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The trip to come

I have a very long bucket list. On said list are a multitude of international locations, some predictably so, some for more personal reasons like 'wanting to visit the homeland of my people' and that sort of thing. Some are on there for no apparent reason but a whim.

Of all the types of locations, for all the reasons they appear upon my list, Abu Dhabi remained absent up until a month ago, when it not only was added, it was placed in the top two spot.

Let me explain.

Son is working over in the land of many sandstorms and camels and plentiful oil reserves and indoor ski slopes and where the bright shiny present crashes into the 5th century. Everywhere you look, I'm told.

He said we should come visit, and that we should do it when the daily temps are somewhere below interior of the sun levels, which means in the winter. It should be around 80 degrees most days.

At first we couldn't fathom a trip of that magnitude right now, but then we realized he was probably not going back for another contract year so our opportunity window began to close and so we came to the only conclusion that made sense, which was to go over there this year, for the holidays.

The holidays abroad.

Our first ever non-traditional approach, we're taking. And I must say we're all starting to gear up.

Daughter is chatting with profs about how soon she can head out after finals.

G.G. is shopping for deals, joining AAA, chatting up anyone he can find with international experience and/or a desire to share. And he's found some really helpful people so far. Which is cool.

I have already purchased those really strange/cool/absolutely comfortable Dansko clogs anticipating the need for comfort on cobblestones.

No, there aren't cobblestones in Abu Dhabi, but there are in Paris, where we're headed first. I just have to share Lemon Gloria's recent post on Paris, because she's great, and I share her views on many topics, and you'll enjoy it: It's called a spork, the opposite of camping, and it also turns out I like creepy little freaks.

Anyway, Paris and Abu Dhabi await.

I've begun my incessant list making, and am currently deciding how careful I want to be with packing given that we're going to visit two different weather zones, one for 3 days, one for 7, one cold and wet, one temperate, etc. Right now I'm thinking layers are the way to go, with lots of black accented by a few nice scarves.

And of course, emerald green snakeskin Danskos. A girl just can't head across the big pond without at least one pair of absolutely ridiculous comfy shoes, right?

Have a great weekend!

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