Having undertaken recently to avoid the sins of pride and smugness I'm trying hard not to feel too pleased with myself, but I am quietly celebrating the ingenuity that's enabled me to plan a holiday in Paris at a time of very limited disposable income. I've used some aging frequent flyer points to buy my ticket (except for the $590 in 'taxes and charges' I've had to pay) and have organised a house swap through an on-line home exchange site (you have to pay a fee to participate) - three weeks in Paris without accommodation costs sounds ideal.
I'd initially advertised for a swap in Amsterdam - my favourite city ever - but when someone from Paris offered to swap at a time that suited me it didn't take long to reconsider my destination. My residence in Paris will be a small loft apartment near the Bastille - a super location.
To reward myself for my ingenuity I went browsing in the travel section of Kinokuniya - I find travel books very beguiling - but was eventually fatally tempted by a book I found in the craft section, 'Paris: Made By Hand' By Pia Jane Bijkerk. It's a little book of exquisite photos that provides 'an insider's look at the city's artisans, createurs, and crafts boutiques' (to quote from the Introduction). The only yarn store it includes is La Droguerie, but there are lots of other temptations to browse - both in print and in reality next February.
* The title of a Philip Larkin poem that finishes with the following wonderful line that summarises why I like to travel:
'Here no elsewhere underwrites my existence'
7 comments:
Your description is enchanting! (I so prefer "real" accommodation in a real home to a hotel stay! What a lovely trip you have planned!
woohoo! paree, c'est magnifique! what a great idea, thanks for the tip to!!
Genius! What a great plan. I reckon it's ok to be a bit smug and proud about making such a plan!
Oh, I am so envious! How wonderful. I look so forward to hearing all about it on your return and seeing what wonderful "made in Paris" treasures you bring back.
Tres bien! How clever and I think that some smugness is warranted.
Well sorted out.
I wonder if I could make a day trip by train over to Paris and catch up? Let me know if you'd like that - you may well fancy a time of solitary contemplation in the loveliness of Paris!
BTW, I'm sure you'll have been there before in the winter, but we spent a week in Januray and it was COLD. (And quite wet). Not as windy as Amsterdam, but too cold to be sitting on benches admiring the view!
Tres bon!
Post a Comment