In five days I’m going to begin one of the most amazing trips ever! No, really. I’m not kidding. From New York, I’ll be flying to Toronto to have lunch with Chris, flying out that afternoon with Transat Holidays to Amsterdam for three days where I’ll meet up with Div and Priya, then take the train to Paris for three awesome and ridiculously packed days (there’s way too much I want to see in Paris!), and finally fly back to Vancouver for the weekend to spend time with my family before moving into my new apartment in New York the night I get back (I just signed my very first lease)! I can’t wait!! 
Since I’ll be leaving the day that my lease begins, I packed my meager possessions yesterday. As I was throwing out all my receipts and some other random things collected over the past four months, I realized that they don’t belong to a traveller. The receipts were mostly for the same hangouts, drinks at concert venues, movie tickets, our weekly Dinner Club events (which I realize I haven’t written about since February but now there are so many to catch up on I’m not entirely sure it’s possible), the odd grocery store visit (I rarely cook here), and things like cell phone service, MTA transit passes, and toiletries — general living expenses. I fell into my new life so naturally and so very quickly that there was scarcely a moment to play tourist and see the sights.
As much as I love my new life in New York and always having something to do and people to do them with, it’s a welcome change to be going on a trip that’s been planned out by Transat Holidays in collaboration with Amsterdam Marketing and Tourism France. I looked over the itinerary with Sarah who’s from France, Div who’s been to Amsterdam and Paris so many times that he might as well be a permanent resident, Moneim who used to live in Amsterdam, and my German instructor Thomas who used to live in Paris. Everyone agreed that I’m going to have an amazing time!
Here’s the plan:
Friday, June 1: I’m taking an early flight to Toronto to meet Chris for lunch, then flying to Amsterdam in the late afternoon.
Saturday, June 2: I arrive in Amsterdam and have a free afternoon where I’ll probably explore the Negen Straatjes, search for some of the pubs and cafés that my cousin Effie recommended (she also used to live in Amsterdam), take a canal cruise before dinner at Café Restaurant Stork with the rest of the media group, and head out to a club with Div, Priya, and friends.
Sunday, June 3: After breakfast at the hotel, we’re taking a guided walking tour by Amsterdam Marketing followed by a visit to the Anne Frank Huis (which I’ve heard is a must in Amsterdam), and I’ll have more leisure time before dinner at Restaurant Fifteen. I think I’ll spend the afternoon visiting the dutch beer houses that Effie recommended.
Monday, June 4: We’re exploring Amsterdam by Canal Bike and making a pub stop in the morning which I’m both excited about and slightly nervous because I’m not the most graceful on a bike. LOL I’ll spend the afternoon exploring the city by foot with Div before our Farewell Dinner at Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen.
Tuesday, June 5: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll be transferred to the train station and arrive at hotel Mercure Sacré Coeur which is very close to the Cimetiere de Montmartre and Moulin Rouge. I plan on visiting the former quickly before our walking tour of Montmartre with Cityvibrations, and the latter after dinner at Restaurant Moulin de la Galette. I’m especially excited about visiting this restaurant for its history. I think it’s incredibly cool to be able to walk into the setting of a painting you once tried to replicate as a child (Renoir’s Le Moulin de la Galette).
Wednesday, June 6: Following breakfast at our hotel, we will take a city-tour in Citroen 2CV before a visit to Galéries Lafayette for lunch and a presentation. I was confused when I first saw this on the itinerary because the Galéries Lafayette is a department store. It wasn’t until Sarah and my German instructor told me about how beautiful the architecture is that I understood why we were visiting. I might sneak a peak into Printemps afterwards since it’s next door, but exploring the historic district of Le Marais will take priority. After that, I will change quickly before our dinner cruise on a Parisian boat with Bateaux Parisiens (another major highlight for me on this trip since there should be a nice view of the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, La Statue de la Liberté, Le Louvre, and so much more). After dinner, I plan on visiting Le Carmen for a late night drink, which was recommended by my German instructor for its gorgeous interior.
Thursday, June 7: Another major highlight of this trip is the Gastronomic Walk with Paris Sweet Paris that we have planned (you know how much I love food!). We’ll be taking a tour with them before lunch in Saint Germain des Près and a visit to a temporary Louis-Vuitton / Marc Jacobs exhibition at Les Arts Décoratifs or Balenciaga at Cité de la Mode. We have a bit of of free time this afternoon so I might try to visit Le Louvre or Notre Dame before we go to the Musée d’Orsay and have our final Farewell Dinner at Le Poulpry.
Friday, June 8: Our flights depart in the early morning and I arrive in Vancouver at 1:50pm where a weekend of catching up, and more eating and drinking will take place! 