Monday, 27 April 2009

• more holidays

   

  It didn't seem that long ago since I got back from my Easter break in Italy (in fact the post is barely 3 weeks old). And I'm going on holidays again from this Thursday onwards for about 10 days.

  The coming holidays will consist of another 2 firsts: my first visit to Slovakia, more specifically the Tatra Mountains, and my first visit to France, more specifically Paris. 

  Tatras

  I'm going to the Low Tatras this time with 6 others, and the plan is to go canoeing for a day or two, and hiking for the rest of the time.  Hiring canoeing gear from Prague has required some logistical genius on my part but as of yesterday, we have reserved canoes (inflatable ones), paddles, wet suits, booties, life vests, helmets, and even gloves to be picked up on Thursday.  We are travelling in 2 cars, and our kind drivers will be driving for a total of 6 to 7 hours to get from Prague to the cottage we are staying in the Tatras.  I'm going with the group leaving during the day, which means it'll be possible to stop by a town or two to check out other sights in Slovakia.

  The group will consist of two American guys, one Dutch guy, one Hungarian, an Ukranian girl, a Czech girl and  me, the Aussie .  Amongst the group, I am amongst the experienced canoeists (I've canoed 5 times to date), and so I'll be expected to steer the canoe I'm in this time.  It'll be my first go at steering, and it's a scary thought that a novice canoeist will be depending on me to get him/her down the river in one piece (read: not tip the raft too often). But since we are short on experienced canoeists, I must needs step up to this task.

  Paris

  I tossed up about going to Paris for the longest time for a few reasons:

  • the lack of a travel companion, and the difficulty of finding one who'd tolerate how long it took for me to take pictures - it's not fun to travel alone, ever. And the next worse thing is to travel with someone who doesn't understand my need to take the perfect picture. All the time.
  • the high cost of everything in Paris
  • being unsure if all my friends who live in Paris and its surroundings would be around during the time I hope to be there
  • if it was possible to see enough of Paris in a short time, ie. a week

  After spending weeks twisting and turning about whether to go visit Paris, I decided to bite the bullet and book the air tickets and see how the it all pans out.

  As things went, I resolved each of my concerns after I booked the air tickets.

  • I found a fellow traveller to Paris who was happy to go during the exact same days as me, and is an avid photographer himself, hurray!
  • We manage to find a cheap enough hostel, which had beds for the duration of our stay in Paris.
  • Two of my friends will be in Paris when I'm there.
  • We just might fit in all the sights of Paris in about 6 days if we are focussed enough.

  It seemed my leap of faith paid off this time. Let's hope my other travel adventures work out as this did.

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