Up, up and away…

J.R.R Tolkien once wrote, “Not all those who wander are lost”.

What a fantastic quote! In fact, it pretty much sums up the last twenty four (oh god, almost 25!) years of my life. I’ve never been able to stay in the same place for long and like many of my friends and peers, I have vowed to see as much of the world as possible.

It is with this in mind that I launch the following little project:

I’ve been lucky enough to see a few new places so far this summer and have plans to see a few more before September. They may not be the hottest places to head on your summer holidays – but I’ll be giving an honest account of my experiences and who knows, you may even pick up a few tips!

Plus, if you’re trying to decide between a foreign jaunt in the sun or a staycation recession style – I’m giving both a whirl!

So, strategically pack your suit case, grab your guide book and enjoy the first installment!

*****

Paris: the spectacular city of lights and one of the most romantic places on the planet. It conjures images of beautiful little cobblestone lanes, grand palaces, impressive landmarks, smells of fresh baked pastries and tastes of fine wine. Unfortunately it’s also frequently ranked as one of the most expensive cities to visit.

So, how can you take in all that Paris has to offer if you’re short on cash and time?  




In this era of super cheap travel, getting to Paris and back can cost very little and if you’re willing to put in a little extra energy and plan in advance it is excellent value.

The idea for “24 Hours in Paris” started when a friend of my boyfriend said that he travels back and forth to Spain every couple of months to buy these cigars that he just loves. Sounds excessive right? But actually, he just goes over and back for the day on a Ryanair flight that ends up costing less than €50. For a tiny price he gets to soak up some Spanish culture (and possibly some sun) and be back at his desk for work the next morning.

We wondered if we could do the same thing with Paris and so the challenge was extended and accepted. 

The advantages were clear: very cheap with no accommodation to book, just one day off work, no packing to do (just bring a handbag!) and the luxury of reading a city’s first impressions!

We looked at flights and realised that Tuesdays and Thursdays were the best times for a one day trip – where your departing flight is very early in the morning and you arrive back in Dublin at the latest possible time that same evening. All together we spent €47.98 each on flights to and from Beauvais airport including check-in, taxes and charges.

Not including air travel and getting in and out of Paris city centre by bus, we had roughly nine hours on holiday – and we didn’t want to waste time. This is where extreme planning skills really come into play. We made a big list of things to see and do in Paris and then brutally crossed off anything superfluous. There were lots of joint decisions and plenty of compromises, but we ended up with a pretty solid itinerary with options and back-ups for the day.

It may be tacky and touristy, but hopping on an open topped bus is one of the best ways to acquaint yourself with a new city and this was the natural place for us to start. For just €26 each, we could hop on and off at the main attractions for the entire day. Included in the price was a pair of headphones to take in the commentary – but it’s totally acceptable to enjoy the tour without this. From the top deck of the bus we took in the Lourve, the Eiffle Tower, Mont Marte, Champ de Mars, Musée d’ Orsay, and much more. Our tummies began to rumble at the Notre Dam stop and we decided to disembark in favour of some lunch.

In Paris, you’re truly spoiled for choice when it comes to restaurants and cafes. We chose one on the corner of a quiet boulevard with a pretty basic menu, chatty waiters and white table cloths. To get a French perspective, we asked the waiter to select a red wine for us and we had a lovely slow paced meal in the sunshine. Parisienne cafes are also a great place to people-watch – with everyone from tourists, to businessmen stopping by for a bite.

When we were full to the brim, we decided to walk it off along the Sienne. We passed boats of all kinds and locals lazed, dangling their legs over the side of the river having a sandwich or a cup of coffee.


No trip to Paris is complete without running into a protest! We bumped into quite a large one, being contained by French police. It took us some time to figure out what was going on – but a very kind French journalist explained that the Judiciary of Paris were looking for more money and had taken to the street in their wigs! It’s not unusual to see a protest on the streets of France – I guess the revolutionary spirit of liberty, equality and fraternity still exists with the French!

Our next stop was the famous Lourve for a spot of culture. Unfortunately, the museum is closed on Tuesdays (one downfall of booking a flight on this day) and so we had to be content with wandering the fabulous grounds – rich in both art and history themselves. We examined the glass pyramid up close and personal and took a pit stop at a cafe in the square with another glass or two of wine.

One of our great debates on the trip was whether or not to climb the La Tour Eiffle – the quintessential tourist stop. Due to our short day, we decided not to waste time queueing but to view it from the open topped bus. We opted instead to climb the beautiful Arc de Triomphe at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. Standing at a height of 50m the Arc is no easy climb – especially since there is no lift and the 300 steps wind in a tight spiral. The trek is definitely worth it though, as the view is phenomenal and Paris stretches out from every angle.

After a stroll down the glamourous Champs-Élysées we were ready for some classic French crepes before finishing our day with a locally produced glass of beer.

At 7pm, we reluctantly boarded the bus back to Beauvais airport for the flight home. Although the airport is very basic, there is a fantastic little pizzeria there with the most delicious thin crust pies – the ideal way to top off your quick European break! 

