I had lived in Paris the summer of 1963 when I was homeless at 19 and had not returned until 1996, 33 years later, when I was an introverted divorced psychologist with two grown children, living and working in Connecticut. That weekend trip began a 29 year love story with my future husband who, at the time, was living on a houseboat moored in front of the Orangerie. My gold-medal memoir describing our 2-year courtship, Miracle at Midlife: A Transatlantic Romance, was published in 2016, 10 years after I had retired. I so adored the city that, once I was an author of writing that was not science, I wrote about it for Bonjour Paris, my favorite English language magazine featuring the city, for years. My first article for them, "Living on a Converted Barge in the Center of Paris", illustrates my joy as a new introverted resident in a City that felt made for me. My manuscript, "Paris From a Personal Perspective", shared only with friends and family planning visits, continues to develop, capturing perspectives on ways to discover, appreciate, and make personal connections to the city and its surrounding areas...experiences I continue to treasure.
What a perfect read in the AM with my coffee! I love the line about why Paris is such a great place for introverts...makes me think of booking a flight and an extended trip but, being practical, this has inspired me to find my little pieces of Paris here and embrace them.
I can recommend to sign up for the Offline Club in Paris. It organizes get togethers at different places (in a cafe, a bistro, under the Eifel Tower, on a parisien bridge, on a rooftop etc). There a hundrets of people coming together for a reading party. You see them laying on the floor with blankets and cushions reading , no screens allowed. They also organized writing parties, crafting and boardgames parties. Even though they call it „parties“, everything is very quiet. It’s fun and unforgettable
I certainly want more like that thanks Susan. It makes me sad I didn’t have it when I was in Paris. Not just for the great tips (especially the museum of hunting and nature!) but for the role model of confidence in being a solitary traveller.
I’m in South Africa. If I want to go on a literary/art tour, off the beaten track, would you have any suggestions. I could stay max 2 weeks UK or Europe or both?
Hi! I don’t offhand have a full itinerary for you, though I wish I did, but I’m doing an upcoming post on Oxford and DEFINITELY recommend going there and taking a tour focused on C.S. Lewis and Tolkien - the campus is full of lampposts and towers etc that inspired their works, and I found them thrilling to see.
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.
Love this and can't wait to see more travel destinations! Germany?
Now THATS a travel guide! It would be great to see more writing on travels in The Quiet Life...
This is a wonderful guide! I’m going to save it for my next trip to Paris. Thank you!
Yes, very neat idea! Would love to see more of these
Thank for all those tips to travel to Paris. I have been in Paris and I love the city. I want more recommendations for traveling!
Very timely. We’re off to Paris soon to watch my daughter in a play there. So will put some of these places on my list to see. Thank you.
I had lived in Paris the summer of 1963 when I was homeless at 19 and had not returned until 1996, 33 years later, when I was an introverted divorced psychologist with two grown children, living and working in Connecticut. That weekend trip began a 29 year love story with my future husband who, at the time, was living on a houseboat moored in front of the Orangerie. My gold-medal memoir describing our 2-year courtship, Miracle at Midlife: A Transatlantic Romance, was published in 2016, 10 years after I had retired. I so adored the city that, once I was an author of writing that was not science, I wrote about it for Bonjour Paris, my favorite English language magazine featuring the city, for years. My first article for them, "Living on a Converted Barge in the Center of Paris", illustrates my joy as a new introverted resident in a City that felt made for me. My manuscript, "Paris From a Personal Perspective", shared only with friends and family planning visits, continues to develop, capturing perspectives on ways to discover, appreciate, and make personal connections to the city and its surrounding areas...experiences I continue to treasure.
What a perfect read in the AM with my coffee! I love the line about why Paris is such a great place for introverts...makes me think of booking a flight and an extended trip but, being practical, this has inspired me to find my little pieces of Paris here and embrace them.
Loved this introvert perspective on Paris!
I can recommend to sign up for the Offline Club in Paris. It organizes get togethers at different places (in a cafe, a bistro, under the Eifel Tower, on a parisien bridge, on a rooftop etc). There a hundrets of people coming together for a reading party. You see them laying on the floor with blankets and cushions reading , no screens allowed. They also organized writing parties, crafting and boardgames parties. Even though they call it „parties“, everything is very quiet. It’s fun and unforgettable
I certainly want more like that thanks Susan. It makes me sad I didn’t have it when I was in Paris. Not just for the great tips (especially the museum of hunting and nature!) but for the role model of confidence in being a solitary traveller.
Could we get a group together?
A group of introverts travelling together. I like this idea but maybe it’s best as an idea?
I’m in South Africa. If I want to go on a literary/art tour, off the beaten track, would you have any suggestions. I could stay max 2 weeks UK or Europe or both?
Hi! I don’t offhand have a full itinerary for you, though I wish I did, but I’m doing an upcoming post on Oxford and DEFINITELY recommend going there and taking a tour focused on C.S. Lewis and Tolkien - the campus is full of lampposts and towers etc that inspired their works, and I found them thrilling to see.
That sounds wonderful Susan, I’ll be looking out for your posts.
Yes please
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.