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April 3, 2009 Leave a Comment

I see London, I see France…

London

Paris

…this is not about my underpants.

Last week an e-mail was sent to everyone in my office announcing a one-week furlough this quarter. My coworkers were understandably depressed, shoulders sagging at their desks, wondering how they’d get by with one less week of pay.

This is when I exclaimed, “I’m going to Europe!” and my boss almost spit out his Coke.

“Are you serious?” he asked, half laughing.

“Yep!” I said. And I was. I am.

I have always wanted to go to Europe. My brother lived in Italy for a semester in college. My friends have taken trips with their French classes and Spanish classes. Other friends have gone backpacking in Ireland and gotten drunk in London and eaten chocolate in Switzerland. And still I have never left the country.

I have always wanted to go to Europe, but I’ve never made any plans to go to Europe. Partly this was because I was poor and in debt in my early 20’s. But partly it is because I never took the initiative, never got off my ass and made plans.

When I was doing my taxes this year, I added up all the money I have paid to doctors and MRI facilities and headache clinics, and it was a big number. A very big number. I realized I could have bought the most kick-ass vacation with all that money, but I had never bothered to. Instead, I’d paid the medical bills without thought because they had to be paid. It’s like how my country will spend billions of dollars on wars because they have to, but they won’t bother to spend that much money fixing healthcare or improving education. It’s dumb.

So now I’ve decided to spend some of that money on something I really want, not a head CT, but a European vacation. I was going to wait until September, but if my employer is giving me an extra week off this quarter, I’m going to use it. I’ve booked my flight for only $410. Yay, recession! Not only are you giving me the time off to travel, you are making it really cheap. See, there is always a bright side, even to a crap economy.

So this May I will be in London and Paris. And it will be awesome because I’ve decided it will be. Deciding where to go was easy, but trying to pick a guidebook at the bookstore has been overwhelming. So tell me, where should I go? Where should I stay? I’ve got about a week and I’m open to suggestions.

But finally, I am going to Europe!

Images from FreeFoto.com

More in this series: European Travel: London and Paris
  1. I see London, I see France…
  2. Have guidebooks, will travel
  3. And we’re off!
  4. European travel journal: Day 1, Sunday, May 10, 2009
  5. European travel journal: Day 2 – London city tour and Greenwich
  6. European travel journal – Day 3: Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Parliament and Eurovision
  7. European travel journal – Day 4: West End, British Library, Covent Market and a show!
  8. European travel journal – Day 5: Harrods, Victoria & Albert Museum, Kensington, and afternoon tea
  9. European travel journal – Day 6: Paris, the tourism bureau, Notre Dame, historic walk, and a boat ride
  10. European travel journal – Day 7: Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, and a Kit Kat McFlurry
  11. European travel journal – Day 8: Champs-Elysees (continued), The Louvre, Orsay, and Rodin museums, and St. Martin’s Canal festival
  12. European travel journal – Day 9: Montemarte, Marais, Angelina’s hot chocolate, and the Eiffel Tower
  13. European travel journal – Day 10: A plane, a train, a bus, and an automobile
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Leave a Comment Read more about: europe, london, Paris, travel

Jennette Fulda is the author of:

Chocolate & Vicodin: My Quest for Relief from the Headache that Wouldn't Go Away

"Smart, unflinchingly honest, and laugh-out-loud funny."

- Lisa Genova, New York Times best-selling author of Still Alice

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You may also like:
  • European travel journal – Day 9: Montemarte, Marais, Angelina’s hot chocolate, and the Eiffel Tower
  • European travel journal – Day 6: Paris, the tourism bureau, Notre Dame, historic walk, and a boat ride
  • European travel journal – Day 7: Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, and a Kit Kat McFlurry
  • European travel journal – Day 8: Champs-Elysees (continued), The Louvre, Orsay, and Rodin museums, and St. Martin’s Canal festival
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Jennette Fulda tells stories to the Internet about her life as a smartass, writer, chronic headache sufferer, (former?) weight-loss inspiration, and seemingly nice person (who is silently judging you). You can contact her if you promise to be nice.

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