Family vacation in Paris

How long are you going for? I don't suggest driving from Paris to the Riveria if you have a two year old and only a week or less.

-------------------------------------

I knew someone would suggest a vineyard visit :-)

no drsam... I don't want anything to do with the production of wine :-)

versaille is outside paris to the south west. magnificent. go early to avoid hours waiting queues. if i were u, this time of year (october) i would go to the vendanges. in the day u cut grappes for wine production (for free) in return the night parties with cheese and wine are exceptional. all this in rural surrounding.

Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14% of people know that.

I'm an idiot. Sorry, I guess it's the fever I currently have.

Thanks Adey :)

Those pub names ring a few bells :)

Enjoy your time there and look forward to the snow! My friend and fellow student used to live in Spennymoor and his dad drove the snowplough! I always wondered how he got to work! :D

"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365

not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the

many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers

were given. Satan - 10."

there is a pub call Fighting Cocks that people said going to close, and another one by the bridge Coach and Eight been closed few months before we moved in.

I am not sure by underground market, is that the same with indoor market? if it is the market still there.

I used to frequint the pub on the bridge and a tiny pub just before the little slope up to the cathedral.

haven't been there for 20 years though!

Oh, and is the 'underground' market still there?

"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365

not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the

many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers

were given. Satan - 10."

Veris : Have a nice business family hols :P

@Adey : I can say hello to it all the time since practically next door to the castle and the cathedral. , never been to Sunderland although have some friends from there.

I love it here ... my place is one of the flat building in the riverbank that just overlook the castle and the cathedral. After spending 8 years in Qatar and 6 years non stop driving. Now I can have a break. School is just 30 mins walking there and back (while in Qatar I spend 45 mins on the road driving one way). The place is so peaceful and I havent heard any screetching (spelling?) tyre since I moved in here.

I dont know when last time came to Durham, but they been developing new area call Millenia walk or something like that for clubbing area, so the old area where the bridge is now getting quieter because the night life moving to the new place.

@Fried unicorn : No I am just pretending leaving Qatar ...

thank you everyone!!!

lot of info... absorbing... absorbing...

I wanted your help to narrow down my options

and you guys have done exactly that...

now processing the information... (read google)

Ah Durham - say hello to it for me, I spent many great weekends there as I student when I lived in Sunderland, and if you know Sunderland you realise why I spent the weekends in Durham ! :P

"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365

not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the

many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers

were given. Satan - 10."

Source:

- A study Conducted by FriedUnicorn - Vol I (September,1999)

Veris : Google Durham Castle, now I live next to it ...

http://pierre-levee.ifrance.com/daytrips.htm

"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365

not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the

many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers

were given. Satan - 10."

My dad was driving me to the hospital downtown Brooklyn, I had a bad reaction to white beans, puking my butt off, then I got hit with the "runs" I felt sorry for my father and brother, my brother got stuck with helping dad cleaning the nasty mess left on the back seat and floor mats. He told me: Don't worry son."I understand you are real sick"

One month later my brother caught the same bad bug, this time I had a bucket, lots of plastics bags and some diapers just in case he decided to go.

Qatar Living favorite classy jokes: "Remove by MOD" or "OOPS" Don't you get it? It is the last joke or posting in QL that you are going to read about.

Graduated from Xavier Institute for Higher learning

:-/

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Normandy - home of the Normans - famous for building castles, there are some right on the coast, one famous and beautiful one is where the mythical Sir Lancelot, of King Arthur stories, is supposed to be lain to rest. If you google it you should find it.

:)

"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365

not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the

many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers

were given. Satan - 10."

but it's a bit of distance if your son doesn't do well on longer trips. St. Tropez, Cannes and Nice are lovely. Marseilles is a bit gritty for me; more industrial like Brest, only more so.

You should go to Versailles, of course. The most beautiful castles are in the Loire Valley, I think.

Also consider going to Strasbourg near the German border. I would guess it is about 3-4 hours from Paris by train.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

I absolutely loved it and you can walk everywhere you would want to go. I have also been to Nice/Monaco/Monte Carlo (OK, but a little too ritzy for my taste. Villefrance, which is inbetween those three was much more my style. Marsille is nice, but Florence was my favorite. I have never had a problem not knowing how to speak French. Only one rude waiter in Paris. I just didn't leave him a tip!

Marseilles, Cannes and Nice... sound nice... I have three days so I don't mind the long journey either... I hadn't considered the option of renting a car... that is an interesting proposition...

going to New Jersey where I was staying with family friends while doing some research in Manhattan. I wanted to be sure to catch the 4 o'clock bus because the next one ran much later at night. I got their early, boarded the bus, and proceeded to wait... and wait... and wait....

There was some kind of problem coming out of the station so all departures were delayed. In the meantime, all buses had their engines on and their doors open, so the bus filled up with fumes. By the time they pulled out I was feeling very nauseous and then the bus has to go exit via this hUGE loop! I promptly fell ill and lost all my late lunch -- right into my purse because that is all I had! Then I had to wait the trip out which took about an hour! It was the last time I have ever taken a bus. Had to throw the purse away :-(

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

ver,

Bretagne and Normandie are on the north coast, you could also try the south coast....

Marseilles, St tropez, Cannes, Nice, ... all the way to monaco (It's a great drive)...

So where is the site for all the Queens Crowning?

Qatar Living favorite classy jokes: "Remove by MOD" or "OOPS"

Don't you get it? It is the last joke or posting in QL that you are going to read about.

