I read a lovely post in memorable moments where someone took their mom to Paris for her 80th birthday. I pm'd her but it was posted over 5 yrs ago and apparantly not available anymore.
It got me thinking that I'd like to take my mom to Paris for her 75th, still 2.5 yrs away. She has weak knees and is able to walk well but certainly not as much as my friends and I did when we went to Paris at the end of September. I'd like to hear from any senior how they managed in Paris. I'm considering taking her by taxi to many places since even in the metro there are so many stairs. In Sept. we stayed in Rue Cler and walked to the tower nightly. I'd like to take mom to the Eiffel, Notre Dame, etc. Any advice for navigating Paris with a minimum of walking would be appreciated. Thanks.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
Stay in a hotel that has an elevator from ground level to the rooms. Two hotels I can suggest are H. Leveque and H. Jeanne d'Arc. Ask for a lower room, so that if the elevator fails she won't be climbing 5 flights of stairs. Ride buses rather than the Metro. Some Metro stations have escalators; there may be a way to learn which stations are so equiped. Museums with escalators or elevators exist. I have older knees, too, and avoid stairs as much as possible. At the Rodin museum I just walked up the few stairs to the main floor and did my viewing there without going to the upper level. If you don't see an elevator in museums, ask at the desk. There may be one in an inconspicuous place. If you can convince your mom that she doesn't need to carry a purse, have her carry only a money belt and a little money in a pocket, then YOU do all the carrying. A daypack for you will hold the books, water bottles, lunches, etc that you both need.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
STeve, do it. You will never regret the trips you take with your mom, one day you will regret the ones you didn't. I know.
Posted by
in a train schedule...
267 posts
If you visit Sacré Coeur in Montmartre, take the métro to Abbesses (avoid the 7 flights of spiral stairs and take the elevator). To reach the basilica, take the Funiculaire. This sideways métro of sorts provides an easier alternative to the 4 flights of stairs. It costs the same price as a regular métro ticket.
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA
2030 posts
Steve, you have time to save money and plan to take taxis a lot and avoid a lot of walking. I am considerably younger than your mother and have drastically cut down on my metro use, because of all the stairs and walking you have to do underground -- though it is a great system. The bus works well also, so try to find the routes and plan your days well. Go to one museum or site and just sit -- don't have to cover it all -- see one thing, say the Mona Lisa - then go sit in the Cafe Marley. People watching in a nice cafe is fun and a quintessential Parisian experience. There will still be quite a bit of walking, can't avoid it, so try to get your mom accustomed to some -- Make sure she takes a nice walk each day.
this is what I would do.