Solo trips abroad

[MTVN]

Currently enjoying an airport beer before catching a flight to Paris for a solo weekend away. I have a strong Duolingo streak, I've been loading up on Hemingway and I'm ready for a weekend of mooching around the streets of Paris, people watching from cafes and bars and soaking up the atmosphere and sights.

Haven't done a solo trip away for a while so very excited to do everything at my own pace. Have you done much solo travelling before? Anyone got any tips for Paris in particular?

[Niamh.]

I would have hated to solo travel when I was younger but I'd definitely do it now, I really learned to enjoy my own company and not feel like everyone was looking at me thinking I was weird for being somewhere on my own :laugh: (also I don't really care now anyway)

Not been to Paris though so no advise there. It's somewhere on my list for a weekend away though so do us a review please :hee:

[Kate!]

Sounds fantastic. I might do something on these lines next year, not abroad though.

[MTVN]

I would have hated to solo travel when I was younger but I'd definitely do it now, I really learned to enjoy my own company and not feel like everyone was looking at me thinking I was weird for being somewhere on my own :laugh: (also I don't really care now anyway)

Not been to Paris though so no advise there. It's somewhere on my list for a weekend away though so do us a review please :hee:

Yeah same, especially when with a good book and just the knowledge that you have literally nowhere that you have to be

Will do on the review although I will probably spend all weekend on a terrace somewhere drinking wine and having oysters

[Niamh.]

Yeah same, especially when with a good book and just the knowledge that you have literally nowhere that you have to be

Will do on the review although I will probably spend all weekend on a terrace somewhere drinking wine and having oysters

That all sounds like absolute bliss tbh :laugh:

[Ammi]

…I could spend days just mooching through the book stalls by the river…there are some wonderful finds there…I recall buying a petit David Bowie book for Shaun one time but it was written in French is the only thing…:laugh:…I would say yes to a Louvre visit but it is a crowded walk around..and no to an Eiffel Tower experience but then I’m not a height person…top tip if you have a sweet tooth would be to visit as many chocolate shops as you can and taste their free chocolate temptations ….but whether you have a sweet tooth or not, the French eclairs are just….heaven …

…there are lots of parks and churches and old cemeteries etc to visit if that’s your vibe and a coffee shop on every corner to people watch…enjoy…:love:…

[Niamh.]

…I could spend days just mooching through the book stalls by the river…there are some wonderful finds there…I recall buying a petit David Bowie book for Shaun one time but it was written in French is the only thing…:laugh:…I would say yes to a Louvre visit but it is a crowded walk around..and no to an Eiffel Tower experience but then I’m not a height person…top tip if you have a sweet tooth would be to visit as many chocolate shops as you can and taste their free chocolate temptations ….but whether you have a sweet tooth or not, the French eclairs are just….heaven …

…there are lots of parks and churches and old cemeteries etc to visit if that’s your vibe and a coffee shop on every corner to people watch…enjoy…:love:…

Ohhh I love a cemetery(insert age joke here :p ) and isn't Jim Morrison's grave in Paris? That would be top of my to do list

[MTVN]

…I could spend days just mooching through the book stalls by the river…there are some wonderful finds there…I recall buying a petit David Bowie book for Shaun one time but it was written in French is the only thing…:laugh:…I would say yes to a Louvre visit but it is a crowded walk around..and no to an Eiffel Tower experience but then I’m not a height person…top tip if you have a sweet tooth would be to visit as many chocolate shops as you can and taste their free chocolate temptations ….but whether you have a sweet tooth or not, the French eclairs are just….heaven …

…there are lots of parks and churches and old cemeteries etc to visit if that’s your vibe and a coffee shop on every corner to people watch…enjoy…:love:…

Thanks Ammi, great tips! I'll try check out the Shakespeare and Company bookshop which is named after the famous one from the 20s and browse some other stalls. I'm going to the Louvre this evening actually as it's free after 6pm on the first Friday of the month :hee:

Yeah not too fussed about the Eiffel tower so will sack that off. An eclair or two will definitely be enjoyed at some point

[Benjamin]

Most of my adventures have been solo. So much fun.

