The hardest business trip to come home from...

I'm still on West Coast time. My body still thinks it is in San Franciscio. I just got back from nine days in the most gorgeous weather I've ever experienced in California. I was there 5 days for a conference, and an extra 4 for a wee bit of rest and relaxation. Jesse flew out to join me on at the tail end of the business of portion.

My green backpack was able to join me for my second foray to the West Coast this year. In July I had a difficult time leaving San Diego, but this was worse. I stayed in the middle of the top ranked walking city in the US. I purchased my weeklong Muni pass on the second day I was there, and I was off riding the Muni underground, the F line streetcar, the cable cars, and the Muni buses. I walked the Embarcadero, up and down the steep hills of Hyde, Mason, and California streets; and paths of Golden Gate Park. I shopped at Zara (first time ever, and loved it!), and had my Jamba Juice. Jesse and I met my cousin for fondue at the Matterhorn, and had fantastic drinks in pineapples at the Tonga Room. We visited Alcatraz, City Lights bookstore, Muir Woods, and Sausalito. I couldn't believe how much of the city's geography I retained. From remembering the location of AT&T Park to Safeway in the Marina district that I bought groceries at seven years earlier, it was an eerie sense deja vu minus my Dad.

My flights worked out well. For years, I shied away from JetBlue in favor of miles and better times on American. I'm coming back to JetBlue on a regular basis. I few them to Seattle three years ago, and it was a good value. This trip was fantastic. I loved the tvs. I watched Samantha Brown and some What Not to Wear on TLC, and I was set. I also loved the free Doritos Munchies.

Oh, it was hard to leave the rainless, perfect temperature weather. And the clean Muni. And the Swedish pancakes at Sears. And of course Zara. A trip back will certainly be sooner than seven years...

Aller-Retour and Rochester

Just got in from a quick work trip to Rochester, NY. Home of Kodak, Xerox, and the Red Wings AAA team. I visited the Strong National Museum of Play. Seriously, it was all about play. There was a section all on Sesame Street, the International Toy Hall of Fame, and a Butterfly Garden with 38 varieties from around the world. And I went to my dinner and meeting.

Flying there was interesting. I carried on--first time ever since I always overpack. And sat next to the same person out and back. Random. The best part was I was at home in Brookline a half hour after landing at Logan.

Didn't bring my backpack...I needed a briefcase for my meeting. Probably the fastest flying trip I've ever taken. Fly in yesterday, leave today. Getting set for Indy in a few weeks....

Ahh..Paris. Even if it's in a maggie.

Gargoyles. Argh. I bought National Geographic Traveler tonight as an escape from the dreary Winter. I saw the feature on Paris on the cover, and I was eager to read all of tips on lodging, museums, and most importantly, the food. As I flipped the pages, there was an image taken from the top of Notre Dame cathedral with the gargoyles in the foreground, overlooking the Seine. It was the same image I saw just over a month ago. As I squinted at the picture, I could see the rugby/soccer shop where Jesse bought his jersey. The bright yellow canopy brightly set the shop apart from the river walls. I closed my eyes, and I was there, the cold, brisk wind blowing in my face, the gleaming mid-Winter sun drenching the observation desk.

Even as a I sat on the green line train engrossed in the article, reading each listing to see if I had visited it last month, I felt as if I was in Paris, just taking the Metro line 4 back to Boulevard du Raspail. So ready to reutrn...

first trip with another backpack....

I just got back from Paris. It was my first trip without my green backpack in 13 years. My purple one filled in just fine, providing appropriate storage for my carry-on junk (I'm a heavy packer!), my laptop, and other trinkets I carried to and from Paris.

Paris was fantastic. It was chilly, but not cold (around 45-50 degrees), and without the crowds of even shoulder season (Fall, when I was there last). January is the best time to come to Paris. The government mandated sales mean slashed priced at almost every store, from the high end boutiques to "les grands magasins"/department stores, to even smaller local specialty shops. The lines at attractions, if there were any, moved quickly.

I was very relieved that my French held up well in the city. Since we stayed in Montparnasse, an area in the 14th on the left bank, removed from many tourist areas, it gave me the chance to speak in French, not only for convenience, but for functioning. Three times I was complimented on my French, and the look of surprise on the peoples' faces was priceless when I said American.

