Finally a Decision
Yep, I can make them, well, occassionally.
I know where I would like to travel to, if I am just going site seeing and not hiking.
The top choices for now--Paris and Greece. Greece is no surprise. I've always wanted to go there. It's been on my list the entire time. Ok, France has too, though way down at the bottom, just above England. And the reasons that I have always kept France, and especially Paris so low on the list are completely and utterly silly and stupid. Who cares if I have to put up with some teasing (and yep, probably a few hurt feelings) from my friends for having chosen what is supposed to be a romantic destination. Yes, I'm female, I'm single and I'm a little bit of a romantic, but that's not the reason I would choose to vacation in Paris. For me Paris is not the "I've always dreamed of going there, ever since I was a little girl" cliche. I'd select it for it's history, the museums and the fact that I have never been there. Plus, it is a place that I could probably get around all by myself without having to rely on a tour group all the time.
Now, if I decide to take a hiking tour, the decision becomes a bit more difficult. My top choices would be the Anaperna or Everest base camp treks. But, I know that I am not in good enough physical condition for either of those at the moment. So, I need to do some more research and pick a few less strenuous tours to take in turn until I have built myself up to the point of being able to handle my ultimate choices. And this is ok too, because the goal here is to see more of what I have not seen--just me, my camera, and my journal.
And, someday, if I'm very lucky, maybe one of my friends will join me too.
What is the choice at the absolute top of my list--the ultimate choice? My "I've always dreamed of going there, ever since I was a little girl" cliche? Space. And in solid form, the Moon.
I know where I would like to travel to, if I am just going site seeing and not hiking.
The top choices for now--Paris and Greece. Greece is no surprise. I've always wanted to go there. It's been on my list the entire time. Ok, France has too, though way down at the bottom, just above England. And the reasons that I have always kept France, and especially Paris so low on the list are completely and utterly silly and stupid. Who cares if I have to put up with some teasing (and yep, probably a few hurt feelings) from my friends for having chosen what is supposed to be a romantic destination. Yes, I'm female, I'm single and I'm a little bit of a romantic, but that's not the reason I would choose to vacation in Paris. For me Paris is not the "I've always dreamed of going there, ever since I was a little girl" cliche. I'd select it for it's history, the museums and the fact that I have never been there. Plus, it is a place that I could probably get around all by myself without having to rely on a tour group all the time.
Now, if I decide to take a hiking tour, the decision becomes a bit more difficult. My top choices would be the Anaperna or Everest base camp treks. But, I know that I am not in good enough physical condition for either of those at the moment. So, I need to do some more research and pick a few less strenuous tours to take in turn until I have built myself up to the point of being able to handle my ultimate choices. And this is ok too, because the goal here is to see more of what I have not seen--just me, my camera, and my journal.
And, someday, if I'm very lucky, maybe one of my friends will join me too.
What is the choice at the absolute top of my list--the ultimate choice? My "I've always dreamed of going there, ever since I was a little girl" cliche? Space. And in solid form, the Moon.
12 Comments:
I spent an afternoon in Paris once toward the end of a whirlwind improvised European tour with two college buddies. (We only had an afternoon there because we had to get back to Calais to take the ferry back to Dover the next day.)
All we had time for was a trip up the Eiffel Tower. My two friends managed to get lost (one got separated and the other went to look for him, they got on the elevator in one of the legs to come back up to the section where I was waiting and of course the elevator was going down, then they had to argue for a while about not paying again to come back up). I got a really bad case of vertigo in the glass elevator that goes up the central spire. I was right against the glass and literally got weak in the knees. But we had a great time.
Greece was my father's favorite place to visit. I was there, but only in my mom's womb, so no memories for me!
Space and the moon were big on my list when I was younger. Not so much anymore.
