- category: "France" -

September 21, 2004


Hello Paris!

After more than 16 hours in airports, planes, buses, trains and just plain walking it I have finally made it to Paris. It's been a long, restless day. Each time I tried to doze on the plane we'd hit a rough patch of turbulence. I don't know if all the rough weather was due to the residual hurricane activity but something was making the friendly skies of British Airways a little less cheerful. I've been awake for about 36 hours now, riding on five hours sleep. Tonight I should sleep like a rock.

I'm exhausted but I'm glad I'm here. I met up with Jen from JennyMarie.net and we're having fun. Tomorrow we're going to head to Munich for Oktoberfest (yeah!!) I've been wanting to go to that for awhile now so it'll be great to finally do it. Liter sized Paulaners here I come!

Posted at 01:28 PM


July 12, 2004


Back in France

I crossed the border a few days ago to meet up with two great CS'ers in Strasbourg, France. Claire and Stephane work for the local theater here that wrapped up two weeks worth of performances Saturday night, the last one being Stephane's band Laréosol. I even ran the soundboard for them, which was my first time to ever do that. I guess I can now add "sound technician - Strasbourg, France" to my ever growing resumé of odd jobs.

Today I'm heading back to Paris to stay with Claire's brother for a night. Also coming along is Vanessa, from Dallas, who I met at the Starbucks in Heidelberg. It's funny to meet people from just down the road back home while on the other side of the world. I love that stuff.

Posted at 04:20 AM


March 31, 2004


Last Tango in Paris

This is my last day in Paris. I've been here for a week and it's just flown by. Most of my days I just spend walking for hours and hours down the many beautiful streets. Yesterday I tried to come up with the number of miles I think I've walked and I'd say it's easily 50 - 100, possibly more. It's hard to find a street in Paris I haven't walked down so I've stopped using my tattered map. I've also taken some amazing pictures (over 200) that i've been trying to get online but haven't been able to just yet (hopefully soon). When I do I'll let you know about it.

Tomorrow I'm off to... I guess it will just have to be a surprise:) I found a ride through hitchhikers.net or org or something that will take me 519.5 miles away from here. Can anyone (except dad, that is) guess where I'm heading?

:)

Posted at 03:20 AM


March 30, 2004


The writer

Hello again! I'm finally getting to update my site a little bit. Since I have a little time I'll recap my trip up to now.

I'm staying with my third host so far. The first night was with this one guy in a very tiny apartment. It was fun, though. He had to leave the next day but he found me a place to stay on the northern outskirts of Paris with this really nice guy who took me all over the city two days. Paris by bike is the way to go. You get to see so much. I stayed there three nights and last night and tonight I am staying at this woman's house who is an actress and a writer. She's almost exactly my mom's age but act's younger than me. She's really funny and a good writer. She does a one woman comedy show in french that I got to read (the english version) last night. Very funny. Not sure where I'll stay Weds night but early Thurs morning i'm heading to Munich with a ride I found over the internet. If anyone lives in Munich or knows someone who does I could really use a place to stay Thursday night! I haven't found anyone yet.

So two days left of Paris. It's so nice to just walk around this city. That's pretty much what I do all day. Walk and take lots of pictures. I have somewhere around 200 of them so far. I'm trying to put them online but so far I haven't been able to yet. Hopefully soon. If not in Paris then I know of a place in Munich where I can do it.

Well, off to see more of Paris. I've been just about everywhere in the city but the south west part of it. I'll probably go there today.

Posted at 03:29 AM


March 28, 2004


Paris!

March 24-28 -- Paris

Ok, i have FINALLY gotten the chance to write and i have little time. this place closes soon and this keyboard is very hard to get used to. many of the letters are in different places so i have to backspace a lot and retype. i never realized how often i used A and M until now.

so, i made it to Paris and have stayed with to different hosts so far. my first was in the Montparnasse section of Paris named Pierre. he was very nice and helpful. we went out for drinks Friday night with one american i met before my trip over the internet (don't even remember how now) and her cousin from norway. it would have been more fun for me if i had slept even a little bit in about 40 hours but i was too exhausted.

the next day i roamed the city of Paris on foot taking in the sites (LOTS of pics i'll try to upload soon) before i headed a little outside the city to Saint Ouen (pronounced Sant Juan, basically) to stay with my current host Hotteman. he is a super nice guy. In the last two days he has taken me all over the city of Paris pointing out so many little things that i would have never seen on my own. today we went around Paris all day by bike! it was so fun and the BEST way to see Paris well.

i can't believe my time is almost up on this computer. i will try and find a cheaper place soon (hopefully although unlikely with a better keyboard) and write more. thank you for your emails! i really appreciate them and enjoy reading them. i will try to write you back individually soon.

Goodbye from Paris -- Jim

Posted at 12:37 PM