[rusticgal]

Sounds wonderful....I am happy in my own company and could sit and people watch all day. As much as I love being with my husband, he is not one to sit around and likes to be busy.

So I am very jealous...and yes it is something I could easily do.

Have a wonderful time..:wavey:

[Ammi]

Ohhh I love a cemetery(insert age joke here :p ) and isn't Jim Morrison's grave in Paris? That would be top of my to do list

…yeah I’m not sure which cemetery it is but I know that he was laid to rest in Paris…I won’t insert the age joke because I like to walk through a cemetery as well and read the gravestones of those who have walked the same earth as us…

[MTVN]

Je suis en Paris maintenant et je bois un biere pres de la Seine avant je visiter la Louvre :cool:

[MTVN]

Ohhh I love a cemetery(insert age joke here :p ) and isn't Jim Morrison's grave in Paris? That would be top of my to do list

Yeah that's Pere La chaise cemetery which is very famous, Oscar Wilde is also buried there

[rusticgal]

Je suis en Paris maintenant et je bois un biere pres de la Seine avant je visiter la Louvre :cool:

Eh bien, profitez-en et ne buvez pas trop de bieres...:laugh:

[Ammi]

Je suis en Paris maintenant et je bois un biere pres de la Seine avant je visiter la Louvre :cool:


https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdzhiOWpmMzZtdWp5dmJmNzR5YXVpZXZ 0M2p5OTIzdWl1bTR6aHk2MSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/Zw3oBUuOlDJ3W/giphy.gif

[Jessica.]

I fly alone nearly every year. I'm going to Ireland in a few weeks. Love it.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Je suis en Paris maintenant et je bois un biere pres de la Seine avant je visiter la Louvre :cool:

https://media.tenor.com/3yfpVSFS2v0AAAAM/drunk-bourr%C3%A9.gif

[Kate!]

I fly alone nearly every year. I'm going to Ireland in a few weeks. Love it.

Oh, you could visit Niamh Jess xx

[Jessica.]

Oh, you could visit Niamh Jess xx

I think that would be very awkward, I haven't had a proper chat with her in years.

[Kate!]

I think that would be very awkward, I haven't had a proper chat with her in years.

Oops.

[Jessica.]

Oops.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad suggestion, I am meeting up with other people I know from chatting online x

[Kate!]

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad suggestion, I am meeting up with other people I know from chatting online x

That's great! X

I have now met 3 people from Tibb. Scott Lucas and Vanessa

[Jessica.]

That's great! X

I have now met 3 people from Tibb. Scott Lucas and Vanessa

Aww that's lovely, i love meeting new people.

[Benjamin]

That's great! X

I have now met 3 people from Tibb. Scott Lucas and Vanessa

You met Scott! How was he?

[Kate!]

You met Scott! How was he?

Hilarious.

[Vanessa]

I love solo trips. Was thinking of going to Alicante soon. The weather is still good there at the moment.

[MTVN]

Well Paris is pretty stunning :flutter: I did the Louvre yesterday and was there for nearly two hours but still feel I barely scratched the surface of it. The crowds around the Mona Lisa are mad considering how much great artwork there is in literally every other room there but I'm guilty too as I went to see it.

It's been a beautiful day in Paris and I got out early to run a 10k up and down the Seine which was pretty magical with hardly any people about. Then went to the Sacre Coeur with incredible views over the city and got inside just as they were starting a morning mass so I stayed for that. Montmartre in general is pretty lovely but I got a bit lost ending up in a dodgy bit of town.

