San Fran

My visa appointment went smoothly, which is an absolute miracle. Mom and I got up 3 hours early to finish printing my documents and passport pictures. I was sick to my stomach the entire time because 1)there was a confirmation I hadn't received yet, and 2) a visa takes 2-3 weeks to process and I'm leaving for Europe on Monday...yikes. Basically the man on the other side of the plexi-glass during my appointment could have crushed all my travel plans if he wanted. I am a very lucky girl


I finally got my appetite back and it was only fitting to have a french breakfast :)




Ironically, I just read a review in the Wall Street Journal on a San Franciscan restaurant named Alioto's. Mom and I found it almost right away and got to business on our seafood. Isn't she cute in her bib?!




This is the Palace of Fine Arts. I could have spent a whole day there, it was beautiful


That would be Alcatraz to the left of her head ;)


Ghiradelli Square...as about delicious as it sounds






Lombard Street...it was actually built like that to stem traffic flow with its zig-zags, but that plan kind of backfired


CHINATOWN!


We rode the trolley from Fisherman's Wharf up through Russian Hill and down to Union Square. We waited quite a while at one of the stops because every trolley passing by was full. We decided to hike a little and wait til the crowd thinned out, which was actually the best plan. Otherwise, we might have missed our flight!!


xoxo
Caitlin
caitlinboyd72@gmail.com

down by the bay

The first leg of my trip to Europe is actually a flight to San Francisco, to get my student visa squared away.

Mom and I packed bags for the night and jetted down to the bay yesterday. It's kind of surreal taking a 'day trip' with barely any luggage... I guess it won't feel much different though when I get on a flight to Dublin with nothing but a 20lb backpack.

We're really good at traveling together. Obviously, Mom and I have hung out a few times, but she's one of those people who have the same interests in a new place that I do...as well as some motherly reassurance when I stress out ;)

We navigated the BART and downtown without a problem. And I should mention we killed the crossword on the airplane too.

Now it's off to breakfast, the French Consulate, and a full 11 hours in San Fran!!



xoxo
Caitlin
caitlinboyd72@gmail.com

and it all works out

Reassurance is opening a financial aid letter which covers your entire senior year tuition.

Reassurance is finding airfare and hotel stays for less than your budget.

Reassurance is making a last minute VISA appointment after hitting the refresh button for 30 minutes.

Reassurance is coming home with an extra 50 dollars to go in the 'Europe fund'.

What a relief it is to know these decisions I've made over the last two years are paying off. I am in the right place, with the right people, and the world is at my fingertips.

10 days til takeoff :)

xoxo
Caitlin
caitlinboyd72@gmail.com

ohh la la

xoxo
Caitlin
caitlinboyd72@gmail.com

parallel and perpendicular

Sometimes I feel like a crazy person. There are a million things to do and I don't know where to start, so I either go for a run to exhaust myself OR organize myself on paper.

It's usually in the form of a 'To-Do' list...I actually look back in my notebooks from school and every third or fourth page has a frenzy of things to check off, to accomplish, to get done. I have an entire steno with lists of movies to watch, books to read, places to go, etc. Some of it is essential, like booking plane tickets for a trip, and some is just fun stuff to indulge in when I have a free moment.

Today, I created a calendar. Not everyone can see it, but there is this countdown clock which looms over every plan I make and every day that goes by. With 3 weeks and 3 days until my departure, I hoped to pin my craziness down with parallel and perpendicular lines.



Whew, I feel better already.

On a separate note, I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS ADVENTURE TO BEGIN!
If I haven't already told you, I am backpacking for two weeks from Dublin to Amsterdam to London to Paris, and then down to Montpellier to begin my school program through December.

I WILL be taking my laptop with me and hope to document EVERYTHING. It's funny that this blog began as a travel journal two years ago and will become one once again! Please leave a comment or e-mail me your address if you would like to receive a postcard...I am gladly sending them from each stop along the way!

Currently listening to Waste by Foster the People

xoxo
Caitlin
caitlinboyd72@gmail.com