Les Americaines en Paris

A funny thing about Paris is watching the people. Branded as the world's fashion capitol, Paris occasionally has the sort of vibe that makes you think you might as well not even bother -- just go ahead and wear that fanny pack, tourist, because there's no way you're gonna keep up. Not only do the French have some awesome style, the other tourists come prepared to make a statement - and their elaborate "French girl" costumes are sometimes even better than the original!

I have no hope of blending in while in Paris. It's either my midwestern looks or my accent, but something about me gives me away to cab drivers and concierges alike in about 2 seconds -she's American. A much more reasonable goal, I believe, is trying to follow in the ballet slippered footsteps of some fashionable American girls in Paris. Observe:

Audrey Hepburn (in Funny Face)

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All black, boho outfit with comfy patent leather flats and a slip of bare ankle. Chic, easy and so travel friendly.

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I won't be following any of Carrie Bradshaw's advice when it comes to footwear, but clearly stripes are more than appropriate for a day of sightseeing en Paris. Carrie's striped dress is perfect for spring - I'm thinking a tank dress or maxi skirt for our summer trip.

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And finally, the Gossip Girls... Serena's footwear is ideal - flat but nowhere near the siren shoe of tourists --the dreaded white sneaker. A little dress, long strap bag and cute blazer? Parfait. Both ladies know a cute topper adds the perfect pinch of Parisian whimsy.

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Oh and this gal? Might not be in Paris, but basically has the best travel outfit. Comfy skirt, sheer long sleeve top and some foot-friendly flats. Of we go!

I'm packing a classic black jacket (for rain and cool nights), slim jeans, plain sandals, layer-able blouses and a dress or two for fun. I'll share a snap of my packing later (once I've actually done it.) Now your turn - what do you wear while traveling?

Let's Go: Abu Dhabi

Summer in Indiana is hot as a desert. Why not make the experience complete with a little dream trip to Abu Dhabi?

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This capitol city of the UAE is known for it's luxurious lifestyle (the average net worth of an individual in the Emirate is $17 million), striking landscape and modern architecture. As pride and joy of the city, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is an opulent tribute to the country's Muslim heritage - as well as their oil-fueled largess.

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  Constructed from materials from across the globe, the Grand Mosque features 82 domes, room for 40,000 and the world's largest carpet. Snap. And given all that, the Grand Mosque still isn't the only architectural marvel in Abu Dhabi. Just check out some of these buildings:

Hyatt Capitol Gate, here

Yas Viceroy, here

Helix Hotel, here

 Besides that, there's the beach - a glorious, white sand beach to be exact. Just look at that view!

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And if the fast-paced city life gets to be too much, head out on a desert safari, complete with camel companion.

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   Just remember - be a teensy bit more thoughtful than the SATC ladies; ie. keep your nipples covered, don't perform sex acts at restaurants and keep your condoms in your purse. You know, for cultural sensitivity.

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What do you think? Want to go to Abu Dhabi?

I KNOW I can.... (write a whole post on trains)

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Train travel always sounds like such a romantic way to get from point A to point B. It's like that scene from White Christmas where Bing Crosby and the gang board a train, dressed in their traveling best, (no sweatpants allowed) and gather in the dining car for a little after-dinner serenade about snow.

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But sometimes, things aren't quite so quaint. Remember when Carrie and Samantha take a train to California on Sex and the City? They expect Bing and ballgowns and end up with cramped quarters, motion sickness, and unsavory company.

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I've had a little bit of both extremes in my train travels. I took the sleek, modern Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Nara and the whole trip felt though we were barely moving at all. It was like riding a train in the future. 

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The opposite experience was riding the historic Durango and Silverton Railroad in the mountains of Colorado. The train, built in the late 1800s, was all glossy wood and bright yellow paint, hot from the coal engines that left smoke trailing through the air.

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On the not-so-great list: When I was a kid, we took a family trip from Indiana to Glacier National Park in Montana -- on Amtrak.  One night, late, a train-hopper got on and drunkenly sat down next to my grandma. The next thing we knew, she was covered with puke and the man was being escorted off the train. 

A rare moment of sleep in the train.

Even worse was a two-day trip on an Indian sleeper train. The trip involved police searches for a suspected bomb (it was fertilizer in a gallon bucket), whispered warning of a thief with a knife in the next cabin and little to no actual sleep. Additionally, in India, beggars are let on the train for free or a small fee. They spend their rides passing through each cabin, waving their hands wildly in tired faces until they are paid to leave. On our trip, we were encountered by a beggar with no legs who scooted himself around from cabin to cabin on his hands, filling his pockets with rupees.

So let's just say I am cautiously enthusiastic about trains. But there are a few amazing train trips that would bring me back on the rails again:

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How adorable is this car on the Shangri-La Express, which travels along the historic Silk Road? Sign me up.

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This is called the Tunnel of Love, in Kleven, Ukraine. I don't know anything about these tracks, but I want to be there.

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Finally, a dining car worthy of a pillbox hat, gloves and champagne on the Pullman Orient Express. Let's go!

Have you traveled by train? Would you? Do you have a train case just waiting to be used (I do!)