Expat Travels - Real People, Real Stories
First Stop, Paris
By Catherine Lumayaga
Mar 9, 2006, 16:58

Eight months ago I met Marvin Abella and he told me he had traveled the world already. He is about 32, he wanted to hop through several continents, explore its culture, food, music, passenger routes, beers, liquors and well everything else. But no girls. This is about traveling the globe not marveling at girls.

He had me read his conquests dating back to March 23, 2004. His first stop? Paris.

What could've have been more eventful than being trapped in jam packed Santa Monica on the way to the airport (flight for Boston) and being checked by the TSA twice. The flight to Paris went smoothly and he met a very nice lady. Marvin claims that he did not 'hit' on her (she's 70 and visiting her daughter in Paris). The woman gave him insights about Europe to set him on a good start.  Good start that is until he waited 30 minutes for his luggage when the carousel had been doing its rounds for 15 minutes. He didn't have a problem with the people in the airport and now this.  He was at Charles De Gaulle airport which was fairly efficient according to my friend. It turned out that most of that flights luggage was lost during the connecting flight from Portland, Maine to Newark, New Jersey. As they say, not off to a good start.

I asked him, "Did you at least have an overnight bag?" "No", came the reply,? I was in a foreign land with only my iPod." How poetic. After some talks for the luggage to be flown to Paris. Marvin Immediately proceeded to see his friend Julie, where he is staying for the night. The only problem he had was getting the ticket in the train station. US Air found the luggage and had it delivered right in front of Julie's apartment but, the shampoo he bought for Julie spilled all over his things that he smelled like Pantene ProV for the next few weeks!  Interesting I told him. Being curious, I decided to make some conversation:

What was the first food you ate I wondered, "French salad and roasted duck." 

How was the salad like? He said it was like a regular salad with a "good fruity dressing". Nice, so where did the "French salad" part came in? I asked. He just laughed.

Well, the next day Marvin decided that his new hobby will be tourist watching. This is best done while having a feast of crepe with Nutella and pain au chocolat (croissant with chocolate). Again, the long conversation for a single train ticket happened.  He visited the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame de Paris and MonteMarte. My friend them informed me that in Paris the women to men ratio is much higher. Tons of women he said until he reminded himself that this is about traveling. The Louvre was amazing but he got lost there a number of times (he compared it to a lobby of a Vegas Hotel) but still enjoyed it.  Marvin might have noticed the Vegas Hotel lobby question in my head:  "in the Louvre, you can never seem to find the exit even though it is right in front of your face". The Mona Lisa painting was in for its usual glory where people stand in front of it taking endless pictures. Overrated he said.

Well, hopefully we will hear more from Marvin.. until then au revoir!

About the Author:  Catherine 'Cat' Lumayaga is a freelance writer located in Manila, Phillipines.