Carol

Help!!!

It's been almost four months since we
returned from our European journey.

Both my husband and myself feel "sick"
when we think about our trip - a pull
that we just can't explain to someone
who hasn't been there - an ache to be
back in Europe (we especially feel it
for Paris).

We are going back to Paris next May, but
in the meantime are having a hard time
not wanting to be there now!!!

I come to this site daily just to be close
to anything European; go back to European
hotel websites just to get a glimpse of
Europe; read and re-read our European
journal (on our website at www.davidandcarol.com); do anything I can
to be there - but alas, I'm here!!!

I know many others feel the same way - what
do you do???

I wish we lived on the East Coast (we live
in Tucson - not an easy place to fly from),
because if we did, we'd take long weekends
in Europe whenever we could!!! I'm envious
of all of you who talk about your long
weekends in London, or Paris.

Oh well, I just thought I'd share my
frustrations with others who can understand . . .

Carol

im

prozac or another of the fine antidepressants on the market

Doug

The first step is recognizing that you have this problem...I'm a recovering Germanaholic. I stayed away for 10 years then returned last Christmas and I'm still feeling the pain of withdrawal. When I need a fix, I hit a German restaurant or one of the German delis or butcher shops here in Northeast PA. I suppose if I were addicted to France I'd be looking for bistros or at least finding a place to buy a beret. Try doing some searches on the Internet for French-American links. You might also consider visiting French Canada for a less expensive alternative to visiting Europe.

europa

get a life! as if Europe really makes you happy!

Beth

Carol,
I know exactly how you feel. I've felt that way since the first day I stepped foot in Europe in 1997. Unfortunately, there is no way to rid yourself of the 24 hour a day obsession. I pull out all my photo albums and souvenirs on a regular basis. Its a great way to relive the experience. Talking about it also helps. The minute anyone mentions France or Italy I'm ready to jump in and share any relevant experiences.

One way I found helps is to create a webpage of your own. I have two that detail my trips. I keep them updated, frequently just changing the photos. You can get free space almost anywhere. I have mine at Geocities.com.

I think it's probably the reason why so many people come back to this forum on a regular basis. We're all pretty much addicts, so living vicariously through others is our only choice!!

Feel free to email me. I'd love to hear more about your trip.

Beth

Mary

Fortunately for us, we live in Florida, and can hop over to EPCOT from time to time and "imagine" we are in France, Italy, Germany, etc.

We also have a few favorite restaurants locally to go to and "make believe" we are "there".

A trip to Quebec could put you in a France mode. Certainly worked for us last year.

Planning your next trip also helps.

And, I will go and visit your website again. That should tease the mind.

Vanessa

I feel the same way, Carol. I want to go back to Paris too!!! I deal with the whole withdrawal symptoms by looking at my photo albums frequently and when I get really sad and want to get my Paris fix, I pop in a movie I have that was shot in Paris. Some of my favorites include:

1)"Sabrina"--of course. I have both the older version with Audrey Hepburne and the new one with Julia Ormond.

2)"French Kiss" What a funny movie, and great shots of France.

3)An American in Paris--Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron

4)Gigi

5)Funny Face--Audrey Hepburne

6)The Last Time I saw Paris--so sad...

7) Charade--I wanted to go to the stamp market that they showed in this movie when I was in Paris, but I had no idea where it was located.

8) Frantic--Harrison Ford--well, it doesn't show Paris landmarks, but it is an exciting movie shot in Paris nonetheless.

9) O.k., and don't laugh to hard about this next one--"Anastasia," yes the cartoon version. It's so cute!

Well, that's about all I can think of right now. I know there are tons of others that are probably better than these, but I just don't know about them. Do share if you know others that are good. I'm also always looking for a good book about Paris too!

wes fowler

Carol,
To take your mind off the past, concentrate on the future! Prepare for your Parisian trip now, not by reading the conventional guidebooks but related books of interest. Look, for example, for Simon Schama's "Citizens", a highly readable history of the French Revolution and its causes, Norah Lofts and Margery Weiner's "Eternal France", a history of France from the Revolution to the end of WWII; "The French, Portrait of a People" by Sanche de Gramont (it's a study of the French national character written in English by a Frenchman) Of highest priority is Blake Ehrlich's fascinating "Paris on the Seine" which describes the history of Paris street by street and building by building; it's a truly extraordinary book. For the definitive guide to Paris, look to the Guides Bleu (in English). In 1600 pages it describes every site of interest devoting well over 100 pages simply to the inhabitants of Pere Lachaise cemetery as an example. Its section on the Louvre is equally extensive and comprehensive.

If all else fails, begin planning a trip to someplace you haven't been!

oldlady

Know the feeling. Have various ploys to try to keep it all fresh, but one thing that must be said: you're missing vacation as much as you're missing Europe, maybe more. There is an element here of missing not so much a place as a state of mind (no, I don't mean the Chamber of Commerce "Paris is a state of mind" thing).

