The Grand Towel Adventure!

Day 7/90

I walked a lot today. I'm quite tired. Day started off well enough, except me realizing that I never packed a bath towel and that I didn't think of getting one yesterday so that I could actually shower today, so I freshened up a bit, and decided no one would know I didn't take a shower except me, after all the French are suppose to be smelly. Walked all the way to L'Arc de Triomphe, during which it started to rain and then the sun would come out, a pattern that has continued like clock work all day.

I then took the Metro back and walked over to Notre Dame. (I got on the right train going in the right direction - aren't you proud mom!?) I went into the cathedral, which was amazing. The arcitecture is so different then St. Paul's, but just as inspiring. My favorite thing about Notre Dame was the stained glass windows, which proved very difficult to get a decent picture of - I may need to invest in a tripod, especially because I plan on going out in Paris at night!

I then headed back to the pad to drop off my brick of a tour book - which I only open once today, to look at the Metro map - and grab my notebook because I had an incredible urge to sit in a café and write, something I emensly enjoy doing, but rarely ever get the opportunity to do it for fun. It amazes me how inspired I am by this city; I've only been here a day and I don't want to leave. But before had reality struck again and I realized going much longer without a shower would be shameful, so I decided to do the responsible thing and buy a bath towel before going to a café. So much easier said then done.

Taking the Metro down to Rue du Rivoli, I was on my way to a department store that was listed in my guide book. Rule for the wise #1: don't trust a tour book that's a year old, becquse said department store was closed down. So...I decide to start walking looking for any place that might sale a bath towel. I've discovered that there are plenty of clothing stores, all with excellent style, but we all know I don't need any more clothes! I knew I really needed a department store in order to find what I was looking for, the biggest problem being...I don't know the names of France's "Target" or god forbid "Wal-Mart" counterparts, and I had no clue how to ask.

Lucky for me, I have a very keen eye, and I remember seeing a big building of sorts that was obviously a shop of some kind, so I crossed my fingers that there was at least something resembling a towel looming inside. Imagine a supersized Macy's-Target hybrid, with an Ikea influence; that was the fabulousness of BHV. Went to all six floors, one of them dedicatied entirely to decorating your bathroom - any sane person would think that is where the bath towels would be - but I don't think the French are sane! Feeling utterly defeated, I decided to scan the floors I'd already passed because I was sure I had missed it. Crusing down the escalator towards the bathing suits, I realized I could just settle for a big beach towel, an idea I had pondered earlier, realizing I didn't want to lug a big towel around in my pack, but I was apathetic at this point. Found the beach towels, I had spoted them like a hawk from the escalator. I ran over to scan prices - €60 for a fucking towel, I refused! Then, as I glanced back up from the price tag in utter disgust a shelf in the distance glistened with what appered to be a stack of regular old towels.

I hop, skiped, and jumped my cute little butt over there where I was greated by a lady with the ever so cliché "Bonjour!" I replied with a kind "bonjour" in return, but my american accent was so horrible I almost laughed. These towels, though smaller proved to be even more expensive, so I begun my hunt for the cheapest towel. I then stumbled across thier "wall of towels" in every size, shape, and color. I pretty much new it wasn't going to get qny better then that. So, I stuck with a nutral color, I don't want to stick out or anything in those youth hostel as the girl with the crazy pink towel, and paid a tounge bitting €13 for my very small bath towel.

Besides the grand towel adventure, I loved my day in Paris. I am humbled by it vast architechure, the Louve is an amazing building, I'm giddy about the tought of going inside, yet its small street that wind through the medival buildings are inspiring. Can't wait for what tomorow brings. Hope fully no more rain and cold weather! BLAH! I'm beginning to think I brought the rain from California with me - I hope it doesn't follow me dozn to the Mediterrainian. Au revoir!

Je suis en Paris!

Day 6/90

I arrived in Paris today, I have yet to walk around, but there is a certian air to the city that I am loving. In fact, I believe I am digging the whole European mentality, everyone I've met thus far has been extremely nice and has welcomed me with open arms.

