My Itinerary

My departure is rapidly approaching, and I feel nowhere ready to go. There are so many things to worry about: What does one pack for a month in Paris? What if I forget something important? Will my husband and cats survive for a month without me? And what state will the house be in when I return? (I shudder to think….)

Moreover, I believe my Paris itinerary may be a wee bit ambitious, particularly given that I will be working as usual while there. Here’s what I hope to do/see:

1. Tour Notre Dame and attend a mass, choir event, AND organ recital (featuring what is known as “THE GREAT ORGAN”);

2. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, preferably in the evening;

3. Visit the Père Lachaise Cemetery and the Catacombs, both preferably in broad daylight;

4. Explore the Sacré Coeur and attend a mass with The Little Singers of Montemartre (sounds cute);

5. Admire the Saint-Jacques Tower—an old monument located on the Right Bank that is said to be virtually invisible unless you’re really looking for it;

6. Stroll through the Royal Palace Gardens;

7. Spend a day at the Grand Palais, which houses the National Galleries;

8. Spend a day (or several) at the Louvre;

9. Spend a day at the Musée d’Orsay;

10. Attend mass at Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois with the Voix de Femmes—an all female Gregorian chanter choir;

11. Walk across the Ponts Neuf and Alexandre III;

12. See Versaille—but not on a Monday, because they’re closed;

13. See the Chantilly Castle and Grand Stables and attend an equestrian show—but not on a Tuesday, because they’re closed;

14. Go to mass at Sainte-Chapelle—a gothic chapel on Île de la Cité, where the stained glass is said to be crazy breathtaking; *

15. Visit the Château de Vaux le Vicomte in nearby Maincy on a “Candlelight Evening”, during which they kill all electricity, serve champagne in the garden, and set off fireworks;

16. Tour the Seine by riverboat;

17. Attend an event at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysée (any philharmonic, opera, or play will suffice);

18. Attend an opera at the Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier)—I’m seeing Othello on July 7;

19. Attend a ballet at the Paris Opera House—I’m seeing Les Enfants du Paris on July 14;

20. Frequent a variety of farmers and flea markets; and, finally

21. Visit many, MANY wine and cheese shops.


Phew! I’m tired just typing all of that, so I’m not entirely certain I will be able to fit it all in. But I will doubtless have LOADS of fun trying!

(Oh – and what are Vespers? I need to look that up. It sounds like it might be something I should do.)


*Actually, I might be the first person to use that particular term to describe the glass.

I'm Going to Paris!!!

I was recently reading a book in which the protagonist, being an author, realized one day that she had the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, but for some reason had never taken advantage of this perk inherent to her career. After some soul searching as to the cause of her steadfast immobility, she recognized that perhaps she was afraid to move beyond her comfort zone—that she harbored a fear of the unknown, of change, of having too much time alone. Whatever the cause, she determined that her chronic state of inertia was preventing her from living her one single and precious life to its fullest. Intent on remedying this character flaw, she of course immediately relocated to Paris, where she was struck and killed by a car.

Despite this decidedly un-rosy outcome, I recognized much of myself in this unfortunate character. Upon examining my own life circumstances, I determined that I, too, have the freedom to work from anywhere—yet I am generally rooted to my couch with only my two cats to keep me company and the History Channel on for background noise. As a consultant, I perform nearly all of my work virtually. I have an understanding, encouraging, and entirely self-sufficient husband who shares my view that our lives are the sum total of our choices and experiences. Our resources are sufficient enough. And we have no children. Put simply, I have no excuse for my torpidity. There is no reason I cannot briefly relocate my “office” to experience life in other parts of the world.

And so, intent on remedying my character flaw, I will of course relocate to Paris, where I will live, work, and explore for the entire month of July. I intend to bask in the city’s beauty, experience its cuisine and culture, and drink in its art and architectural icons. (And its wine.) I am leaving July 4, and will keep a record of my experiences here until I return on August 5. It is my hope that this will be an enlightening and unforgettable experience.

And I hope not to be run over by a car.