Don't Stop Believing .... I AM GOING TO FRANCE!

OK most will have no idea what a big deal this is for me but I AM GOING TO PARIS! Actually I'm going to Holland to see someone and he is taking me to Paris and then on a road trip to places he is planning, it's a surprise. I AM GOING TO MY ONE TRUE LOVE, PARIS!

Ever since I was little I have always wanted to go to France. I use to tell people I was French when I was little, speak with a French accent, the whole nine yards. I have no idea why I have always been drawn to France but I would live there in a heartbeat if I could. It's not that easy to live there! I have looked at every different way I could for decades lol. My mom said that it started when I was around 5. She doesn't recall what started it but ever since then France has been my favorite place. I will never forget when my BEST FRIEND in 7th grade chose France to do her project on, knowing I wanted France. I didn't talk to her for a week. Oh middle school drama!

I am still a bit shocked because I can't believe I am going. I have my ticket and I will be in Amsterdam on March 9. I AM GOING TO FREAK OUT IN PARIS! LOL My whole room is Paris themed pictures and decor. I even have the Eiffel Tower tattooed on my back, no joke. I got it when i was 19. I am 38 going on 39 next month. It's funny because i use to say I better see Paris before I am 40, well nothing like cutting it close!

So this special guy I met. Let me say he has no idea what kind of dream he is making come true. Hope he can deal with my tears at the sight of my lovely Eiffel Tower. When we decided I would come visit he immediately said we would go to Paris and I was like are you sure, do you know what you are getting into? HA! He has already planned two things and has asked cryptic questions so he can plan the other things he wants to do. There is this Chateaux (I even made a thread on it years ago) in Nievre, France (well outside of Nievre). I became fascinated with it. The history of it alone got me! It is now a private residence but I contacted what would be equivalent to the city hall here in the states and they gave me contact information and the address to see if I could get a tour. Well he asked for that information. If I see Paris and my Chateaux I swear I'm gonna marry this guy (joking) I always wanted someone to take me on a road trip of Europe and well I get a very handsome and sweet Dutchman who is going to do so. I think this will be the best trip of my life!

Ok can I sleep until March now? I am going to drive everyone nuts until then.

SO moral of the story. Never give up on your dreams no matter what anyone says! My dream was to see Paris and go all over Europe but mostly France. Now finally after years of hoping and wishing it's going to happen! I am beyond ecstatic.

a reply to: mblahnikluver

i hope you enjoy your trip just becareful of the paris syndrome

a reply to: mblahnikluver


Congrats, here's something to get you in the mood:

a reply to: mblahnikluver

Congratulations!

stay safe and have a wonderful time!

It's always nice to hear of someone fulfilling a life long dream!



Godspeed!

Respectfully,
~meathead

Best wishes for you to have a super time on this trip as well as a safe one. France and especially Paris is a wonderful place to visit. I've traveled there twice and thought about moving there one day, but only if I had the money to do so. Share your photos and your journeys with your ATS friends here so we call all be jealous and wish we were along on the trip with you.


Bon voyage!

a reply to: mblahnikluver

I went through paris on a trip. First, I would strongly urge you get get to the tower REALLY EARLY or look at the skip the line tours. I never used them, but I had a friend who did and said he could jump the line. Its about 60 bucks per person. IF it works, it will save you HOURS AND HOURS in line. I never got to go up because the wait time was 3.5 hrs for me, when I visited and I only had a 10 hr layover and didn't want waste the time. That said the Seine, path is beautiful. Notre Dame is in walking distance, so isn't the Louvre.

All that said, from your post I take it your a women. I can not emphasis enough that you need to be careful going to Europe, which sounds like alone, to meet a man? Have you met him before? There is alot of sex trafficing over there, just thought I would mention it, just incase nobody has.

Good luck, and I hope your dream and vacation is everything you wanted it to be.

Camain

Paris is not what it used to be 😕.