So what was our verdict?

The day was packed to the brim with Parisienne delights and the places we saw, the people we met and the food we devoured really cancelled out all the hassle involved in getting there. But, at the end of the day, we were wrecked. If you’re energetic and up for an adventure, this could be just the break for you – but if you hate trading comfort for value, then maybe plan a longer stay.

The Art of Wing Woman

This marks my first post of 2011, and I’m only twenty one days late! I’m going to spare you the ridiculous excuses and just say I’m a lazy so and so. Sorry!

When I get to January, I tend to start making an inventory of my accomplishments from the year gone by. It’s just a short list of goals I have achieved or skills that I’ve picked up so that I can make some realistic resolutions. When the big obvious ones are already down, I start digging for smaller less monumental things. That’s when I discovered I had mastered a true art: the art of wing woman.

I first learned what a wing woman was at a teen night club in New York (I had snuck out to be there..but that’s another story entirely!). My friends would be dancing and guys would come up behind them for a boogie. They couldn’t get a good look at who was approaching and they’d look over to me to get my reaction. Smile and nod meant, yea, he’s cute, continue with the dancing, frown and head shake meant, Nah, he wouldn’t be your type! There was a lot of trust involved in this scenario and that level of trust still exists on the wing woman front today.

Being part of a couple on a group night out is generally great. You have someone to dance with, someone to get you a drink at the bar and someone to hail a cab at the end of the night – all without the sleazy consequences of a random score. But what happens when you’re out with lots of single people?

Well this happened very recently to me and I noticed my wing woman skills were not only put to the test, but were extremely successful. I was able to provide the following to my single and ready to mingle peers:

1. Suggestions as to where the optimal places to dance were – based on the surrounding talent, if you will

2. Minor adjustments to hair and makeup (not easy in a steamy night club bathroom…)

3. chewing gum at the ready

4. I have been known to dance ridiculously, all in the name of making my friend look way cooler, of course.

5. The ability to sense when it’s time for me to get lost!

Do I think of myself as a modern day Yenta? Not quite – but at least I can be of assistance in some way.

The only downside to the whole thing is seeing your friends all successfully pull and realising you’re all alone for the long walk home. Thank god your other half is there, waiting to share your bag of chips!

The ultimate wingmen

 

I fell in love with the sound, oh I love to sing along with you.

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The above photo is of one of my absolute favourite artists: Josh Ritter. For anyone who hasn’t heard of him, here‘s his website!

I first came across the song stylings of Josh when an ex boyfriend of mine gave me a mix CD with one of his songs on it. I fell completely in love with his soft vocals, enchanting guitar and magical lyrics. I had never been a fan of the “folk sound” – but with Josh it was different; I was hooked.

In fact, his album “Hello Starling” was played on repeat for the duration of my Leaving Cert.

I’ve seen Josh in concert four times now. He never fails to impress me onstage – not just musically – but as a person. He’s always so happy to be onstage and reacts so modestly to the excited crowd and how they sing all the words along with him. I’ve also met Josh a couple of times. He’s just one of those artists who takes the time to speak to every fan he can.

Once, I was in work and he was signing copies of his latest album in HMV. My boss told me I could take a quick break to run up to get my copy signed. Soon enough, a little break turned into an hour and a half and I knew I was in complete doody! I told Josh all about this and he took down a poster off the wall of the shop and signed it “To the lovely and patient staff of Karen Millen, I love you and Susan loves you too. Please be good to her. Love, Josh Ritter and Susan.” It didn’t get me out of trouble, but it didnt hurt either!

josh-poster-cropped

Last Friday night I saw Josh play a monumental, career making, sold out gig in Dublin’s Vicar Street. He was joined onstage by a full 24 piece orchestra and conductor – in addition to his band. The music sounded the way it was supposed to sound – and was given completely fresh life. Each song was better than the next – but my favourites were “The Temptaion of Adam” and “Rumours” where Josh crooned, “my orchestra is gigantic, this thing could sink the Titanic” – very true, Mr. Ritter.

I sang, I danced and I felt every note and lyric along the way. He just has that effect.

Here are some of my favourite lyrics:

We walked up in the fields alone
And the silence fell just like a stone
That got lost in the wild blue and the gravel grey

- Come and Find Me

And at last we saw some people huddled up against
The rain that was descending like railroad spikes and hammers
They were headed for the border—walking and then running
Then they were gone into the fog but Anne said underneath their jackets she saw wings

- Wings

Then one night you found me in my army issue cot
And you told me of your flash of inspiration
You said fusion was the broken heart that’s lonely’s only thought
And all night long you drove me wild with your equations

- The Temptation of Adam

You put a finger to my lips and then you kissed me once and once again
The crickets all leapt up and met the moon with a standing ovation

- Right Moves

The title quote is from a song entitled, “Good Man”.

Josh Ritter plays the Marquee in Cork – again with a full orchestra on July 4th, 2008. His most recent album “The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter” is absolutely gorgeous – but for a real introduction to Josh’s music, I’d reccommend “Hello Starling”. It had me at “hello”.