Boom. And it is already mid January.  I’m finally back to Paris and starting to panic about what I’m doing with the next month of my life.

I have so much to catch up n.  Updating here on the last 3 weeks of travel and all the crazy stories and shenanigans, finishing client projects and other preparations for 2014 etc etc.,

For now, I’ll start with today.

Woke up late and knew I needed to bounce out the door to make the most of the sunlight.  We took the metro to the Sacre Couer and walked around Montmartre.  I’m finally getting a hang of the area up there and all the curvy streets. Such a labarinth!  At a mixte assiette and “Au Reve” then hopped on the metro to opera and galleries lafayette where we explored all the options of things we could not afford. haha..  Finally another metro ride to Hotel de Ville and a walk over the Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter.  Any day spent wandering Paris is a great day.

Yesterday we slept in and woke up at 2pm.  I cant remember the last time I slept that hard and it felt oh sooo amazing.    I quickly popped up and ran over to the best boulangarie for some pain a chocolate.  After showers and organization we set out.  First up was Pont des Arts and La Louvre.  We wandered around Rue St. Honor and Rivoli and headed up the Champs Elysee to the Arc.  We walked the rest of the way to Anne-sophes where I collected the rest of my stuff.  After we came back and cleaned up for a little fun out.  We walked over to the highlander and had a few drinks and made friends with the bartender.  We then ended up at Mabillion where we ended up hanging out at until almost 5am.  The bar tender Jimmy and the staff there were so fun and friendly and we chatted the night away.  Finally a nice french man.  I was beginning to think there weren’t any in this city.  He lived in NYC for 9 years.

anway..  I think I might be able to squeeze out two weeks on what I currently have in my bank account.  We shall see how it goes.  It means I will arrive broke and penniless back in the states.  I’m planning on hitting every social event possible this week to make more contacts if possible and following up with drinks and such with other friends here.  Time to pound the pavement Sarah.. make your dream a reality!

Tomorrow is another day of walking and seeing the sites before Angie leaves.  Then a meetup tomorrow evening. Cheers darlings!

Don’t believe anyone when the say “we’ll just grab a quick beer”. That is the sure sign you’ll be out until the wee hours of the night and wasted through half of the following day.

Last day in Edinburgh. It ended perfectly with an epic sunset over the city. We captured it from Calton Hill. Magical.

Yesterday we hiked the highlands. There are not enough words in my being to describe the beauty and feeling my soul felt to be see and breath in these places.  I have fallen in love with Scotland.

I will never forget the moment I saw snow falling as the sunset on the highlands.  Enchanted. Unearthly. Magical.     This is why the Scots can embrace such things as Unicorns.          This is the place of dreams and whimsy.

Royal mile shopping, whiskey shops, overpriced cashmere. It’s Thursday in Edinburgh and the day is clear and crisp. We bundled up extra and decided to check out all the cute local shops. After thoroughly exhausting our bank accounts we found the Jolly Judge in Close near the royal mile and just around the corner from our hostel for some beers and then Fiddlers Arm pub in Grassmarket and snuggled in for some beer, cider and deep fried Scottish appetizers. Haggis, and other oddities were as expected. We are traveling with two others and they have been great fun. We grabbed some snacks and headed back to the hostel for some drunken cards against humanity. At about 1am we ran out in our pjs for a “quick shot” from the pub next door only to find out it was closed.. Before we knew it we had walked 4 blocks in search of an open pub and ended up in a hard rock/screamo club dancing and head banging with a neon sign above our heads that said “opium fucking rocks”. After we had our fill we stumbled back our our hostel were we played pool until 5am.

I guess I was really upset (drunk) that I didn’t kiss a Scottish boy last night.
I guess on our way back to the hotel Angie starting yelling “she needs to kiss a Scottish guy!!”
And some guy in a kilt walked up, grabbed my face and kissed me.
But I don’t remember!!
Haha

The first step is terrifying because the future is so ambiguous. Then it becomes addicting as the adrenaline from the new experiences titillate. You hunger for more, hence the terrible sickness of wanderlust of which I wish on everyone.

