They Can Take Your Money, But They Can't Take Your Attitude

Paris was such an unexpected adventure.  I left with the intentions of only staying two days at a friends flat and ended up staying for four!  I have had many a crazy travel shenanigan in my day but nothing compared to what this past weekend had in store for me.  It all started in India where I met Solen(see   India Part I), we had such a fab time on our trip and hanging out we both invited each other to visit any time.  So my first free weekend I booked a trip out to Paris to visit!  I planned a short stay friday night through Sunday afternoon, just expecting Solen to show me a couple thing but thinking I would be trekking out on my own for the most part.  I was so wrong, not only did she show me around, introduce me to the locals and show me the inner workings of Paris but when tragic circumstances struck she saved my life quite literally.  My trip was mind blowing and I owe it to Solen for showing me all that she did.  

India: How to survive a rickshaw

 I awoke, early the next morning (day two) feeling bruised and like I had taken a turn in a washing machine on high...  I would soon learn, that the feeling would be a reoccurring event each morning.     We arose extra early to try and watch the sunrise over the Taj Mehal.   By the time we had walked over to the Taj, the sun had already risen and there was a considerable line.  There were four different lines to get in to seethe monument: Indian Men, Men, Indian Women, Women with seperate prices for each group.  I'll leave you to your own emotions on that on, but we had gotten half way through the line when we realized, they didn't sell tickets.  Robin ran back to one of the shop owners who had tried to corral us into buying something from him, and somehow convinced him to take her on his moped to buy tickets and that we would stop in after our trip inside.

After these messages we’ll be riiiighht back

Ok.  Remember when I said “so long as I have my credit card, my few important items and my passport everything else can be replaced?”  Yeah.  Don’t ever say that again.  In fact I should know better than to say such blasphemous things aloud – you know my track record with saying stupid, stupid things aloud (and if you don’t, ask me about shooting stars and maybe I will tell you).   Today was a long day and I am not going to go into details (because, well I am exhausted and can’t keep my eyes open) but I will give you small details.  There were missed connections, overweight luggage, bad lightning storms, very invasive TSA security checks, flight cancellations and flight re-booking, but all the madness was dealt with aplomb (until the very end).  Long story short I  am now in Tuscany with only my carry-on.  I have a change of clothes, and my laptop, passport, various sundries and three pairs of shoes.  Go figure, I would put several pairs of shoes in my carry-on, the one thing I can’t actually buy in Italy... Go me!  I would almost say that bad packing saved me.  Almost.   

Silver lining – we are all here in Italy, whole happy and ready to fight the day….  Or eat dinner…..  Whichever comes first.  Probably dinner.  Viva Italia.