Graduated from Xavier Institute for Higher learning

would love to visit a castle... are there many on the Normandy side?

that's maybe 3 hours by train from Paris. Or you can go to Amiens (about 1.5-2 hours north of Paris) and see the shriveled up black thing they keep in the Cathedral crypt which they insist is the head of John the Baptist. :-P

Actually most of my knowledge of France (as you may be able to tell) is related to art, Cathedrals and oddities....

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

In college once I went on a not so bumpy ride... but I was rather unwell, slightly feverish...

It had this rocking back and forth action which didn't go down too well... After a while, I started feeling really nauseated... and the fear of throwing up in front of my friends scared me so much that my face went completely pale and I sat there like a plank just hoping it would get over soon...

Fortunately I made it thru without incident but my face was pale and my hands were frozen...

So much so that someone noticed... and announced it...

And it had to be the cute girl in the class who noticed it :-(

and was the site where all the kings were crowned for many centuries.It's about 2 hours away from Paris.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

son-in-law to get on a ride that I thought just rocked back and forth. He was afraid it went all the way over (hence, upside down) but I didn't think so and got him to go on it. When it DID go upside down you could hear him creaming like a girl all over the park! The park was closing right after that and he still says that walk to the parking was the worst walk of shame he ever experienced! :-D

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

I've always wanted to visit a coastal city in Europe... any other suggestions?

having kids is a good excuse to indulge yourself... so parents can just go with the flow... but with grown ups only in a theme park, its a bit odd... the ladies in the group don't seem to mind at all though... they are very comfortable with the indulging their childish side... the guys just try to avoid looking each other in the eye as they run from one ride to the other :-))

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

this is my third conference in Disneyland... Conferences in Disneyland are unbelievable...

at least on one of the days they open the park after normal visiting hours just for the conference attendees... not all the rides would be open though... just a selected few...

and then they set up these table on the middle of streets with goodies... its funny watching grown men going from one ride to the other :-)...

Its a bit surreal... tables decked with food on the middle of the street... and hopping on rides without queues... mostly operating with very few people on board...

Explaining this to you, I am beginning to feel a bit too old for this though :-))

legal_pad, i like the classic old one :)

Don't forget to add the marvel heroes, walt disney productions bough them off lately, you could add Spiderman and Hulk playing with jumbo and bambi.

Graduated from Xavier Institute for Higher learning.

Qatar Living favorite classy jokeS "Delete by MOD" or "OOPS"

Don't you get it? It is the last joke or posting in QL that you are going to read about.

you are right... last time I had a bus pick me up at the airport and it was a long journey... hmmm... but there are trains... I am sure... you needn't check the boat ride PM... we need to go straight to Marne La Vallee and we'll be probably tired after the long journey so we'll just take whatever option is most convenient to get to the hotel ASAP from the airport...

veris : Conference in disneyland ? Lucky you ! You having a meet up with Mickey Mouse and Donald ? lol

Yeah my wife doesn't like the bumpy rides either so she is happy to miss out... But neway we've been to Orlando already and we know what to expect... we are going to Disneyland for junior's benefit... cos the last time he was only one year old so we've been feelin a bit guilty about that :-D

And we'll be stayin in Disneyland for five days cos that's where my conference is happening...

lol ...

areas at that time of year. And the train ride is only 2 hours or so from Paris and you'll get to see the coast. I wonder if you can even return to Paris by boat... I'll check into that.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Can i believe my eyes ??

veris, me think your son wont be able to go to most of the rides. We went just around 2 years ago and my son was nearly 6 at that time, he is dare devil and cant go to some of the rides because of height restriction. But it is still will be a good fun to see all disney character roaming around. They have 2 parks next to each other, so it would be better if you stay over night and visit 1 park a day and explore everything.

The good time around that time you dont have to queue but make sure you check their closing time because in the winter most places close early.

if I wanted some relaxing time around the coast. It is the mouth of the Seine and the train ride from Paris is an easy stretch. Monet used to live there and painted many coastal scenes, especially the well known rocky outcrop at Etratat which is beautiful. There is lots of naval history in the area so your son can see some big ships.

You can also stop in Rouen on the train ride from Paris. Have your travel agent look for some of the lovely B&Bs in the area. You might enjoy the outskirts of these urban areas more than staying in the city.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

they eat baguettes... and atleast I prefer it to sliced bread...

I think sliced bread is an English thing...

Its October... :-(

not the perfect weather... when its below 20C, I get a headache...

But I have an event I have to attend so I don't have the liberty to choose the time...

Last time I went to Paris I was very lonely because it was such a beautiful and romantic city... and the food was fantastic!!

You can't be to a city like that without your significant other... so this time round they go too...

And we want to take our son to Disneyland... :-)

What's with sliced bread versi? :P

I found it difficult myself to find someone to ask directions when I was in Paris... my friends told me the French don't speak in English even if they know how to... Another friend of mine said he was shouted at by a french waiter because he asked for sliced bread :-)

But I think people tend to be more helpful when you are traveling as a family... rather than a bachelor... so I am sure it would be okay...

restuarants, etc. Also when you try your French they will receive you better than the Parisians who frequently laugh or worse, sneer. What time of year are you thinking of going? The Spring is lovely!

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

find the nicest people in France in Brittany and the Normandy coast. The little towns are lovely and the coast is gorgeous! You'll find simple, country folks who I think are far more accommodating than the people in Paris.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Are they touristy places?

I know Paris most people speak English...

Is it the same in these towns too?

It is way in the South on the Mediterranean. If you like lovely old towns and want to see the water, I would suggest the Normandy Coast. You can visit Brest, Cherbourg or Le Havre. And you should also stop at Rouen which has a lovely Cathedral that was the subject of many of Monet's paintings.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM