Today Mika and I departed from LAX to CDG.  I was surprised at how well Mika handled the long flight. Needless to say booking a night flight and electronics were a huge plus! Aside from that, British Airways has a great kid program if you book it ahead of time. I was able to get a kid-friendly meal and even a "fun pack" full of nick knacks to keep Mika busy.

When we finally go to Paris I was amazed at how different it was to travel with Mika. I felt vulnerable and open to attacks. All I can do is keep her by my side and get us into a taxi and to our hotel as soon as possible. Mika was exhausted, aside from the long flight there was a 9 hour time change. Poor baby slept from 6pm till 6am.

Hitting the road...

Tickets are booked. Mika and I will be traveling from June 26- Sept 6.  PLanned countries??? Spain, Italy, France, Morrocco?? Ok maybe not Morocco... I don't want to end up on a made for TV movie al la "Not Without My Daughter"

Can I still be an adventurous traveler?

As the months pass by I find myself asking that question over and over. When I travelled alone it was easy to go with the flow of things and head wherever the wind blew. With Mika in tow however, this could prove to be dangerous. I mean, am I really comfortable taking risks with my child in tow... NO! does this mean that I will never be able to travel independently, with out some bougie all inclusive hotel package? i dont think so. I can;t see myself spending all my time in a hotel or on planned excurisons. This first trip t Spain will be a great experience. Spain is a country I feel comfortable in. I know the language and the customs, it should be exciting. I am planning the trip more carefully. I have a bit more of a schedule to follow.....

Planning

So it'a official, I'm heading out to spain for the summer with my daughter. I've enrolled her in a language immersion program in the south of spain and rented an apartment for us. I'm extremly excited to be going back. I haven't been to spain since 2006... four long years away from the only place I've ever felt like myself in.

As i begin planning the trip foor us I can't help but be dissapointed at the lack of information for single parents traveling with children. There doesnt seem to be a source of support ofor this type of travel... almost as if  one is  expected to stay home and be miserable when you are a single parent.

I have high hopes for this trip. It will be just Mika and me. I can't wait! I'm sure there will be plently of interesting moments to write about... especially with her. ...shes such a character.
This trip also represents something different for me. A change if you will, It will be the first trip where I actually plan on being responsible and visiting historical sites and appreciating the culture. Perhaps this signifies that i have finally transitioned from an unruly adolescent to an adult.

I can only hope that Mika will appreciate all the things this journey has to offer. She has gotten so wrapped up in pop culture that im sure she will suffer sever culture schock without the disney channel or tv for that matter....

Time for change

Today i woke up to that all too familiar feeling... I need to get away. Some people have drug, gambling, alcohol addictions; i have an addiction to traveling. The need for a change in scenery. I need the air to smell different. I'm not really sure when this began, but something tells me it was fostered by traveling with my grandparents all the time when i was little. Some of my fondest memories involve packing up a suitcase and disappearing with my grandparents for weeks at a time.... to this day thats all i really need to be happy.