Paris to Provence and Back: Advice Sought

[Stuart_BeauneHead_Niemtzow]

@todd waldmann

@Stuart BeauneHead Niemtzow

On my honeymoon, in 1983, I came close to divorce when driving into Paris from Alsace and Burgundy and Champagne (not sure the order of those visits, but I think Burgundy was first). My wife had lived in Paris after college for several years…and, because she was/is fluent in the language, I made too many assumptions about her ability to navigate around (which she’s always been poor at in English, I learned). We revisited those issues many times thereafter, too…both in Paris and Burgundy and other regions of France.

If only the GPS had been invented by then…maybe she wouldn’t have so many bad memories of our trips.

Your kids were scarred by the France trips and won’t drink wine. Your wife has “so many bad memories of our trips.” Didn’t you realize…vacation and travel are supposed to be fun?

They were “fun”-- for me.

So, the kids didn’t like hanging out in deep, dark, damp Burgundy cellars…better than the deep dark cellars they’d otherwise have been hanging in I say.

My wife…well…she tried to cheer them up and navigate and make appointments. I acknowledge that wasn’t lots of “fun” for her…though she does enjoy the fruits.

And…that neither kid is interested in wine…well…I tried.

[Alan_Rath]

@Barry L i p t o n

Even with GPS, it’s not easy to return a car within the city center if you are not familiar with Parois. Pretty surprised you think it’s easy to return; (departing is MUCH easier).

I don’t disagree, just saying that it’s gotten much easier with Nav than it used to be. I generally try to deal with car rentals at the airport, even if I’m staying in the city, particularly for returns (as you say).

[Craig_G]

These people are crazy. The only way to do this is by unicycle. Don’t forget to brush up on your juggling.

[Stuart_BeauneHead_Niemtzow]

@Alan Rath

@Barry L i p t o n

Even with GPS, it’s not easy to return a car within the city center if you are not familiar with Parois. Pretty surprised you think it’s easy to return; (departing is MUCH easier).

I don’t disagree, just saying that it’s gotten much easier with Nav than it used to be. I generally try to deal with car rentals at the airport, even if I’m staying in the city, particularly for returns (as you say).

That’s a small downside. The upside is, IMO, flexibility and more exploration. That two? people are involved, I think, would diminish any savings over the rental/gas/autoroute tolls.

[Barry_L_i_p_t_o_n]

agree that renting at CDG and leaving from there is a breeze. And if you are coming back to Paris via TGV, it’s quicker than driving.