Each trip has a theme song. Here’s what I’ve been listening to: - Strange Apparition – Beck- E Menina (Hey Girl) – Sergio Mendes- Daughterbitchin’ and Motherfuckin’ Style – Gecko Turner- Phantom Limb – The Shins- Florescent Adolescent – Arctic Monkeys- L’Appuntamento – Ocean’s Twelve Soundtrack- Historias Del Mar – Luis de Arquer- Brazil – Pink Martini- La Liste – Rose - Season One – Ricky Gervais Show Related Posts:A Month of SundaysBegin the BeginBalancing ActPhoto of the Day: 5 Maggio5 Weeks, 4 Sunglasses, 3 Countries, 2 Tired Feet, 1...

I don’t know if it’s the seaside view or just the rigours of travel, but the thing I do the most in Nice is sleep. It reminds me of Seattle. Another town I am hardly sleepless in. After rich French meals, I usually have bizarre dream about Phoenix life: - Hanging with the DL crew at the launch of their new magazine design- Wearing my latest Euro style – red leggings, brown oversized shirt, black belt- Arguing with Josh that he cannot wear the same- Swimming at Kathleen’s house- Climbing in my yellow Rockstars Related Posts:Balancing ActPhoto of the Day: 5 Maggio5 Weeks, 4 Sunglasses, 3 Countries

After two weeks on the go, constantly moving with all my belongings in tow, the break in Finale was a great relief. I arrived in Nice on Thursday and had a very silent ride to the apartment with the concierge. I am on the far side of town up a long hill. The apartment rivals any of the loft living going up in Phoenix. It’s about 750 sqft – huge by European standards. The kitchen flows into the living area bookended by two balconies, one overlooking the sea, the other the forest. The pool seems Olympic sized and overlooks the Abbaye the complex is named after. But loft living is loft living. Within...

After four trips to Paris, I have done both the tourist thing and the living with the locals thing. I love the city, but felt that fourth trip was the last I needed. This in turn prompted my trip to Italy last year. But fate – or frequent flier miles – brought me back to Paris, so I decided to get outside the city and follow my climbing passion. That means Fontainebleau. The biggest challenge for me when I travel is to not over plan. Still, I should have done more on this one. I basically did nothing other than locate Font on a map. After meeting the Millets, I got on a train, got off in Font,...

I met the family I am renting from in Nice. Maria and David Millet and their daughter Aline rendez-vous ed with me at the Fountain St. Michel. My French still needs work, so when Maria told me she was from Peru, I thought I had misunderstood. That she meant I was from Peru. But no, she is from Lima. She was very excited when she found out my dad was from Cuzco. She said she saw it in my hair. No, really. I got the French right on that one. That random connection made the transaction seem all the more right. Not only have they graciously rented me their lovely home, but have extended the use of their...