I love this new feature! I'm planning on traveling to quite a few bigger cities: Copenhagen, London, Berlin, and Rome, to visit museums with my introverted son and husband. Recommendations from other quiet introverts would be so useful!
Thanks, this is great. I never thought of Paris as an introvert place, quite the opposite.
Definitely let’s have some more. With a bit of thought, I could offer up Amsterdam. Which also, on the surface, seems like more like an extrovert’s destination.
When I travel, I often check out Atlas Obscura for interesting book shops, libraries or off the beaten track inspiration.
There are a few “quiet place” travel books out there, but not the kind of quiet place envisioned by this community. More the spa and exclusive expensive resort kind of thing.
Paris is one of those things that I used to dream about but never have been to. Thank you Susan Cain for giving us a glimpse of it. I don't feel any more special with a link.
This is a great new feature! I sometimes fantasize about traveling alone for both personal growth and the luxury of doing what I want without negotiating. While I haven't yet mustered the courage to do it, save for the occasional business trip, these reviews might just get me to take the plunge...eventually. I HAVE been to Paris with my husband and daughters, and have been to several of the places mentioned. The thought of going back with a book and a journal sounds quite peaceful, and in some strange way, even romantic.
I love this idea. It is a fantastic idea and you must continue to do this. Surely everywhere we travel is a chance to see if through quiet, appreciative eyes. Reading this article makes me want to travel again and do it differently. Not to see the famous or important sights and eat the wonderful, famous food or drink but to claim the travel experience as suited to my needs. My inner world. I love the article by Jo. It was perfect. Thank you as always. You are such a life saver.
Susan I love this so much! Thank you - and to Jo of course! Yes please more travel guides for introverts. It keeps my dream of travel alive. The last time I was in Paris was over a decade ago - reading this now has put a skip in my step and added sparkles to morning. And the photos…what a delicious treat.
Merci sounds fabulous to me, and browsing the bookshop across Luxembourg Gardens (I was not aware of either) and enjoying a good read near the pond - now that’s a blissful day. Thanks again. Many blessings!
What a wonderful piece! I am so envious that she can go to Paris regularly. My favorite city is London and although I’ve been there many, many times, lived in a London suburb in my 20s, each time I go I do something I haven’t done before because I feel my life span is getting shorter and I want to experience it all :) So much to see, who knows how much time is left.
I've been to Paris, but it was only a one-day whirlwind visit. My favorite cities in Europe are Berlin, Munich, Prague and Florence. Those cities may not be thought of as "introverted," but I love to explore and I can be in my own world even when many people are present. There were a couple times in Germany where we dined with German families and it was great to speak to locals, many of whom spoke English.
Thank you for this. Am casting a vote for more travel guides for seekers of quiet (or calm), depth and beauty. Even in the US. In Paris, a spot I adored with my more literary young adult daughter was the Richelieu Bibliothèque (which means library). We sat in a sprawling, tranquil and beautiful room. As an adult student of French language, I indulged in reading an assortment of French children’s books at a cozy table. It was a magical moment.
oh my!!! I need to go back to Paris -- have only been once, in off season (Shakespeare & Co line was manageable, as was the Orsay restaurant).
And of course we need these for other cities now! (although I admit that, while reading, I might have had the fleeting thought 'what if everybody goes to all these places now and they're crowded?" ... the answer, of course, would be "then it would just be all of us introverts there")
I went to Paris in mid October one year and, as you say, it was more than manageable. No lines at Shakespeare, no lines even at the d’Orsay restaurant. I wandered the d’Orsay for hours, it was gorgeous. Now I have to content myself with the art book I bought about the d’Orsay but I can still conjure up the feelings.
Now that you mention “the feelings”— I distinctly remember the awe at encountering all those original Impressionists upstairs. The exhaustion (it was toward the end of our trip) immediately vanished. Could have stared at them forever. Almost.
There’s nothing that compares with seeing the “real” art. As a little girl in parochial school, I would often receive what we called “holy pictures” as a reward for achievement. Religious art painted by Renaissance artists. They were so pretty. But when I first saw the “real” Raphael paintings in Florence in my mid 20s, the way they glowed, the rich colors, I realized that I’d almost been seeing them through a glass darkly.
Haven‘t been to Paris, but sent my daughter there (with a friend of hers). They had their own bucket list of things to do, jumping on the bed of a 5 star hotel, and sword fighting with baguettes at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Would love to go. My daughter always makes an edited video of her travels, and I LOVE them!
I love this new feature! I'm planning on traveling to quite a few bigger cities: Copenhagen, London, Berlin, and Rome, to visit museums with my introverted son and husband. Recommendations from other quiet introverts would be so useful!
