Thursday, May 23, 2019

It's Finally Happening


In June of 1970, I graduated from college and headed off to the mountains to be an assistant camp director for the summer before heading to Europe on a backpacking adventure.


Steve and I had been dating for a few months and he convinced me to cash in my ticket to Europe promising that we would go together.

Costa Rica 1995

We have done a lot of traveling in our 48 years of marriage and we have both been to Europe, but never together as Steve promised. 


In less than 2 weeks, that will change.


Since the moment the tickets were ordered


I have made our destination pretty obvious around the house - didn't realize I had so many books about France and Paris.


The tote bag full craft supplies was a gift from my sister


so I can journal each night 


in the apartment we have rented in the 6th arrondissement.


I haven't been to Paris since 1999 on an 8 country adventure with my sister and our daughters so I look forward to creating a new journal of my adventures with Steve, our son and his wife.


The timing was perfect when I was contacted last week by Mapiful asking if I was interested in collaborating - it was fun to design a map to be part of my journal. 


I originally used the super easy Mapiful website to design a map of Paris where we will spend the majority of our time.


We will fly to Pau in the south of France to visit friends - thus the second red dot on the map.

Via

They plan to take us to Spain for lunch one day 

via

which is why I settled on a map of France that includes the coast of Northern Spain.


We are both counting down the days until we arrive at this 17 century building that we will call home for 10 days.


In the meantime I have lots of Paris inspiration - but I welcome all ideas from you.

28 comments:

  1. YAY! I'm so happy for you and Steve. It sounds like a dream. Enjoy and I look forward to reading all about it afterwards.

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  2. Super cool! Want to do any walking tours in Paris? Our niece does them ~ she has lived there 20+ years.
    Let me know!

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  3. How incredibly exciting! I can't wait to see all the photos from your trip! Have a wonderful time!
    Shelley

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  4. I'm so happy for you two! Can't wait to see your adventures. :)

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  5. How great for you and Steve to have this trip coming up. Yeah!!!! Enjoy this new journey to Paris.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  6. This is wonderful. I can sense your excitement and you and Steve will have a wonderful time. I love the map very cool. Where are staying looks wonderful.

    Have a blast

    Cindy

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  7. How perfect Carol. I just know that you and Steve will have an amazing time and I hope you share snippets of your journal with us too.
    Enjoy the moment!

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  8. Well that just seems like a ton of fun! I know you'll have a wonderful time and I can't wait to see pictures of that very cool flat! Bon Voyage!

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  9. How very exciting, Carol! Congratulations, and safe travels!

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  10. Sounds like a perfectly wonderful thing to do! How fun you will be able to see friends and Spain too. Please take lots of photos and make memories to share.

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  11. You are so talented - that journal is fabulous! Love the idea but just haven't the skills to draw anything. So very happy you are finally doing it! Enjoy!! And do tell us about every lovely minute!!! xxx

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  12. GOOD MORING !!! Or shall I say, BONJOUR!

    Carol, I know you've already been to Paris, but this time, savor it even more with your beloved. Oh how exciting this is!!! Journal, be in the present moment and notice EVERYTHING....TOUT!

    How I wish we could go back. With retirement on the horizon and my husband's concerns about the future, I may not ever get back. Oh well. Dreams are often more vivid than the reality, so it looks like I'll be sleepwalking the rest of my life. C'est la vie!

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  13. I am so excited for both of you. This will be the trip of a lifetime, I know! I do adore your journals. You will never, ever, ever regret having taken the time to do your journals while traveling! I've done Paris several times and the most recent was in October. Please try to get to the Atelier des Lumiere in the 14th. As artists, you would love it. Google if you've not seen videos or google Marmelade Gypsy Atelier Klimt. (I saw the Klimt exhibit). It was the most magnificent experience I've ever had related to art and I've been to tons of museums and had many wonderful experiences. Tickets might be tough to get but make it a priority. The current experience is VanGogh and Japanese classic. You will be surrounded. I didn't want to leave! I know you've done Paris before but this is new since 99.

    The other thing I'd recommend if you like walking tours is to check out the link on "Peter's Paris" blog. He is part of a volunteer group that leads walks around Paris based on the subject matter the walker is interested in. I believe the walks are free. He has a link -- I think it is called Paris Greeters. greeters.paris/en I think.

    I know you are over the moon. And I'm a tad green with envy and filled with joy for you!

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  14. So happy for y’all. I enjoyed seeing all your French books and cute vignettes! Have a safe, lovely trip, and I can’t wait to read all about it upon your return home. Bon voyage, mon amie!!!

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  15. Have a safe trip and enjoy your visit. Will be looking forward to your post when you return home. Have a blessed day. Madeline

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  16. I'm so glad you get this wonderful opportunity together. Nice gift your sister gave you too!
    Brenda

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  17. How exciting. Good idea to rent a place, gives you a real feel for life in another country. I expect you will find a favourite market, a favourite cafe etc and those memories will be easy to recall when you get home. Must admit to a tiny bit of envy but very happy for you.

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  18. It's all sooo exciting. Just thinking about having a Paris Apartment for days is exciting enuf...but to have this trip with Steve and your son/dil will make it all the more special.
    I know you will have the trip of a lifetime...stay safe. xoxo

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  19. Carol, what a dream come true. And the wonderful part is that you and hubby get to share it together finally. What a sweet apartment. Wishing you glorious anticipation..Happy Sunday..Judy

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  20. Carol, thank you for your visit. I am so glad that your garden has responded to all the rain. Unfortunately, mine didn't. Don't know why but things are just growing slower than usual except the Cecil Brunner rose bush, but now the rains have beaten them down and they look so bedraggled. We have rain still this week..Happy Sunday..Judy

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  21. Wishing you the best trip!
    Paris is a wonderful city, my favourite of all,

    Hugs, Ida

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  22. This is so exciting! I can't wait to hear all about your adventures and see your beautiful photos. I don't know if you follow Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage, but she and her husband went to Paris last year and she did several blog posts which are filled with gorgeous photos and the places they went. Brian and I *might* be going in September 2020...to be determined! ;-)

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  23. Congratulations! I am so happy for you . . . Be safe and have a great adventure 😀

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  24. Oh my goodness! How exciting! Have a fantastic time!

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