The Bold Soul: A Writer's Life in Paris

It's beginning: Then, and Now

I am in a frenzy right now, between planning this "book research tour" (my code for "How to turn a vacation into a potential tax write-off"), trying to stay motivated and keep client projects moving forward (and not doing such a hot job of this), and mentally wrapping my brain around the prospects of seeing French Guy this weekend (the when and where still TBD, as is the answer to "Will there be a spark?"). There is a lot on my assiette, to be sure. My Eurail pass and information kit (including brochure, map and timetable) arrived yesterday morning, dutifully expressed from the U.S. in record time, courtesy DHL - the same people who allegedly LOST a letter I overnighted from Paris to New Jersey last month for 48 euros (which La Poste has since refunded). So apparently they do get it right some of the time. Last night, I spent hours up until around 2am finalizing my entire train itinerary so that I could go in person today and make the required seat reservations for the four TGV segments I will be doing during the tour. I may need seat reservations in other countries as well (for which, by... Read more →

Ambitious

I am finally planning my "grand tour" around Europe! I had been putting it off, waiting to see if my grandmother's health would stabilize (or not) and since it now appears she is stable for the moment, I have decided to go ahead with my plans. After all, she is partly the motivation for me doing this, because it is her 1956 travel itinerary I am attempting to replicate for this trip. It's all part of the research for the book I want to write. So far, my own itinerary is looking pretty ambitious. Not only am I trying to hit as many of the places as my grandmother (plus grandfather and father) saw when they did their trip nearly 51 years ago, but I'm taking a few of my own detours as well. I figure if I'm going to do it, I might as well see as much as I can. It won't be the kind of in-depth travel I normally prefer but it will give me the chance to see a little of everything, and I can always come back if I fall in love with a particular place. But the "Europe Lite" style of travel was how... Read more →