Thanks, this is great. I never thought of Paris as an introvert place, quite the opposite.
Definitely let’s have some more. With a bit of thought, I could offer up Amsterdam. Which also, on the surface, seems like more like an extrovert’s destination.
When I travel, I often check out Atlas Obscura for interesting book shops, libraries or off the beaten track inspiration.
There are a few “quiet place” travel books out there, but not the kind of quiet place envisioned by this community. More the spa and exclusive expensive resort kind of thing.
Paris is one of those things that I used to dream about but never have been to. Thank you Susan Cain for giving us a glimpse of it. I don't feel any more special with a link.
eager to check out Merci
and the Hunting museum. I'd like to plug the Cluny museum, a wonderful collection of medieval art. Thanks for this feature!
Great idea and perfect timing for me as I’m planning a solo trip to Paris in the fall. More like this would be great.
This is a great addition:) More please!
This is a great new feature! I sometimes fantasize about traveling alone for both personal growth and the luxury of doing what I want without negotiating. While I haven't yet mustered the courage to do it, save for the occasional business trip, these reviews might just get me to take the plunge...eventually. I HAVE been to Paris with my husband and daughters, and have been to several of the places mentioned. The thought of going back with a book and a journal sounds quite peaceful, and in some strange way, even romantic.
I love this idea. It is a fantastic idea and you must continue to do this. Surely everywhere we travel is a chance to see if through quiet, appreciative eyes. Reading this article makes me want to travel again and do it differently. Not to see the famous or important sights and eat the wonderful, famous food or drink but to claim the travel experience as suited to my needs. My inner world. I love the article by Jo. It was perfect. Thank you as always. You are such a life saver.
What a great idea! Thanks.
Susan I love this so much! Thank you - and to Jo of course! Yes please more travel guides for introverts. It keeps my dream of travel alive. The last time I was in Paris was over a decade ago - reading this now has put a skip in my step and added sparkles to morning. And the photos…what a delicious treat.
Merci sounds fabulous to me, and browsing the bookshop across Luxembourg Gardens (I was not aware of either) and enjoying a good read near the pond - now that’s a blissful day. Thanks again. Many blessings!
What a wonderful piece! I am so envious that she can go to Paris regularly. My favorite city is London and although I’ve been there many, many times, lived in a London suburb in my 20s, each time I go I do something I haven’t done before because I feel my life span is getting shorter and I want to experience it all :) So much to see, who knows how much time is left.
Yes, yes, yes! I Love the idea of a travel guide for introverts, readers, quiet explorers, and solo travelers! Thank you!
I've been to Paris, but it was only a one-day whirlwind visit. My favorite cities in Europe are Berlin, Munich, Prague and Florence. Those cities may not be thought of as "introverted," but I love to explore and I can be in my own world even when many people are present. There were a couple times in Germany where we dined with German families and it was great to speak to locals, many of whom spoke English.
Thank you for this. Am casting a vote for more travel guides for seekers of quiet (or calm), depth and beauty. Even in the US. In Paris, a spot I adored with my more literary young adult daughter was the Richelieu Bibliothèque (which means library). We sat in a sprawling, tranquil and beautiful room. As an adult student of French language, I indulged in reading an assortment of French children’s books at a cozy table. It was a magical moment.
oh my!!! I need to go back to Paris -- have only been once, in off season (Shakespeare & Co line was manageable, as was the Orsay restaurant).
And of course we need these for other cities now! (although I admit that, while reading, I might have had the fleeting thought 'what if everybody goes to all these places now and they're crowded?" ... the answer, of course, would be "then it would just be all of us introverts there")
I went to Paris in mid October one year and, as you say, it was more than manageable. No lines at Shakespeare, no lines even at the d’Orsay restaurant. I wandered the d’Orsay for hours, it was gorgeous. Now I have to content myself with the art book I bought about the d’Orsay but I can still conjure up the feelings.
Now that you mention “the feelings”— I distinctly remember the awe at encountering all those original Impressionists upstairs. The exhaustion (it was toward the end of our trip) immediately vanished. Could have stared at them forever. Almost.
There’s nothing that compares with seeing the “real” art. As a little girl in parochial school, I would often receive what we called “holy pictures” as a reward for achievement. Religious art painted by Renaissance artists. They were so pretty. But when I first saw the “real” Raphael paintings in Florence in my mid 20s, the way they glowed, the rich colors, I realized that I’d almost been seeing them through a glass darkly.
Haven‘t been to Paris, but sent my daughter there (with a friend of hers). They had their own bucket list of things to do, jumping on the bed of a 5 star hotel, and sword fighting with baguettes at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Would love to go. My daughter always makes an edited video of her travels, and I LOVE them!