December 7, 2017
JFK Airport
The end of the calendar year means it’s time to use up some of my remaining comp time, and what better way to do that than a pseudo-impromptu and loosely-planned solo trip to Paris, France?!
I’m currently awaiting my delayed red eye flight, which I purchased just over a month ago. I’m not great at sleeping on planes, and apparently also not great at sleeping in airport chairs, so instead here I am updating the much-requested Travels of Tara blog.
I studied French growing up, from 6th grade through high school and a year in college. I’ve never felt fluent but I know enough to get by. I always wanted to visit Paris. In early high school I thought I would soon get my chance when I participated in a student exchange program through my school. We hosted a nice girl named Muriel and I have many pictures of us making funny poses at the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Times Square. To my severe disappointment, the return trip for the Americans to go to France was canceled because it was 2001-02 and flying was considered risky then.
I finally got my chance in summer of 2012, when I took my first big trip to Europe – a three-week tour for 18-35 year olds through a company called Contiki. We did 2 nights in Paris and jam packed in tons of tourist activities, including going up the Eiffel Tower and seeing a burlesque show. It was a great way to be introduced to France, as I was with other people who became my good travel friends, and I learned that being in a country where English isn’t the first language isn’t really that scary – especially in Europe where most people also speak English.
So here I am, five years later. I don’t normally travel to cold places in the winter, but I was inspired by overhearing conversations at my dance studio about several people who had recently traveled to Paris. I was able to get a very cheap flight for this week ($400 on Norwegian!). Not including tonight I’ll be there 4 nights – Friday through Tuesday. I’m staying somewhere called the Oops! Hostel which is also very affordable.
This trip is very loosely organized, which is unusual for me when going on big trips like this. I’ve had a lot on my mind recently and some changes seem to be afoot in my life, so I have a lot to process and spend time thinking about. My plan, then, is to walk around, see some tourist attractions, visit a palace and a museum, do some shopping, and eat some great food. I hope I can pace it slower than most trips, but that’s not really in my travel nature. Perhaps the fact that I’ve been there before, and that it’s winter and cold out, and that I’m getting over a bug will help, but I somehow doubt it.
A bientot!
travels.of.tara 