The Dream of Getting Lost in Paris

Why I have yet to make the journey to Paris is a mystery to me. A combination of reasons -- timing, expenses, fear, and the fact that if/when I go, I may never return -- have contributed to today's travel resolution. The dream of getting "lost in Paris" still thrives deep within my wanderlusting soul.

I started taking ballet lessons at age three in a dance studio run by an old school French-style ballet genius, a difficult find in smalltown suburb, Ohio. She was in her late 60s when I knew her best, blonde gentle curls, shoulder pads, gold bangling bracelets, cigarette in hand, poodle at foot, propped in her short white director's chair. The piano player pounded away at the keys while we trained at the barre. I was physically there, but mentally, I was in France.

From age three, French positions and terminology were engrained into my daily routine -- plie, rond de jambe, frappe, tour jete! I was destined to study the language in highschool. And I did.

The language entrigued me, almost felt like a part of me I had yet to discover. The more I learned, then more I yearned to see The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and stroll down the Champs-Elysees. But even more than visiting the many tourist attractions you simply must see, my ultimate dream would be to get caught up in everyday life in Paris.

To sip wine and people-watch from a cafe on a bustling avenue and graze on freshly made baguettes, croissants and croque monsieurs would be the perfect day. Follow that up with a walk through the city at night, hand-in-hand with the man I love, gazing at the moonlit City of Lights, and I would be one happy lady. Might as well even throw some rain in the mix. Fine with me. We'd get lost in the beauty of Paris, just reveling in the history, lifestyle and emotion that is undoubtedly French.

Someday.

Until then, I'll watch and rewatch Amelie, Sabrina and Midnight in Paris to get my fix. I'll listen to my Edith Piaf radio station on Pandora, read travel posts, and Google images for Paris.

Oh, to get "lost in Paris" ... I'm sure I'd find another missing piece of myself.

This article (among other things) in NY Times inspired this post.

French bottled water comercial, must see!

FranceGuide

First Trimester Road Trips - DC & Nashville

It's official.  I'm pregnant!  We're ecstatic!  Of course, constantly having the baby on my mind doesn't bode well for travel blog writing or traveling in general.  Nonetheless, we've braved some road trips, lived to tell about them, and even have a couple more planned for this summer!

If you've ever been with child, or traveled with a woman who was, you know it can sometimes be tricky depending on morning sickness and her oversion to odors.  We road-tripped to Washington, DC to visit family for the Easter holiday when I was only 8 weeks in.  I was just getting used to the idea of this living, peanut-sized person swimming around in my belly, let alone constant nausea and waxing fatigue.  "What's happening to my body!?" "Can people tell?" "Should I tell people yet? or wait it out a little longer?"  My usual I-can't-wait-to-get-there giddiness was replaced with "will I have time for a nap?" 

Some Tips for travel during your first trimester:

1. Bring plenty of bland snacks -- saltines, pretzels, granola bars, etc.  We've been told that you're better off with something in your belly, and it turns out it's true. 
2. Lots of water!  -- which results in a pit stop about every hour or so.  It's good for you though, so drink it.
3. Pack your prenatal vitamins -- You don't want to forget those, especially since we all tend to veer off course (as far as diet and nutrition is concerned) while traveling.
4. A fluffy pillow and room to stretch your legs. -- Try to share the driving with a pal so you can stretch out in the back seat.  Keeping your feet elevated will also help decrease ankle swelling and back soreness.
5. Get out and stretch your legs, walk around and get the blood flowing every chance you get.

Once you arrive, eat mini meals like you do at home, rest when you can, plan on hitting the sack early and rising frequently to use the restroom.  Bring super comfy shoes and loose-fitting clothes for walking around, and drink plenty of water during the day too!  If you're comfortable telling your news to those you're traveling with, they might be more understanding when you need to stop and rest more often than usual.  I chose to tell the family members we were with and chatting about it made it even more fun!

Next, we headed to Nashville, TN for the Rock 'n Roll Marathon and Half Marathon.  We went with a large group of friends, mostly from OU so it was difficult to hide my non-alcoholic ways in the bars.  I ended up spilling the secret to the group to make things a little easier. 

Lucky for me, after running a half marathon, the rest of the group was just as tired as I was, often leading to early bedtimes and afternoon naps. I fit right in! 

Nashville was pretty cool, but I can't help but think it's a million times better when you're able to party sans nausea and fatigue.  Maybe we'll go back someday. 