Woke up late after arriving in Paris at too late of a time to take the Metro.  A taxi from Orly cost me 40 euros.   Annso had the day off of work and I asked her if I could treat her to lunch at Laduree for Christmas.  She leaves tomorrow morning to head to Britanni and I will be staying in her place while she is gone and until I leave for Ireland.   We had a Prix Fixe  meal – I had foie gras that had a blood orange sauce on the side as well as half a chocolate macaron and orange bread. The second course was a cronut filled with mushroom pate then they spooned a sauted chicken mushroom type of marsala over the top of it.  I also had The Cherie –  everything was amazing.  Together between the two of us our bill was 110 euros..  and oh so worth it.  The rest of the evening was quite chill.  TV, catching up on emails and facebook.

Now its Christmas eve in Paris.  I spent the morning with a bubble bath and an espresso.    I managed to go grocery shopping as well and picked up a few gifts for the people I will be seeing tonight and tomorrow.  The weather is quite stormy and miserable, so my original plan to go to La Defense was abandoned.    I’m all packed now for an evening at Bretsy’s.  I will attempt to take the Metro with all of my goodies.

I received an email last night from Juan with the cheesiest most hilarious and sweet gesture.  It makes me giggle and when I showed it to Annso she said “you find the weirdest guys, Sarah Dawson.”

I guess I do and..  well, I like weird. ;)

Finally a moment to write.  It’s Sunday evening and I’m waiting for my flight to Paris.  Two weeks have flown by and I can now say that I have “experienced” Spain.  Today consisted of sleeping in, packing, lunch by myself at Bar Europa. A copa tinto vino with some jamon Croquettas as well as a pork loin sandwich that was delicious.

Yesterday – waking up hungover.  I’d only slept at best at hour or two.  The night before  was…… so great.  Sometimes I do things for the experience of know what it is like. And, so far, it was easier than I thought and better than I could have hoped. -Random bars with Janna’s school friends..  pizza, kebabs, mas y mas cerveca, mas tequila, just mas. Haha..  So we were all feeling it pretty bad Saturday.  The whole lot had lunch together then we split ways.  Half of us were still around for one more night so we made plans for a more traditional evening.  We met at the “bridge bar” and then walked to a traditional restaurant for dinner. I had Jamon – just jamon because that is what you do.  We had heard of a place that has Flamenquita – like folk dancing – at a place in the Triana.  It was AMAZING.  Spanish guitar and singing, woman dancing these orchestrated line dances together.  I was able to catch on a little bit by the end.  So beautiful.  A lot of hand movements and the general attitude of the place was so jovial.  It was the perfect end to my trip in Spain.  I feel like I have gotten the real/genuine idea of who what how etc that is the Spanish culture.  And I love it.  — ooop! the flight is leaving.  I’ll write more later. ::mwah::

Oh comedy.

I just found myself in the middle of the most entertaining of situations.

After a couple hours of exploring Seville I happened upon a bar that looked calm, traditional (non touristy) and inviting. It’s 4pm and my stomache is hungry. I had chosen it after passing many many bars that were packed and buzzing with the sound of triumph and celebration that is was Friday and the holiday week is here. I exchanged a few words with the gal behind the counter then picked the side of the bar that was cozier lending to my comfort level since I am solo.

Literally the same moment I sit down 15 Spanish men, work colleagues, walk through the door immediately filling my preselected cozy nook with their Spanish chatter. Before I know it, a particularly homely, balding, overweight man with glasses asks to share my table since they are so many. I smile and say if
“Of course, but I do not speak Spanish, so sorry.” He is kind and does his best to speak English with me which only matches my ability in Spanish – very very limited. We at best exchange friendly smiles.

It’s hard to describe the immediate intensity that these men are able to exude with their mere presence. I cannot help but be overwhelmed. They are trying to speak to me but I can only say, “lo siento, no habla espanol”.

Before I even realize it they have told me what I should order, have given me a glass of red wine and are quite literally feeding me jamon freshly carved from the leg of the calf that sits in the counter.

I’m laughing. Mostly because I don’t know what else to do. And of course, because it is hilarious.

They invite me to come along as they head off to the next bar. With a smile I decline and say “Mucho gusto”.

As quickly as they arrived, it is quiet again in my little nook. The girl behind the counter gives me a raised eye brow as if to say ” well that was something, no?” I laugh shake my head and then say, “Si, yo puede tiener cafe con leche Por favor”.

I took my lunch to my terraza to enjoy the 66 degree weather, some sunshine and the view of the rooftops and church spires. I find my neighbor is on his roof casually practicing his Spanish guitar had the same idea in mind. The soft melody is almost a whisper thus completing this sensory experience. Hello Monday.