It's Me, Sara Louise

Around the World in Ninety Days.

(Of course I know that it’s really supposed to be, Around the World in Eighty Days, but oops… oh well).

Since I post these expat escapade round-ups about every ten days, and this is the ninth, then it is kind of like, Around the World in 90 Days, I just wish I had thought of that for the last round-up because then it would have made more sense.

The expats in this latest round sure do get out there and explore, every one would make Jules Verne very proud I’m sure, with their thirst for wanderlust and adventure.

Take Lindsey for example, not only did she head to Germany to explore Oktoberfest, but she danced on the tables while she was there. Because why not?! It’s Oktoberfest for heaven sake. If there is one festival where dancing on tables wouldn’t be frowned upon, it would be Oktoberfest, right? (Actually I have no idea, I’ve never been to Oktoberfest, but dancing on the tables there seems like it would be an OK thing to do.)

Like for instance, one wouldn’t dance upon tables at a Lantern Festival, would they? We’ll have to ask Amanda about that. Amanda went to the Jinju Lantern Festival in South Korea and it looks like it was the most magical place to be. All of those brightly colored lanterns hanging from the sky and bobbing along in the river… pure magic!

Another place that is full of bright colors and oozes magic is The Oyster Box in Umhlanga, South Africa. Perched on the ocean with a red lighthouse looming next to it, The Oyster Box looks like the kind of place where all of your art deco dreams come true and Jenna got to enjoy it all over a long weekend. I for one can happily picture myself spending a day(s) lounging on one of the red and white striped lounge chairs (seriously, the striped lounge chairs alone were enough to make me jealous).

While Jenna made me jealous, Rachel made me homesick… for Dublin. Rachel was there for the TBEX conference and naturally she headed out to explore her surroundings. Her walking tour took her by Christ Church, Dublin Castle and Powerscourt, all places that I used to regularly pass by but of course hardly payed any attention to since it was merely everyday life (Note To Self: PAY ATTENTION).

One place that would definitely hold my attention would be Versailles (I WILL GET THERE ONE DAY) or any other French palace/ chateau kind place for that matter (while visiting châteaus, I like to swan about and pretend I’m a princess while Gregory and Fifty look on horrified). Molly spent the day touring Versailles while Danielle visited Château Vaux-le-Vicomte. I love France, you can’t throw a rock without hitting a castle. And that’s real life.

Cruising around Italy on the back of a Vespa, that’s real life too (well if your name is Marissa and you live in Barletta it is). And stumbling upon some random, costumed marching band that’s banging drums and setting off firecrackers for no particular reason, well that’s real life in Provence for you. Just ask Martine. But what’s definitely not Provence, is being invited to a housewarming party that’s invitation boasts candy-infused shots and something called a ‘blind test’. That’s Paris. (If you want to find out what a ‘blind test’ is, then click over to Ella’s post and she’ll tell you.)