No one in my family likes to plan ahead, read about the destination, think of things to do, other than me. And the temperament of my husband and at least one of my daughters is such that you wouldn't necessarily know they were having a good time. They aren't bursting with enthusiasm at home either.

This does not mean that they don't enjoy the travel we have done and will continue to do together.

It might be the case that happy's friend had a much better time than happy thinks she did.

Elainee

You are a saint!!!! I bet your friend will talk about this trip the rest of her life as her greatest adventure. I also bet she will not go back to Paris...she was there, she did it. I think from your report you still managed to enjoy yourself. You had your expectations for your friend's attitude well in hand. You are very special.

Weekender

Leely2:

Good one!

bniemand

I think Royal summed it up nicely with "no curiosity"

Happy, I know sooooo many people like your friend who just are not interested in traveling and are not curious about much of anything outside of their home town or state. And I can't imagine spending a week in Paris with any of them! You are a really good friend!

Thanks so much for posting this report. I love your story and I love everyones comments.