Case in point, my new friend Fabrice, whom I am staying with at his very "cozy" flat in the Marais (3rd arrondissment) of Paris. Very cool place, basically one of the oldest parts of the city, only a ten minute walk to Nortre Dame et la Rue de Rivoli, which will lead me past the Louvre and down Les Champs-Elysées towards L'Arc du Triomphe.

Now, for all those wondering Who the hell is Fabrice and where on earth did our precious little Katie meet him? (Granny and Mom) it is all part the The Couch Surfing Project. To the skeptics out there who have horrid thoughts racing through thier minds this very moment, I'm using my head and I feel safe. If nothing else, it provides a great way to meet people and get advice about the places I'm visiting. Besides, I have a budget, and €25 a night in Paris didn't fit into it.

Anyways, the athlete inside of me is restless, so I am going to go for a run down by le Seine. A bientot!

Bloody jetlag!

Day 4/90

I must admit, I have been incredibly lazy my first few days of travel. Chris and I went touring around the city Saturday only to be detered by a late start and nasty weather. All we got around to doing was visit the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum, which was very cool. I could never imagine the President living in conditions like that during a time of war, but then again, the United States has never seen the devistation of war like that during the Blitz in London.

After supper with Chris' parents, I headed back to Egham (with my luggage, delivered that morning exactly 24 hours behind me!) as Chris stayed in London becasue he had to work the next morning. I ran into a cheery (and rather drunk) fellow on the platform at Clapham Junction heading to Stains, made famous by Ali G. I don't believe this chap shut his hole once the entire 30 minute ride. We got into conversation with another fellow on the train about everything from earthquakes, sunny California, and the continental US. This fellow was convinced that all of California was constantly 70 degrees Farenhiet, no matter how many times I told him I was from San Francisco, where it was capable of being quite cold. I also mentioned that we had mountains, as California is quite a big state, and it snowed in the winter, but he just wasn't getting it. He was also convinced that earthquakes were quite a frequent occurance, even though I reassured his there hadn't been a major earthquake in San Francisco in over 15 years, but yet again he kept reassuring me that England was quite a safe place to be rather then California, becasue they never have earthquakes. The cherry on the sundae however was the conversation about how part of the US was below the equator. This poor fellow just didn't seem to undestand that North America and South America were two sepeparate continents. My favorite line from him being, "I'm not even quite sure where the equator is!" I had to keep from laughing and I couldn't even waste my breath trying to explain the world to this fellow. Typical man from Stains, as Chris put it, and Americans have such a bad rep for being bloody ignorant! Always an adventure. ;)

Today, I got another late start. The damn jetlag has been killing me. Tweleve hours of sleep and I could barely manage the 20 minute train ride to Windsor. Beautiful little town right on the river. The castle was gorgeous, too bad I got there too late for the tour - probably for the better, it costs about £12 - roughly $2o - ouch! Didn't see Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, but she was in residance. Strolled along the river with the hords of tourists and other people enjoying the relatively nice Sunday afternoon. The sun peaked its head out for a bit and there was no rain, unlike the forcast for tomorrow.

I started to perk up a bit after I had a latte (I'm a whore for espresso) but nonetheless I fell right asleep when I got back to Egham around 7pm and didn't wake until 10:30! It is now after midnight and I'm not at all tired! My goal is to exhust myself tomorrow with a bunch of site seeing, a good supper, and another joyful night of partying, as it will be my last night in London before heading to Paris.

Talk to you all from the other side of the English Channel!

London: minus my bag, plus a new friend

Chris and I just finished dinner - pardon - supper, and are getting ready to head out to the student union for a fun night of festivites. According to Chris the college expereince is not so much about studying, which people at Berkeley do way too much of, as it is drinking, so I am about to get school. Chris is trying to make me British, but I'm not having it with my proud American ways.

