ibiza weekend getaway

we started our trek to Paris Friday afternoon. with the recent Brussels attacks, security has heightened and we were anxiety filled about making our flight. we trained from angers to massy, a train station in Paris. we needed to get from massy to orly, an airport in Paris. there was a bus, but the public transportation is entirely unpredictable here (as is most travel in Europe) so we we're pretty worried about getting there in time. we chose to uber, and trusty Philippe got us to the airport with traffic in about 20 minutes. merci & bless you, Philippe. 

ripping into the airport (not sure what security would be like) we hustled through to our hall (or terminal as we'd call it in the states) and zipped through security, which was a real relief. holly was patted down, again, but my backpack made it through without being checked (unlike last time) so that was superb. we grabbed a sandwich, had time to use the bathroom (I couldn't figure out the dang hand dryer, and came out of the bathroom cracking up and immediately hol knew I had a story) and boarded our flight. for some reason everyone around holly and I both had a ton of people around us with seating problems. there was a couple with a baby split up next to me, and currently the baby is bawling (but fake crying. we all know what I'm talking about) and holly is next to a lady with a cat. A CAT ON A PLANE. leave those disgusting things at home lady. it popped out and she was talking to it and petting it and I about vommed. in case you weren't aware, I can't stand cats. I am a dog gal through and through.

Holly's Corner:

• a into g. meaning: ass into gear
• flannel. meaning: washcloth
• avo. meaning: afternoon
• maccas. meaning: McDonald's

we landed, went to the exit of the airport and there were no buses or taxis or anything in sight. the taxi line was a mile long, and I swear in the US there are millions of taxis looking for business and when their services are needed they're no where to be found. we saw a bus pull up after about 15 minutes, and a bunch of people dashed in that direction. so we did what any sensibly lost and poor college student would do - we ran too. we hopped on the bus with absolutely no idea where it was going and hoped for the best. we asked the bus driver after being on the road for a bit if the bus was going anywhere near (showed him our hostel address) and he replied with a "si" so we're like ok cool. well he blew past where we wanted to get off and didn't stop for another 10 minutes by bus, a solid 20 walking. thanks for leading us astray bus driver..

we made our way to the hostel, which had closed prior to our arrival and we notified them in advance and there was supposed to be a girl to let us in. surprise, there wasn't. they weren't answering phone calls or emails so we waited for about 45 minutes (hungry tired and it was already 1030pm) and so we surrendered. I found us a hotel to stay at nearby, for cheap, and it was the perfect location. we went to the hostel the next morning (hostal Ibiza in case you're thinking of traveling. don't stay here, just flip them the bird and keep walking by) and tried to get a refund since we didn't even STAY there because we had no way of GETTING IN. as you could guess, these two women were awful. I mean they accepted zero accountability for the situation and holly and I firmly stood our ground and the "pit bulls" as hol called them just wouldn't budge. in the end, we were charged that night and cancelled our booking for the rest of the weekend. we went back to the hotel we stayed at the night before, and our gal at the front desk was confused why we returned, we explained it to her, and when we got to our room we realized she upgraded us without an up charge. YAY for good people, right?

after we settled in again, we went out to shop a little bit. venturing around the little shops was really fun, the buildings were beautiful and the sun was shining. we had lunch by the water, and cheers-ed to a sunny day with warm weather and great company. we sat by the pool for a bit after we shopped, and then made our way to dinner (we we're starving) so we both had pasta. we hung out in the room for a bit, showered and got ready to venture out for the evening. hol did my makeup, so I felt like a total celeb. I skyped with Mom, Dad and Tessie as they were in Cleveland with the family for Easter. they asked what I was doing and I was laughing saying we had to kill some time because clubs don't open until after 11 or 12. we had a little Ibiza vodka, a little wine, and made our 25 minute walk to pacha, a big club near the port. I about died at the steep entrance fee, and I will NEVER complain about a cover charge at tim's again. the inside was super cool, insanely huge and decked out and people everywhere. my biggest complaint (anyone who knows me will be able to guess this): THE MUSIC. it was heinous! just like the same techno beat over and over again. you can't sing or dance to it at all and after a drink and some people watching hol and I called it quits. the music.. so disappointing. unfortunately hol wasn't feeling too hot, so we were up a bit hoping her stomach would settle. we eventually fell asleep, I awoke the next morning feeling okay not great, but poor hol was having a seriously lost day. she ended up sleepingmost of the afternoon, and I relaxed by the pool. when she woke up we went for a little dinner, and then giggled our way into bed reading tweets and funny articles.

Sunday we made our way to the beach, and it was so lovely. blue water & blue skies - I'm all about that. it would get overcast and breezy to the point of it being chilly (it was only about 65) but compared to angers it was summer hot. we were thoroughly entertained by all of the kiddos on the beach, free entertainment to say the least. we split a calzone at a table on the water and made our way back home just in time for the sun to permanently hide behind the clouds. we both had ourselves a bath, and tucked into bed for the long day of travel ahead.

travel day - our least favorite. found our way to the airport on the hottest and longest bus ride we've ever been on, cruised through security and sat around for our flight.  it was delayed (peachy) so then the anxiety kicked in about making our train because we have to get from orly airport to massy train station. had time to start tallying general expenses.. my bank account is currently weeping. plane ride was a mare. someone cut some serious fromage (who does that on a plane.. it's recycled air people, honestly) in response to the shifty smells, hol goes, "humans are filthy. I'm ashamed." and these two little Spanish girls were yelling and talking coughing and moving around kicking chairs behind hol and I. we were over the flight real quick if you can imagine. holly is sitting next to me and goes, "they said snakes on a plane was bad. how about tots? tots on a plane: a horror story." and you wonder why I want to be around her constantly - she's a crack up.plan ride was a mare. someone cut some serious fromage (who does that on a plane.. it's recycled air people, honestly) in response to the shifty smells, hol goes, "humans are filthy. I'm ashamed." and these two little Spanish girls were yelling and talking coughing and moving around kicking chairs behind hol and I. we were over the flight real quick if you can imagine. holly is sitting next to me and goes, "they said snakes on a plane was bad. how about tots? tots on a plane: a horror story." and you wonder why I want to be around her constantly - she's a crack up.

in total, we were at the airport for 2.5 hours, on the plane for 2, and on the train for another 2. joys of travel, eh? we utilized a plane, train, automobile and bus today - transpo gone mad. getaways are a blast but returning to home sweet angers is still my favorite part. until next time, Ibiza.

cheers, jkro