Paris or Vienna with Teen DD?

[Anonymous]

My DD will be joining me in Poland this summer where I am working. I've got her a summer job with a client and hope this will give her some exposure and help her break out of her U.S. high school world. I want her to get a taste of living abroad and to at least experience somewhat life in Poland. We will hit Krawkow, Poznan and Czestochowa, which are all cities associated with our family roots and where we have relatives or monuments related to their life before coming to America.

I've thought long and hard whether this trip will include a trip to Auschwitz. I want her to have a positive experience in Poland and not come to think of it as a "land of ashes." I've met a few Americans who've only come here to go to Auschwitz. It is unfortunate because the country has so much to offer, of which this sad history is but a part. I just came back form a weekend in Krakow and spent the entire day in the old Jewish Quarter. I found it very emotional - much more than visiting Auschwitz - as it was a place of life and not death.

I am also thinking about a trip elsewhere in Europe outside of Poland, and am trying to decide between Vienna or Paris. Vienna is an overnight train from Warsaw, Paris a two hour flight ($75 RT). I love Vienna, but that is because I am somewhat an afficionado of this history of Habsburg Central Europe as well as the history of classical music that is so represented there. What would you choose if you had the opportunity as a teen to go to Vienna or to Paris?

[Anonymous]

PARIS!!!!

[Anonymous]

Let her choose! Does she like the same things you do? She might even have a third option like Copenhagen or Rome.

[Anonymous]

She's been to Copenhagen.

[Anonymous]

I'm of Polish descent but don't have the connections anymore. I think you have something *very* special to offer your DD--I read your OP and just wanted to go with you for your knowledge.

Your DD can get a taste of Paris any time, as an adult. But The Habsburgs...the Austro-Hungarian Empire...if you know about that, I vote you give that to her.

[Anonymous]

Have her do some research and pick! You never know which could appeal to her more. Also you seem pretty cool.

[Anonymous]

I'm also of the opinion let her choose. I should note that there is a major football tournament in Paris from June to July so it will be quite a zoo (and also a bit of a terrorist target). You might want to check if your dates overlap with the Euro 2016.

[Anonymous]

Paris!

[Anonymous]

Paris

[Anonymous]

What does your daughter like to do and see?

What about Prague, which is gorgeous and more of a fairytale city than Paris and closer to Poland to boot.

I enjoy Paris but both Vienna and Prague have their charms and I prefer them to Paris. But you won't go wrong with either Paris or Vienna. I'm inclined to let your daughter chose. Tell her to research the two options and make a list of museums and sights she'd like to see and weight the pros and cons of the two cities and make a final recommendation. I imagine she'd enjoy doing it.

Regarding Auschwitz, I had the same reaction as you did, the old Jewish quarter in Krakow was much more moving and sad than Auschwitz. But I still wanted to have paid my respects to Auschwitz so I made the journey. It was something that needed to be done (personal reasons).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have her do some research and pick! You never know which could appeal to her more. Also you seem pretty cool.

Wish my ex thought so! So looking forward to DD coming!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does your daughter like to do and see?

What about Prague, which is gorgeous and more of a fairytale city than Paris and closer to Poland to boot.

I enjoy Paris but both Vienna and Prague have their charms and I prefer them to Paris. But you won't go wrong with either Paris or Vienna. I'm inclined to let your daughter chose. Tell her to research the two options and make a list of museums and sights she'd like to see and weight the pros and cons of the two cities and make a final recommendation. I imagine she'd enjoy doing it.

Regarding Auschwitz, I had the same reaction as you did, the old Jewish quarter in Krakow was much more moving and sad than Auschwitz. But I still wanted to have paid my respects to Auschwitz so I made the journey. It was something that needed to be done (personal reasons).

Also, we have two Righteous Gentiles in our family and I want her to know their stories too.

[Anonymous]

I have been to both with teen daughters. They liked Paris better than Vienna. For Paris, we shopped and went to museums and picniced with wonderful food we bought on Rue Cler.

[Anonymous]

We live in Vienna and there is tons for kids and teens to do. A lot of the cool stuff is not necessarily the top tourist attractions. My kids like the zoo, the Prater amusement park, hiking in the Vienna woods, renting electric boats on the Alte Donau, and visiting the many public swimming pools, water parks, and beaches in summer. There is lots of outdoor dining in summer at the Rathaus food and film festival and the Summerstage and also a number of outdoor music festivals and other events. There's also a neat ropes course near Kahlenberg, a summer roedelbahn, and the city. Is very bike friendly.

Paris is cool too and sounds easier to get to from Warsaw but don't discount Vienna -- let her choose.

[Anonymous]

I went to Paris with my mom as a teenager. I have wonderful memories of that trip!