London: The Game Plan & The Travel Bug

Long before I started this blog (which in reality, isn't very long at all) I knew I would have to dedicate a post (or a couple of posts) to one of my favorite city, if not my favorite city. However, I didn't know where to start. I didn't know what stories I should share and what adventures would make for the best stories, so I think I'll just start at the beginning and we'll see where the journey takes us.

Once upon a time, circa 2001, I was sitting in the front passenger seat telling my Mom the number of places I wanted to visit one day. We were heading home from Miami, driving along US 27 and we had reached the part of the day when the sun had started to set, but it wasn't blinding like it usually is on any given Florida afternoon. I remember it was overcast but I can't remember if it had rained. What I do remember is my Mom interrupting me to tell me, "Cybill, don't get married right out of college. You want to travel to all of these places and you can do that after you graduate."

That was it. It was Inception without Leonardo DiCaprio and I ran with it. I caught it, tucked it under my arm and ran it in for a 97 yard touchdown. Victory dance! Then I discovered fire... Okay, not really, but I did discover a way to begin traveling before graduating college. That game plan and the play called, studying abroad. 

Fast forward to summer 2008 and college orientation. We were given a booklet of meetings and presentations set up by faculty and students describing anything from "How to Talk to Your Professor" to "The Best Ways to Manage Your Time." My parents suggested I attend a few of those, but there was one presentation I insisted we attend, no contest. After circling the presentation summary a number of times and under what some countries might consider duress (just kidding), we were in. We were sitting in the auditorium and I knew studying abroad was going to be my gateway into Europe.

The idea of traveling, planted years ago was only a companion to the travel bug that was dormant since birth. However, that afternoon, sitting in that auditorium, it crept and crawled it's way into light and my hopes of traveling the world would become realized. Little did I know the length of my checklist...

Sincerely,

Cybill

When Paris Calls You By Name, Pt. 2

In a previous post, my nostalgia for Paris had me sharing some pictures from my short trip when I was studying abroad in London. Though my Parisian adventure was short, so many memories were made and so many pictures were taken that I still wanted to share. So, here we are, part deux!

We took the train from London to Paris and once we arrived, we hopped on a bus and we're given the grand ol' tour. There were snaps and shutters from everyone's camera, but I wanted off! I wanted to see Paris, in the flesh and with my own eyes. I have seen Paris in movies and in books, and at that moment, it was just a pane of glass keeping me from my Parisian affair.

Finally, the bus pulled over and we were set free! Some beelined it for the food cart while others snapped away upon eyeing the Eiffel Tower. Me? I took a deep breath in, so this is Paris! 

With Kristen, Colleen and Adam, jumping for joy in the fact that we're no longer on a train or bus. | February 2010

After dropping off our bags and settling in to our hotel which was located in the Bastille District, we headed off to our next adventure. The GCs (graduate counselors, similar to RAs) told us they were going to the Louvre and we were welcomed to join. Being in a new city and still unfamiliar with how to navigate the Paris metro, we welcomed the guidance and followed like little ducklings.

The Louvre, beautiful! It comes at no surprise considering the number of paintings, sculptures and artifacts that call that place home. There were many, many, many, many, many paintings, tapestries, pots, sculptures, etc... You're picking up what I'm putting down, there was a lot to see, but you can't go to the Louvre not see Her Majesty, and I'm not talking about the Queen. 

After a bit of searching, we finally found Her. We found the Mona Lisa...and so did a number of other people. She was getting so much love and attention, it almost seemed everything else was being forgotten so Colleen decided to spread the love. I mean, we were in the city of love after all. 

Mona from a distance. | February 2010

Colleen spreading the love. | February 2010

You can see what I mean with the crowd. Everyone loves Mona! Thankfully, that just meant everything else wasn't as crowded or as noisy.

Snap! Snap! Mona Lisa's many admirers and an idea of how far you really are from her. | February 2010

Louvre Museum from the inside out. | February 2010

A little blurry, but again, the Louvre, from the inside out. | February 2010

After touring the Louvre (it's HUGE by the way, and I'm sure we didn't even get to half of it) we took the party outside. The Louvre outside at night glitters like fool's gold. The way the lights bounce off the water it makes the architecture glow, and after a few moments in awe, I thought I'd just plop right down where I was standing and admire it all as if it were a fireworks show on the 4th of July!

A blurry Louvre. | February 2010

One of my favorite personal photos. | February 2010

A little tired & very dazzled. | February 2010

My friends and I then took to the Eiffel Tower and enjoyed its grandeur at night. It was just as magnificent as the Louvre and it sparkled unlike it did when we first saw it that day. With that in mind, I knew we had to return to the Louvre to enjoy it in the morning light, and so we did!

Eiffel Tower by night. | February 2010

Eiffel Tower by day. | February 2010

Eiffel Tower from under and up. | February 2010

Just in case you were wondering, the Louvre is beautiful during the day too. It's a great place for pictures of you, of your friends and of the architecture. So when you're there, definitely grab a coffee, sit back and relax. It's also a great place to people watch.

Outside the Louvre. | February 2010

Another one of my favorite personal photos of the Louvre. | February 2010

Early one evening, my friends and I grabbed our museum passes (definitely recommended) and took to to the Musée d'Orsay. Can you guess it was once a train station? A beautiful one at that, too. The Musée d'Orsay also had work from one of my favorite artists, Edgar Degas. I was a fan of his since I was little and my favorite spot on the barre in my old dance studio was always under a print of one of his many ballerinas.

