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Feb. 15th, 2010 03:19 pmSpartacus has now, at nearly 17 months, been to more countries than either of his parents had at 17 years. Possibly more than both of us combined. BH was giving a paper in Paris on Friday, and it being his birthday and the start of the Valentine's weekend, we all went.
Things I need to remember for next time:
1. Crayons and scratch paper are important during train or airplane journeys.
2. Subway systems are not friendly to people with toddlers in strollers. Spartacus (in his stroller) actually got stuck in a metro gate in Paris; luckily he was asleep during the incident, although it's possible that a screaming child would have brought assistance more quickly. Plus there are many stairways and escalators involved and and almost no elevators; this is also true in London, especially when (as on our return Sunday) half the tube is down for Scheduled Maintenance. It is time for me to learn to use the bus systems in both Paris and London. As the last time I tried to use a bus in London I ended up going halfway to Croydon (not my intended destination) I am not filled with confidence.
3. Museums with sculpture galleries are very exciting for small children, and good places to run around. It was bitterly cold on Saturday, so we spent the morning in the Musee d'Orsay. Spartacus had a good time toddling about, and we had a good time mocking the horrid 19th century sculpture. I found this tip on a website somewhere, and it was a very good one.
4. Parisian restaurants do not have high chairs, although in other ways they were all perfectly child friendly -- everyone made much of Spartacus and no one seemed put out by his odd little ways, like hurling his bread around or trying to dunk the mustard jar into his hot chocolate. I had this thing called a "totseat" which is like a cloth harness to tie your toddler to a regular chair, and that worked quite well, but I was surprised by the lack of high chairs. Perhaps everywhere we went was just too small or too crowded.
5. The hot chocolate at Cafe de Flore is the best hot chocolate that Spartacus has ever had, and believe me when I tell you that he knows from hot chocolate.
I think we will keep an eye out for Eurostar special offers, especially later in the year when it is warmer and Spartacus can enjoy the parks; we are very lucky that he's such a good traveler, I suspect, because long weekends away seem entirely feasible. He did melt down a bit on the train back to Oxford, but it was packed and passing through Didcot Parkway is enough to make anyone weep.
Things I need to remember for next time:
1. Crayons and scratch paper are important during train or airplane journeys.
2. Subway systems are not friendly to people with toddlers in strollers. Spartacus (in his stroller) actually got stuck in a metro gate in Paris; luckily he was asleep during the incident, although it's possible that a screaming child would have brought assistance more quickly. Plus there are many stairways and escalators involved and and almost no elevators; this is also true in London, especially when (as on our return Sunday) half the tube is down for Scheduled Maintenance. It is time for me to learn to use the bus systems in both Paris and London. As the last time I tried to use a bus in London I ended up going halfway to Croydon (not my intended destination) I am not filled with confidence.
3. Museums with sculpture galleries are very exciting for small children, and good places to run around. It was bitterly cold on Saturday, so we spent the morning in the Musee d'Orsay. Spartacus had a good time toddling about, and we had a good time mocking the horrid 19th century sculpture. I found this tip on a website somewhere, and it was a very good one.
4. Parisian restaurants do not have high chairs, although in other ways they were all perfectly child friendly -- everyone made much of Spartacus and no one seemed put out by his odd little ways, like hurling his bread around or trying to dunk the mustard jar into his hot chocolate. I had this thing called a "totseat" which is like a cloth harness to tie your toddler to a regular chair, and that worked quite well, but I was surprised by the lack of high chairs. Perhaps everywhere we went was just too small or too crowded.
5. The hot chocolate at Cafe de Flore is the best hot chocolate that Spartacus has ever had, and believe me when I tell you that he knows from hot chocolate.
I think we will keep an eye out for Eurostar special offers, especially later in the year when it is warmer and Spartacus can enjoy the parks; we are very lucky that he's such a good traveler, I suspect, because long weekends away seem entirely feasible. He did melt down a bit on the train back to Oxford, but it was packed and passing through Didcot Parkway is enough to make anyone weep.