The next trip I take to Paris, I hope to delve deeper into the less "touristy" spots of the city, since I've now covered all the "must sees" twice. Going back as an adult allowed me to explore all of the places that I missed during my last visit 10 years ago, when I was a naive 19/20 year old backpacker.

When I arrived at home, my green LL Bean backpack was waiting for me. It had been repaired in Maine, and sent back to me. New zippers, new zipper tabs. Same old backpack. It's been to Paris once, maybe its next trip will be somewhere new.

when will i see you again?

I took my beloved green backpack to the LLBean store in Mansfield this afternoon to be repaired. It didn't go to the mothership in Freeport, Maine since I was told over the phone that I could go to a retail store, and they would send it to Freeport to be repaired. I turned down the free bag, and I cited my call to the Call Center this morning regarding the repair.
It was really hard handing over my bag. I may not again see the scruffy backpack that has accompanied me to every foreign country I've visited. It was hard to part with the Qantas luggage tags from my flight to Sydney, or the valet tags from the Fairmont Chicago. Just this morning I pulled out a 10 year old ticket for the Rennes Star bus from my term abroad.
I filled out the makeshift information form, and I'm curiously awaiting confirmation that it will be repaired in Maine. Fingers crossed. T-minus 13 days to France.

Return to France

I'm heading back to the land of crepes and nutella for breakfast! the land of moules-frites, steak-frites, and just frites. It's my return to Paris, to Rennes, and Mont St. Michel, my most favorite spot in France. I'm leaving on a jet plane in January...not the most ideal time for frolicking on the banks of the Seine, but still it's away from North America, and away from home. A few days away from the madness of everyday life as an archivist.
I'm most looking forward to returning to Paris, and seeing everything that I missed the last time. I'm a step above being a naive backpacker, and definitely a few flights from the Ritz. I'm making lots of lists, of all the things I want to squeeze in...how can I resist being a master planner?
The Eiffel Tower at night, Sacre-Coeur, a return visit to the Musee d'Orsay. All on the list. Et bien sur, a return visit to Rennes.
Just have to get the backpack fixed...need an emergency trip to Freeport
Too much to think about....ahh....

Song Association

Waterloo Sunset (David Bowie cover): the song that inspired going to London 2003
Tubthumping (Chumbawanba): overplayed in France 1997
Hollaback Girl (Gwen Stefani): blaring everywhere in Australia in 2005, especially in the surf clothing store at the Cairns airport
Samba de Janeiro (Bellini): Anthem blaring throughout Rennes during Nouveau Boujolais 1997
Put Your Hands Up for Detroit (Fedde Le Grand): In all the Reykjavik clubs 2007
Big Sur (The Thrills): first song heard on the radio in Ireland 2003
I Want You Back (Jackson 5): Song I got caught singing along to on the train from Brussels to Amsterdam 1997
Ray of Light (Madonna): Anthem hear everywhere in Israel 1998
Enter Sandman (Metallica): Glod hits the wall when the guys she was moshing with backed away at Boo Radley's, Galway, Ireland, 2003
Young Folks (Peter Bjorn and John): on all the radios in Iceland 2007
Bitch (Meridith Brooks): Song I fled when going to France, only to discover our boarder loved it, and blasted it in his free time 1997
Hang Me Up to Dry (Cold War Kids): On the way back from Maine 2007
Sunchyme (Dario G): In all the clubs in Rennes 1997
Just the Girl (Click 5): In the stores shopping in Seattle 2005
The Cup of Life (Ricky Martin): on both nights at the Underground, Tel Aviv, 1998
Run (Snow Patrol): First time heard on US radio in the car on way home from Burlington, VT, 2004
Hey Ma (Cam'Ron): On the radio at least once every trip on the MassPike to CT in 2003-2004
California Love (2Pac): In my head the whole time in San Fran. 2001
Long Time Coming (Delays): In my head as I boarded the plane in Boston to LA on my way to Australia 2005
Universally Speaking (Red Hot Chili Peppers): In my head as I landed in LA 2003
Anything SpiceGirls: the insanity that they were in Europe 1997