Finally have my Eurail Pass and I'm off to Copenhagen.

Well it's definitely been a stressful 10 days in France already. The money that I thought I would receive almost a week ago has just arrived... And just in time so I am rather thankful since that takes less energy than getting mad.

So I went to the train station and purchased my Eurail and I finally decided on the ticket that gives me 15 days of travel in two months. One day is going to be used for travel to Copenhagen tomorrow in FIRST CLASS!!! I don't think I've ever travelled in those conditions but it should be fun anyway. I probably spent a little too much money since I wasn't able to purchase it ahead of my arrival here in Europe. However, just as my brother told me there is a silver lining in being older because I will most likely be travelling in first class the whole time for about the same reservations prices... I guess that makes it worth it.

The other day we made a fabulous salad so I decided to take a couple of pictures, if you like colorful salads then I'm sure that you will be impressed;)

On Tuesday night a friend of Fred's invited us for a little soirée chez elle because she had just purchased an amazing little apartment and it was like a pre-houswarming party with her closest friends. Since I am a friend of Fred's I am also a friend of her's. So at Isabelle's new aparment I saw some really cool things for a small urban apartment such as a BedUp. This cool contraption is a bed which you pull from the ceiling so it gives a little studio the feeling of two rooms. I asked if it worked for "all" sleeping arrangements... Because that is very important, no? The architect would redid the place said that he had given it a go with his girlfriend before selling the place and it amazingly durable! Good to know no doubt. Take a look at the following pictures and you will see the bed attached to the ceiling, incroyable!!!

Paris, sans d'argent

So I find myself in Paris waiting for my money to be transferred. I thought that I had done everything right this time but as always there is a bump in the road. It often helps because it gives me time to think about things and what's really important. Yesterday I arrived back in Paris with about 2€50 in my pocket. Just enough to take the metro from Gare de Lyon to Gare St. Lazare to Fred's apartment. It made me a little depressed because what would I have done if I were in Copenhagen right now? Would I be on the streets for a couple of days? Probably not because as the French say "Je me debrouille"...I'll manage. However it gives insight into my adventure this summer. I will have to manage with what I have and that's not going to be much with the exchange rates the way they are and the dollar falling a little each day waiting for the Fed to make a move with the exchange rates. It's believed that the rates are going to rise this summer which will be good for me but not much of an aggregate effect. So I have to think about being as vigilant as I can with the money I have which means even a coffee is going to be a luxury this summer. But I think it's good for me, gives me a scoop of humble pie and will force me to look to perhaps spend a little more time in the park reading, talking and meeting people, or walking around the city.

It's going to be a beautiful day in Paris so I think I am going to try and do some walking through the city and perhaps take some pictures for the blog. I love the cityscape here and in Lyon and I imagine that Copenhagen will not dissappoint later this week. Even with the beauty of the city I am thinking about someone back home and how great it would be if she were here. It's not in the cards for this trip but maybe Southeast Asia could be in the future?

I am thinking about a blog that discusses the foods that I eat and cook this summer. Something that documents the food and how to cook on the road while couchsurfing. Getting outside of my comfort zone could really lead me to develop some new dishes and flavors just from necessity. I definitely have the free time so I think I am going to give it a try. I'll post the link when it's up and running.

Back in Lyon

After a little trouble I have found my way back to Lyon for the past weekend. Upon arriving I went to meet Arno at a little street terrace near Montplaisir. It's a place not too far from my old apartment. There was an old friend from school named Laurence there. She's pretty cool and also another girl named Maud. After having a drink we went to a little restaurant and ate some dinner. I hadn't eaten in about 8 hours so I was starved! I had some mussels with a Roquefort sauce that was awesome and I lapped up the sauce with some bread because I was so hungry. We had a cocktail and the three bottles of wine in "pichets" because it's cheaper. It was a lot of fun and we jumped from English to French all night.

One of the best ideas the city ever had was to install bikes all around the city that don't cost a lot of money and you can use them whenever and just have to find a place to drop them off. So we took a bike ride around Lyon for about an hour and a half after eating. Great way to get the digestive system working I think.

Today was the first night that I really slept well. I didn't wake up until almost noon! That was late but I think it was the lack of good sleep and the jetlag working itself out. I got up and had a little tea and some biscuits and the headed to meet Vanessa. I met Vanessa at UNCC when she was studying there and she's from Lyon. We had some coffee and talked about Copenhagen where she's lived for about a year and a half with her ex-boyfriend. She was headed to the countryside with her parents so I headed back to Arno's place. I took a nap because I was tired... I think it was because I hadn't eaten much all week. So Arno went and got some groceries and we (I) made some Mexican because it's his favorite and he loves my cooking.

