Tiff and Teresa's Totally Terrific Trip: 1

My wonderful friend Tiffany and I started talking about this trip last July. We have been friends for nearing 20 years, but had lost contact during ten of those. Over the last few, she and I have reconnected and found that we have even more in common as adults than we did as college students. Planning this trip has been so fun as we laughed, almost daily, on the phone from across the world. She lives in Idaho now, and of course I live here. The trip has given me something to look forward to as I mark the months off, waiting for our repat to arrive. I couldn't have even imagined what a fantastic time we were going to have. We found that we were perfect travelling companions, having the same tollerance for the same things. (times in musuems, crowds on the trains, what to eat, etc) We just laughed and talked and ate and walked through Paris and London. I feel so spoiled to have been on two amazing trips this year. To say it was a trip of a lifetime is true, but I have now been on at least four 'trips of a lifetime' in my lifetime. So, I'm not sure what to actually call it. But I think AWESOME sums it up.

I'll admit though, that things started off a little rocky. I bought my ticket in January, for a great price. Only to find out in the middle of March, that things weren't looking good, political unrest, in our neighboring island country- where I was flying out of. So I cancelled my ticket and bought a new one, flying from here, and adding 200.00 to the cost. I was scheduled to leave at 2 a.m. on a Saturday. Tiff called me from the airport in Boise at 6 p.m., day of departure, my time, "There's a huge snow storm in Salt Lake, plan on me being very late. Up to a couple of hours. Things aren't looking good on my end." I was a little worried, as I don't speak a word of French, but figured I'd manage. We were scheduled to arrive 30 minutes apart. I was planning to leave my house at 11:30 p.m., my branch President and his wife driving me. At 10 p.m. I looked out the window as I finished my final packing. I was astonished to see the wind blowing like I have never seen in this part of the world, and the street lights so dim, I wasn't sure I was seeing things properly.

It was a sandstorm. And a sandstorm like I have never seen. In fact, I heard people that have lived here 20 years say they have never seen anything like it. We weren't sure if we should even try for the airport, but in the end, we went for it. The guards at the gate thought that the airport would be closed - who could fly in these high winds, let alone the sand in the engines. But where I live, you can't just 'call the airport.' No one would answer, and no airlines would know what to do, even if they did answer. So as we left camp, we needed to stop for gas, and this is what we saw.

Yes. This is the attendant with a plastic bag OVER his head! Nothing surprises me, living here, any more. I swear. I guess if you don't want to get sand in your face, you don't want to get sand in your face. Right? Well, at any rate, we pressed forward. Sand was blowing against the car the whole way. It was tough to keep the car on the road, it was really hard to ses, and the noise was so loud. All in all - I think we all felt very nervous.

I checked in at my gate and the attendant said that at that point, midnight, my flight was still leaving at 2. So my ride left and I waited. (side note: they got lost for nearly two hours in the storm, and only through miracle did they make it home. Yes. This was a scary night.) Just as I was supposed to board, I heard some other expats talking about the flight, that it had been cancelled. (thanks for telling me) With so much luck, I called for a taxi, and there was one at the airport just getting ready to head back to camp. I hopped in and was home by 3. Peter was able to just catch Tiff on her cell phone in Salt Lake to tell her I wouldn't be there, but that I'd get there as soon as I could.

The next day was a blur of trying to nap and trying to get a ticket out. The airline could offer me a stand by for the next night, and a for sure (flying through the rioting country!) 36 hours later. I decided to just buy a different ticket, please add another 200.00. This ticket though, would take me through Beruit, Lebanon in the middle of the night, with a two hour layover. I didn't have much choice; my trip was happening without me! I talked to Tiff, as she had arrived right on time, with no troubles at all, and I was feeling so sad to be missing what we had been planning for so long! So. I decided to be brave and get on the plane. I think I was the only Westerner on the flight. My stomach hurt the ENTIRE trip, and I don't usually get an upset stomach when I'm nervous. And while there were A LOT of armed guards in Beruit, things were just fine. I didn't even need to worry.

And that is how I got to Paris. Almost one day late, very tired and frazzled. But to Paris, I did get!

Meet Tiff.

She speaks French. Like, really speaks French. Which let me tell you, was awesome. She picked me up at the airport at 6 a.m., we got a taxi to our totally adorable apartment, I cleaned up and we were off for the day. Day one was Notre Dame, a quaint little market, another HUGE market, and the Eiffel Tower in the evening.

I couldn't resist taking pictures of the flowers. They were heavenly. It's amazing how much you lose living in a desert. You forget until your senses are awaked with live, fresh flowers!

And it being Spring in Paris, they were everywhere.

Fresh eggs at the market.

There was a large portion of the market that was devoted to the selling of animals, as well as animal products.

Notre Dame.

I had been here before, but wasn't able to go in. What a treat that Sunday mass was going on, so we got to hear the organ. Being the daughter of the church organist my entire life, I can tell you that I appreciate the organ. I wish my mom were with me to hear it. It truly was fantastic.

Okay. Fine. I did want to climb the stairs, saying, "sanctuary" the whole time, in my best hunch back voice. Luckily for Tiff, there were SO many people - we didn't go up. Nuts.

I will tell you that the architecture here is some of the most amazing I have ever seen. It's just astounding. All of France is just lovely to look at. Oh sure, the people aren't very friendly (Paris, that is), but their buildings are gorgeous and their food is Dee-Lish!

I'm not gonna lie. The other market, the largest flea market in France, was a little shady. I really wanted to go, because I like those kinds of things. But I'll tell you, it was a little rough. While we stood out in Paris in general, nothing like visiting a place for locals, to make you feel really out of place though. It was very international, and we saw a lot of neat things. I think our favorite spot was an antique fabric store. Not fabric on bolts, but like, textiles. Beautiful old dresses, and bedding. Linens, curtains, hand bags and tapestries. It was so fun to just feel all of it. But I have to tell you, I think someone forgot to tell the French that 'flea market' and 'outrageuos prices' usually don't go hand in hand. We didn't buy one thing. Not one. Becuase it was SO expensive. Not even a little token or something. It was ALL soooo much.

There she is folks. What a beauty. I know people think the Eiffel Tower is over rated. But I still think it's awfully cool. This time going up though, it was reeeeeally crowded. Oh well. It was still really fun. We got a little impatient for the elevator going down, and the genius that I am suggested, "Let's just take the stairs." (still laughing) We made it more than 350 stairs, I think, before our legs just about gave out. We caught the lift from one of the lower levels down to the bottom. My legs may OR may not, still be shaking. We were a little wobblie after that. Believe you me.

This says how far it is to my current country, and on the exact other side is how far it is to the U.S. But the lighting in the other picture is so lousy that you're just getting my side.

Ah. The end of day one. What a delightful day. We are up the next morning at 4:30 to catch the Chunnel to London. Look out Portobello Road, here we come!

BTW, I like to live my life through movie references, in case you didn't know. So on day one, I fulfilled The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Ratatioulle, and French Kiss. Don't worry. I'll fill you in on more...