38 days until Paris . . .

Hi everyone! Welcome to my travel blog. As most of you already know, I have decided to take some time off to experience life abroad. And for those of you who really know me . . . you know that I am a horrible correspondent. Luckily I was introduced to the concept of the blog (thank you j.p.) - a place where I can keep you updated with stories (and photos) of my crazy adventures, and you in turn can keep me posted on "you" - so I will have a little bit of home on my journey.

The adventure may not begin for another 38 days . . . but my mind is already there! (Sorry BWG - I will try and stay focused on work for a little bit longer.) So far the plan is to leave on March 1st and arrive in London on March 2nd. Then straight to Paris, where I have enrolled in a language school for the first month - L'Atelier 9 (http://www.latelier9.com). Of course it is still winter - so there will be many weekend trips to Chamonix and Courchevel (permitting my knee decides to recover in time). After Paris, who knows? The Mediterranean sounds pretty good to me - just in time for the Cannes Film Festival. I have a return ticket for the 31st of May, but I would not be opposed to an extension - guess we will have to see how strong the dollar is (and my willpower to stay off the Les Champs-Elysées and out of the fabulous Paris shops).

So far I have a plane ticket - which means I am committed but unfortunately it means nothing else. Oh the list of things to do - sell the car, buy an international phone, health/travel insurance . . . and . . . pack!!! Thank goodness for my mom who is coming out to help pack up the house. Ok it's only an apartment . . . and only about the size of a cardboard box . . . but moving is such a drag. (Oh yah - the moving crates show up on the 12th - any volunteers? Choice refreshments provided of course.)

If only I had to just pack up the house – but I have to pack my suitcase as well. Packing for my weekly San Francisco trips usually takes an hour – so who knows how long this packing event will take. Limiting my shoe collection is going to be my hardest decision – but if I have to buy a few new pairs appropriate for Paris travel I will not complain. (CLo – you are going to have a challenge on your hands helping me pack appropriately. By the way the LV Steamer is $8k . . . so I think we are going to have to work with the existing back pack.)

That’s all for now – I must get back to finding a place to live in Paris. Monthly flats are hard to come by!

Of course if you happen to be on the continent in the Spring – give me a ring!

b.