Thursday, September 26, 2013

Stepping Out of the Box (or the Hotel)

My husband is pretty much a professional traveler.  He travels nationally and internationally for work and had done a considerable amount of traveling even before I met him.

Me?  Not so much.  In fact, the first time I ever got on an airplane was for our honeymoon.  It would be very safe to say that I am not a travel expert.  Although we have taken a few trips during our almost fifteen years of marriage, he is still the one who makes all the flight and hotel reservations.  When we arrive at our destination, he serves as primary navigator, too.

So, last year, when he suggested I travel with him to Paris, I was hesitant.  You see, he had to go there for a business trip and that trip was coincidentally going to coincide with our fourteenth wedding anniversary.  Perfect, right??  Well, I hesitated because A) I had never been out of the US and didn't even have passport at the time, B) It was going to occur in mid-December, one of the busiest times of the year, and C) the logistics of leaving three kids behind for an out of country trip was a tad overwhelming.  However, many friends and family quickly convinced me that it was an opportunity I had to seize.  So, I did.


It was glorious!  Paris was wonderful, beautiful, and rich with culture and history.  We visited the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and walked down the Champs Elysees which was decorated for Christmas.  We also visited the Louvre, Invalides, and had some of the most decadent crepes you can imagine.  He led and I happily followed.


The last day of our trip, however, my fearless leader was going to be otherwise occupied.  He did go for business after all, and, that day, he had a meeting to attend that would last several hours.  Before we arrived in Paris, I knew that was the schedule and I has resigned myself to spending the day alone in the hotel room and, perhaps, walking to a nearby cafe or something.  After being there for a few days, though, I was no longer content with that plan.  There was just too much to see and do.  I could not waste away my last day in a hotel room.

David gave me a a little coaching and I downloaded a very helpful Metro app onto my phone.  That morning, he got up bright and early and headed out.  About an hour later, I, too, stepped out of that hotel onto the streets of Paris alone.  To some, it probably doesn't seem like a very big deal.  For me, it was one of the bravest things I have ever done.

I walked a couple blocks to a Starbucks for breakfast and a cup of coffee.  Then, I made my way to the metro station, phone in hand, and headed to the Orsay.  I perused the museum for a couple hours.  The original plan was for David to come meet me there after his meeting, but it became apparent that his meeting was lasting longer than expected.  So, once again, I ventured out beyond my previously planned solo excursion.  I headed across the river, through the Jardin de Tuileries, and made my way to a shopping center that is under the Louvre.  I got a bite to eat and shopped for souvenirs for our girls.

Soon enough, David called me.  "Where are you?" he asked.  "I am the Louvre!" I told him.  He was surprised that I had attempted to go beyond the originally planned route, but was proud that I had been brave enough to do it.

I was proud of myself, too.  Again, I know that to many people it seems like a small feat, but it was big for me.

That trip definitely gave me a bit of a travel bug, too.  I would love to go back to Paris.  There are so many other places I would like to see as well.  Hopefully, knowing that I did something so brave once before will give me the confidence to try it again whenever the opportunity arises!

Have you ever been to Paris??  What was your favorite part??  You can read the whole recap of our trip here and here.

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This post was written as part of Finish The Sentence Friday which is hosted by some wonderful blogging ladies.  Please give them a visit and check out all the other blogs that participate as well!

Stephanie at Mommy, for Real

23 comments:

Janine Huldie said...

Lisa, I have a confessions, I too had never been on a plane before Kevin and I went on our honeymoon. So, I think I would have been totally nervous, too going to Paris at such a busy travel time of the year. But does truly sound like a wonderful trip and go you sight seeing on your own. I am truly impressed ad yes you are so very brave for this! Thank you as always for linking up with us :)

Stephanie Sprenger said...

Yay for you! Paris is amazing, but a very overwhelming place to be by yourself! I was with a big group, and I am not a courageous woman, so I can imagine how scary it would be to navigate alone! Good for you! And I want that crepe- BAD.

Kristi Rieger Campbell said...