What we're missing is freedom and travel -- i.e., not being in the daily routine, not having to deal with interpersonal politics, not having to deal with professional anxiety, not having to deal with the annoying foibles of the community around you, not having to go food shopping and buy bathroom-bowl cleaner, not having to think about bills and tax returns, not looking at the same 4 or 16 or 32 walls, not turning to TV for escape only to discover universally lobotomized programming or fresh daily disasters on the news.

My recommendation: READ! Get some of those wonderful travel books or novels and lose yourself in them. It'll take you away at least an hour a day, if you let it.

Lori

I returned from Paris and Belgium in May and I know exactly what you are saying. One way I was able to beat the back from Europe blues was to assist my good friends in planning their trip to Paris. It brought back all of the wonderful memories of when we were planning our trip, and going through all of the guide books for them was like reliving Paris all over again. Of course when we took them to the airport I almost lost it because I wanted to go so badly. Oh well, maybe a long weekend in December is on the horizon. I hear Air France is running a deal!!!!

L

Carol,
I know what you are saying .. I also live in Tucson so I know it is not easy to get anywhere from here! We were in Europe this Spring for the umpteenth time, the only way we (well, maybe me, I plan our trips) found to combat the wanting to be there again feeling is to start planning the next trip right away. In my case we'll be going again next April and I already bought theater tickets for 3 shows in London. It's what keeps me going! (That and my job, house, yardwork, etc. etc. of course!) There are not many places in Tucson to soak up European atmosphere,about the closest you can come is a loaf of French bread so that suggestion is not too ideal. Perhaps a trip to 'Vegas and a visit to "Paris", the hotel might be an option tho. Trips to Quebec from Tucson cost as much as going to Europe, I know, I've checked. Hang in there, you'll be back there in no time and in the meantime keep looking at your pictures and remembering the good times. I've always found that buying goodies over there (candy, cookies, even bubble bath) and using them when we get back extends the trip some how. Also, buy yourself a piece(s) of clothing on the next trip and when you wear it the memories come back.

Carol

Thanks everyone for all the great advice on how to beat the "blues"!!!

Carol

Elizabeth

Oh no, you guys are scaring me. This is essential my first trip (the last was ten years ago on a whirl-wind tour)to Europe. I'm already having anxiety attacks about having to come home and we haven't even left yet!
I do think "old lady" has point, planning things like this is a great way to take your mind of the every day drudgery of life, but any obession can be dangerous.

Joanna

Start seriously planning your trip there next year. Read guide books, fiction and non fiction books on the places you hope to visit. Go through what you collected last time and put it together in a "trip book" and sort through your photos/slides if you haven't already done so. I find doing these things makes me appreciate the trip I've done and anticipate the next one planned. The longest between trips for me has been 5 years, but those years seemed to fly! At least you have only a year to wait.

pam

Wes,
Not to put too fine a point on it, but does any cemetary truly have inhabitants? Maybe occupants? BTW, I heard that Jim Morrison is to be evicted in 2001 (30 years after his burial).

jayne

I also live in the West, and I sometimes think that my own "back from Europe blues" are made worse by the dramatic change between the (mostly) green meadows and valleys and beautiful ancient architecture of Europe and the semi-arid landscape and strip malls of my home city. I wonder if inhabitants of historic New England village have the blues as bad. But I've found the best way to fight it is to plan lots of activities unique to your own environment--hiking in the desert or exploring Native American culture-- to remind yourself about the great aspects of your home.

L

Carol,
I've read over some of the suggestions and (my own to you as well) and they are all good ones. Living in Tucson as I do too makes it a bit harder than some other place to "re-live the European experience" but I did think of something you can do while planning your trip to Paris next May! Did you know that a collection of 23 of Monet's water lilies from the Musee Marmottan is now at the Phoenix Art Museum and will be there till Jan. 2? Seeing those paintings could help you stay in the mood so to speak! Also, and this may sound silly, but the Arizona Inn does a "tea" (I'm not sure of the hours) in their library, The Library reminds me a great deal of England .. it's got a European flavor to it. I've never been to tea there, but whenever I'm at lunch in the dining room (we go over there from work now and then) I always look into the Library for a "feel" of England.

Carla

Why oh why didn't I try to smuggle back 10 bottles of that deliciously cheap Merlot. The baggets with smoked salmom,the smells of the fruits and veggie markets, and the sound of the woman singing outside my hotel room window at 7am sunday morning.....I'm right there with ya baby.

Carol

Denise:

There are some great suggestions here on how to beat the "blues".

Carol

dan woodlief

Lots of great suggestions. I especially like the idea of planning for the next trip by reading and reading that's my approach. Hobbies are great too. Ever thought about photography? Not only is it a lot of fun, but learning, especially in a class, can occupy your mind, and your travel photos will get better and better. Language classes are great too for keeping you busy and preparing you for the next trip.