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Post by PariS on Dec 16, 2010 22:16:58 GMT -5
Welcome Kristin! We always have room for another Paris lover around here
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Post by Anne on Dec 17, 2010 10:17:26 GMT -5
Hi and welcome Kristin ! How long are you staying in Paris and which University are you going to attend ?
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Post by lepetitchat on Dec 17, 2010 10:26:22 GMT -5
Hi and welcome Kristin ! How long are you staying in Paris and which University are you going to attend ? Thank you Janet, Annette, and Anne for the continued welcome I'll be in Paris for almost six weeks from 23 May-25 June and again from 1-5 July. I'm studying at Le Universite Catholique (it was supposed to be at the Sorbonne, but my program erred in the dates they gave me and I had already made several reservations surrounding my program dates, so Catholique it is (and actually, the campus looks pretty neat and is even closer to Jardin du Luxembourg, so I can't really complain )
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Post by Anne on Dec 17, 2010 10:55:51 GMT -5
Kristin, l'Institut Catholique is a good private university and I'm sure that you'll benefit from much better studying conditions than in the huge and often messy Sorbonne .
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Post by lepetitchat on Dec 17, 2010 11:36:57 GMT -5
Actually, I think so too...I've heard that anymore, the Sorbonne takes an entire week to go through the entrance exams and start classes, and there or tons of students there. L'Institut Catholique will give me small classes and more hours of lessons, so it's really a win-win for me. Plus, I get to walk past the Cimetiere Montparnasse on the way to school every day. Writing in french messes me up every time. The language is beautiful and I LOVE to speak it (not that I speak more than a few words, mind you), but the spelling...dear God THE SPELLING!! That reminds me, I should check/start a thread asking people to list their number one, do NOT miss site/street/shop etc. in Paris. I'll have time to see a lot, and am only marginally interested in the touristy side of Paris; I want to get beyond the shiny stuff lol
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Post by jo on Dec 17, 2010 12:46:26 GMT -5
Welcome Kristin! As others have said, you are in the right place to share your love of Paris! We are all Paris obsessed here at OPF and log in daily to feed our addiction!
There's lots of great bargain shopping on rue d'Alessia ~ I found the cutest coat ever in the fall at a tiny little place. Great street to be near to if you love shopping.
I also hope you will tell us about your adventures in Paris. We can never get enough tales of Paris.
Jo
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daka
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by daka on Jan 1, 2011 15:40:39 GMT -5
Just a small bit about me, I'm a retired architect from NYC, now live in Fort Lauderdale for the past 20 years. Priscilla and I have been together for just about 17 years, we love to travel. Our first trip to Paris (in 1995) we were in The Jean de Arc hotel, passing through on a whirlwind 4 week car trip. We loved it so much that we now rent an apartment and have usually stayed at least 3 weeks each time We are excited about our upcoming 3 weeks, in a different, to us apartment near our "usual" Maubert Mutualite area for 3 weeks end of March (2011) Oh yes, "somone" mentioned the dreaded OLD word...not to worry, at 76 (by the time we get to Paris) still plenty of mileage left...but, no more apartments over the 2nd floor....
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Post by geordy on Jan 1, 2011 16:21:17 GMT -5
Welcome from Manhattan Daka! You've joined a group of kindred spirits! And our members span the decades....a true benefit ..varying experiences!
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Post by Shoesy on Jan 1, 2011 22:41:24 GMT -5
And a warm welcome from me too, Daka !
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Post by paris...ahh on Mar 10, 2011 1:35:32 GMT -5
This is an intro/trip report. I am filing it under who’s who in order to introduce myself. I live in Ontario, Canada and work at a community college.
While planning for my May 2008 trip to Paris (my first), I came across a reference to this site on TA. I rushed over and signed up in April 7,2008, but never really had much time to explore the site before leaving on May 8 for what I soon began to realize was a much too short vacation ending the 16. I didn’t even do all the touristy stuff I wanted to do, let alone go beyond it. So, at some point after I returned, I began reading on this site on a regular basis to help deal with PPD.
I travelled to Paris with a good friend . She and I had been talking about taking this trip for a long time. Unfortunately, hubby had no interest in travelling to Paris, so I am glad that I have friends who are willing to . After we booked the trip, we realized that my friend’s niece had just completed her undergrad degree and had been promised a trip to Paris with her dear Auntie. So, we added her to our group of two and never regretted it. Her niece is a beautiful young woman from Chile. We had nothing but good service everywhere we went, and I believe we owe some of that to the fact that this beautiful young woman attracted wait staff to us everywhere we went. I guess the next trip to Paris may be a little different, eh?
This dream trip was a long time coming, and I hope to return some day. A trip to the west coast of Canada in 2009 (hello Joan!) and a big trip to the east coast of Canada in 2010 (acting as support vehicle to our son in his last few provinces of a cross country bicycle trip from Vancouver to Halifax) have kept my travelling dollars hopping. Also took my first trip to NYC on Victoria day weekend in May 2010 (hello Geordy!) and LOVED it. NYC is another place I would like to visit again. It may be 2013 before I get back to Paris, but I try to keep my PPD at bay by checking in here.
We stayed in a very modest 2 star hotel within the triangle created between Boul de Sebastopol, Rue Reamur and Rue de Turbigo. It was close to the Musee Arts et Metier. We didn’t spend much time at the hotel, leaving around 9:30 am daily and returning anytime between 10 pm and midnight. We just needed a bed and a shower. The PD was a baguette, orange juice and tea or coffee or chocolat chaud. We did opt one day to go to a nearby “organic” restaurant for PD and it was quite good.
