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Black Satin Bra Stash

Six days until I leave for Paris so I’m cramming Rick Steves Paris for helpful tips.  He recommends bringing some cash, debit cards and credit cards—no Traveler’s Checks. (He said you’ll waste time standing in a line at banks.) He also recommends a money belt. Last year when my family traveled to Florence I mistakenly told my 14-year-old daughter that maybe I should get a fanny pack—a fanny pack! She continues to ridicule me today for a very uncool idea. However, after reading Rick Steves I googled “money belts” and found that some companies pride themselves on providing a number of options when it comes to money belts.

At Belt Outlet you’ll find a variety of fashionable choices including the very popular “waist safe.” Or the” black satin bra stash.”

An ingenious way to hide your money in an undergarment

An ingenious way to hide your money in an undergarment

Last year I was in Paris for 24 hours and had a cash crisis. Our family had missed our connection from Florence to Denver at Charles De Gaulle and so the airline put us up at a hotel (and I use the term loosely) near the airport. My husband (not e-husband yet) stayed in the hotel room on a conference call while our girls, ages 14 and 18, asked if I’d take them to the Eiffel Tower. Here’s the thing: we had spent every last euro at the Florence airport. We only had $30 USD in cash plus credit cards and debit cards—we thought we’d be back in the USA by now and wouldn’t need money on the plane.  We hadn’t used our cash cards on this trip so we didn’t even know if they would work in France.

But the girls had a dream and who was I to deny it?  The hotel called us a cab and we were whizzing down the motorway before I realized that our Middle Eastern cab driver didn’t speak very good French, and definitely didn’t understand my French.  Eventually we went to a cash machine (after my heart was pounding so hard I thought I was having a heart attack), withdrew Euros–hurray First Interstate Bank, arrived at the Eiffel Tower and had a wonderful time.

All this to say that on this trip I’ve learned the word for cash machine: (D.A.B. day-ah-bay) and I’ve called the bank to clear my credit and debit cards.  I’m  suspicious of the black satin bra stash:  if you can stuff all your Euros in a black satin bra,  you obviously haven’t brought enough Euros.

July 29th, 2009 | Category: Travel | |

Fashion Faux Pas

I’m going to the fashion capital of the world, right! So I thought I’d prepare myself by looking at some of the fashion from Spring Fashion Week. Just so you know, I refuse to show my butt no matter how fashionable (see image far right below).  And these shoes are for Frankenstein’s Bride. Can you imagine drinking a glass of Bordeaux and then walking in these?

Current fashions from Nina Ricci at Dior during Fashion Week

Current fashions from Nina Ricci at Dior during Fashion Week

I found many helpful blogs about fashion including this from virtualtourist.com

Ok, so I know you’re on vacation and you don’t care what these people think but please be aware that if you wear shorts in Paris you might as well carry a sign saying I AM A TOURIST!

They may wear short skirts but they never ever wear shorts. Actually they do, but is a subject of much hilarity. Last summer just before the August vacations started one of the lawyers in the firm came to work with Bermudas and shoes with no socks. I guess he was making a statement but he is French and can get away with it.

You will just look silly.

And this:
One fashion accessory that all Parisians (or almost all at least) have is a scarf. Ask any visitor and you will have it confirmed that Parisians wear scarves yearround. I’ve seen it myself when the winter temperatures are in the high 50F’s the winter scarves are apparent on both men and women. When the weather is exceptional the women sport neatly, artistically tied scarves. It certainly appears that the Parisians have perfected the this art.

So after reading posts about what to wear and what not to wear this is what I’ve learned:
No shorts, tank tops and tennis shoes. Dark colors, mini skirts, scarves, pearls, lipstick are recommended.

July 25th, 2009 | Tags: , | Category: Travel | |

60,000 Mile Ticket to Paris

Orbitz, Travelocity, Kayak, they are my friends during the day when I am bored or stressed and I decide to take a break by daydreaming of my next trip—I’ve found incredibly cheap fares this way. During one of my explorations this April, I checked on tickets to Paris from Jackson on Delta’s Sky Miles site because at the moment I have a lot of miles.  There on the screen was a ticket for 60,000 miles. My hands were shaking when I pressed “purchase with miles.” But a message appeared, “The dates you requested have been sold out, try again”.  After that I could only find 90,000 mile tickets available.  I became obsessed with a 60,000 mile ticket to Paris—it was like the yeti, people had glimpsed it,  we knew it existed, but it was elusive and I had to find it.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the 60,000 mile ticket. I plugged in new date, stalking the 60,000 mile ticket.   75,000, 90,000 and 110,00 mile tickets were available. And then, Voila! A 60,000 mile ticket in August! My teenage daughter was visiting her dad in August, my business was slower in August, and my calendar was clear in August. I pushed “Buy now.”

Here’s what I’ve lined up for my trip to Paris: an “intensive class” in French three hours per day, five days per week at Lutéce language school (saved ten percent by registering online.) ; an appartement (a-par-te-mo) near the school and also near the Louvre. (in the first arrondisement); and a travel companion–I’ve asked my estranged (love this word) husband if he’d like to come for part of my stay. (More on this later.)

Finally last night I called my parents and my mom answered the phone.
“How’s the weather?” I ask.
“Hot,” she says. “How is it there?”
“Hot, too.” I say. “Don’t be shocked but I’m going to Paris.”
Pause. “Well, it’s supposed to be hot again tomorrow.”

Leaving for Paris in ten days…

July 25th, 2009 | Tags: , , | Category: Travel | 2 comments - ( | )
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