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Post by holger on Feb 17, 2008 12:34:01 GMT -5
Well it is done. We selected the apartment La Belle Epoque from Perfectly Paris at www.perfectlyparis.com for our dates in March 2009 and just sent the deposit through Paypal. We have their confirmation and should have one from Gail by tomorrow, I hope. I had to send the pp confirmation to gail as the payment actually goes directly to the owner. A bit cumbersome but faster than getting to bank for wire transfer and will get points toward air tickets. Now will count days till I can try for flights on our FF miles. Also now counting days till trip which is 13 months from yesterday. Will take trip cancellation insurance even though Perfectly Paris has a good system. I am by no means a novice traveller and have rented apartments and houses in many parts of the world. But we are older now and there is something comforting about having someone at a reception desk round the clock just in case. However, we are also both excited and really love the apartment. Just wish I could have moved it to the 1st which may be touristy in parts but also has many streets and shops I enjoy. However, this will give us opportunities to really explore another part of Paris and to eat in at times. Thanks to all of you for your advice and support as we made our decision.
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Post by Shoesy on Feb 17, 2008 12:36:33 GMT -5
Hurray for you, Holger! You did it! ;D
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Post by holger on Feb 17, 2008 12:42:36 GMT -5
;D
I don't spend two weeks in the caves and I certainly don't sleep or eat there, at least not in this life.
Now Shoesy, I know you have a wedding in 2009 and can't make Paris but Cher Gitte, it would be great fun to have you in Paris while we are there.
Will even enjoy listening to you and husband talk Opera and speak Danish.
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Post by Shoesy on Feb 17, 2008 12:45:08 GMT -5
No, Holger. My son's wedding is this July. That will be my second and last wedding. (that we have to pay for ;D)
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Post by Anne on Feb 17, 2008 12:56:51 GMT -5
Wouaaaa Holger, not only will you have one bedroom each, but you will also have one bathroom each and ... 1.5 toilet each too ;D ! If that is not true luxury ...
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Post by holger on Feb 17, 2008 13:18:49 GMT -5
;D
Anne,
I agree. I am a light sleeper and this will help. As for bathrooms or really toilets, at our ages two are really almost a necessity.
Shoesy,
Sorry about confusing year of wedding. Maybe you could come in the Spring and we could all have a get to gether.
Anyone else planning on Paris last two weeks of March 2009 please let me know.
Would hope to finally get to meet Phread and some of the others who live there as well.
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Post by gracejoan on Feb 17, 2008 13:20:47 GMT -5
Holger,
So glad that you have made your choice. You made a very good one, too!!
Gail is a great person and will be most helpful.
Laidback knows the area extremely well. Lots of good restaurants in the area. I was in the area at one of his favorites in October. I know he would be pleased to pass on whatever information to you.
I am definitely a senior citizen! I sometimes stay in a hotel..went to Paris last Feb. and stayed at the Westminster Opera for a week. I have pretty well decided to make my trips for stays of a month..mainly because the flight is so miserable, no matter how you do it!
I take many extended driving trips throughout France. I generally do it on my own. My husband died in 2004. He was not the same kind of traveller that I am. We did quite a bit of skiing in Austria and Switzerland in years past, but Banff/Lake Louise were probably our favorites.
Now you can relax a bit..that part is over!!
Joan
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Post by GitteK on Feb 17, 2008 15:35:47 GMT -5
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Post by Jody on Feb 17, 2008 16:29:56 GMT -5
Holger, the apt. is lovely! We really do want to try an apt this fall. David keeps saying , the hotel we've been going to for years would really help us if there was an emergency , at our age. We've become very friendly with several long time staff members, to the extent that we email each other. But the prices keep rising and the dollar keeps falling.
Like you my 1st requirement would be an elevator if I had to do more than 1 flight of stairs. Morton's neuroma and plantar faschiitis , after a long day are killers. We could do with 1 bedroom, nothing disturbs my sleep!! And good transportation options. We've been to Paris so many times, I don't feel the need to walk and sightsee along the way to a specific place. If I'm on a bus and see something of interest, I can aqlways get off! Saves time too.
I do like the apts. with walk-in showers. I have no problems with my tub at home but some of those French tubs hardly fit my bottom!!
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Post by Laidback on Feb 17, 2008 17:13:16 GMT -5
Holger, I hope you enjoy this area, it is totally different than the 1st, but has its' own charm. Here is a photo from the N. end of the market street rue des Martyrs looking up at Sacre Coeur and here is a plaque in the Square d'Orleans that Gitte mentioned...is she a repository of knowledge or what?!!
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Post by holger on Feb 17, 2008 17:17:07 GMT -5
;D
Goodness, we do think alike. We love our htel and have really felt like we were coming home both in 2006 and 2007. But those years we traveled outside of paris and really did not have such a long period. When we go to France and plan on several days in other locations we are likely to go back to the Relais. Along with the large room we love, they do have an apartment on the top floor that we were in for one night in 2006. But it is well over 400 euros a night although that includes hotel services with linens and towels changed daily and daily cleaning. The dollar and stock market will have to get a lot better for us to pay that for a long period.
But a major factor this time was two weeks. That is a long time to have to eat out. With an apartment, we can make daily decisions on eating in or out. But we are both a little uneasy about not having staff there at night should something happen. Something we never thought about when we were younger--even ten years ago..