I'm happy you found a " new " love over the internet , but is it wise to go travelling with someone you haven't maybe met in real life ?

Stay safe OP!

PS. How is that new insurance job going ?

Beautiful city.....don't forget to visit the catacombs.

a reply to: seedofchucky

HAHA! I have never heard of that before. I may have never been there but I have no delusions that it is some perfect city. OF course it has it's bad sides and isn't the picturesque place in books. I want to go to Paris and then go to the little towns and villages I have marked.

The locks of love gate or whatever it's called was cut down I thought recently. I could be wrong but I thought they took it down.

Thanks

a reply to: Mike Stivic

Thanks Mike! YES For over 3 decades it's allll I've talked about. I have Eiffel Towers from when I was a kid until now from people who don't even know me that went and thought of me. Customers from work or friends of friends who thought "hey that crazy obsessed France girl will love this." Yup they were right I did. I had a friend send me a huge wall canvas of the Eiffel Tower and it takes up a half a wall in my bedroom. He saw it and sent it to me just because he thought I would enjoy it. Now I get to see it in person. So now when I say I love Paris or France and I am asked "have you been" i can finally say YES! LOL

a reply to: mblahnikluver

You make my heart ache some much for you because you have this wide-eyed innocence that most of us used to have about this world. Let us all hope that you find the trip to be everything that you want it to be and more. ...And most of us wanna go too!

originally posted by: camain
a reply to: mblahnikluver

I went through paris on a trip. First, I would strongly urge you get get to the tower REALLY EARLY or look at the skip the line tours. I never used them, but I had a friend who did and said he could jump the line. Its about 60 bucks per person. IF it works, it will save you HOURS AND HOURS in line. I never got to go up because the wait time was 3.5 hrs for me, when I visited and I only had a 10 hr layover and didn't want waste the time. That said the Seine, path is beautiful. Notre Dame is in walking distance, so isn't the Louvre.

I don't mind waiting. I actually want to. I can soak it all in. I am slightly obsessed with the Eiffel Tower so waiting in line isn't that big of a deal. I mean people wait that long for a ride at Disney, me I would for the Eiffel Tower. Good to know they have skip the line tickets though. Yea I have a few friends who are from Paris and they are giving me their "must see" places. I only know of The Eiffel Tower as one place we are going, my guy is planning everything else. I told him he is in charge. He knows what I want to see and I think he will pick the right places.

All that said, from your post I take it your a women. I can not emphasis enough that you need to be careful going to Europe, which sounds like alone, to meet a man? Have you met him before? There is alot of sex trafficing over there, just thought I would mention it, just in case nobody has.

I am a woman and it's not the first time I've gone overseas to meet someone. I don't think he is a sex traffic master mind but thanks for the concern. We have never met no but we talk every single day and video chat. I swear I know more about him than the last two guys I dated and they lived in the states. We are not dating or anything like that. We are just two friends who want to meet in person and go from there.

Good luck, and I hope your dream and vacation is everything you wanted it to be.

Camain

Thanks. I think it will be great. The last time I went to Europe I was there for 3 weeks and had a blast but I didn't get to France while I was there so this time will be even better.

originally posted by: Sheye
Paris is not what it used to be 😕.

I'm happy you found a " new " love over the internet , but is it wise to go travelling with someone you haven't maybe met in real life ?

Stay safe OP!

PS. How is that new insurance job going ?

I didn't say he was a love. We are friends who want to meet and have a good time. I was joking about marrying him.
People meet people all the time they met online. I have met many people online and then went to meet them in person. Some of my best friends are people I met online and have never even met in person yet we know each other better than anyone else. Times are different with video chat and instant chat but I understand what you are saying. No he isn't some serial killer sex traffic mastermind.

