Ok, so I haven't actually left for Paris yet, but since I've put off a lot of things to the last minute, I'd figure I'd start something ahead of time, eh? I'm actually looking for a place to stay right now. I bought my flight from student universe, but I don't like their hostel and hotel listing, and since a STA Travel office is a block behind my building, I figured I'd use them, and I like the site 100% better than Student Universe. I'm getting really excited about my trip! A little background on me and traveling. So, I've always been a pretty independent and free spirited person, and I love to travel. I first traveled out of the US the summer before my senior year of high school to Spain, and fell in love with International travel. It blew me away, the rich history and vivid scene of Spain, and the fact that the world is so vast and large. While sitting in a cafe in Barcelona, sipping horchata and listening to the Rolling Stones on their soundsystem, I realized that here I was, miles away from home, yet listening to the music I grew up with and was so close to me, and everything in that moment made it feel like the world was so huge and wide yet so close to my fingertips. I knew that Spain would not be the last trip I ever took out of the US. Don't get me wrong, the US is great, I've been from coast to coast and have amazing memories from California to Texas to Florida and New York, but the rest of the world just mesmerizes me. Enough sentimental stuff though, here is some details on my upcoming trip... -Leave Chicago O'hare airport on Saturday March 18 -layover in Denmark, and arrive Sunday March 19th in Paris. -Staying somewhere yet determined from Sunday March 19th to Friday March 24th. -During this time, possibly visiting with my friend Stephanie who lives in Paris, going to Versaille with Jody and Tyler, my friends who also decided to travel to Paris, roaming around the Louvre, roaming around the streets of Paris, going to the Picasso and the appt. only 3 room Edith Piaf museum (haha), going to the Eifel Tower of course, going to outdoor markets, having drinks in sidewalk cafes and little hole in the wall bars, reading on the banks of the Seine river, relaxing and taking in Paris in general. -One of my best friends Erin B. flys into Paris on March 24th to come rock it out, Paris style. -March 24th to April 1st, in Paris with Erin. -Doing such things as more visits to the Lourve and Eifel Tower, more drinks in bars and cafes, mass amounts of window shopping due to restricted funds, clubbing, art sightseeing, not sleeping much. -April 1st, fly home from Paris with a layover in Denmark. So, there is the plan for my upcoming Spring 2006 trip to Paris. Lots of fun, lots of relaxing, lots of great pictures, and lots of fun. Hopefully I'll be able to find an internet cafe and computers over in Paris where I can update this site. I'm sure I will. I'm way hyped about this trip! A little nervous, but who isn't before any great adventure? Well, that is all for now, Au Revoir! P.S. Just for the record to myself, possible trips in the future (yes I know, where will I find the money, but let's face it, I will hehe) include: -visiting Jamie who will be studying in the south of France next year. -visiting Alicia (Ish) who is studying in Ireland in the future, probably on the same trip to visit Jamie if she goes next year, or on the following trip when I will possibly visit... -Neil who will be studying in Germany in 2008 I believe, whatever year it is the fall after I graduate. May also visit Ish if she is studying abroad at the same time as Neil. BUT, this trip really depends on where and what job I have. Scary to think this ahead in my life. Just looking out for possible travel plans in the future. Man, I love having friends study abroad, amazing. FIN.