The French tubs are really hard for me to get into because of the high sides and a walk in shower is so much easier. One of our catalogues had a small grab bar that had powerful suction for traveling. When I find it again, I plan on buying it and packing it. Even some showers have nothing to hold onto.
Last year all the hotels except for Paris had walkin showers but the best ones were at the St. Thomas in Amboise and at the Gounod in St. Remy.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Feb 17, 2008 18:56:29 GMT -5
This is a lovely apartment - I'm sure you will feel at home there. (I love chevron parquet floors, so this particularly appeals.)
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Post by suzanne on Feb 17, 2008 19:38:50 GMT -5
The apartment looks great. I so agree with you about those uncomfortable bathtubs. We had one that you almost needed a ladder to get into once. I was scared I'd fall and break my neck. Especially since water got all over the floor everytime we used the shower.
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Post by gracejoan on Feb 17, 2008 19:52:47 GMT -5
Holger,
You probably have a guide book with all the emergency numbers with english speaking people.They have doctors, dentists, hospitals, pharmacies, etc. You can also Google it and print out a list to have handy.
Joan
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Post by holger on Feb 17, 2008 20:22:37 GMT -5
Thanks all. What is really crazy and shows how Paris addicted I am is that I am doing far more for this trip that is over a year away and almost nothing for our trip to Britain in late July to mid August of this year. Really have to some things for that one.
Yes, we do have the emergency numbers and also have a friend who is an expat and could be called to accompany us as she is totally fluent in French. It is just that all of that takes more time than calling someone at reception t get help.
Hopefully we won't need anything. This is really the first time I have even thought about any of this mortality stuff.
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Post by annettecinca on Feb 17, 2008 21:11:22 GMT -5
Holger, your apartment looks awesome! It sounds perfect for you two, and I'm sure you will really enjoy the neighborhood--it's always fun exploring new areas, as you know! Doesn't it feel great to have that decision made?! I hope you don't go thru apartment hunting withdrawals now however That grab bar sounded neat, so I looked them up. Is this the one you saw? tinyurl.com/23qkrd
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Post by holger on Feb 17, 2008 23:21:51 GMT -5
Annette, Thanks. This bar is more expensive than the one in the catalog which I shall try to locate. Perhaps that one is one of the cheap imports. Would rather have the real deal as I would not want to grab one and have it come free while I fell. As to post apartment blues, I can compensate by looking at all Gitte's suggested books and the wonderful pictures Laidback and others are and will be posting. Will also really start planning for the London part of the British trip. Glasgow will be professional but will do some good restaurants after sessions. Plymouth will be fun as we will be with dear friends and probably revisit places we haven't seen in 25 years. In London, will enjoy museums and just wandering sections where we lived in the 70s. Have to check if the proms will be on when we are there in August. Then when we return, planning for Paris will help. And, I can start thinking of 2010. Summer will be harder as we will want airconditioning. But maybe we will go to Brittainy as well as Paris in 2010. Anyway this site is a blessing as people here understand which makes it easier to not seem silly.
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Post by Shoesy on Feb 18, 2008 0:26:58 GMT -5
Holger - I am really impressed with your ability to plan so far in advance, especially when there are several trips to consider, and I have exalted you for being a fantastic example to all of us. I truly commend you for being very cautious about everything regarding comfort and health issues. I think it's very important to be prepared for everything, though I must admit that I picture you and your hubby taking wonderful, well-planned trips for another 2 decades...........at least. That apt. you selected looks beautiful, and I'm sure that it won't take long for you to feel at home in that neighborhood, just as you did staying in the 1st.
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Post by Anne on Feb 18, 2008 2:19:52 GMT -5
Oh Gitte, I recognize the picture that you have posted ! It is cité Trévise . I went to see the place last autumn because you had said that this was where you were planning to live for the rest of your life when you would be a merry widow . I had to have a look at the forum regulars' futur pied-à-terre in Paris ...
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Post by gracejoan on Feb 18, 2008 5:54:54 GMT -5
We senior citizens have to look at things a bit differently. I always made sure that I have medical evacuation insurance. I carry extra medications with me.
I had a heart attack and a stent put in 13 days before a planned trip to Paris almost 8 years ago now. That trip was planned with a much younger college professor who seldom got to travel. No way was I going to spoil her trip! We went, had a great time.
After the heart attack, I thought I would probably starve, as I didn't know how to read the labels. I follow the basic, "if it walks on 4's don't eat it". I now read labels for fat content. It all seemed to work. I go to Heart Path 3 times a week. It has all the equipment, track etc. They monitor us, monthly EKG strips. I don't cook, I eat out 95% of the time, and I eat healthy, here or wherever I travel...and I dine in some of the finest restaurants!
I don't let my age or health problems change what I do. Most of my friends are 20 yrs. younger. Some have trouble keeping up!
I plan trips 1 1/2 yrs. ahead....maybe that's what keep me going..have plans made, can't let health get in the way. My Wachovia financial advisor encourages me to travel, as the day will come when I will just not want to take that flight! I have already made the change to month long trips to avoid the miserable flights being too close together.
I travel alone most of the time, rent or do lease/buyback cars, and have driven all over France and many other parts of Western Europe.
You younger ones, don't put off your travels for "some day"...do it while you have your health and are able do it all! So much out there to see and to enjoy................
Near as I can tell, I am probably the senior of senior citizens on this forum............
Joan
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