The new job is going great! I love it. It is so laid back and I can just work at my own pace. I can come in early or stay late if need be. No pressure to punch a time clock at 40 hours. It's great! I make decent money and I can make more now that I'm past my 90 days because i get bonuses now! YAY! I am still learning a lot. Insurance is very crazy! I do home, auto, commercial and boat. Each thing is so different but it's steady job market that's for sure!

a reply to: mblahnikluver

I'm psyched for you! As another poster mentioned please take lots of pictures.

it might be a good idea.for you to keep a personal trip journal.
This is something you will want to remember every little detail, where you ate, what you ate, the atmosphere, all the little things.. jot them down every chance you get.. cab drivers name, all that stuff..

All the little things..because those memories get overshadowed in time, by the big things.. And I guarantee you 15 to 20 years from now you will open that book and smile at all the "little things" you forgot.

Just a suggestion..

Again enjoy your trip Mblah, be safe and make memories!

Respectfully,
~meathead

originally posted by: Flatcoat
Beautiful city.....don't forget to visit the catacombs.

Definitely. Told my friend I wanted to see those. Most people don't visit them but I"m a bit twisted lol so yea I want to see them.

a reply to: Mike Stivic


OH that is most definitely happening. My Nana did it when she went to Europe. I don't remember her telling me about France as a kid because she didn't live in the same state but I wonder if at some point she did and that's how I became so obsessed with it. I have a nice leather bound journal I have never used that I plan on using. I'll save receipts or tickets in it, like a mini scrapbook.

I know people have concern I'm going to meet someone but I am an adult. I am careful and will be. He is not some crazy killer set out to destroy me. He is just a nice down to earth guy I met online quite some time back and we started chatting more and more and I decided to go visit. He was going to come here but I said oh heck no I'm coming to Europe, the states are boring LOL. I have no expectations but to have a good time with someone who has similar interests and wants to show me a good time as well in a place I have never been but always wanted to.

a reply to: mblahnikluver

Thats basically how I met my wife, she is from Latvia. check out flights.google.com. Go through the airports near you, and see which is cheapest. Once you do that, play with the dates, and find the cheapest of the cheapest. Amsterdam is relatively cheap to fly to and I usually fly through there and copenhagen to get to eastern europe. Also for what its worth, I take cruises from latvia, estonia to stockholm, norway, and finland on talin. My last trip was 80 bucks for a room, it sleeps 4. food is expensive on the cruise, but hey you get to see another country.

a reply to: mblahnikluver

Nope, Paris is gonna have to wait.
Your grounded.

juuuuuust kidding!
Hope you have an amazing time!

originally posted by: mblahnikluver

originally posted by: Sheye
Paris is not what it used to be 😕.

I'm happy you found a " new " love over the internet , but is it wise to go travelling with someone you haven't maybe met in real life ?

Stay safe OP!

PS. How is that new insurance job going ?

I didn't say he was a love. We are friends who want to meet and have a good time. I was joking about marrying him.
People meet people all the time they met online. I have met many people online and then went to meet them in person. Some of my best friends are people I met online and have never even met in person yet we know each other better than anyone else. Times are different with video chat and instant chat but I understand what you are saying. No he isn't some serial killer sex traffic mastermind.

The new job is going great! I love it. It is so laid back and I can just work at my own pace. I can come in early or stay late if need be. No pressure to punch a time clock at 40 hours. It's great! I make decent money and I can make more now that I'm past my 90 days because i get bonuses now! YAY! I am still learning a lot. Insurance is very crazy! I do home, auto, commercial and boat. Each thing is so different but it's steady job market that's for sure!

It's great you love your new job... and it sounds like you know this dude fairly well, so my worries are eased.

Have a great trip... and I hope Paris is especially good to you.

originally posted by: mblahnikluver

originally posted by: Flatcoat
Beautiful city.....don't forget to visit the catacombs.

Definitely. Told my friend I wanted to see those. Most people don't visit them but I"m a bit twisted lol so yea I want to see them.

I was lucky. I got to see a section that's not open to the public. The entrance was inside an old abandoned train tunnel...benefits of having a good friend who lives there.