Most excellent bravery! I ended up having a job that took me everywhere and so was able to see Orsay (which I actually liked more than The Louvre) and a lot of other amazing places. I was guided by co-workers. They were local. In the UK, Sweden, Greece, France, I always had local co-workers to guide me...
So yes. I think you were very very brave. And I still want to go back to Paris!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Janine! Good to know I'm not the only travel novice out there! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Paris is amazing and those crepes were indescribably good! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Very good point! That is the only time I have been outside the U.S. I wasn't worried about the sanitation of the food or anything, but it was certainly different. I tend to be a little picky myself and some places were hard to find something I was willing to eat. Except those crepes and McDonalds! (Yes, we went to Paris and at at Starbucks and McDonalds multiple times!)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I preferred the Orsay too - Louvre was overwhelming. I would love to go back to Paris too!

Chris HyeThymeCafe said...

That would make me nervous too, especially if I didn't speak the language. Of course, it's a lot easier nowadays with apps and cell phones. Imagine traveling like that before cell phones! I'd be wandering aimlessly for hours until I recognized something. Although, I guess in Paris, there are some pretty big landmarks to guide you. Sounds like you had a great trip! :)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Cell phones definitely give an added layer of security - I can't imagine doing it without that!

Considerer said...

Wahey! Well done you.


I've been once on a tour - we stayed in a little hotel, got taken to a beautiful restaurant in the evening, and visited the Eiffel Tower, L'Arche De Triomphe, L'Orangerie (art gallery) and went past Notre Dame. I remember so much beautiful architecture and sculpture in that city.

Sarah @ LeftBrainBuddha said...

I LOVE Paris! I have been there many times, both for personal travel and with my students. I think what you did is totally brave {I don't let my students wander Paris alone!} But it is a huge city, a foreign language.... that's a lot to navigate. One of my favorite times in Paris (actually Versailles) was when my colleague wanted to go the the Jeu de Paume {where the Tennis Court Oath of the Revolution was signed} and got directions, and informed me we just needed to find the street "Rue" (which he pronounced Roo-ee). Clearly not knowing that meant "street." We wandered Versailles, and did eventually find Roo-ee street! My favorite places in Paris are the Orsay and the Invalides. and the Marmottan. and Sacre Couer. and the Pompidou Center. and the Opera House. and the Pantheon..... I'm glad you had such a great time and were so brave!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

It is very beautiful. We went into Notre Dame and I was really overwhelmed by the beauty and the history of it. Same at Invalides which is Napoleon's tomb. Here in the U.S. we tend to think about our own history, but those places were built waaaayyyyyy before settelrs made it here! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

We only had about 4 and half days when we were there so we didn't see everything. We ran out of time to go to Sacre Couer and Versailles. I want to go back again and see everything we missed. My favorites that we did see were Notre Dame - the history and the beauty were incredible - and the Arc de Triomphe. We were on top of the Arc around 6:00 pm and it was December so it was dark. WE stood there for the longest time watching the cars below us swirling through the roundabout and, since it was decorated for Christmas, the view looking down the Champs Elysees was lit with millions of twinkling lights. :-)

Considerer said...

I know - we got History here, too ;)


Should see Salisbury Cathedral, where the Magna Carta's kept - now THAT'S awe-inspiring!

Dana said...

I've never been to Europe, but I hope to go with my husband when the kids are in college. I think what you did was very brave - that would be a big act of bravery for me too.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Dana!! I was fortunate to get to piggyback on my hubby's business trip. It was my first time out of the U.S.~

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I would love to go back to Europe and see so many other places - London, Rome, . . . the list goes on! :-)

Ginnymarie said...

I've never been to Europe, and going out by myself would definitely intimidate me, too! But I think I would force myself to do it just like you did. Some day I'm going to Paris...it sounds like so much fun!

The Dose of Reality said...

I think first time international travel in December and figuring out what to do with your children is very brave! I'm so glad that you took the plunge and did it. It sounds like it was an absolutely fantastic experience! I am so proud that you had the guts to forge out on your own that day. That is BIG!! You can do anything! :)
I've never been to Paris, but I'd love, love, love to go! --Lisa

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

It is wonderful!! Now, I want to go to so many more places, too!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I lucky to have great in-laws who are also my neighbors. They are able to swoop in and take over the parenting duties for a few days pretty seamlessly. Paris is amazing so, if you ever do get the chance, you should absolutely go!

Michelle Nahom said...

Very cool!!! I am chicken when in a new place too, especially one out of the country! Definitely a brave thing to do!

Elizabeth Towns said...

I love it! Sometimes we do have to step outside of our box to find out what we are capable of and see a new place that God wants to show us. I mean that both literally and figuratively. I dream of going to Paris, and you’ve already accomplished it! Wonderful

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