Just remember, you're still yourself while traveling pregnant, you just need to be patient, give yourself plenty of extra time for pit stops, frequent meals and naptime.  The advice people keep giving me is "get out and do stuff while you can before the baby comes."  So, that's what I intend to do!

Trips on deck :: a relaxing trip to East Hampton, NY to play on the beach; and a long weekend on a houseboat on Lake Cumberland, KY.  Stay tuned for second trimester trips!

The Vacation Argument: An Oxymoron?

You never know where your vacation will lead.

It’s like complaining about a free lunch or having too much fun. Who does it and what’s the point? The other day a friend of mine mentioned the fact that she and her man keep arguing every time they discuss their vacation options for this summer. Which part of Mexico should we go to? How long should we stay? What should we do there? Let’s do something else instead, etc.

One of them has too many vacation days to use up this year. Sucks to be you, right? Must be nice! The other one can’t seem to convince him that she can only afford one big trip this year. Here lies the issue. If they plan on vacationing together, they must make a choice. The quarrel ensues.



My advice? Just pick one. All options are lovely. There’s no sense in making your vacation (or vacation plans) stressful. The point of a vacation is to escape your everyday stresses in the first place. I know, it sounds much simpler than it is.

Decide on your ultimate “goal” for the trip. Whether it be adventure, to see a particular show, concert or attend an event, pure relaxation, good food, sightseeing or just plain old togetherness, you can surely narrow down your options by agreeing on a common goal.

Family vacations always sound like a good idea, until the planning actually starts. He wants to be active on vacation, but she wants to relax. They want to be pampered and eat at fancy restaurants every night, but they want to cook their own food and lounge in comfy clothes and bathing suits all week. Is it really worth the fight?

It never fails. Every year my extended family tends to have big ideas about a vacation we can take together, and then after a few months of debate and juggling everyone’s calendar conflicts, we never actually go. Someday I hope to remedy this vicious cycle of vacation arguing so we can simply enjoy each other’s company in beautiful place we can all afford at a time that works for everyone. But I digress …

Make yourself available. Compromise is key. Chances are you’ll have a great time no matter which vacation you choose. Check your calendar and offer plenty of options for weeks you’d be available to skip town. Plan ahead for requesting vacation days from work and add to your vacation fund whenever possible.

Take a risk. Never been out of the country and afraid to make the trip? Don’t be. Sure, getting a passport can be a frustrating (albeit expensive) task. Just do it. Get one, so you’re able to cross the border at a whim the next time your best friend wins a free trip to Mexico or your husband wants to take you to Niagara Falls for the weekend. I’m not talking about risking your life in North Korea or something … just easy international travel that millions of Americans do everyday (The Caribbean, Greek Isles, Western Europe, Australia, even Beijing or Tokyo). Book it and then fill in the details.

Just say “yes”. Say “no” less, and say “yes” more. Don’t be a stick in the mud, and be sure to keep an open mind. This is possibly the most important rule. OK, maybe even I wouldn’t jump at the chance to bungee jump off a bridge or go ice fishing for a week. No, no, I mean say “yes” to trying sushi at a great seafood restaurant at resort. Say “yes” to snorkeling in Mexico and don’t be afraid to be called up on stage to sing karaoke at a live show. Vacations are an opportunity for you to let loose and try new things in front of close family and friends (and 100s of people you’ll never see again). What better way to make a memory?

Everyone needs a vacation now and then. Speaking of which, I’d like one right now!

Concert or bust!

How far would you travel for a concert?  What if I told you it's a rock-n-roll concert next to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico and the weekend consisted of beach soccer tourneys at the resort, swim-up bars, fireworks, sunshine and lots of American fans?

I know what I'd say ... "Count me in!"  I don't know the band, but that doesn't even matter, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers have a fun sound and prove to please crowds every year at Circus Mexicus.  According to a friend who's been there multiple times, we'll fly into Tucson, rent a car and 4-hour road trip it to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico (AKA Rocky Point), on the Pacific side of Mexico.

Nice way to spend a long weekend, don'tcha think?

Babies in the District

It was a snowy and icy weeked in our nation's capital, but we were on a mission to meet our new neice once and for all. After a lovely drive through slush and pavement mist-flakes (the kind that seems to smear even more when you clean your windshield) and some groan-worthy encounters with Maryland slow-pokes who ride their brakes, we made it to Columbia Heights, a neighborhood in downtown Washington, D.C. 

Even after a foul weather roadtrip, there's nothing sweeter than cuddling up with a newborn.  That little bundle can paint a smile on your face quicker than you can say "gah gah, goo goo".  Instant love, I say.  Instant!

