muffya
Junior Member
Posts: 84
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Post by muffya on Jul 17, 2007 19:52:19 GMT -5
I thought is was just jet lag, but I find myself trying to plan new trips everyday. So far, in one week, I've planned a trip to Santa Fe with 7 other friends from college in October. Moving on to Thanksgiving now! The lack of no travel plans has me in a funk. I miss trying to speak French, drinking wine with almost every meal and eating cheese that stinks to high heaven. Is there a support group for this?  |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jul 17, 2007 20:03:08 GMT -5
Muffy - yes, but they meet in Paris! ;D
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Post by GitteK on Jul 17, 2007 22:30:07 GMT -5
myffya - to make you even more depressed......... the correct term for your diagnosis is: PPD = Post Paris Depression.  Watching a lot of movies with Paris as a location (Gigi, Paris when it sizzles, Charade, Funny Face, Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, Frantic, Paris Je t'aime) sometimes help, but can also make your symptoms worse, if watched during a really heavy attack of selfpitying PPD. Do NOT accompany any friends or relatives to the airport to send them off on vacation ! THAT is asking for trouble: you will be sobbing for hours at the sight of the signs mentioning all those craved departures to CDG, Paris.  Nothing helps, save planning a new trip.  If you feel you can't afford it, here's some ways to aquire money: Sell some of your stuff. Who needs furniture, anyway ? A mattress on the floor is perfectly adequate, while waiting to go back to Paris.  Stop smoking - that will save you a bundle, PLUS increase your chances of getting old = more trips to Paris. ;D Take on an extra job, eg. cleaning. Only do NOT apply for a job as a cleaning lady in a travel agency. That will send you straight to the psychiatric emergency ward !  Ask husband and kids to pay for their own food ! They must understand that there are priorities far more important in this world than their meatloaf and potatoes......  Find yourself a cute Frenchie and persuade him to take you home with him. Wear tight skirt and generous décolleté - and start hanging around in bars close to French Embassy or branches of French companies. Make sure the cutie is loaded with euros, though.  Or maybe not ? How bad could it be to hop into one of those green jumpsuits and stroll around in the morning swishing the sidewalks or washing the pavement along the Seine in the early morning sun, Notre Dame in the background, blackbirds singing in the trees, smell of warm croissants coming from le boulanger........ARRRRGHHHHH !!!!!!!!! You see ??!! We can't even talk about it, before the torture begins !!  Good Luck - and I will not say "speedy recovery", because that would be the worst thing that could happen to all of us: If we stopped longing for Paris ! |
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Post by Shoesy on Jul 18, 2007 4:01:57 GMT -5
Muffya - I'm not so sure if our lovely Danish friend should be allowed to post on this thread because she gets to go to Paris almost as often as other people go to their local mall. ;D Seriously though, all of us Paris lovers have PPD, which is neither a contagious disease nor a deadly one. In a way, I find its symptoms kind of pleasant because they give me positive energy to think ahead. Not all of us can travel very often, but just knowing that I plan to revisit Paris in the future is enough to keep me smiling. I also find that thinking about others who are actually visiting the City of Lights at the moment is a wonderful way to keep my Paris spirit alive. |
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Post by goldenmama on Jul 18, 2007 4:31:18 GMT -5
Oh Muffya, I hear you girlfriend! I was in a serious funk post trip, and I am only now beginning to come out of it a bit. Everything at home offended me after being in Paris-- big SUVs, floppy baquettes, minivans.... My kids are afraid that we will never go out to eat at home again, because I swear I can't bear the thought of a waiter trying to bond with me to get a big tip! We are going on a cruise in a couple of weeks, but I can garner no real enthusiasm for that. I want Paris! PARIS! We just need to console ourselves by planning the next trip! And thank heavens we have our great little international support group here!  |
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Post by sandy on Jul 18, 2007 6:20:43 GMT -5
"Is there a support group for this? " Yes, it´s called "Ourparisforum.com" |
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Post by luckyluc on Jul 18, 2007 7:39:21 GMT -5
Oh do I FEEL FOR YOU! Hier encore, (just yesterday) I was sitting at my neighbourghood café having a grand crème and un pain au chocolat and today I am back at work (well I really should be ready the 215 emails in my inbox!) feeling the full weight of PPD. Oh well at less there is a bunch of people that will understand me...
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Post by Ray(aka) tripnebraska on Jul 18, 2007 8:24:20 GMT -5
PPD, so there is actually a name for what I've been feeling.
I've spent a few days riding mountain bikes in Colorado, and even that didn't shake the PPD.
I turned on the TV late Sat. night, just in time to see the end of "The Devil Wears Prada" the part filmed in Paris.
Today I get back to work, and I'm sure I'll spend at least part of it scheming on how I'm going to get back to Paris.
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Post by geordy on Jul 18, 2007 8:28:57 GMT -5
Yes PPD is serious. I recall once offering a co-worker chocolate I brought back and they said, "oh, when were you in Paris?" and I said (wistfully) "yesterday?" and it just didn' t seem real!!
Gitte's suggestions are good(course I'd sugggest getting your hands on some good foie gras or oysters..or both!!
I find talking abot it does help..before you know it you are positively beaming and releasing all those endorphins!!!
