Hotel Excelsior Opera

Currently, I have a reservation at Hotel Excelsior Opera. It's a 3 star hotel in the 9th in Paris. I know I know, I said I wanted to be more central (perhaps the 7th or 8th) but the 9th will have to do. From the reviews that I read, the neighborhood is really lively. It's close to the Galleries Lafayettes (shopping!) and close to the beautiful Garnier Opera House. The last time I was in Paris, I spent a few hours in the area, but not enough to really get the experience. Here's a photo:
Even though it's in the 9th, it's at the border and very close to Boulevard Haussman. Anyhoo, not that it matters. I'll be hoofing it most of the time anyway. I just want to be in a safe but lively neighborhood so I can venture out after dark and not feel scared. The hotel got 4/5 stars on Trip Advisor and 7.6/10 on Venere. It has the amenities that I need: wi-fi and a/c. The rooms look to be a decent size, but that doesn't matter much. I just need to be sure and e-mail the hotel that I want a non-smoking floor and as nice a view as possible. Here's the view I had last time:

Not much, is it?

Well, that's one thing taken care of (unless I find a better hotel and a better deal.)

Next thing I want to do is stamp out an itinerary. Since I'm going alone, I can do whatever I want! I don't have to check in with anyone else to see if what I want to do is ok. I already know I want to spend more time in the chic St. Germain district. I'd also like to roam around the Sorbonne if I'm allowed to. Lunch and people watching at Les Deux Magots is a must. I'd like to do the Louvre again but without trying to see it all. That is impossible to do in a day. Trust me. I tried. Musee d'Orsay is of course on the list. But I don't want to do the exact same thing I did last time. I didn't get to Sacre Coeur last time (sacrilige!) so I've gotta do that. I'm toying with the idea of Giverny, but it may be trying to cram too much in such a short time. Can anyone recommend any clubs or bars to hang? I've gotta experience the nightlife.

Desperately seeking hotel

I am in the process of booking a hotel in Paris. I'm going to spend a few days in my favorite city before heading to my destination for 2 months. I love that Paris has so many hotels that fit every budget. The problem is finding the best one for your budget. Last time I stayed in Paris, I syated at Grand Hotel de Paris in the 10th. It was fine since I didn't spend much time there anyway. Maybe it was just a little too dark and there were limited tv options. It was an experience to see what a Paris hotel is like: tiny lifts, interesting decor, oddly shaped rooms. But that's what makes Paris hotels charming, I guess.



This time I'd like to be a little more aggressive in my search. Last time, I booked through www.venere.com and would like to use them again. So what I'm doing is searching on Venere and cross referencing with www.tripadvisor.com to get hotel reviews and photos taken by the people who stayed there (not the glammed up photos the hotel displays).

Look, I'm a pretty simple girl--I just need a bed and a CLEAN space. I don't care so much about the view or the decor. I also need to be in a more central location. I did a lot of walking last time I was in Paris (barely used the metro at all) and I'd like to follow suit this time. Since it will be warmer when I'm there this time compared to last time, I'd like to spend more time being out and about, sitting in sidewalk cafes and people watching. And hopefully meeting some locals.

What else do I need? A/C, wireless internet (to instantly upload photos and update this blog and e-mail family and friends) and I think that's it. If anyone has reviews, give me the 411. I tend to be very indecisive, but I'd like to pick something and just go with it. I also need to work on my Paris itinerary. I don't intend to waste a moment in Paris.

