TravelTalk - The More Places I See... France, April 2013.

This past week, I had a little vacation and went to Montpellier and Paris.

After visiting Paris, I get questions like:

Did you see the Eiffel Tower?

Did you walk along the L'Arc De Triomphe?

Did you see the Mona Lisa?

Did you go to the Louvre?

The answer is No. No. No. No.

This is my 10th time to Paris, maybe 11.  Funny thing is I more I travel, I am starting to realize certain things about the way I travel and what is important to me.  

So... what did I do in Paris?  Everytime I go to Paris, I want to do something different.  This time was really cold, which was surprising because 2 years ago, I went to Paris during this same time frame and the weather was perfect - in fact - I went hiking with Marc, pitched camp by the lake and had an awesome time.

In Montpellier, it was great to be with people I've known for sometime... Alex and Donalie...

Seeing familiar faces (Donalie's friends who visited Ferrol) was great along with new friends as well!

Here are some pics from the trip...  Some modified and taken with my Nokia 820.

Sete

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

TravelTalk - Paris 2012.

I can't believe how fast time flies by.  I was just seriously packing and going crazy ensuring I cleaned everything, packed everything and made sure everything was ready for the trip.  Not only have I arrived in Paris, but its almost time to go (at the time of this writing - tomorrow morning!!)

So... when people associate Paris, they ask me a lot of things, did I see the Louvre? Champs-Élysées? Eiffel Tower? and the weird thing the answer is - no, no and no.  To be honest, I spent little to no time in "Paris" for the exception of driving through it...

Yes, I have seen those places, but this isn't my second or third time here, I think its my 6-7th time in Paris and this particular trip was to hang out with a friend and catch up on school work and relax while enjoying Paris - specifically Vincennes, Paris - which is where I have been staying for the last couple of times.

This particular trip was a combination of sight seeing, hanging out with locals, barely understanding (rarely talking) in French, everytime I come to France, I seem to speak less and less French.  I probably just need to live here for a year and become a master of this language (but that's probably another trip).

Alright, so this trip, I visited Versailles for the first time and it was so beautiful.  Its just one of those things where you have to see for yourself the sheer magnitude, pristine surroundings and the various statues and castle is just breathtaking.  Actually, Marc made me close my eyes and I walked half a block with a my eyes clothes (which is quite scary) and even up some stairs. wow. so beautiful.

Another day, I spent it with locals (well Marc's maman, brother) in Maisons-Laffitte.  What was I doing in Maisons-Laffitte?  Well, it was the annual yard sale!  Locals in the city sell their things in the city center - highly organized (of course), with everyone choosing to participate having a certain section, which expanded 5 square blocks of the city center.  It was really cool.  I mean, seriously - who else gets to participate in selling things hanging out with French peeps away from Paris and just conversing.  Funny story - there was a lady who was interested in a sponge - she asked (in French), is the sponge "new"?  I told her that the item was 4 euros. HAHAHAH.

I also ran here in Vincennes, its actually one of my favorite places to run.  There are many lakes, beautiful green scenery, right next to a castle.  In the morning, I would run and then go straight to the boulangerie to buy croissants, eat breakfast and shower! I mean seriously, its a great place to be.

Of course partying! Yes, I drank one night (way too much wine), smoked too much cigs (that night - I haven't had any since)...

Oh food. lol yes the food here is just funtabolous. 

Marc's maman is so sweet.  She even bought me escargot and champagne (and crepes for dinner!)

   Well, you're probably waiting for pictures, so here they are...

From here, I am heading to Porto in the morning an pretty much spending the whole day traveling.  I mean the WHOLE day, flying and then the bus to A Coruña then to Ferrol.  Long day tomorrow, just relax and packing today!  That and more croissants.  Seriously - I've had about 20 while I'm here... =]

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

en paris... (part deux)

yup, i'm on the bridge again.

well 5 years later sans eddie.

here is the old picture: http://hawaiiinsomniac.blogspot.com/2011/01/eddie-et-moi-en-paris.html

oh my how times have changed, but the beautiful city of paris hasn't changed (too much)

well, now i speak a little bit of french.  i've been fortunate to be back to france and my experience of france has changed a lot, no longer staying in downtown paris, i've gotten to known a lot of chateau de vincennes very well, quite familiar with the RER, metro and the area, the lake, and such.

this particular day was awesome, marc and i were hanging out and it was my first time on a bike (in paris) it was great, riding through the streets of paris, with the wind going through my hair, with slight nervousness (well sorta a lot of nervousness) since i don't really ride my bike on a busy street.

ha... well many more posts will be coming with new pictures (of food of course!)

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Paris, This hoe is tired (not Paris, me!)

PARIS

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THIS HOE IS TIRED
Yes! I am exhausted! I've been running, cooking my own meals for breakfast and dinner, cleaning, fund raising, and trying to do more fund raising. I will be selling Jamba Juice coupons soon as well as getting my eBay store organized so that all proceeds from the items sold this month will go directly to Leukemia and Lymphoma.

Yawn. I need to hydrate.

Don't forget to donate!

Monday


Tuesday
I went up Koko Head. My thighs are small kine sore!

Wednesday


Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.