Jeez, David,
If your novel is as well-written as is your note -- perhaps even better -- then I look forward to reading it! Of course, impatience gets the better of me... What are the odds of obtaining an ARC? :-)
Hi David,
Thank you for the compliment. I'm all out of the few copies I had, but if you e-mail me your mailing address I'll see if I can get HarperCollins to send you one.
vid989@yahoo.com
I saw the book signing photos on your blog. Sounded like a good time. Care to reveal which one is Zara? She's being coy.... :-)
(My guess is the redhead with the coffee cup.)
I reread my first post and guess I don't really see what's so special about the writing, and I'll warn you that my "epic fantasy mode" is pretty different (though it's not the "teenage" variety where the writing seems overexplained to me). What I mean by that is where the narrative voice, or the internal voice of the characters, explains things that should be obvious, which obliterates any chance of subtlety, nuance, and the reader's own interpretation of events.
I'm reading "Elantris" at the moment, and while the story is interesting enough, I'm not a big fan of the writing for the reasons stated above. A strong editor could have made it a lot better than it is, IMHO.
Sorry for hijacking your blog, Zara...
I reread my first post and guess I don't really see what's so special about the writing
What is/was "so special," David, is that you employ an economy of words -- similar to a poet's choosy nature. You create a setting and time (a college-years trip to Europe), characters (two friends + you), and then tell a story of wonders seen and feelings evoked, including vertigo. (Which I too suffered during the same ascent and at the same moment!) Finally, you cover time and space by going from non-birth to birth to Europe and the moon.
All very well stated, if you ask me. Thus my interest and impatience to read your novel. Fantasy does not constitute my typical reading matter; the closest I come is The Mysteries, which I am enjoying now. Anyway, importunate request forthcoming via private email...
Thank you for the compliment re the Wil McCarthy event. It was more a presentation on programmable matter than a book signing; we (I) included that to satisfy the bookstore. The event really was a great success for all: Wil presented before a large, interested, and participatory group; the bookstore sold all ~50 copies of Wil's books; and the sponsoring groups had the opportunity to garner new members.
Re: Zara -- I can say only that you are close. :-)
Is every man I know named David? :-)
David F.--hijack away. My blog hasn't seen this much action in , well, ever. A+ for effort on trying to discover my id.
David--the going rate for getting info out of me about you just went up exponentially. ;-)
Let's see, Zara,
You have a David F and a David G talking to each other... so where are David E and David H...? :-)
:-)
You know those nieces and nephew that I mention from time to time--David H is their father (and my carpool driver).
I'll have to think about the David E.
I used to know a David D, but I haven't heard from him in a few years. Most likely because I cracked up every time I heard his last name --Dickinsheets. I suppose a guy can only take so much laughter.
David, I see what you're getting at about my writing. But be warned, I blog the way I speak. My "epic" writing is pretty different, and much less economical in some respects because of the world-building aspects that take place.
My YA novel FOREVERNESS is written in a very different style, much closer to my speaking voice, but that's because the story is a modern one and that narrative style was more approrpiate.
You can read the prologue and first chapter at my webstie, www.davidforbes.net, if you want a sneak peak.
As to other guys named David, I'm afraid I can't help either of you out much....
The top choices for now -- Paris and Greece.
Zara,
Returning to the topic of travel... I find it notable that you have winnowed the world to one country (Greece) and one city (Paris); it might surprise, but you could spend a lifetime in either. I am envious of your coming trip.
Allow me to suggest that, if you travel mid-April to mid-May, then visit the Greek Islands (rather than mainland Greece). Flowers will abound in Paris, but more typically can be found in gardens; whereas in the Greek Islands the wildflowers will be in full bloom. Trust me, this show of color makes for a photographer's delight.
All this is moot, of course, if you travel during any other time of the year. Then I suggest you do both. And more! Do not neglect Le Petit Suisse in Luxembourg found in-between...
David G.,
Thanks for the advice. The hope is to travel somewhere between the end of this year and June of next year--maybe 2-3 weeks, funding and vacation time permitting.
Mid-April to mid-May....hmmm, wanna join me in Greece for my birthday next year? :-)
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