tulsatown

Senior citizens, wife and I late 60's. was looking at barge trips. In the army, middle 50's stationed in Germany, liked the country, food & wine, but have heard about barge trips in France. Don't care much for the french attitude, but was looking for some type of recommendation. Thanx.

BTilke

What exactly do you mean by "French attitude"? Maybe France isn't the best place for you to vacation. That said, there are some barges operated by Brits living in France...is that more what you had in mind?
As for too old, if you're in reasonable physical shape and still enjoy the idea of travel, then of course you're not too old to go! My mother is in her late 70s and still comes to visit us in Europe at least twice a year.

rex

No, you are not too old to go. If you like the country (Germany) and (its?) food and wine - - ten what makes you think you want to go on a barge trip in France?

There are plenty of self-drive barge options in Germany. Here's an example...

http://www.leboat.com/Countries/Germ...lf-drives.html

Best wishes,

Rex

Patrick

You're not too old to go, but if you have a preconceived idea of some sort of "French attitude" then I suspect you wouldn't enjoy it. I've had numerous friends who went to Paris with that idea, and they came back armed with all the stories of how rude the French were to them -- of course I always wonder how nice they were to the French since they went with an attitude that they wouldn't like them.

nibblette

Personally, I don't think anyone is too old to travel. Health and mobility problems are a different thing. Late 60's nowadays is not very old, esp if you are healthy and fit.
Barge trips are a good way to see the country-side without a lot of physical effort (unless you're planning to do self-catering). Some also provide for some walking or biking along the barge route where they will meet you/pick you up at a predetermined location.

I do a lot of adventure traveling. Most participants are in their 20-40's. However, on some of the hiking ones, it was not unusual to see people in their 70's. Some of them blowing right by me (30's) with any effort and helping others much younger than them along the way.

Remember, age is just a number, not a limitation.

Underhill

Take a look at barge trips in France offered by Grand Circle Tours.

cmt

Of course late 60s isn't too old. In ten years I'll be in my late 60s and I certainly don't expect to be too old to travel. But if, in your experience, you've found that most of the French people, maybe it is not such a good idea to take your vacation in France, which is populated primarily by French people. I think maybe I don't understand what you're asking, or at least I'm having a bit of trouble taking your post seriously.

ira

Hi t,

Why not a barge trip in Germany?

Are you planning on bareboat or crewed?

walkinaround

i knew you'd get some stick here for that comment about the french. don't worry, at least you are honest about it. there are many choices of destinations so why go somewhere where you have no interest in the people. when it comes down to it, a significant percentage of europeans would say exactly the same thing about the french. unfortunately, due to the culture wars in the US, you are not free to say such things without being attacked by the PC police. let's lighten up.

Intrepid1

We <b> are </b> light, so far except for Rex who still thinks everbody has to drive everywhere to truly enjoy themselves.

Tilsatown: I have no idea what &quot;attitude&quot; you are referring to and I think most of us here would feel sad that anyone has some sort of pre-conceived notion about an entire nation.

I'd feel a lot better about your opinion, and I certainly don't dispute your right to have it, if I thought it were shaped by having been there.

Open-mindedness goes a long way in overcoming the otherwise infirmities of advanced age..you should really give it a try sometime.

cmt

Since we can't edit our posts....

I think I accidentally deleted part of one sentence when correcting one typo. the sentence in question should read:

But if, in your experience, you've found that most of the French people you've encountered had attitudes that you did not like, maybe it is not such a good idea to take your vacation in France, which is populated primarily by French people.

elaine

Given the question and the way it was phrased, I would respond with the recommendation, as requested, that indeed you are too old to go and you probably were too old in the 50s as well. Germany won't be the same either. On the other hand, I've heard that barge trips on the Rhone, Saone, and Seine in France are very well done, but they do indeed take place in France. Look into Uniworld trips if you think you can overcome your assumptions.

NorthShore

An open-minded person would not lecture people and imply they were close-minded based on so little information. Even the French don't like the smug, superior attitude that is all too often displayed in Paris.

jody

IRA!!! Bareboats?????????? Now that could be a bit dangerous!

Late 60's is not old at all..believe me! I know!!

I actually prefer the French attitude to some American attitudes!

lilminkey

I think you should go, but go with a good attitude, remember to be polite smile and allow yourself to say please and thank you in french it will go a long way.Now you could go there and be miserable and you most likely will have a lousy time,and there goes your cash ,and some great memories .Only you can decide.P.S. don't you owe this to your lovely wife of so many years?

degas

One of my missions in life is to teach french waiters how to be professional, not act smug or superior and actually earn those huge tips that I dispense when on a glorious European pleasure spree.

Seriously, Tulsatown, rural frenchmen are good folks. Don't let a few bad apples prevent you from having a good trip.

P_M

Tulsatown, please try to change your attitude toward the French before visiting their country. If you go there with the idea that they are rude, then it will become a self-fullfilling prophecy. The French are some of the nicest people in the world if you'll just give them a chance.

JEFF_

You're not too old to go, but you may be too old to change your mind about the evil French.

nukesafe

Hi, tulsatown,

No, you are not too old to go. I am rapidly closing in on 75, and we will be doing a self-drive canal boat on the Saone River in France this September. Anyone with the least bit of sense can drive one of those vessels. All one needs is a tiny bit of agility to climb up a lock ladder and make a line fast. That's what wives are for.

If you are going the hotel barge route, then you only have to find your way up or down a few stairs to the main cabin for meals.

As to the &quot;French Attitude&quot;, I have only experienced that in Paris and once in Nice. In the countryside you will find the people outgoing and helpful if you try even a tiny bit of their language first.

I take that back. I do recall getting some real atttitude,and language, from a French commercial bargee when he felt I had jumped the line and got into a lock ahead of him. I had not, in fact, done any such thing and I got to use some of the very rude French phrases my &quot;practice wife&quot; had taught me.

I asked him and his wife over for a drink whan we shut down for the night and everything got very friendly at &quot;attitude adjustment hour&quot;.

In fact, you will not find a great many French using the canals. Our experience has been mostly Brits, Dutch, Germans, and the occasional American. All speak English and you can get together with the other boaters in the evening and bitch about the French if you want sommething to do.

I'm not joking when I say that a cruise on the European/French canals can be one of the most enjoyable, relaxing, and attitude changing vacations you can possibly take.

Have a great trip and please post a trip report to let us know how it went.

annealex

Some people ARE too old to travel. They are the ones who are hasseled by having to take off their shoes for security. The ones who can't adapt to living out of a suitcase or the ones who don't like the new rules of places they are visiting. They can't accept the real costs of hotels and dining out. They, of course, could be 78 or 27.

Let's be very real: travel requires a lot of adapting, forcing ourselves into too small airplane seats and going with the flow.

I find the inconvenience well worth it, for the trade off of stimulation and new perspectives, but some rather stay home and should. I know some of these people and they are cranky!