Paris

The next travel adventure for Sherry and I starts on Thanksgiving.  While, most Americans are stuffing themselves with turkey and other great holiday fare, we’ll be stuffing ourselves into seats 12K and 12L on Air France flight AF083.  Destination – Paris!!!

We love vacationing in Europe in general and we travel there as often as possible (which really means as often as we can afford it). However, it seems that we frequently end up back in Paris.  As a result, we’ve gotten to know the city pretty well.  Particularly the 6th arrondissement where we like to stay.

Of course, at this point many of our friends and work colleagues know about the trip.  The reactions we get from people when they hear we’re going to Paris, especially if it’s a new acquaintance who doesn’t know our history, is usually the same.  It’s usually something like – “I would love to go to Paris one day.”

What happens next really intrigues me as they begin to daydream about the City of Lights.  They’ll talk about seeing the Eifel Tower or other famous sites.  They’ll talk about art and culture and food. They’ll longingly daydream about sipping wine at sunny cafes as the city begins to seep into every corner of their being.  And, they talk about all of this like Paris is on the moon.

For some reason this cracks me up.  I understand if you can’t afford the trip.  While it’s not as expensive as people think, it can be a little pricey.  But other excuses such as I don’t speak the language, the flight’s too long, I don’t have the time, etc., are just that – excuses!

So, is there a moral to this story.  Perhaps a little one.  Why spend time dreaming about an adventure when you can simply go have one.  If you want to go to Paris, or London or Tokyo or Bora Bora or wherever, quit dreaming about it and go.  If you do, you’ll discover the memories are much better than the dreams.

Au revoir!