So...flight was bumpy, worst turbulance ever. Worse service ever - who ever heard of a five hour flight in which they charge for peanuts and only do one round of drink service - bullocks! (For future reference, I was on Air Canada.) On top of all this, my bag is no where to be found. No one knows where it is.

Despite all these short comings, I found the best in flight company in a daper young Canadian who, as fate would have it, just happened to be sitting next to me on my way to London. Matt is a native of Toronto who was on his way to London for a short stay becasue of a friends wedding. (What the hell is with everyone getting married?!) Anyways, good conversation was had, we watched some quality comedy on his snazzy DVD player and slept for a bit. Being a true gentleman, Matt graciously waited with me while I contemplated where my backpack may be, before taking off on the tube.

Still have no sense of what time or day it is. Hopefully a night of heavy drinking and some sleep will solve this problem and I'll be a bit more myself tomorrow. Cheers!

Packing, cell phone, etc.

I'm packing. It sucks. How am I going to go three months without all my shoes?! I'm beginning to worry.

Besides me fretting about what to take vs. what not to take...I got a cell phone!!! It's work everywhere I'm going and in most countries I reviece calls for free and I always recive text messeges for free. Here's the details:

To call dial 011-372-53116524
To send SMS (text messege) you must use a different number, which is 011-372-53357024

It cost me money to text back, so if I don't respond that doesn't mean I didn't recieve it. I actually sent myself a message last night from my other cell phone and it worked fine.

Send me all the messeges you want - they're free to recieve!!!

T minus 1 day and a couple of hours...that's nutty!

My itinerary

Here you all go!

25 May 06:
RNO-SFO LV 6:59 AR 7:59
SFO-Toronto(YYZ) LV 12:10 AR 20:00
YYZ-LHR LV 22:50
26 May 06: AR 11:05

22 Aug 06:
CDG-YYZ LV 14:30 AR 17:00
YYZ-SFO LV 20:45 AR 23:10
23 Aug 06:
SFO-RNO LV 8:32 AR 9:26

I love traveling becasue you get to ponder the more important questions of life; like why is Toronto's airport code is YYZ? None of those letters appear in the words Toronto, Ontario, or Canada...discuss amoungst yourselves...

T minus 8 days and counting...

It's starting to sink in...

It hit me. I was sitting at the STA Travel Office on Telegraph waiting for the agent to get all my tickets together when it just hit me. I'm leaving for Europe for three months in nine days. I feel like I'm in shock right now...I'm all shaky and out of it.

Dude...it's only Europe! I shouldn't been freakin like I am, but I'm not really scared so much as I am excited. I'm so excited I feel like I'm on another planet! It's crazy - I feel like I'm high on some really good shit.

As for my TO DO list...it's all done! With the exception of "Party like it's 2006!" which has pretty much been in progress for the last week, and "Get my butt on a plane, May 25th, SFO" becasue, to state the obvious, it is not yet May 25th!

Dude...I'm so happy I could pee my pants! I can't believe this is happening to me! Ahh!

WHAT?! I leave in 3 weeks!!! That's NUTTY!!!

Katie's TO DO List:
- GRADUATE!!!
- Finish and turn in THESIS!
- Finish and turn is Ethnography!
- Buy Eurail Pass ;-)
- Party like it's 2006!!!
- Get my butt on a plane, May 25th, SFO

Ahhh!!! How am I ever going to do all of this! (Especially since I only have 1 week to finish those top three tasks on my list!) Anyways...I have found myself spending more time planning my european extravaganza then I have writing my thesis or revising my ethnography. Oh well...after four hard years...would the University of California really deny me my degree at this point?! Let's not even go there!

Anyways...Commencement is on May 10th, Theater Graduation on May 17th, and Anthropology Graduation on May 19th! I enoucourage you all to come. As well, I any one had some encouraging words re: backpacking through Europe, send them my way. I'm getting nervous! Three months is a long time!

Join me at Camp Rich for a Rum Runner or Raleigh's for a Guinness before I leave! Hugs and kisses! Go Bears!