Oh Luc , at the Bastille day faire on Sunday a French TV station had a booth with a poster of Lucky Luke with his horse! (I'm assuming LL is NOT the horse?! ;D
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muffya
Junior Member
Posts: 84
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Post by muffya on Jul 18, 2007 9:27:20 GMT -5
My "french" resources are quite limited in my town. Alas, about the only thing I can get is a bagette! I can get some decent cheese, but since the US doesn't let the good stuff in, its just a poor reminder of France. I even tried to make steak and frites, but we don't get the right cut of meat! I guess I'll stick with my wine My 9 yr old has asked my to make escargot. (yeah, right!) I don't have to worry about taking anyone to the airport and getting depressed unless the sound of announcement to Las Vegas or Salt Lake City excite me. Our only international flight goes to Guadalahara mexico at 1:15 am. The one bright spot is I'm not prejudiced! I'm an equal opportunity depressive (is that a word??) I get this way after any trip to Europe, but more so after France. On the positive note, I did get my 6 yr old signed up for French with Alliance Francais for the fall! That means some day we'll have to take her to "use her french"! Thanks everyone for making me laugh. I guess I should have started my original post with "Hi, I'm Muffy and I'm a travelholic" |
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 18, 2007 9:38:06 GMT -5
We are going on a cruise in a couple of weeks, but I can garner no real enthusiasm for that. I want Paris! PARIS! Goldenmama--We're going on a cruise soon too, and I can't get excited about it either! I would have to look up our itinerary to tell you exactly which islands we're going to visit. BUT, I can rattle off the exact addresses of all the shops and restaurants I want to "do" the next time we're in Paris without batting an eye! (BTW, where and when are you going? Maybe we'll be on the same ship and start up a "Friends of Paris" support group as an alternative to "Friends of Bill W" meetings! ) |
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Post by cybee on Jul 18, 2007 9:44:14 GMT -5
Goodness, this is the hang out for those with PTD (PPD)! It really does help to talk to others similarly obsessed (I don't know how a person could go to Paris and not fall in love with it?) and hear about other's experiences in Paris and get vicarious enjoyment (or education) from that! Does help, as Shoesy says, to just know there is that next trip to Paris coming up ...someday! This forum helps us in those inbetween times!(and what great people we meet here!)
Certainly where I live, I can not enjoy fine French dining unless I make it myself! Thus I have taken to making creme brulees (which I must say, I make a mean creme brulee...at least to my taste buds!) and sometimes crepes . No fine baguettes to be found here..sigh! A french dish now and then...I have yet to make those macarons (fear and trepidation..sounds like it is tricky!), but now I have the almond flour so must gather my bravery and make a try at them!
Excellent tips, GitteK! ;D Excellent, indeed!
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 18, 2007 9:54:36 GMT -5
Cybee, set the fear aside and just DO IT! Take it from me, they will taste great even if they don't look just right. ;D
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Post by holger on Jul 18, 2007 10:10:23 GMT -5
 The PPD that began as soon as we got home last June and which I have tried to counter with immediately starting to plan for the next trip, make reservations, explore restaurants, site, shops and spend time online with you all, is really just beginning to lift as there are only 40 days till lift off for CDG and France.
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Post by goldenmama on Jul 18, 2007 10:20:13 GMT -5
Annette- Your comments struck me so funny! We are going on a Disney cruise, and my son asked me the other day what the shore excursions were. When I told him I couldn't remember, he laughed and said, "Isn't it funny how we could account for every second in Paris, but we have no idea what we're doing on the cruise!"...I wish we were going on the same cruise--we could sit on the deck and talk about Paris!
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Post by Happygoin on Jul 18, 2007 12:08:24 GMT -5
Muffya...DON'T try to make escargot at home! During my own tragic episode with PPD, I went out and bought four cans of escargots. Slathered them with garlic and butter. Sauteed them just so. Bought a baguette et voila: A tasteless, chewy mess. My teen ami, who had gone to Paris with me in February, and I were devastated. We had discovered them together in Paris and had them endlessly while we were there.
I think those French snails eat French food that makes them taste better.
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Post by Penny on Jul 18, 2007 12:12:07 GMT -5
adding short note, more when I return from doc appt, haven't read entire thread yet. How long does it last? Until next trip |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jul 18, 2007 12:17:31 GMT -5
Golden -- I really don't know what you're whining about , when we can see right there on the forum calendar that you are in Paris at this very moment! |
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Post by luckyluc on Jul 18, 2007 12:22:24 GMT -5
Yes Becky the calendar is for the month. It does look strange, Truffaut, Golden and I are all back, but if you click on the entry it will give you the return dates. I do not think there anything we can do about it.
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Post by sistereurope on Jul 18, 2007 13:17:22 GMT -5
You KNOW that you have PPD when you're in Baja Mexico and you think of Paris and the only cure is to check in with the gang at Our Paris to say hello!! We have wireless here and my husband brought his laptop...I've been trying to stay away from all technology but couldn't resist stopping by to say hi to everyone. I see that Andi is safe and sound and that Luc is back from Paris and Shoesy is back from NY...so now I feel better. Time to go have another margarita for Geordy...I have been studying my French but see that I should have consulted Sandy on my Spanish before I left Adios, amigos!!! SisterE, reporting in from the East Cape of Baja California, Mexico. |
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hahahha