It is the weekend of the music festival so we went out to the see the city. It's alive and well and there were little bands set up everywhere along the streets. Some big and organized, others were inpromptu and real. It was quite a site because there were more people out in Lyon than I have ever seen before. The streets were packed and people were drinking and dancing. It was very remarkable. I took some pictures of the spectacles and also of the beautiful cityscape that I miss so much. I leave for Paris tomorrow but I don't think it's going to hurt as much as last time I left. Actually I think it hurts being here without my lovelies. Love you ladies and I hope you're well.

Paris at night...

Last night after watching the Portuguese lose to the Germans in a great quarterfinal match I just didn't feel like going to bed. Fred's apartment is in the 17eme so I decided to walk to the L'Arc de Triomphe. The Boulevard de Courcelles has lots of little restaurants and an English pub so it was fun to see the nightlife as well. I took a couple of photos and videos for you to enjoy. Still getting to know my camera so some of the photos aren't as good as they could be but it's good enough for now.

Officially out of the dark with money since I have finally gotten my credit card fiasco worked out. I forgot to call and let them know I am in Europe for the summer... What a pain in the butt! So I am headed to Lyon to visit "mon ancien colloc" He's living in a small flat next to Lyon Part Dieu so it should be the perfect place to get around Lyon and do some visiting. I'd love to stop by my old schools but I don't think it's in the cards this time. But if I get in before 2:00 I am going to try.

Better get to it instead of hanging out too long posting to my blog. C'est tout pour le moment!

Problems already... But resilience and a sense of humour will help me persevere!

So I have been in Paris for two days and it's exactly like I remember with the exception being that everything is more expensive and my dollars won't go nearly as far. It's likely that I am going to lose more weight because I honestly cannot afford to eat very well. A little bread and cheese is good for the wayward traveller!

Yesterday I went to Montmarte and walked for a couple of hours through the streets and I passed Starbucks because coffee is definitely going to be a luxury that I cannot afford myself very often. No worries because it makes each taste even better than the last. Living on a shoestring is like chicken soup for the soul. It gives me a much better idea of what it would be like if I wasn't so fortunate or if my luck sours like old milk ;)

Here are a few more pictures so far in Paris @ Montmarte et Le Sacré Ceour. Haven't figured out how to do the e/o together yet... Which is the only key not on a French keyboard I think!

Here is a photo after walking all of those steps. Wow what a workout and a great view as a little treat at the end!

And one of yours truly this afternoon.

So as the title says I have already had some problems and wouldn't you know it's because of money. I should know better but I only called my banks to let them know I was travelling abroad. As a result my credit card was blocked after a couple of small purchases yesterday. This definitely through me for a loop because I wasn't able to get my tickets to and from Lyon and I have to wait until tomorrow now :(

You are probably asking why I didn't use my Visa checkcard... Well I am still waiting on the University to get my financial aid into my student account and then transferred to my bank account. Oh the bureaucrats strike again... Although for those of you who were in France it's not nearly as bad as "Le Fuck"!

So I have to spend another night in Paris, domage. I mean is that really a penalty? It's like winning a million dollars as a consolation prize, it's still amazing! So I get to see the Eiffel Tower another night and Fred's friend is going to take me to a birthday party tonight so I'll probably be sipping champagne! How can I be upset? So I am just going to go with the flow instead of resisting.

I heard today that one my Lyonaissers is going to be in Paris the 26th of June. The day I am supposed to leave for Copenhagen! So I may have to make an excuse for the Copenhagen Business School on why I had to wait until Monday to arrive. I think it'll work out... I mean really, are they going to send me home? If so I just get an extra 6 weeks in Europe and I've already completed 75% or perhaps all of my CPA so I don't think I would even care that much. To the shagrin of my accounting firm I guess, but friends are too dear to place an arrival meeting in lieu of them. I'm sure most of you agree. It'll work out, I've been through this before so I have a thicker skin and a better idea of how things work. Although that was France and this is Denmark we're talking so I might be off base. A good attitude will carry me through, not to mention a great excuse about getting on the wrong train maybe?

OK, I gotta run and get warmed up to drink champagne and speak French. Oh how difficult life can be...

Leaving on a jet plane...

Well today is the big day. It's 12:51am and I fly in less than 14 hours. I'm very excited about this new adventure. It's bringing back a lot of memories to be leaving for three months. There is excitement, happiness, and a lurking loneliness that happens when you say goodbye to friends. It rings home that you may not ever see someone again... even if you act as you will. I am not in the state to write too much more but I am going to post some pictures of friends and family to get this little sojourn started. Enjoy