Wind in the sails

So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~ Mark Twain

at the moment, I am feeling like quite the world traveler, although I still have yet to go anywhere of great merit.  Don't get me wrong, coming to Barcelona to study so far has been more than what I imagined, but everything was planned for me, all the details taken care of, which was a great thing for me, being not so detailed-oriented.  But when I bought the plane tickets for my first real viaje while being abroad, I felt like I could conquer the world.  Yes, i know this seems a bit dramatic, i mean all i did was pick a day, time and airport from which to leave and to return, but once I clicked the button to purchase the tickets, there was no turning back.  Now I have to figure out my own details.  I have to do the planning, and i'm not going to lie, that kind of scares me.  Now most of you know that I tend to be a little bit disorganized, and at times more than a little bit, and to be able to figure out all the details for these trips that we're planning, i'm going to need to be on my A-game.  

So, for this first excursion, the wind is blowing me in the direction of France...Paris, to be exact.  I will be spending three nights and four days in Paris with Jes and her friend Francesca for Jes' birthday.  They will take the train down from Maastricht and I will fly in from BCN, all three of us foreigners making our entrance into Paris at 10 am on Friday the 25th of February.  The plan is to meet at the Eiffel Tower (cliché I know, but hey, when in Paris...) and from there go exploring through the city.  I'm hoping since my French is a liiiiittle bit rusty (I know the alphabet, how to count to three and say fish...thanks to the little mermaid) that I can count on my trusty pal to translate for me.  We will be staying at Plug-inn Hostel, upon the recommendation of Francesca, since she has stayed there before.  

Although its still three weeks away, even the idea of going on this trip is making me nervous, I feel like a little kid on their first day of kindergarten: pretty excited, and glad to be going, but ready to pee my pants or burst into tears at the hint of any obstacle I might encounter (hopefully none of which will happen...however if it did, i'd have another story to add to the collection...and let's be real, its hard to not be entertained by the unfortunate, humiliating mishaps of a novice traveler such as myself).  

But alas, it is time for me to say buenas noches and get some sleep before my final tomorrow.  Hope all is going well for everyone, and that i haven't been boring you too much.  Feel free to leave suggestions at the bottom of the page. Besos. ~Keri