My friend’s niece is also a volunteer firefighter and wherever she goes in the world, she likes to stop by a fire station to check it out. What I like about Paris is that you can be walking down the street, and just happen upon a firestation without noticing ahead of time, since it blends in with its surroundings. .(we were on Rue de Sevigne). We saw a drive and looked into a very large courtyard that also led to garages with firetrucks. We entered the courtyard, and of course, a few firefighters came to greet us. Upon hearing that our young friend was a firefighter (and noticing I’m sure, that she wasn’t hard to look at), they so graciously gave her a tour of their equipment while I engaged a couple of them in conversation about how they operate. Some could speak some English and I dredged up my forgotten French and it was great.(hard to believe I attended a French primary school). I used to work closely with a Firefighter Training program here in Ontario, meet with fire chiefs and captains and interview prospective students, so I had an interest as well. We were impressed to see that they had the top of the line helmets for firefighters, better than in Chile, Ontario and New York where fire stations have been previously visited. Mais naturellement! It was interesting to find out that most, if not all, the firefighters in Paris begin their career in the military. What I’ve learned from experience is that most people who apply to be firefighters (and those who are already in the field) are special people, very caring, tough, and involved in the community a lot. They really are lovely people. Annette, that’s what makes me think your son must be special as well.
Being our first time in Paris, we made good use of the Hop On Hop Off Bus and enjoyed the commentary I could listen to on the headphone. I do feel, though, that it gave us a weird sense as to where major things were located in relation to each other.
Looking back, we decided that we didn’t have a good sense of where some major attractions were in relation to each other. We used the metro or walked for everything else. We did take the RER out to Versailles one day, spent ½ day at the Louvre, hours at the Musee D’Orsay, visited the Pompidou Centre and the nearby Musee de la Poupee, L’orangerie, the Picasso museum and much more.
I often have the Our Paris Forum page open on my task bar while I am working. When I become overwhelmed with work and need a mini break, or just yearn to visit again, I read entries on the forum. I immediately felt a strong connection to this special city like many of you here. I cannot explain it and have even had to defend myself for spending a week here , as opposed to others I know where Paris was a one to three day visit on a whirlwind tour of many European places. I felt “at home” here and I cannot explain the yearning I have to return. I know all of you understand and that is a comfort to me.
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Post by denise on Mar 10, 2011 2:37:52 GMT -5
:)Welcome Paris..ahh, nice to hear from you.
I also went to Paris once with a beautiful woman, my friend Vicky.
Like you I found that her beauty attracted, better service and attention wherever we went.
Vicky of course was blissfully unaware of this as she always got this sort of attention and it was normal to her. Being the modest and unassuming person she is she could not understand why I was so amused by it all.
Yes it was such a relief for me also to find similarly Paris obsessed people who understand. The only balm for PPD!
Denise Love from England
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Post by Shoesy on Mar 10, 2011 2:52:45 GMT -5
An exalt from me for such a lovely post ! All of us understand your sentiments, and it's a pleasure to know that you love Paris the way we do. I hope you get to visit Paris again soon.
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Post by Jody on Mar 10, 2011 7:21:33 GMT -5
Thank you for the introduction and I really enjoyed your report. I must check out my friend's kids and pick the best looking one to take to Paris next time
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Post by geordy on Mar 10, 2011 8:10:01 GMT -5
Bon Jour and welcome from me too! You obviously have good taste in cities!!! ;D Yes they sure know how to appreciate women in Paris!!! One of the many, many reasons to love her....as I recall.... I did score a "Mademoiselle"" with the au revoirs from the Chef at Chex L'Ami Jean
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Post by PariS on Mar 10, 2011 8:47:51 GMT -5
What a nice intro! Thanks for letting us get to know you better
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Post by Darcy on Mar 10, 2011 9:55:00 GMT -5
Welcome, Paris...ahh, We know exactly how you feel about Paris, how you felt at home there and how you know you belong there. You've come to the right place to share those feelings. I'm from Ontario also, grew up in Belleville and later went to university in and worked in Toronto. Enjoy planning your next trip to Paris. We, at OP, are always planning our next trip, even though we may have no idea when it will happen! Jody, "I must check out my friend's kids and pick the best looking one to take to Paris next time." ;D
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Post by janetnj on Mar 10, 2011 10:30:35 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. As Darcy said, you've come to the right place!
My Dad's been a volunteer fireman for over 60 years. Now he just goes to the meetings and keeps the books, but he still follows all the fires. Many a family event and a peaceful night's sleep were interruped by the sound of the fire horn, but there was never any question on the priority.
An exalt to you for such an evocative first post.
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Post by jo on Mar 10, 2011 13:59:36 GMT -5
A warm welcome from a fellow Ontarian, Paris.....Ahh. Like others have said, we know exactly how you feel because that's how we all feel too. Paris has stolen a little piece of my heart since my first visit in 2007 ~ 5 trips later, I still feel the need to be there. I was lucky enough to share Paris with my daughter in May and we are taking our grandson with us next year. People keep asking us why we keep going back and it's hard to explain the yearning we have when we are not there and the happiness we feel when we are.
Jo
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Post by georgeleitch on Mar 10, 2011 17:09:36 GMT -5
Hi there Paris..ahhh from yet another Ontarian. I am sure that you will fit in well with all the Pompier and Firefighter fans on this site. Why do you ladies always drool over firemen? Why not Bank managers or accountants?
Enjoy!!
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Post by sunshine817 on Mar 10, 2011 18:11:42 GMT -5
I married one of those, George!
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