Holiday - signed, sealed, now waiting...

My friend emailed me yesterday to confirm that our accommodation in Paris was confirmed, and that the deposit has been paid for!

The first 3 places, located right in the epicentre were booked out, even though on the website calendar (which indicates its availability) showed that it was free.

I had started to panic, thinking that all the people who were into Rugby had planned their trip to watch the World Cup, had already booked all the good accommodation. I mean all the airfares were sold out for that period, going via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok. My travel agent had to book a flight via Hong Kong...which im okay with...

Our 4th choice of accommodation is still in the centre, 3rd Arrdt and the Landlord's comment is as follows:

The neighbourhood is safe, and absolutely stunning, located centrally only a short walk from the Centre Pompidou, Le Marais, Le Louvre...don't forget to walk to La Rue de Bretagne and take advantage of its variety of delicatessens. Inside, everything is newly furnished and modern. You'll capitalize on the small private courtyard and the mezzanine, in complete privacy from the rest of the studio.

Its a studio apartment on the Ground Floor of the building...and it has its own little courtyard. It may not have a view like the other 3 places, but the location is very good in terms of public transport and of course its near the Louvre...

I told my aunt (she is the youngest of all my Dad's cousins) that i was going to Europe in September this year. I told her all the details and how i was staying in Paris for 4 extra days after my tour...she has been travelling for a very long time now. She is a graphic designer for an advertising agency and has done all the things i've wanted to do. She has done Europe with a tour and then back packing, gone to Asia and has travelled from the North to the South and visited the glaciers in NZ.

She bursted my bubble and told me that Paris is not what its cracked up to be. And im grateful that she did. Because now, i will go with little expectation and hopefully wont be disappointed at the end of my experience. I dont have much expectation of all the other cities i will be visiting...so, its going to be interesting.

January is coming to a close...tomorrow it will be February...7 more months and i will be on a plane flying away from Sydney. Its half a year + 1 month, but it will fly by. I'll know its time to leave when i get my taxes done, hopefully its a bigger refund this year so i have more spending money!!!

I'm so excited, but at the same time im scared...well not really scared, but nervous. I have never really travelled to a foreign place on my own before. I'm a worry wart too, so i tend to stress about EVERYTHING!

All i can do now is wait...waiting...waiting...waiting...6 months later down the track and i'll panic.