Paris & Travel

A friend asked what my fav thing @ Paris was & I quickly said coffee. That was only partially true.

I was actually most thrilled by walking around even non touristy parts of town. I kind of reveled in the differences. I loved learning my way around someplace new. I love the process of getting there. I love discovering how to make my self "at home" where ever I go. I love assimilating a new culture.

I guess I really love to travel- it is so mind expanding. While your body gets tired, your mind & spirit are refreshed, and your world becomes larger.

One of my affirmations has become: "- I have the means to travel abroad whenever I want to. "
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1st day in Paris

So! I am finally sitting down to my first real meal since Friday. As I wait & enjoy my meal, I thought I'd make a few notes of my trip so far.

Once I arrived and made it through security, had a snack and sipping on my Venti Green Tea Shaken Ice Tea, I found myself sitting next to a dealer in music memorabilia- various and sundry gold records. He was transporting 2 to Germany, via Paris. He was also from Manchester (bodwell rd). While we were chatting, he commented briefly on a Very Tall woman, and whispered "Model". (Stay with me...)

5.30pm Boston- As a result of a last minute sickness of a fellow passanger who needed to disembark for a trip to Mass General, my flight left about an hour late. Luckily there really was a doctor on board, and we were on our way about an hour later.

I realized not long after that that I was sitting next to the "Model" who was really working in German business, and was just visiting her boyfriend at MIT. She was very nice and very tall.

I was able to rest my eyes for much of the time by making use of the blindfold & earplugs that Air France provided. Once I finally managed to get my Paris Visite metro pass (the clerk gave me more zones than I needed-trying not to think @ that $), and I was walking to the train, a very nice fellow from Camaroon, named Willy, tried to pick me up. We had a lovely conversation on the train to Paris. He also guided me to the Louvre, where we parted ways.

I toured the Denon wing- luckily I got there right around 9am, and there were no lines, but by the time I hit the restroom and figured out I wasn't going to be able to get my 1st Paris Caffe Creme till 1030a, the tours started comming.

I managed to see most of what I wanted to see even with taking a break for a caffe creme & chocolate croisant. As I reached my limit for walking museums at about 3.5 hrs, I headed out looking for food.

Didn't find much and my energy started to flag, so I went to find my hotel. It was down a rue with some construction. When I eventually found it, and got my room, I found myself in a tiny room with a 1.5 (maybe) sqft shower. With only a moment's deliberation, I stripped and hopped in to freshen up.

Time was ticking and I tried to get to the Catacombs, but was a few minutes too late- I will have to try again tomorrow. Back I went to the area near my hotel.

Managed to slip and twist my ankle. I may be limping when I get back, but I'm gonna ice it tonight- still have a lot of walking to do. I'll take the elevator to the top of the Tour de Eiffel, that is for sure.

Found a grocery- picked up some h2o, snacks & a nice rose for when I get back tonight.

Now I'm finishing up my dinner of thick cut beefsteak (large steak tip) a tasty sauce, salad w/ walnuts, and great fried potatoes. I am on my 2nd caffe creme & a most wonderful creme brule.

Once I finish, I plan to head over to the tower, and perhaps take a cruise on the Seine.

I'll catch you up in "Trina's Paris Adventure, part Deux".

Part Deux!

Went to the Eiffel tower last evening. Even though there was quite a line, it moved quickly and I was getting on the elevator in about an hour. It was cold & rainy out (Thanks for the jacket Ori- it was a life saver!) so it the ride was not as smelly as it could have been.

The tower is an amazing structure.
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Wow, it's been a while! UPDATE

Wow, its been several months since I have last blogged! Lots has happened, especially recently.

The past week or so I have been reflecting more on the changes and improvements that I have brought into my life. Yoga, regularly @ 3 times a week, rethought & retooled my eating habits, lost several pounds & inches. Planning a trip over seas to photograph Paris, & went to listen to HH 14th Dalai Lama in person.

So, a lot of "doing". But will spend time observing my Being, as well.
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Perseverence

"Take control of your destiny. Believe in yourself. Ignore those who try to discourage you. Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits. Don't give up and don't give in."
—Wanda Hope Carter; motivational speaker and writer

This is another wonderful quote. Sometimes it is a challenge to put this concept in action, especially when one is currently surrounded by negativity, but each time one is successful, even just in the smallest bit, the following time becomes easier.

Even when one wants to give up, and still dosen't, one wins. When one perseveres there is the possibility to succeed.
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Just a reminder

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure….

"It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?…

"Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you…

"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-  from Marianne Williamson

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Remembering what I want

Yeah, I am trying not to make this blog hokey, but I may write about sensitive things that I am not even comfortable putting into words in my own head, sigh.

So....here goes

I have to restrain myself from prefacing many of my thoughts with "this may sound lame, but...". I remind myself that any time I have made a major shift in how I think about a particular issue/belief structure/expectation, I experience resistance, and that "lame" phrase is one of the ways I express that.

That phrase acts as a dismissal of the recognition of the need to change, or my desire for something specific - lessening them somehow.

I have found that - tho it is challenging at first - focusing on what I do want, spending some time each day "experiencing" what - do want (visualizing, imagining, putting myself into a meditative state where I feel as if I ALREADY have what I want & am the way I want to be) I bring those qualities into my life.

The initial hard part is changing the current negative flow of thinking.

Way back when I first started making these changes - and suceeding - I was changing things that were mostly outside of myself, and I was able to leverage some strengths. Now, tho, I am starting to work on some internal very painful things that I can't even say out loud to my own self.

Thinking about saying it blinds me with tears and chokes me.

So, that is my new goal: I will allow myself to say outloud what is holding me back. Then I can start changing how I think.

Whew! G-nite!
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Focusing on what I want to draw into my experience

I have a potentially major change coming up - hopefully within the next couple of months. As I was driving home from work I was thinking of all the reasons that are driving me away from my current situation and towards the new more desirable situation. Rationalizing why what I have needs to change.

I after a few moments of mental ranting, and starting to feel like I was "escaping" a bad situation, it occurred to me that I should be looking at all the reasons that are drawing me towards the new situation. In reality I am currently doing well and have no need to "escape".

I am looking forward to the benefits that would come to me with the change, and making sure that the +'s and the -'s are in a ratio that I can accept and prosper with.