So we’re back, and yes we had a lovely time. Mostly because we abandoned all plans except eating (hitting many of our old favourites) and shopping in what craft stores I could find. We had some problems with the wheelchair not liking the steep hills (it drained the battery very quickly) so t had to push a lot, and it poured down rain for two days, but in general it was a pleasant and relaxing holiday. It’s going to take me a while to recover.
Paris has changed a lot in the four and a half years since our last visit. We used to visit annually when we could afford it (this is not that grand — remember, it’s just the next major town over and only 2.5 hrs by train so it’s one of the cheapest possible vacation spots for us) but I guess the changes seem a lot more pronounced when more time has passed. I’d read that many French people think that the city is becoming a museum rather than a living, vibrant center of life. I didn’t want to believe it but I’m afraid it is true. Maybe models find places to party but it’s becoming a tourist trap; there are more tourists than locals in most of the city center and the shops and venues have changed to reflect that. It’s a little sad, really.
I certainly won’t say don’t go if you have never been. I won’t even say that I won’t go — I’m always researching the history of Paris and/or using the museums as resources for other historical research. But just to chill out and mellow, I think we’ll go to Provence or back to Italy (where I lived for a while). Or who knows, maybe somewhere out there is a city that really is wheelchair friendly. I’m not holding my breath on that one though!
We’ve got about 500 photos to sort through and tag, but I’ll try to post the crafty ones (shops and my purchases) as soon as I can.
I’m trying to catch up on everyone else’s blogs so bear with me!