jamikins

Sounds like you are having an amazing time! Enjoy every minute and please keep reporting!

Mathieu

Despite the distractions Claire, I continue to totally enjoy and be amused by your report and adventures. I also felt the same way as you did about Sacre Coeur two years ago.
Good for you on your LV bag purchase. Longing and waiting and saving for something makes it so much more enjoyable when you finally get it. For me it was an Hermes tie nearly 20 years ago after all the bills and student loans were paid off following graduation. Many ties have come and gone since, but i still have that special one.

Looking forward to more !

M

Peter_S_Aus

I’d like to comment on Claire’s shopping. Claire comes from Perth, Australia, a city with a population of about 1.9 million. It is by no means a shopping Mecca – the high end stores that one might find in London, Paris or Venice for that matter are not to be found in Perth. Perth ain’t got no Fortnum & Mason, and the LV outlet in Perth is about the size of a corner store.

The nearest large cities to Perth are Adelaide (a mere 2800 km), Darwin (4000 km) or Singapore (3900- km), and Perth is the most isolated large city in all the world.

People travel to experience things that they can’t see in their home country. When I travel, I don’t go camping – I camp often in Australia. Maybe the Swiss don’t make a point of travelling to places that have a whole bunch of Alps. Some people want to visit Disney, and there are no Disney theme parks in Australia.

And some people enjoy doing retail – perhaps that should be Retail with a capital “R” – because where they come from, the retail experience is a bit thin. So Claire does a bit of power shopping, and we’ve been known to buy Moretti glasses in Venice at 90 euro a pop, because there’s no Moretti outlet in Australia.

SusannahT

Spot on Peter! I am not a shopper in Australia but love shopping in markets, small stores and even supermarkets in Europe. And antique fairs in the UK! I may not long for a LV but Claire may not be interested in my search for fine china. My family are not.

I am enjoying reading about your experiences, Claire. Thank you.

Oaktown9

Sidebar to Peter: "Not all LV bags cost over 2-3K with tax. Some are less."
That is what I told my husband years ago when the receipt tumbled onto the floor.

Crazyfamilyof4:

Sounds like you are all having fun! The hubby is resting quite a bit. That would chap my hide...

Anyway, keep going.

Oh, one very very small fact check: "...even my son told someone to be silent and talk to Jesus in his head."

Please tell me that this did not happen.

No child has ever told me to be quiet. Ever. Really? Seriously? I would have lost my shhh..... Even when adults give me the *look* or act like they want to tell me to be quiet, silent, or to shut up...girl, it is on an' poppin'.

I am Baptist, so quiet/silent/shhh! in church is never going to happen. Never. LAUGHS!!
My Grandmother had a different perspective, but she was my Grandmother (elder) and in church,one look from her was all it took.

Clarify if/when you can. Today I'm on your side, so don't loose me.

Ok, keep it coming!

willowjane

I have to say that I am a little surprised and saddened by all the negative comments. I am loving your trip report and am thrilled that you can afford things that I am not sure I could swing. I am also a teacher, and we (me, my husband and sweet mother) make choices throughout the year so that when we do go on a big vacation we can do what we choose. Please keep the trip report coming. You have about convinced me to stay in Uzes on our trip next summer - just looking for a 2 bedroom /2 bathroom places there now. Great job!

lrock5

Thanks Peter. Coming from small town Texas I thought I was going to have to apologize for my Chanel purse. My husband and kids helped me pick it out at the Rue Cambon shop and it is one of my prize possessions along with the memory.

irishface

I know a young family from my former parish whose children are wonderful in church, and I can see the five year old or the four year old telling someone to be quiet in Jesus's house. Actually I think they would put their fingers to their lips and whisper about Jesus's house. So, Oaktown, I do believe Claire's story.

Actually, I have been pretty appalled by visitors to famous churches and would like to shush them, but assume that they don't know any better and would be defensive about reminders.

SusannahT

Willowjane - yes indeed to all of your comments. We should all be thrilled that Claire has realised a dream. I cannot wait to see a photo of the Bag. I will also join you in a search for accommodation in Uzes.

Europe trips for many Australians are very special. Please don't spoil Claire's holiday with negativity. A wider and more accepting perspective is so important.

The mother of a much loved daughter-in-law has just returned from a wonderful European sojourn. Last week she was informed she has metastatic breast cancer, for which there is no cure. I am so pleased that she had this time with her husband. I hope she bought two LV bags, if that was her desire.

Oaktown9

Irishface:

Duly noted. Would never happen where I live. Doesn't' mean it didn't happen in France. I really could care less. I was just funnin' with her. No worries.

My parents, however, would be livid if I ever told a grown man or woman how to behave. Not appropriate at home or on vacation. I would be apologizing through my much earned tears for being completely disrespectful and way out of line.

Now in a movie theatre, I too will give someone the stink-eye or shush them. It's dark, so I'm safe doing so.

