cathies

Hi kybourbon, in theory the elevator at the Arc is for the categories that you mentioned. However, when I was in Paris I was having terrible trouble with a sore hip after 4-5 weeks of non-stop walking and the thought of all those steps was enough to make me weep!! The attendant was more than happy to take me up in the lift. I walked back down easily. Pitiful I know as I'm not that old, but I was so grateful to her.

lyndash

In 2007 traveling with my daughter we purchased our tickets to the Arc and the lady looking at my silver gray hair asked if I didn't want to use the elevator.

I didn't take offense but took the stairs as planned! I am 'only' 57 and happy to be able to walk off all extra calories I was so happily consuming.....lynda

rncheryl

Joining all the others in congratulating you for a sweet, funny trip report.

annettetx

I loved this, too! They were all great, but I have special fondness for:

<i>Best way to nag your daughter from another continent: Check her grades online, and then send her an email telling her to work harder in Civics, because that is her easiest class. Sign off immediately, and celebrate transatlantic nagging with glass of prosecco at nearest cafe.<i>

My teenagers didn't think it was as funny as I did....</i></i>

Sarvowinner

Very funny

shelly_m

annette: My daughter didn't think it was funny either.

It was nice getting to put the nag out there without having to hear the response. If only I could email all my nags to her every day!

LCBoniti

LoveItaly, I just about choked on my wine from laughing at the &quot;avanti&quot; story!

Thanks for all the laughs - I really needed that!

nfldbeothuk

What a wonderful, and hilarious, trip report.
I laughed out loud at the &quot;Prego&quot; section. That's exactly how I felt in Italy -- why does every waiter &amp; store clerk say the same thing no matter what I try to ask? I know I am butchering phrase-book Italian, but how can this be the answer to everything!!
And everyone I passed in the street seemed to be saying &quot;Allora&quot; to their companions.
It sounds like you had so much fun.

dina4

Shelly, i LOVED LOVED LOVED your trip report.

I am so sad you're done with it!!

LilyLace

Shelly,

Your report has been the most enjoyable thing I've read in a very long time! Thank you!

Lily

shelly_m

Best reason to wish it was three weeks ago at this exact moment: Because at 4:50 pm three weeks ago, I was sitting in the Miami airport waiting to board my flight and start my grand two-week dream vacation, instead of sitting in front of my computer, doing everything I can to avoid doing actual work.

Best thing to do while stuck at home working instead of in Miami airport getting ready to board: Read everyone else's questions about their upcoming exciting dream vacations.

Poohgirl

You are so funny, Shelly. Thanks for the post. I'm going to Rome this fall, so this is great.

marigross

Thanks you! This was so, so funny!

shelly_m

Thanks for your nice comments, everyone!

I'm going to have to change the title of this thread to &quot;Whiny Girl's List of Post-Vacation Complaints.&quot; I've only been home one week, but I am already feeling like I want to be on vacation again.

It was so nice when the only thing on my to-do list every day was to decide where to get my daily croque monsieur or which flavor of gelato I want to try that night.

Let's see...which is better:

Schoolwork or scooter-dodging in the streets of Rome?

Frozen Weight Watcher dinners or fresh salads on Rue du Champs de Mar?

Putting away laundry or picking out pastries?

Ah well...as the wise man once said: &quot;It is better to have gone to Paris and Rome, and then come home on a really long flight to Miami, only to be bullied by the girl in customs because you are not allowed to stand and wait for your mother, who filled out her customs declaration in pencil and has to re-write the entire thing, than never to have gone to Paris and Rome at all.&quot;

JulieVikmanis

Gosh, just when you think there's no way that someone can come up with a fresh approach to a trip report, there it is! Thanks this has been wonderful.

sandy_b

Wonderful and funny trip report, thank you so much for brightening my day . . . and add me to the list of those who want you to go someplace again so you can post again!

Sandy (in Denton)

bettyloo

Thanks for the trip report I was having such a bad day until reading this!

shelly_m

Prego! Hope your day gets better.

shelly_m

&gt;add me to the list of those who want you to go someplace again so you can post again!&lt;

Sandy: You and me both, sista! My mom was just telling me today that she wants us to go to Lake Como and Venice next.

I suppose I should at least wait to pay the bills from this trip before planning to travel again. Of course, with the price of gas these days, I'll be lucky to afford &quot;traveling&quot; to the local Wal-Mart.