My vacation has been approved.  Because I took about two weeks of vacation just at the end of July up to the first week of August, I was worried that my work would say something about the vacation I requested for this October.  I rarely take a vacation and my work surely is aware of that.  I have so much vacation hours accrued that I always have to monitor my accumulated hours before I stopped accruing.  This always pushes me to take a long vacation, which means out-of-town, or out-of-the-country vacation.  Yes, I know it is kinda odd to go back to Europe, to the same city, after I just got back from a 12-day vacation (Iceland, Spain, France), but I just have to go back soon to Paris.  Why?  I will share that later.  

So as soon as I got my vacation approval, I spent the entire week last week searching for the best flights possible.  I need to get to Paris after 8 o’clock in the evening on a Friday, and I want a layover somewhere where I have never been.  After many sleepless nights spent on searching for flights, I’ve decided to go with Madrid overnight layover on my way back to Los Angeles.  I selected the London layover, to Paris, so I could explore the famous Heathrow Airport (I have been in London but never at the Heathrow Airport).  I had other good layover options to Paris, but I figured I should have a good rest so I would look fresh when I arrive in Paris.  I booked it two days ago, finally.  I texted my closest friends, who knew about my crazy idea to go back to Paris when I was just there in August, about my flight itinerary.  I was also relieved that I finally booked it, and I could now focus on other things such as events to attend in Paris, and restaurants/bars to try, etc.  

This morning, I received an email saying my reservation has been cancelled and I would be getting a credit back on my card.  My jaw just dropped.  I talked to the site specialist and I was told the flight I wanted wasn’t available anymore.  I searched different travel sites, and I couldn’t find the same flight I booked.  Needless to say, I have to start all over again.  I started thinking it might be a sign that I shouldn’t go at all.  My heart is saying I should go.  Perhaps it’s a sign that the flight wasn’t for me, and that I would find better flights with better time and layover.  I hope so.  I remember being excited when I got my vacation approved.  I was all excited that I was finally free to book my trip without any doubt that my vacation would actually happen.  Right now, I’m still excited, but I just want to move forward to planning for the rest of my vacation and also packing.  

So why am I going to Paris when I was just there in early August of this year?  During my recent vacation in July/August, we went to Reykjavik, Ibiza, San Sebastian, Bordeaux, and then our last stop, Paris.  Well, when I decided to part ways with my friend on our first night in Paris (with only 2 days/nights in Paris on our itinerary), and when I decided on that last day of our trip to explore Paris by myself, I met this man.  You see, I have been in Europe three times in the past.  This trip I would say was the interesting one as there were many unexpected incidents and negative emotions involved.  It was not a smooth vacation (I will probably elaborate more on this later, maybe in a month).  I have learned a lot from my experience on my recent trip, don’t get me wrong, but it got to the point that I was regretting going at all.  I wanted to go back home asap.  It was that unpleasant, but I think I did well in really putting efforts to soothe myself by staying positive, staying at the moment, counting my blessings, and being grateful.  

I believe that how I managed the situation led me to meeting this wonderful man.  Now, when I talk about or think of my recent trip, I can’t help it but smile.  Meeting him made my vacation even more interesting.  All the things that went wrong in that trip brought me to him, and I no longer have any regrets.  I was exploring the City of Love at a slower pace, with really no plan in mind where to go next, but just trying to enjoy the time I had left and taking my time that last night, and there he was.  I don’t know if its the right decision or something good will come out of this, but my heart is definitely saying to take a chance, get to know this man, and go to Paris.  Maybe, we can find love while traveling or while we are on vacation?  So, for the next two nights, I will be spending hours online searching for the best flights with best layovers so I can take a chance on love..