April 29th, 2012 ---
If you've ever seen the movie Eat Pray Love then you can recall the scene where Liz & Dalia are upstairs in a bedroom. While Dalia is changing her child's diaper, the two talk bout the whole institution of marriage and starting a family. Dalia admits that her life is the one she always wanted, that she secretly kept a box stored under her bed of little dresses, toys, etc for what she hoped would be for her future daughter. To this, Liz explained that she had a similar box but not full of baby joy, but of pictures and clippings of places and cultures around the world that she wanted to experience one day.
When watching this movie, that's based on a true story, I found myself completely relating to the story being told at that moment. Yes, I'm a girl and dream of getting married, etc and that whole sha-bang.. But I have a similar destination-filled box.
Ive been traveling since I was 3 months old. My first trip to Rancho Bernardo, California - which actually seems kind of ironic now that I live a few miles away in San Diego!
Anyways, I grew up with my parents always encouraging me to be adventurous.. they encouraged me to explore, use my imagination, be creative and as an only child - be independent. Over the years, this led to incessant curiosity about the world around me. So for as long as I can remember I've been on a fun and inspiration-seeking life path, and though there has been ups and downs, I wouldn't change a thing! Sometime along this path, I started collecting pictures and articles and making mental notes of places I'd discovered or heard about- thus further developing my passion to see even more of the world.
Now to continue with how THIS incredible trip came about... This trip has been planned in my head since about the age of 14. I've always been somewhat of a planning-type... Yes, I'm incredibly spontaneous, but it's nice to have a general plan.. And mine was to either do a study abroad or big trip (such as this one) before I graduated college.
Why?
Because when you graduate college, if successful, their will be job opportunities that one shouldn't turnn down. And then once you get a career started, it gets harder to take time off... And then say you meet someone, fall in love, start family... Before you know it, you're on the brink of a mid-life crisis trying to figure out where time went! Now, I'm not saying that happens in every case, obviously, but I'm fine with diving head first into a really fantastic career when I graduate... It's the big pay-off for all the studying I have to do; it's when it all finally becomes applicable. So this whole theory and plan has been in my mind for a very long time.. And after years of discussing this topic with my parents they noted how hard I've been working in school and gave me the green light! Wahoo!
It also became one of those now-or-never situations, as well. With the beginning of the National Student Advertising Competition quickly approaching in October - I have to commit 6 months of schooling to that and then I would have a few quarters to go till graduation; who would bail out to travel right at the finish line? So if I was going to go at all, now was the time... Take a quarter off, enjoy what the world has to offer in a big way and then get back and buckle down... Getter done!
My adventure began on April 21st. I flew from San Diego to Toronto, Ontario. From there, I drove the 45minutes out of the city back to my hometown of Kitchener and spent a fantastic week with friends and family. I'm pretty sure I left with a new set of abs from laughing to the point of tears everyday I was there! It's so nice to get back to the home spot every once in a while!
Anyways, now I've flown from Toronto to London Heathrow... Landed at 8:20am, took the subway to St.Pancras International train station.. Then boarded a train to Paris. From the train station in Paris, I navigated myself on the metro to La Tour-Maubourg, where I got to street-level and simply marvelled at the surroundings. I was blown away.
I walked down Rue de Granelle, a tree-lined street with beautifully Parisian buildings all around and felt that unbelievable moment of appreciation and surrealism when I looked up to see the Eiffel Tower peeking over the buildings. Incroyable! I turned down Ave Bosquet, walked a few more blocks and reached the large brown doors with big brass handles that led into the apartment I would be staying in.
After ringing the bell, I was buzzed in by a man named Edouard, I walked through a tiny corridor to a small courtyard - having had trouble trying to figure out what door to go through in said courtyard, Edouard suddenly appeared and happily escorted me through one of the doors. And with no elevator in sight, he politely grabbed my bag and told me to go up the very small, steep, circular staircase up to the top (6th) floor. I felt awful for him carrying my suitcase, offered to carry it part way, but he assured me he had it!
When we reached the top floor, we hung a left, then a right and I found myself face to face with what would be my door! Edouard opened it up for me and the very first thing I see is the Eiffel Tower, bold and beautiful, clear as day from the window.
Speechless, was what I was that moment. Then I just laughed in utter amazement at such an incredible beginning to my solo European adventure!
So here I am top floor, Eiffel Tower in sight!
Bonjour, Paris!
Let the adventures begin!
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| My plane from NYC to London! |
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| Walking down Rue de Grenelle to my apartment! |
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| The view :) |