Took a lime bike back to the centre and had a bottle of wine next to the Seine while following the afternoon football games. I'm now awaiting my steak with a glass of red before going to watch some live music

None of you asked for this but I am telling you because Paris is amazing and you should go. Tomorrow I'm going to do a bit of southern Paris in the Latin quarter and Luxembourg gardens before a nice lunch at the cafe that Hemingway used to frequent - La Closerie des Lilas

[Benjamin]

Well Paris is pretty stunning :flutter: I did the Louvre yesterday and was there for nearly two hours but still feel I barely scratched the surface of it. The crowds around the Mona Lisa are mad considering how much great artwork there is in literally every other room there but I'm guilty too as I went to see it.

It's been a beautiful day in Paris and I got out early to run a 10k up and down the Seine which was pretty magical with hardly any people about. Then went to the Sacre Coeur with incredible views over the city and got inside just as they were starting a morning mass so I stayed for that. Montmartre in general is pretty lovely but I got a bit lost ending up in a dodgy bit of town.

Took a lime bike back to the centre and had a bottle of wine next to the Seine while following the afternoon football games. I'm now awaiting my steak with a glass of red before going to watch some live music

None of you asked for this but I am telling you because Paris is amazing and you should go. Tomorrow I'm going to do a bit of southern Paris in the Latin quarter and Luxembourg gardens before a nice lunch at the cafe that Hemingway used to frequent - La Closerie des Lilas

:clap1:

Glad you’re having a nice trip! I’m super jealous.

[MTVN]

Eh bien, profitez-en et ne buvez pas trop de bieres...:laugh:

I had all these ambitions of using my French all weekend and now all I'm saying is:

Vous parlez anglais

:omgno:

[Cherie]

I love solo trips. Was thinking of going to Alicante soon. The weather is still good there at the moment.

flew back from there yesterday it was 29 degrees, though its an autumal sun so much more pleasant, sea swimming is still doable until end Oct, pools are just about okay

[Cherie]

There is a lovely little cosy cafe with red soft seating on the street just as you come out of the Eiffel Tower, been there on two different visits, really lovely beef bourguignon, hope its still there

[Cherie]

I had all these ambitions of using my French all weekend and now all I'm saying is:

Vous parlez anglais

:omgno:

:joker:

[Cherie]

I remember using Quelle heure et il in Disneyland Paris one time ...I was so proud I could recall this phrase from school

[Ammi]

…Paris is always a good idea…it really is a fabulous vibe…:love:…

…yeah, there is a huge contrast between something like the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam…(…which has quite an intimate feel with the paintings and how close we can get to them…)…and the Louvre, where they feel so ‘distanced and formal’ …but it still holds that magic to go and see them and feel their age and their importance …there is so much to see in the Louvre, not just with the paintings and the artwork but the general opulence of old Louis and those back in the day times…

[Ammi]

I had all these ambitions of using my French all weekend and now all I'm saying is:

Vous parlez anglais

:omgno:

…and are the locals speaking English with you…?…

[Cherie]

I had a day and night to myself this holiday once the gals left, Mr C was not due until the following day....it was bliss, went to the beach, had dinner out, went home watched TV and went to bed early....:laugh:

[Ammi]

…MTVN, do you think that you would ever do anything like a pilgrimage…/…like the Camino de Santiago route for instance, is that something you would do…?…

[rusticgal]

I had all these ambitions of using my French all weekend and now all I'm saying is:

Vous parlez anglais

:omgno:


Google translate is brilliant…:laugh:


….although I did understand what you said but I needed help to reply…

[MTVN]

There is a lovely little cosy cafe with red soft seating on the street just as you come out of the Eiffel Tower, been there on two different visits, really lovely beef bourguignon, hope its still there

Sounds very charming, I'd like to confirm it's existence but I have not seen it yet!