Back to France, Crazyfamilyof4, I too am going to Musee d' Orsay when I visit. Awesome! You meant museum not art gallery, right?
(I'm just funnin' with you Claire) I know you are busy and typing fast and doing a great job filling us in. Thanks!

I have planned a half day for the visit. What exhibitions did you get to see? How did you and your mom decide which parts of the museum to focus on with your limited time? How much time would you suggest based on your visit? Did you do the audio tour or small group tour or did you go it alone? Did you love the train architecture? Isn't it fabulous?
Like your kids, I too LOVE trains. Don't tell them they missed this amazing sight and unique experience.

Thanks!

Gretchen

I have to say that I am amazed at the disrespect some tourists have for churches they are entering in Europe. NO excuse for it.

SusannahT

Respect for the religious edifices of all is important- churches, mosques or temples. However, conversation is often encouraged by volunteer guides in churches (in the UK particularly), who want to share their special place with others. Obviously not in places reserved for meditation or prayer, or during services.

thursdaysd

Most major churches/cathedrals in Europe are well aware that they are tourist sights as well as religious buildings (it is not unknown for admission to be charged, and quite often there are docents and tours). They keep tourists out, or at least resrict them to the back, during actual services, and they set aside a chapel for private prayer. In those circumstances it is unreasonable to expect visitors to act as if a service is in progress when it is manifestly not.

cathies

I agree with you gretchen and I'm amazed at oaktown9's delight in her lack of respect. I'm sure lots of Baptists would behave appropriately. Hopefully the comment was meant as a joke.

justineparis

Matheiu the point is when there are no kids around occasionally parents can let their hair down and relax a bit and not worry about being "discreet" or one could say cut loose a bit and not be a stuffed shirt.

The Amish comment was just meant as an example of a group of people who usually live by very staid standards of good behaviour.. most of us are not quite so pious but perhaps you are an exception.

When you get older you will realize your discretion is boring and you have missed out on some fun.. we were not talking about cruelly cutting down people here buddy, just fun silly talk not suitable for kids... do you even have kids, somehow I am pretty sure you do not..

justineparis

Matheiu the point is when there are no kids around occasionally parents can let their hair down and relax a bit and not worry about being "discreet" or one could say cut loose a bit and not be a stuffed shirt.

The Amish comment was just meant as an example of a group of people who usually live by very staid standards of good behaviour.. most of us are not quite so pious but perhaps you are an exception.

When you get older you will realize your discretion is boring and you have missed out on some fun.. we were not talking about cruelly cutting down people here buddy, just fun silly talk not suitable for kids... do you even have kids, somehow I am pretty sure you do not..

Trophywife007

<even my son told someone to be silent and talk to Jesus in his head>

That made me laugh out loud. I'm glad your son knows he can talk to Jesus in his head. Too cute.

bdsbeautyblog

I'm glad your children know to be quiet in churches Claire.

I am not a believer, but whether or not there is a service on, I believe it is absolutely necessary to be quiet in a place of worship. People may be there who are engaged in quiet, private moments of prayer and reflection (even if they are not participating in an actual service). For them it is a sacred place and it is not for non-worshippers to go in there and start chatting and taking pictures all over the place. As far as I'm concerned, you go in, you look, you're quiet, and then you go out again. Simple as that.

millie2112

ok , could not help myself reading this and all I can say is - have you all lost the plot here.
When Crazy talks about her children being so well behaved & having dinner by candle light, we are actually talking about toddlers. Toddlers that require lots of sleep. The 2 year old would hardly remember a thing. She would just be exhausted after each days outing.
While I do not mind children sitting at a dinner table next to me, I draw the line at toddlers who are out well past their bedtime.

thursdaysd

"it is not for non-worshippers to go in there and start chatting and taking pictures all over the place. As far as I'm concerned, you go in, you look, you're quiet, and then you go out again. Simple as that."

No, it is not as simple as that. The great cathedrals of Europe are still houses of worship, and you shouldn't visit during a service unless you are attending the service (I'm not a believer, but I still like to attend Evensong and Christmas Eve mass on occasion), but they are ALSO effectively museums, visited for their art and archtecture. And the people operating the buildings know that (and raise money from those visitors in order to maintain the buildings, which they couldn't afford to do otherwise). Just read their web sites.

The web site for Sacre Couer recognizes that you may visit to view "the internal architecture", OR for services. Notre Dame invites visitors to: "relax, leaving the hubbub of the street behind, and show a respectful attitude, through both their behaviour and their clothing," A respectful attitude doesn't mean you keep your mouth shut, it means you keep your voice down.

As for maintaining a Puritan hush in church, it's not just the Baptists who don't. I still remember the first Catholic service I attended - Christmas Eve mass in St. Johns Co-Cathedral in Malta. Besides the magnificent spectacle - gorgeous vestments, loads of gold, clouds of incense - it was quite clear to me that the attendees were there as much for the socializing as the service. So chill.