With a couple babies and 2 new mommies in our midst, we knew we weren't going to spend the weekend clubbing or taking shots left and right, and that was completely fine with me.  Instead, we decided to tackle the district in the 2nd best way we know how ... We'd eat our way through it.

Friday night was a blur of gastropubs, Food Network, and Travel Channel suggestions and neighborhood favorites, which blended into more of the same on Saturday. 

I went out with the guys on Friday night and the girls on Saturday night, and one thing I learned for all you single travelers out there is that if you're in the market for a significant other, go where they are. Seems obvious, I know, but the wine bars were crawling with women, and the beer pubs were overloaded with all male groups. Want a boyfriend? Skip the wine, and go get a beer! What a girlfriend? Dress up, grab a wingman and head to the wine bars.

Some notable stops on the way:

1) El Pollo Rico, Arlington, Virginia (see a clip from Anthony Bourdain's episode here):  We walked away from this place thinking, "Yep.  They did it right."  Known as the "best Peruvian chicken joint around", this cafeteria-style restaurant serves only one thing - charcoal-broiled chicken (either by the whole, or by the 1/2 chicken).  It was an inexpensive and delicious way to kickoff the food shuffle.  Highly recommended!


2) The Red Derby, Washington, D.C.:  Who doesn't love their beer in cans?  Red Derby is a hole in the wall local bar (we love those!), featuring a superior beer menu with a wide variety of microbrews and rare-finds, served up in cans with a complementary plastic cup.  That's how you know it's good!  It's a long narrow place, but perfect for a cozy game of trivial pursuit, scrabble or a modge-podge of other board games provided by the bar.  Good stuff, check it out!

3) Vinoteca, Washington, D.C.:  Perfect place for a girls night out!  Vinoteca has a great wine list, great bar service and a candlelight atmostphere perfect for deep conversation, catching up with girlfriends, or grabbing an after dinner drink on date night.  My bro- and sis-in-law had their engagement party at this location, so she was eager to share the love with us.  Crowded on a Saturday night, but a great meet-place overall!

4) Eat Bar, Arlington, Virginia:  This was such a chic stop!  Attached to Tallula Restaurant, this Gastropub had some fan favorite apps.  At Eat Bar, we loved the lamb sliders, mussels and risotto fritters.  Complete with a fab wine list, we were pleasantly surprised by the chilled out vibe, candlelit bar area and meat-themed T-shirts for sale. Would go back! 


5) Meridian Pint, Washington D.C.:  Eco-friendly and tres modern!  The guys loved the draft and cask beer selection at this place.  The service was a little lacking and the food was glorified bar food (we tried the nachos, wings and special dipping sauce, which we didn't care for), but the beer had a good range from 1st Amendment and Bell's to Dogfish and Great Lakes.  Good place for an after dinner drink!

DC never fails to impress.  And it doesn't hurt that we got to catch up with old friends, Alberto and Jen, along the way.  Thanks to Elisa, Mike and Zoe for a fabulous weekend, as always!

Finally, Nashville, TN is on the List

A runner I have never claimed myself to be. Swimmer? Sure. Dancer? Oh yeah. A Country Music fan? Yup! But a runner? I wish. Nevertheless, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to cross off a travel wishlist city of mine -- Nashville, Tennessee -- for this gigantic annual sports event.

The Country Music Marathon & 1/2 is coming up this spring and several of my friends are geeked up to run (or at least attempt to run most) of it. I'll be there with my camera and a sign, cheering for them along the sidelines.

Whenever a long-weekend trip comes up, the question is always whether to fly or drive. Should we use the airline miles we've worked so hard to obtain, or save them for a longer, pricier trip? I typically choose the latter, since I'm usually not the driver anyway. And in this case, after researching our flight options, it would in fact, be cheaper and more efficient to drive to the great country capital. We'll carpool with a friend and bunk up for the weekend, exploring every curve of the city and hidden restaurant and pub gem we can find.

Following my own past advice, I'll take the next few weeks to delve into some Nashville tourism sites and tip guides to compile a list of maybes to accomplish while we're in town. That's the fun part! The open-ended realm of possibilities your maybe list presents is the most exciting part of a trip, save the simple idea of skipping work for a couple days. That's also glorious. Everyone needs a breather now and then to remind them that there's a life outside of your cubical. Cubical smubical. Vacation is truly on the horizon now.

Now I've got some research to do.