And so the ever changing mind of Martine ruins everything again...
Because of fuzzy math and whimsical fancies, I'm forced to change my "perfect" European travel plans. Fuzzy math: apparently, I can't calculate time between dates. The 6+1 deal is valid until December 31 and the passes are valid for 6 months after the date of purchase. If I bought the pass on December 31, it would expire after June 30, leaving me pass-less for 2 weeks in Paris :( So, the deal with the extra day is a no-go.
Whimsical fancies: I realized that I don't have any specific reason to go to Venice, but I do have specific reasons to go to Rome - the center of Catholicism, and another heart of Western civilization! So, I've allocated 2 days of travel for Rome. Also, I hope to make a journey to Lourdes, France to see St. Bernadette's grotto.
Now the journey looks like this:
1 day -Aix -> Paris
1 day - Paris/Aix <-> Switzerland (with Pierre!)
1 day - Paris<->Caen
2 days - Aix<->Avignon - Also, happy trips to Arles and Fraxinetum.
2 days - Aix<->Rome
1 day - Paris/Aix<->Lourdes
=8 days of travel - Eurail Selectpass Youth - $325. (Hopefully, they don't increase the rates too much with the new year.)
The earliest day I can purchase a pass is January 19, 2007. By then, I should have some solid plans as well as dates.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Friday, November 24, 2006
Gettin' Around
Haha. I just planned my dream European vacation.
I started exploring RailEurope again, but this time with precision and goals. I listed my desired routes on a piece of paper and started checking sample train fares. I had already planned on getting a Eurail Selectpass Youth, which allows me to travel to 3 countries of my choosing for x amount of days in a 2 month period. The cheapskate in me focused on the cheapest pass - the one for 5 days.
Lo and behold, I discovered that RailEurope had an Early Bird promotion that was giving free days of traveling for all passes 6 days and up, meaning I could by a 6 day pass and get 1 days free! FREE! Seven days of roaming my favorite 3 European countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland.
I haven't hammered out dates yet. But at least I narrowed it down to cities!
Did I mention that buying a 6+1 day pass for $275 saves me $480 (the amount it would cost to buy individual Point-to-Point tickets)? Saving money is indeed awesome! I might still have to buy reservations for some trains, like the TGV from Marseille to Paris.
I started exploring RailEurope again, but this time with precision and goals. I listed my desired routes on a piece of paper and started checking sample train fares. I had already planned on getting a Eurail Selectpass Youth, which allows me to travel to 3 countries of my choosing for x amount of days in a 2 month period. The cheapskate in me focused on the cheapest pass - the one for 5 days.
Lo and behold, I discovered that RailEurope had an Early Bird promotion that was giving free days of traveling for all passes 6 days and up, meaning I could by a 6 day pass and get 1 days free! FREE! Seven days of roaming my favorite 3 European countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland.
I haven't hammered out dates yet. But at least I narrowed it down to cities!
Did I mention that buying a 6+1 day pass for $275 saves me $480 (the amount it would cost to buy individual Point-to-Point tickets)? Saving money is indeed awesome! I might still have to buy reservations for some trains, like the TGV from Marseille to Paris.
- Aix-en-Provence -> Paris - after school is done, I'm off to Paris to meet my mom.
- Paris <-> Basel - I have to stalk Roger Federer while in Europe...possibly with Pierre <3
- Aix <-> Avignon - CEA will probably sponsor an excursion there, but I'd like to go on my own as well. I want to spend 2 days there. All other locations get 1 day.
- Marseille <-> Milan - I want to go to Venice, but I couldn't find a fare for a direct route.
- Milan-Venice <-> The city just kind of intrigues me.
- Paris <-> Strasbourg - German France, yay!
- Paris <-> Caen - Northern France deserves a visit, too! Possibly some WWII sightseeing...?
Saturday, November 11, 2006
The beginning
Well, here it comes.
After years of dreaming about going France, it finally looks like there's a real chance it could happen.
A Francophile's Dream
I like France. A lot. And through some strange kindness/generosity of my mom, I'm going to be able to go study there. I'm going through Cultural Experiences Abroad and will be studying the French language in Aix-en-Provence. Aix-en-Provence, not to be confused with the billion other Aixes, can be found in Southern France near the Mediterranean. Nicknamed the "City of a Thousand Fountains," it holds a medium-sized population and a bustling student population.
I'll be attending Université Aix-Marseille III - Paul Cézanne, named for the Impressionist painter.
Tiny Steps
I may not be leaving until May, but the journey starts now. Endless paperwork awaits me.
Today, my mother and I found some handsome airfares from NYC to Marseille under $1k! Yay! Soon, I'll start the official application process...and then collect information for visas and roommate information and all that jazz. A tad overwhelming, but completely worth it.
Bold Plans
I'll be in Aix from late May to the end of June, and in Paris from early July to July 17. I plan on traveling to nearby places while I'm there. School will probably limit my travel to the immediate surrounding areas (I don't want to miss too many classes ;), but once I'm done studying, I'm a free bird! Hopefully, I'll get to see a lot of France, some Switzerland, Italy and maybe some Germany if I feel like it.
Hmmm. This should be interesting. The updates will be sparse since I'm in the beginning of the process. As more action comes, I'll blog more often. Check back for updates, and eventually, OODLES UPON OODLES of pictures and strange foreign stories.
After years of dreaming about going France, it finally looks like there's a real chance it could happen.
A Francophile's Dream
I like France. A lot. And through some strange kindness/generosity of my mom, I'm going to be able to go study there. I'm going through Cultural Experiences Abroad and will be studying the French language in Aix-en-Provence. Aix-en-Provence, not to be confused with the billion other Aixes, can be found in Southern France near the Mediterranean. Nicknamed the "City of a Thousand Fountains," it holds a medium-sized population and a bustling student population.
I'll be attending Université Aix-Marseille III - Paul Cézanne, named for the Impressionist painter.
Tiny Steps
I may not be leaving until May, but the journey starts now. Endless paperwork awaits me.
Today, my mother and I found some handsome airfares from NYC to Marseille under $1k! Yay! Soon, I'll start the official application process...and then collect information for visas and roommate information and all that jazz. A tad overwhelming, but completely worth it.
Bold Plans
I'll be in Aix from late May to the end of June, and in Paris from early July to July 17. I plan on traveling to nearby places while I'm there. School will probably limit my travel to the immediate surrounding areas (I don't want to miss too many classes ;), but once I'm done studying, I'm a free bird! Hopefully, I'll get to see a lot of France, some Switzerland, Italy and maybe some Germany if I feel like it.
Hmmm. This should be interesting. The updates will be sparse since I'm in the beginning of the process. As more action comes, I'll blog more often. Check back for updates, and eventually, OODLES UPON OODLES of pictures and strange foreign stories.
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