The beautiful Musée d' Orsay. | February 

Musée d'Orsay. | February 2010

Little Dancer of Fourteen Years. | February 2010

No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Cathédral Notre Dame de Paris and perhaps the trek upstairs to enjoy the view. Since it's been a few years, I don't remember if my friends and I trekked to the top before enjoying the beauty of the cathedral or the other way around, but if (and maybe when) I have to do it again, I think I'll trek and then enjoy the grandeur inside, as if it were a bit of a reward. Then again, the view from the top is a reward of its own.

Cathédral Notre Dame de Paris by sunset. | February 2010

Looking up. | February 2010

Say a little prayer for me. | February 2010

Can you hear the angels sing? | February 2010

We shared a view. | February 2010

Sacre Coeur from a distance. | February 2010

Adam, Kristen, Colleen, Katie and I, enjoying the view once we made it to the top. | February 2010

Paris really was an amazing trip and there's a reason why it's a European hot spot. Of course there's the culture, the history, the architecture and the museums filled with classics, but there's also something else. Something indescribable. Something intangible. Something you need to experience on your own so you can define it for yourself. I don't say that to be selfish by keeping the magic I found in Paris all to myself, but more so in the fact that what it is, whatever it is, I can't really put to words. It's different to different people, but I definitely think it's something worth defining on your own or with those that live in your heart.

With Kristen and Colleen | February 2010

We were having so much fun taking jumping pictures, some wanted to join. Versailles Palace | February 2010

I hope y'all enjoying the picture heavy posts and I hope you feel inspired to travel to Paris or just to travel! Traveling really is an amazing thing and I think Anthony Bourdain says it nicely, "Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life -- and travel -- leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks -- on your body or on your heart -- are beautiful."

Where are you planning to travel? What's your destination and your adventure?

Sincerely,

Cybill

P.S.
To all the trick-or-treaters and those with a heart in Halloween, Happy Halloween!

When Paris Calls You By Name

During the spring semester of my sophomore year in college, I was blessed with the opportunity to study abroad with Florida State University's International Programs. I lived and studied in London and had a number of opportunities to travel around Europe, one of my favorites stops being Paris.

My first of many crepes. | February 2010

I'm not really sure what brought on the nostalgia, but I found myself with an aching heart, longing to return to Paris. Though my visit was during the winter when weather was a bit chilly and the top of the Eiffel Tower was closed due to renovations, I was still mesmerized.

The few days spent in Paris where filled with great food (Parisian do carbs like no other), historic sights and of course, great company. Though I lost touch with most of my study abroad friends, I'll always think of them when I think of Paris, and grow nostalgic for them just as I do the city. There are certain stories and memories from the short trip I think impossible to forget.

One morning, my friends Kristen, Colleen and I decided to stroll the city and forgo the scheduled trip to one of Paris' many cemeteries. The three of us agreed that a cemetery wasn't our idea of how to start your day off on a happy note. With the whole morning ahead of us and croissant sandwiches packed in our purses we set off to get lost in the city, and we did just that. We laughed as we walked through Paris' winding streets and eventually decided to set our course to the Eiffel Tower. I mean, is there really such a thing as having lunch by the Eiffel Tower too many times? While the morning was spent simply, it was definitely a morning I'll never forget, but there is one day in Paris I can call my favorite. The day we visited Versailles.

Alright, so Versailles isn't in Paris, but it is a short train ride away and definitely worth the trip, because it is gorgeous. Growing up, I've seen pictures, I've watched movies and I've read about the palace and its gardens, but being able to visit was a dream realized!

Palace of Versailles from the Garden | February 2010

With such a beautiful palace and a beautiful garden, the view from every window was dazzling. There was so much of me that couldn't take it all in fast enough or simply take in enough of it all. Can you imagine being able to live is such a beauty and calling this place home?

Garden of Eden or Versailles? | February 2010

A peak into the garden. | February 2010

Chandeliers in the famous Hall of Mirrors. | February 2010

A peak to the front gate. | February 2010

While Versailles may claim the top spot on my list of favorite spots in Paris, I mean France, Le Refuge des Fondues in Montmartre definitely deserves to be high on that list as well. You can call it an easy miss as it's tucked away in a corner of Montmartre, but it's definitely a can't miss, otherwise you'll miss out on the fun. 

With it's graffitied walls (designed and developed by guests, myself included), the tight squeeze is definitely worth the alcohol heavy meal and the forced interactions with strangers.

Colleen and Katie with their baby bottled wine at Le Refuge des Fondues. | February 2010

When I visited with a group of my friends, half of us climbed over the table in order to get to our seats. The climb was totally acceptable, especially since that's was the only way to get to get to the seats along the wall. At the same time, there is no real space between tables. I was rubbing shoulders with the gentleman sitting next to me, and though that may normally bother me, after a round of white wine served in a baby bottle, it was easy to consider them just part of the party. 

Cassie, Stephanie and I at Les Refuge des Fondues. | February 2010

That evening, my friends and I enjoyed ourselves, the wine and Paris. Our semester started not too long before and we really didn't know each other too well, but it didn't matter, that same way it didn't matter that I didn't know that gentleman sitting next me. We were all tied together with our desire to explore beyond the boarders of home and we'll always be tied together whenever we think back to Paris or the semester abroad, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Before the end of my time, I hope to make it back to Paris and Versailles. I hope for my stories and memories from times in Paris to grow exponentially. I hope to share a city I fell in love with so quickly with people I love in hopes that they may love it too. 

Paris, as the city of lights and the city of love, I hope my light of love for you never goes out. 

Sincerely, 

Cybill