July 15, 2011
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Vers le Bas au Fil
(Down to the Wire)
(Borrowed from Silsby from Tripadvisor.com)
We are leaving at midnight thirty tomorrow night.
There are still several things on my to do list.
Today was a semi melt down day. I do get up and go all the time but flying to France requires a bit more organization and planning. This is the first overseas trip I have ever taken. I tried to do a bunch of things in advance (relied on good info off google!). But, I am sure I will miss something.
Just heard from a friend that Houston (she is visiting her husband there), the airport we take our international flight out of to France, is having hurricane warnings. Checking the local weather in Houston did not offer good news. Thunder and lightening storms through the weekend.
Upon checking the flight status at this early time, nothing is showing delayed. But this got me to rethinking travel insurance. I ordered some with the airline tickets and figured I better call to see if this coverage was going to be effective if we got stuck in Houston (or anywhere for that matter) for any amount of time before we could board a flight to Paris. The idea of paying for my accommodations in Paris and being stuck paying for a room somewhere is not that appealing. Or all the other stuff that goes with delays. Lost luggage, eating out and so forth.
Well, the coverage was pretty meager (FYI for anyone who books through Travelocity). And it was too late to cancel it and try to get something better (which there are several options). I spent hours on the phone today with this stuff. BUT, I did get renters insurance to cover all my expensive electronic gear (even if I am traveling). So, that is a relief. This is just one of those things I thought of and kept putting off.
That and packing. I will pack tonight. I will! I swear! I have five complete outfits figured out and probably way too many pairs of shoes figured into this equation. That will be hard for me to downsize on. No matter what I do, I will be sorry I did not pack some certain pair of shoes. But alas, leave no shoe behind cannot be my packing mantra…
And my cat, Esme…finding someone to feed and look after her. This is really stressful to me. She is so spoiled. There are several things that need to be addressed with her and I realize that no body but me gives a damn about my spoiled feline companion. So, several friends have been recruited to check in on her. Soupir de soulagement énorme (Huge sigh of relief!)!
This is so whiney, I realize that. But, again, typing out my stress really helps me work through it. I am very excited about my trip. I am also very stressed about my trip. I believe that is normal. The cost, the language, the rate exchange, getting around. It will be just fine once I get there. In the meantime, all of these last minute details (some my fault, some not) had me in a lather.
I am better now than I was about four hours ago. And, as my pal Shelly reminded me, it is not the trip, it is the journey. But the idea of my journey being waylaid in Houston for more than the nine hours already expected…well, I will get over that too, won’t I?
Oui, oui, oui!!!
J’aime
Comments (18)
This is such a brave trip — I’ve done several trips out of the country, always with tours, and always to English-speaking countries (except for short stops in places where English is not the first language. You’re doing fine, you’ll get there, even if late, and you’ll have an amazingly wonderful time!
@slmret - Thank you! And have I learned some new skills in this planning. Thank you for your always kinds words!
I recommend valium… you will have a blast and everything will fall into place… pack light so you can buy over there… they do have shops you know
Forget your worries and just enjoy your adventure. Its your birthday for dogs sake. HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME. If you get stranded some hot frenchman will save you
Have a wonderful time!!! I know you will… and take photos galore!
I’m happy for you. I know you’re going to have a great time.
A journey of thousands of miles begins with a melt down… but once you are airborne joy and excitement will find you! Bon voyage mon amie! Bon voyage! Je t’aime!
GIRL, YOU GOIN TO PARRRRRISSSSS
Your stress is very very normal. This is a huge reason I do not bother to travel, it is not fun for me because of the getting there part and the leaving the home behind part and all the prep and anxiety.
Forget about your damn shoes, LOL.. bring comfortable clothing, you will be enjoying what you are seeing as a tourist, you don’t need to be a fashionista there. I know that is hard for you. Remember the terrible painful shoe debacle here in nyc with a pair you purchased?
I really sympathize with your stress level but try to do deep breathing and all of those helpful tips and just think of the picture post card beauty you will be seeing.
insurance is a great idea to recoup any money lost by weather or other conditions way beyond your control, you just have to ride those out with a good book or something :/ part of the adventure although maybe disappointing.
please try not to worry and stress and just be. when you are there find a nice cafe and get a bit of fresh bread and sit and breath in the Parisian air…
I wish I were going with you, I would be totally afraid. If the people are snooty ignore them. IF the language is a problem and they are rude, you are more than capable of cracking wise jokes and insulting them greatly to their faces and laughing at them ,I know you. Just laugh at the French people, I have heard they can be quite funny if you come at it with that perspective….
on the rare occasions I did travel far, Quebec City, I saw it as a great adventure and rather than try and control it or plan it out, I kind of went with it like I was on a ride or adventure… I did a bus tour of the whole city the first day to get the lay of the land and had picked the walking things and any specific things to get out of the way first and then me and Albert were able to spend the rest of the time there hanging out leisurely and deciding what extra stuff to do after we had done the required stuff. it worked out great, not trying to control every moment of each single day, doing that at first and getting stuff out of the way, and then kind of hanging out…. also, we ran into stuff unexpected like their holiday and festivals so there may be stuff that pops up to distract you….. you will have FUN FUN FUN..
The french have nothing on you Cassi, don’t worry about the language and all that….
Just remember THEY got the idea for THEIR revolution from US! ( i think )
xoxo I am thinking of you lots these days!!
ALSO REMEMBER SCREW BUYING A BUNCH OF CRAP TO BRING HOME…
anything you want can be purchased over the internet these days when you get home. buy yourself a special trinket or two and maybe a few other special things for whatever reasons… but I wouldn’t waste my time hunting for treasures in the day and age of global commerce and eBay…
unless you see something you have to have, can only get then and there at that time ….
but this is totally none of my business, it is morning ,i am just spewing advice…
I forgot I actually went to PR too but there is only so much you can do there..
not buying stuff and regretting it later is a killer, I know… taking my advice is your call…
I learned it’s best to have no expectations and no definitive plans and enjoy whatever comes as it comes. I’ve done four overseas trips like that and they were all wonderful. Start with the knowledge of what you might want to see and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get to see any of it. You’ll actually do exactly what you’re meant to be doing at the time. Try not to overpack (hard for me). You’ll chat with the most amazing people (they’re not really snobs). If you’re stuck in an airport for a bit – heck – it’s just part of the grand adventure and you won’t know what’s in store for you while you’re stuck! Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!
Cassie, your joy and vivaciousness for life will be your constant companion and I’m pretty sure you’re going to have the time of your life! Be damned to thunderstorms I say, look for the rainbows!
You have hopefully made it to your destination by now! I hope it is everything you want it to be, only better & more sparkly!
You are out of this country now and at your destination. I hope this is the best day EVER for you. And tomorrow is even better. My only advise is enjoy, take loads of pictures and tell us all about it as soon as you can.
loads o’ love
Happy Birthday.