…Paris is always a good idea…it really is a fabulous vibe…:love:…

…yeah, there is a huge contrast between something like the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam…(…which has quite an intimate feel with the paintings and how close we can get to them…)…and the Louvre, where they feel so ‘distanced and formal’ …but it still holds that magic to go and see them and feel their age and their importance …there is so much to see in the Louvre, not just with the paintings and the artwork but the general opulence of old Louis and those back in the day times…

Oh yeah the Napoleon III apartments are incredible for the luxury and opulence of the whole rooms, truly of their time

…and are the locals speaking English with you…?…

Generally yes! Impressed as ever by the ability of other nationalities to speak English and actually I've found everyone incredibly polite and friendly

[MTVN]

…MTVN, do you think that you would ever do anything like a pilgrimage…/…like the Camino de Santiago route for instance, is that something you would do…?…

Yeah I would like to do that actually, I always really like the BBC Pilgrimage series and seems like people always get something out of it no matter their creed or belief

Never fully looked into it though :think:

[MTVN]

I had a day and night to myself this holiday once the gals left, Mr C was not due until the following day....it was bliss, went to the beach, had dinner out, went home watched TV and went to bed early....:laugh:

Sounds perfect. Hemingway says:

When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be
happiest. The only thing that could spoil a day was people and if you could keep from
making engagements, each day had no limits. People were always the limiters of
happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself

[Cherie]

Sounds very charming, I'd like to confirm it's existence but I have not seen it yet!



Oh yeah the Napoleon III apartments are incredible for the luxury and opulence of the whole rooms, truly of their time



Generally yes! Impressed as ever by the ability of other nationalities to speak English and actually I've found everyone incredibly polite and friendly

It was on quite a busy street so say you are on the river side of the Eiffel Tower facing the river walk to the left and it was on the left not far down the street... comfortable little booths and dark inside, think there were steps down to it ..hope its still there

[Ammi]

Yeah I would like to do that actually, I always really like the BBC Pilgrimage series and seems like people always get something out of it no matter their creed or belief

Never fully looked into it though :think:


…there is also a movie called The Way with Martin Sheen who travels the El camino de Santiago, which is a pilgrimage that’s on my bucket list and one of my sons is going to do it with me…but he lives overseas so trying to find a time that’s good for both of us isn’t easy…I think…(…for me…)…it’s more of a spiritual thing and would be a spiritual experience, rather than something attached to religion and many of us are spiritual, whether we actively follow a religion or not…

[MTVN]

…there is also a movie called The Way with Martin Sheen who travels the El camino de Santiago, which is a pilgrimage that’s on my bucket list and one of my sons is going to do it with me…but he lives overseas so trying to find a time that’s good for both of us isn’t easy…I think…(…for me…)…it’s more of a spiritual thing and would be a spiritual experience, rather than something attached to religion and many of us are spiritual, whether we actively follow a religion or not…

Ohh thanks for the recommendation, I will check it out.

Yeah I love from the BBC series how a pilgrimage like that has something to offer to every person and is so unique to that person - no one will have the same experience. And so many people are yearning for some sort of spiritual solace or understanding but don't know where to find it.

I hope you get to do it soon and when you do you can give me some tips

[Cherie]

Bon jour, comment allez vous MTVN

[MTVN]

Tres bien! Mais il pleut a Paris aujord'hui

Slightly sore head this morning after watching some great music last night. Still got out early and did a bit of sightseeing around Montparnasse but I fly later so won't be doing too much more. Currently enjoying a cheeky beer before going for some lunch :pipe:

[Kate!]

MTVN Cherie

Really glad you both had such excellent times :love: it's nice to hear about your travels and experiences. Well jel! Xx

[Cherie]

Tres bien! Mais il pleut a Paris aujord'hui

Slightly sore head this morning after watching some great music last night. Still got out early and did a bit of sightseeing around Montparnasse but I fly later so won't be doing too much more. Currently enjoying a cheeky beer before going for some lunch :pipe:

Quand il pleut, il pleut :laugh:

safe journey home

[bots]

I speak perfect <insert appropriate language> after a few beers

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

Love solo trips. Can do what I want at my own pace. It can get a bit lonely though if you do too many of them alone