You know how people tell you how certain things can over stimulate a baby’s mind? Like patterns or colors? Which depending on how you reference it, can be a good or bad thing….. in a baby’s room where he needs his sleep, perhaps not so much, but in toys, probably yes. Such is the case with MY brain right now! I’m overstimulated and cant settle down! Take a look at this picture and you’ll begin to see why….
This view is what we call “home”. It’s our “room with a view” per se, the view from our apartment we’re renting. I’ll expand on that in a bit. {grins!}
A background to this trip for you lovies…
We had planned a family vacation to see the motherland, and I said to the hubs, if we must stop for layover, why not make a mini-trip out of it and see another country? The kids now are old enough to appreciate it, not get tired, and have a good time. So we chose Paris and the rest is history.
Another note here…. I really was planning on keeping in touch whenever I could, when I had access to internet, and to really enjoy and not worry too much about writing. Well, the opposite has occurred. I couldn’t WAIT to write to you guys! Not that you’re anxiously awaiting to hear from me, but like that baby’s brain, I’m just OVER stimulated! HA! And I think you might enjoy some of this info I might share. I am by no means a Parisian expert, however, some things I’ve observed and seen and watched have been interesting, fascinating and refreshing!
So, yes, an apartment. Why? Especially being in a foreign country where I know only ONE word in the language and know very little about anything and everything there? Well, a few reasons… The first, European hotel rooms are VERY small, and they rarely have rooms to accommodate 4. We didn’t feel comfortable being in another country, not knowing the language, and our kids in another hotel room. The second is we have WAY too many suitcases to squeeze into a hotel room. Six of them to be exact, and that doesn’t count our carry ons.
Yes…. you read right… 6… and what’s going to happen with our PURCHASES??? Must we buy a 7th??? Oh MY! I’m in trouble! (Mind you we’re traveling for a long time in places with lots of different climates and no idea what’s in store, so a girl’s gotta come prepared, right?)
So off we set into the fashion capital of the world, a place where it’s filled with history beyond what so many can imagine, a place where you’re surrounded by beautiful things.
Now… do you see why I’m having insomnia?
HERE.WE.GO.
After settling in, taking a short nap to kinda help minimize the jet lag (and we were pooped!), we ventured off to our first dinner. We stayed close to our hood at a great cafe, and walking back, this is what we saw….
Quite a breathtaking site! But within 10 minutes, a guy hands my daughter and I a rose and then goes towards the hubs. Hubs puts his hands up like NO THANK YOU and I guess the guy wanted money, (duh?) and he then started CHASING US to get the flowers back…. literally CHASING me and my daughter! We hastily handed him back our flowers and took off! Holy COW!!! It FREAKED us out! He looked ready to grab us, no kidding! And the way he was mumbling and grumbling and we couldn’t understand him, he sounded like one of the scary creatures or mummies on Scooby Doo! (I am not kidding!!!) FREAKED.US.OUT. That was the FIRST night. Welcome to Paris, right?
So yet ANOTHER reason why I’m over stimulated, there is LOTS to fear here. Pickpocketers are RAMPID not to mention just other creepy stuff I’ve witnessed on the metros. So I’m part stimulated by awe and part by fear. Don’t know if it’s a good thing or not… lots are little details too much to explain, but just things that mess with your head if you know what I mean. …. like this morning I couldn’t sleep for fear of my daughter getting through the doors to let her into the metro gates but not letting me in and she’s on the other side and there is no one working the booth to fix my ticket. {shortness of breath at the thought!!!}, because we HAVE had issues with our tickets. {inhale…… exhale….}
But for the most part, it’s been MAGNIFIQUE.
I’m driving my family nuts with pictures I’m taking, but again, it’s that OVER stimulation thing that I just want to capture it all. (maybe because I’m afraid I’ll forget as I feel like I forget so many things lately??? another fear I’ll get alzheimer’s like TOMORROW?) But stay tuned for more posts on what I’m LOVING in Paris, and hopefully (keep your fingers crossed if I can pull it off taking great shots of strangers!) a post on fashion on the streets!
For now, au revoir!
Traveling 101: NEVER take something someone hands you! Especially if you’re in a touristy place like around the Eiffel Tower. That was the oldest trick in the book he played on you. Happens in every country. Also, never pick anything up from the ground as they will deliberately drops things like rings, you think someone has lost it and pick it up, and once it’s in your hand they try to get you to pay for it.
I know all those things, just caught me off guard with the awe of the scenery, but thanks for the reminder!