KELLY'S GONE AGAIN
…AND HERE'S WHERE I'M AT.Archive for July, 2009
#48. Paris: Home Away From Home
Honestly, I’ve had a tough time thinking of what to write about Paris. It’s not that there isn’t overwhelming inspiration around, or that I haven’t enjoyed lots of memorable moments, but I’ve actually been living here. I have a physical address. Paris is somehow sexier when you’re Stateside, and seems pretty normal when you’ve set up shop. That said, I do have a few first impressions on the place that I call home while away from home.
Remember when I was spending my initial time in France along the Cote d’Azur, enjoying the picturesque ease of life near the sea? The scenery, perfectly placid and blissful, kinda’ hard to leave – I mean, you’ve seen the pictures.
But the instant I lugged my heavy suitcases down the steps of the Paris subway system… Read the rest of this entry »
#47. Cote d’Azur: Open Your Eyes
It’s time to move on, but not before looking back. Over the last 2 years, during which time my obsession with the South of France took root for no apparent reason, I’ve been curious to figure out what I would discover here. Certainly the answers will continue to reveal themselves to me after I’m gone, as is the case with most things in life, but some things are evident already.
I’ve learned a lot in a relatively short period of time, about my love for yoga teaching and improved travel skills, for instance, but the bigger answer might just be something I told a friend of mine once. Read the rest of this entry »
Sidebar: In case you had any doubts, I’m officially a Lost Girl
Hey everyone, ‘just a quick update on the KGA website’s place in the blogosphere. As I’ve been exploring this whole blogging thing (which, as you might remember from the very first post, I was “not crazy about” initially), I’ve found that one of the most fun and fantastic results is new friendships and collaborations. Case in point: not long ago, one of my dearest friends, Jenny, e-introduced me to a group of wonderful women whom I’d like to now e-introduce to you: The Lost Girls.
This trio, Holly, Amanda and Jen, are fellow travel buffs and all-around lovely ladies. So, when they asked me to be a guest blogger and contribute my thoughts on France to their “Dispatches from the Road” section, I couldn’t resist! Visit The Lost Girls World online over the next couple of weeks, and you’ll find my words on Cannes, Nice, St. Tropez and Monaco as guest blog features, each layered amongst other LGW blog entries reporting on worldwide wanderlust.
Man, I love this game.
#46. Cote d’Azur: The Sleepers (and Where I’ve Been Sleeping)
Amidst all of these travels to and from, you might wonder “well, where from exactly?” No worries, I’m certainly not packing up and moving on every couple of days; given that I had planned on staying in maybe 3 places throughout the entire summer, I did not bring the proper luggage for that.
No, instead I holed myself up in lovely little place named Carnoles, settled roughly in between Monaco and Menton, on the east part of the coast near the French-Italian border. I wish I could take credit for how I ended up here, say that I asked the right questions, did a lot of comparison shopping, etc., but I didn’t. I found this place on a last minute, impulsive whim, my requirements being only (i) low cost, and (ii) central location for day tripping. Not in my wildest dreams could I have predicted its perfection.
#45. Monaco: Husbanks, Have Nots and Try Hards
Monaco is one of those destinations you kind of have to go to when you’re in the South of France. Once you’re back home, everyone will ask you if you went, and if you come up with some lame excuse as to why you didn’t, get ready to feel even more lame every time someone new tells you what a mistake you made.
Not that they necessarily know first-hand; most people don’t. Monaco is in that relatively small group of exclusive destinations, primarily because it is – let me confirm any doubts – exorbitantly, fervently, seriously dripping with money. Super-fancy cars, tons of docked yachts, more Barclays than bus stops, a special Dior store just for kids… it feels a little like the whole place is sprinkled with gold dust.
#44. Menton: The Secret Garden
Dear Menton,
‘Just a quick note to express my appreciation for the present. Considering we’re sort of strangers, I was taken aback by you reading my cards so well and knowing just what I needed, but my genuine gratitude far outweighs my surprise.
When I quietly stumbled into your garden recently – into the neat array of layered leaves, highly-worshiped citrus trees and divine statues – all of the sudden, all I could think was this: that I wasn’t really so tired. My feet didn’t actually hurt that much. I could probably wait a little longer for dinner. I could definitely push aside all of my recent troubles for a while and make room for this.
Anyway, thanks. It is one of my most brilliant memories yet.
Kelly
#43. Cote d’Azur: The Usual Suspects, Part III
Note to Self:
“Self is no longer in New York City. Self is not riding subway.
Self doesn’t know where it’s going. Remove iPod and pay attention already.”
The plan was this: catch 6:54 a.m. train to Nice, depart Nice at 7:32, arrive in St. Raphael at 8:22, hop on the one St. Raphael morning ferry at 9:30, and be selecting leather sandals by 11 at St. Tropez’s famous Place de Lices market (only on Tuesdays and Saturdays, mind you), before it closed at 1 p.m. But you know what happened. You know I missed my train stop at St. Raphael.
#42. Cote d’Azur: The Usual Suspects, Part II
After visiting Cannes, my hopes were not terribly high. It’s not that I was jaded or struggling to stay optimistic, nothing that serious. I was just a bit…disengaged. A little “sure, whatever.” Overall, neutral.
And then, just like that, I fell into Nice. I don’t know why; I wasn’t on the make. I expected it to be just like the others. But on Avenue de Jean Medicin, walking past buzzing cafes and trendy boutiques and, well, so much life, I felt something. It’s hard not to. Nice has an energy, an easy, poignant, honest, simple sense to it. It isn’t looking for recognition, it isn’t competing for customers, it just is.
Sidebar: Getting Updates By Email
You guys have been great. Really. You log on, some of you just about every day, wondering if I’ve published an update. You send me emails asking for blog ETAs which, truly, is the dearest compliment. And I know lately it’s been a little challenging, as they’ve been few and far between for a while.
But today’s your day. I’ve figured out (merci beaucoup, shelleyadelle) how to add (to the previously-offered RSS feed) a new update option to Kelly’s Gone Again: email subscriptions! So check out the column to the right, under the “Want Automatic Updates” section, which now has a friendly subscription link, and you should get a note when there’s something new to see.
A little late in the game for this, I know, but better late than never. Then again, it might just mean I’ll have to take more trips. *smile*
#41. Cote d’Azur: The Usual Suspects, Part I
I had such high hopes for Cannes. Having been mesmerized by its reputation, I arrived already intoxicated with possibility. I believed in this city, eagerly anticipated it, and knew I’d fall in love the moment I stepped off of the train on Day 1. So on Day 2, I rationalized, “okay, lukewarm start, no big deal, doesn’t mean sparks won’t fly today.” But, let’s be honest: I usually know on the first date. And I’ve never not known by the second date. There just wasn’t chemistry.
#40. Cote d’Azur: Halfway Check In
On the last big trip, I did a reflection-based summary about midway in. Believe it or not, we’re already there. So before I go on to give you my thoughts on the French Riviera, here’s where I am, figuratively speaking…