Travel basics

Today I returned the suitcase I bought a few weeks ago. It was a 25" expandable suitcase. When I bought it I wasn't sure what size it was, but I got it because it's bigger than my current carry on. I was originally standing in line with a 28" suitcase when a sympathetic woman said "you know you're going to have to automatically pay more for that size, right?" So I swapped for the "smaller" size. Unfortunately, I can't carry that one on either. I have a fear of checking luggage. I've only done so ONCE, and it scared me to death (fear of loss, theft, accidental theft)

So my plan is to find a 21" expandable roll aboard that I can carry on for the outbound trip and expand and check on the returning trip. I'm also planning to buy an expandable tote bag that I will pack flat for the journey and expand upon coming back to the States. That will be my carry on for the return trip. Even though I don't foresee bringing back a lot of stuff, I do want to buy souvenirs for family and friends. And I'll probably collect stuff during the trip. So the duffel bag will be for that. I'm a little skeptical that I can only get away with a 21" suitcase full of clothes for the trip, but I've been urged to not bring more than one suitcase by travel savvy internet people. We'll see though. I'd rather be unhappy lugging my bags around for a few hours going and coming than unhappy for a few months because I left a lot of things at home. . .

And they're off!

I've already started obsessing about my trip abroad. Like any other fashion conscious girl, my main concerns are: what am I going to wear? Since this is a working holiday, I'll need to bring an assortment of separates that can be mixed and matched: a lot of black and gray with splashes of color added. Then of course, I'll need clothes for after work and weekends, when I'm just walking around enjoying the city. Things like jeans, skirts, fitted t shirts, cute sandals, etc. I already bought a pair of comfy sandals for walking. They're black so they should go with mostly everything. Then, there's clothes for church and going out. I think a sundress or two and some skirts will suffice for church. Jeans and cute tops will probably suffice for "club wear." Of course, I won't do any major clothes shopping unitl I'm satisfied with my body. I'm working out and desperately trying to watch what I eat with the hope of losing some pounds for the trip. Then, I'll go on a shopping spree right before I leave. I called a travel agency today just to get an idea of prices for the plane tickets. Right now, I'm looking at about $1160 dollars. I think if I see any price under of very close to $1000 I'll grab it. Prices aren't looking to good right now.

Besides an ISIC card I need to figure out what else I might need. Because money will be tight, I don't think I'll be able to gallyvant around Europe (tant pis) but I am planning to start in Paris, and spend the last days of my trip on the Riviera before leaving from Paris. Is there any big event going on in Europe that I simply must see? If so, leave me a comment.

Alright, gotta hit the books or there will be no summer!

Newsflash

I WILL BE IN EUROPE FOR THE SUMMER!!!

I look forward to testing the waters since I really want to live abroad in the near NEAR future. It's one thing to have a dream, but it's another to actually pursue it. Will I like living in Europe? Will it be scary? Will I get lonely? Or will I make friends more easily there? Will I let my guard down? Will I learn to just let go? Will I go topless on a beach? (hahaha) Will I find more of myself? Hopefully, all these questions will be answered as I prepare to go and as I arrive there. Tomorrow, I will print out a calendar to hang in my room and start counting down to realizing my dream.

I also got a new camera on ebay today. I got a canon A560, with 7.1 megapixels and 4x optical and digital zoom. My current camera is a Fuji Fine pix A205 with only 3 megapixels so I expect the quality of these pics to be much better. My current digi cam is OK for some things since I don't print very many pics out. However, it works better in outdoor conditions. I haven't quite mastered how to take nice indoor pics. Hopefully the canon isn't too complicated to figure out.

Bah Humbug

It's a terrible thing the realize half-way through your degree that you are in the wrong field. And there's nothing you can do to get out of it. The past 2 years of graduate school have been a mix of triumph and tragedy. I've really discovered who I am as a person and what I want out of life. I can almost reach out and touch the life that I want to have. Alas, the pathway that I've chosen to reach my goals seems to be pulling me farther away from them.

I guess I'm in a somewhat bad mood because it's April yet this morning when I got up to hit the gym, it was snowing. Now, it's not like I want to work out in the first place. But the weather certainly did not encourage my effort to be at the gym by 9am. Of course, I turned back into my apartment and had a smoothie for breakfast.

Now, I'm at the library blogging when I should be studying, wishing that I had the kind of career or was taking the kind of classes that didn't require me studying on a Saturday.

The only silver lining in this cloud is that all will be well come June. If I can make it to June, I will be okay.