Just back from 4 weeks of traipsing around Europe and it seems as if everywhere there were cobblestones and we were always looking for was somewhere to rest our weary feet. Going back to our accommodation was very seldom an option. We were staying at youth hostels, usually a little out of the way. (yes, we're cheap and they do take over 60's like us) We sat in cafes and bars, but that meant that we were getting fatter all the time as our wallet was getting thinner. We tried resting in parks and gardens, but Autumn weather made this a little chilly. We tried the internet cafes, but in Eastern Europe they put all the Zs and Qs and everything else on the keyboard in the wrong place, so we couldn't even ask this forum for some advice. But now that we are back home, let us know where you've found the best place to rest so that we can be well prepared for the next trip. Peg.

Peg, Sometimes we go to a bar and just nurse a beer to get a rest. They don't mind as long as there is beer left in your glass. Janice

The lovely thing about Paris is that you can go into a cafe and sit there as long as your want with one cup of coffee, wine, beer, etc. No need to eat every time you want a break. Ah Paris, one of the things I miss most is the cafe life.

I've been in your shoes before, and I know how hard it can be if outdoor stops are not an option. (Speaking of shoes, the pair you wear frequently determines your sightseeing staying power. I've never tried them but Mephistos seem to be all the rage among Fodorites.) A few ideas for resting beyond bars and cafés: <BR>- if you don't mind being quiet, a church, synagogue or other place of worship <BR>- a hotel lobby <BR>- a museum (and that way you can justify taking a nice long break, because it's not a break, it's culture. For Paris, I recommend the Waterlilies rooms in the Orangery) <BR>- take a ride on one of the sightseeing buses or boats that so many cities have, or for a cheaper option get on a regular bus and ride to the end of the line and back (checking beforehand, of course, that you pick an interesting route and not one that will leave you stranded somewhere unpleasant; also that it is not rush hour and you won't be forced to stand) <BR>- some bookshops have chairs (I don't know if the Barnes & Noble style has crossed the pond and so can't advise a particular chain, but I've found that even smaller shops generally allow or even encourage browsers to sit a while with a book) <BR>- some department stores have chairs for the bored and weary companions of bionic shoppers <BR>- or you could go to a movie, if you want a longer rest <BR> <BR>Still, even as I'm writing, I feel the most pleasant answer is to get a hot beverage and a pastry and sit by the window in a café, regardless of the effect on my net worth or net weight. In fact, I'd like to be doing just that right now.... <BR> <BR>

If you can't travel during warmer weather and have the ability to sit in a park and rest (we do it all the time when we travel) then I'd suggest what someone else said and that's get on a bus and go to the end of the route & return. You get to rest the feet and see some sights too. River cruises are another favorite for resting the feet, youc an sit and look! The boats on the Thames & Seine all have glassed in areas. Of course cafes are perfect too. You can also go into any of the larger hotels and sit down in the lobby for awhile, most have chairs, etc. I would not do this for long amounts of time but we have done it for 15-20 minutes and no one seemed to mind (or care). We've also found that lingering over a meal is not frowned on in most places (as it can be in the U.S.) so take your time while eating and rest your feet. Taking a break & going back to your hotel for a hour or so in late afternoon can also be refreshing if that is an option. Taking a day trip by train is good too - you get to sit for a hr or two, get off and do your sightseeing thing, get back on later in the day and sit again!

Train stations (also a haven from the cold) - you can people-watch while recuperating. Shopping 'malls' - like Covent Garden or the Louvre Antiquaires. Museums that are free make a great sit-down (culcha AND rest); even some that cost moulah have free areas (under the Pyramid at the Louvre, for example). The trick to the cafe/bar/pub thing as noted previously is nurse whatever you have (you do NOT have to have an napoleon with that coffee, but what a shame to pass it up maybe just a bite of yours). <BR>Some parks have arboretums (arboreta?) and aviaries and greenhouses - nice sitty-down places with flora and fauna as neighbors. <BR>And a secret my niece and I discovered (unless there's snow on the ground, this works): walk barefoot through some grass (sedge, not hemp). The combination of cool, damp, soft and alive seems to quiet those dogs. Oh be sure it's walkonable grass; learn the words for "get the h**l off this grass" in the language of each country you visit; otherwise, you can rest your dogs in lock-up or in the back of a black Maria.

I like to rest by water--a view of a from inside a cafe or outside on a bench, or even by a fountain, mid-city. I seek water views and often stop even if I'm not tired, just to pause and relax. Usually all senses are involved and you recuperate (unless, I suppose the water is a sewer system). Anyway, I'm a view person and plan my stops accordingly. Second favorite, museum courtyards or cafes.

<BR>We've done all of the above to rest not only our weary feet but my husband's bad knees. And as mentioned before, the river/lake/canal cruises are absolutely wonderful to rest, sightsee, take in the ambiance, and just veg out.

Believe it or not. The December issue of Conde Nast magazine's section, "Stop Press" by Wendy Perrin, suggests stopping at McDonald's.

<BR>I agree with taking a ride on a local bus. I've done this many times in London, taking a different route each time. You really do get to see neighborhoods you normally wouldn't see....and you get to rest your weary feet.

Hi, Peg, <BR>We just got home from a week in NYC, and I say bring on the cobblestones! Feet? What feet? <BR>We've used the bus thing (or tram) and it works pretty well; ask the locals which route is the most interesting. Make sure it's not the last run of the day, though. <BR>How about a library? In many countries it's also a place to catch up on English language news etc. Recommend the one in Brugge especially. <BR>We've also used movies, which can be a lot of fun and usually cheaper than at home. I remember watching a first run Hollywood film in an incongruously over-air conditioned cinema in Fiji, with laughing Fijiian kids eating popcorn and running in the aisles, then after stepping outside into the swelterng public market with pineapple and coconut sellers fleeing a tropical downpour. Our feet were rested and we saw a bit of local life we would otherwise have missed. Oops, sorry, Euro forum. But you get the idea.