Well….here it is. With much ado its about to happen. In about 55 hours I will be boarding a plan to LA with three suitcases and a whole lot of freaking out. I have a lay over in Phoenix a 9am and hope to god that they have a Fridays or something where I can sit and enjoy a beer before I land and go into a freak out induced coma. Or something like that.
I’m excited. And nervous. Ah well.
The rest of Germany pretty much went like this:
Beer, sausage, beer, fries, beer, some sleep and then some more beer before heading to the airport to catch my flight to London, have a few drinks with Paul and then drunkenly catch a train to Liverpool.
After Cat left me in Cologne I stayed at the hostel where I met some really cool people. I ended up going out with them for the night and it ended back at the place with a delicious pasta meal at 5am. The people I met were really great and all knew each other from working at a hostel in Scotland. Was a nice way to end my mini tour of the Rhineland.
The first time I took a train out of Paris I was devastated. The second time I was thrilled. This time: exhausted! Luckily my train wasn’t crowded and I was able to stretch out and try to get some sleep during my three hour ride to Cologne. I didn’t know what to expect. That part of Germany had never bene on my radar before but there was no way I was going to be so close to a friend and not go over to say hello.
Now I don’t speak German. At all. AT ALL. And I cannot stand to be in a city without knowing the language but I never actually studied the language apps that I downloaded so I felt like I was screwed. Luckily I wasn’t though.
Things I noticed upon my arrival: you have to pay to use their restrooms (although some provide showers?) and they pretty much love their fast food.
After Cat and I hugged each other like school children and got over the shock of seeing each other in Germany we went to our hostel to drop off our things and went to take care of business. I did not care that it wasn’t noon yet. I was in Germany and I needed a beer. Period.
After showing me the Dom we managed to snag some seats outside of the Cölner Hofbräu Früh for some Kölsch. while watching people run. Turns out the following day, October 3rd, was “Tag der Deutschen Einheit” – Day of the German Reunification so a lot of things were going on. The sun was still shining so we sat, drank deliciously inexpensive beer, I had my first true German sausage and watched the runners all while catching up.
Cologne is such a beautiful city. We then went for a walk, took the train over to her friends place where we drank some more and I learned that the following day we were heading to Bonn for the festival. I was 4 days into my trip and all that morning drinking finally had me exhausted. Would sleep come? Please say yes. And it did for a few hours. While my friends went to some techno type club I went back to our room and finally got some sleep. Es war schön.
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Well not quite the valley but close enough. I couldn’t stop saying Valley of the Rhine and Deutschland in my best accents…which weren’t that great actually but fun for me.
Leaving Paris at 5:30am when I had just gotten to bed hours before was strange. It was so dark and quiet as I rolled down cobblestones streets with my suitcase. Ready for the second leg of my trip. It was so chilly that morning and at one point I just stopped and listened. The streets were so quiet and the lights were out. I stood on the corner of Rue Sainte-Jacques in total darkness and my mind was completely cleared.
Then on I went. I arrived at Gare du Nord when the sun still hadn’t risen with an hour to look out into the streets of Paris for one last time.
Then off to Germany I went. Couldn’t wait to see Cat! As well as see what Germany was all about.
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Still heavily jet lagged but the sun was still shining bright so lunch on the champ de mars was in order.
The sun was shining, the streets were filled and there I sat. I can’t stress how great it was to be completely alone for a few days. Alone, happy and completely relaxed.
I ate while looking up at this beautiful beast during the day and it centered me. Knowing that I made it, that my plans started out well and that I had 16 more days where my only responsibility was to survive was all I needed.
I then walked to see the arc during the daylight and decided to burn off some calories and go on up. 284 steps…284 steps…Pourquoi suis-je cela? dans cette chaleur???? Insanity! But up I went.
The view was as perfect as I remembered it and I was able to get some shots as I caught my breath before going back down. What a workout that was.
The rest of the day was spent packing and just enjoying the street sounds of Paris. I went to my bar one last time and then stared out my window before going to bed. The lights of the tower went out and I was ready for my 8am train to Cologne, Germany.
