After just about an entire day of traveling — including two train rides from Paris to Avignon, I finally got to step off a moving object and breathe in the air of France.
Which was a strange mix of cigarettes and very strong perfume.
I have never be to Europe before, so you would expect my anticipation for this trip would be off the charts. But for some reason it wasn’t. Maybe I had too much work to finish before I left. Maybe I didn’t have time to sit back and think about all the sights I’d see and food I’d eat. Maybe I just didn’t know what to expect, really, in order to get excited.
It was D, all of the above.
That’s the thing about traveling — you never have enough time to soak in the concept that you’ll be on vacation because you’re too busy packing (or doing laundry so you have something to pack), wrapping up projects at work, figuring out how to enable the out-of-office function on your e-mail, find sitters for your dogs (at least in my case) and get your finances in order. Who has time to think about the actual trip?
So now that I’m in my very cramped (but comfortable) hotel room in Avignon, France — yes, with a bidet — I can finally reflect on the trip that I’m on. (I’ve graded the last of my papers on the plane.)
Good morning, NYC
***
To read all of Cat’s blogs, visit www.nonstophonolulu.com/thedailydish. Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at [email protected].
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18 Comments
Awesome Cat! I sit here in our wedding house, trying to get our slideshow done and saw your e-mail that your post was live. Very cool seeing the sights and sounds of your trip so far. Can’t wait until it’s my turn on Monday!
@johngarcia John, you getting married? Congratulations!!! ;^D
Love all the pics, especially the “slippers” one. Avignon has so much history that 2 days there would not be enough to capture the essence of the city.
Wishing you both the best of travels and good eats!
Can’t imagine how that sticker got there either… someone tried to frame you I bet. Remember years ago at Fisherman’s Wharf buying and placing on the bumper of a SFPD car a ‘Don’t like my driving dial 1-800-EAT- “Kookai” bumper sticker. Often wondered how long it took them to find it…
@dbjack Uh, what sticker…? 🙂
@Cat 🙂 my sentiments exactly
Cat, enjoy your trip! Enjoy red wine in Paris, along with your meal. And of course, check out the Eiffel Tower. If you have a chance, check out their high speed train. I’m also on the road, just got through with the Space Needle and monorail in Seattle. Next stop, the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Vegas!
This makes me long for France again. The places look so familiar. However, I do not miss the cobblestone. As lovely as it was, it made my feet long for asphalt at the end of the day. I don’t know how my friends walked around in sandals all day. Have a good trip!
@Sushi Your comment reminds me of how it was when I was deployed to the sandbox–I guess in an effort to keep the sand from blowing away, and to make it so vehicles could get around, the military would place crushed gravel all over the place in the camps. Like the cobblestones, it made walking uneven and somewhat difficult. It really made things worse for those who were hobbling around on crutches or soft casts.
Cat, I’m loving your pics of Avignon. Have a wonderful time!
I love Avignon! Hell, I love France. I’m so glad you’re having a good time! Just a side note, Germany has condom machines, too. They dispense just the condom, or you can buy an “action box” with 2 condoms + a mini tube of lubricant. Don’t ask me how I know this.
Fantastic fotos. I’m so jealous. France is so much fun. I wanna go back. Love the fuud pics. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
CAT,
Aaaiiiyyyaaahhh! Fuud Pix! Tenks! The memories were stirred! Teriyaki chicken??? The Plateau de Frommage did not have any fruite?? I see that you are back to the toilette stuff…LOL! The TVG is the fast train that goes 200 KM+??? I do recall riding it to Lyon…in a past life.
@Annoddah_Dave You know, I can’t say for sure it was teriyaki chicken — but it sure did taste like it!
I have never been to Europe at all but looking at all your pictures especially the train ride and and the sights/scenery makes me want to plan a trip there sometime soon…although looking at all that food makes me think what will i eat there? I would have to really pack crackers in my suitcase! LOL!
Great pics and sure glad you’re doing a lot of walking. So that’s where that sticker ended up. I gave it to one of my cousins when we had our reunion in Berlin.
Great pics and glad to see that you’re doing a lot of walking. So that’s where that sticker ended up. I gave it to one of my cousins when we had the reunion in Berlin. Who would’ve known.
Honestly, I wish I could stay in France longer. We’re leaving tomorrow (Tuesday) and heading to London for about four days. You could literally tour around France for weeks — maybe even a lifetime!