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What a rough start! I didn’t get out of bed until 3pm and it was forced! Jetlag is no joke. By the time I made it out it was dark so I headed first to the opera to have some delicious coffee and then decided to hit the tower because the area directly outside can be super sketchy with all the street vendors.
I am always in awe of it when I first see it in person. It really is a magnificent thing. I fall in love with this steel beast every time
I’m within feet of it. I felt like I was in heaven. I sat on the Champ de Mars and soaked in all in. Months of planning and saving have paid off. I was alone and I was happy.
Next up was the thing that made me fall in love with Paris to begin with: The Arc de Triomphe. I was able to stand in the middle of the street and just stare and photograph it. I want to get married up there. I’ve wanted to for years and years. It gives the best view of Paris.
Then I walked down the Champs-Élysées until I was tired enough to hit up my favorite bar.
Friday night it was naturally more crowded but I still snagged a seat and the booze and shots commenced. I met this guy from Brittany that hates the English. His reasons: rugby and football. It’s the most I’ve ever gotten out of the Brit/French feud. No one has ever given me a reason. I remember Rude would joke that he broke out in hives every time he came to my apt and made faces whenever we watched Amelie (which by the way was HIS copy!).
Afterwards I was starving and went to a Lebanese spot and ordered a gyro and it was the most delicious thing to me at that drunken moment. Even with hummus!
Then I fell asleep staring at the darkened tower out my window. Another night, another wonderful place to fall asleep in…
It’s here! It’s time! I can hardly stand myself right now. I want to scream and just tell everyone I see on the streets….I can’t fucking wait to just….relax!
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Flying Virgin Atlantic was pretty awesome. The middle seat was empty so the girl on the aisle and I took advantage and used it as an extra table/ space for sleeping. I was torn as to what to watch but nothing caught my attention so after dinner and two glasses of wine I knocked out.
Everyone knows that I love to fly. Love love love to fly but this was the worst flight ever. There was so much turbulence when we were crossing over to Wales that I was afraid for the first time ever.
As soon as we landed I didn’t even make it to border control before I threw up multiple times. I also slept awful despite the eye masks that were given. I’m glad that they gave us a toothbrush and toothpaste because it came in handy at that point.
Getting out of Heathrow was a breeze, as was getting to Luton.
Luton was so ghetto though. I was seriously shocked that they actually had security. I bought some food at marks and spenc and snuck it in my purse. They didn’t even notice. I’ve been flying with matches and lighters thus whole trip and no one notices.
Once there I waited about an hr before they announced the gate and a mad dash among the people commenced as there are no assigned seats on easyjet. It’s seriously like riding the greyhound bus but so far my seats have been cheaper than my checked baggage.
I almost vomited out of excitement when I saw that we walked on to the tarmac and up the stairs to the plane. As soon as I reached the top I had to touch it. I’ve never touched a plane before. It was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done at that point. Was fucking awesome!!!!
The flight was smooth, we landed before I even took a sip of my coffee and I got to see the tower through the haze.
Once in Paris I took the RER straight to my apt. It was rush hour so the train was packed! Turning the corner to the building showed me the Pantheon and the view from my bedroom and kitchen gave me an out-of-body experience. The tower was lit up just for me.
After settling in I wanted to just enjoy the night so I walked. I wasn’t sure where I’d end up because I have never really ventured out in the 5th but once I saw St. Germaine I knew the Notre Dame was not far off.
I walked to that, took some photos, and then took a late night walk along the Seine and was completely relaxed for the first time in months.
I wanted to go to a bar but everything was just so crowded until I finally found one.
The place was great. Bartenders were hilarious and were giving me shots just because it was my first night there. One of the bartenders was from Paris and said that Paris runs though her veins fused with her blood. That she was born and will die there. I told her I didn’t feel like that about NYC and she said that it was because I got infected with Paris. I liked her a lot!
After those drinks and shots I didn’t arrive back home until 2:30am Paris time. Which made it 8:30pm in NYC. Almost 24hrs after I left.
The adventure has begun…
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