{"id":153,"date":"2019-01-14T14:00:53","date_gmt":"2019-01-14T14:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=158128"},"modified":"2019-01-14T14:00:53","modified_gmt":"2019-01-14T14:00:53","slug":"surprise-im-moving-to-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourfunjourney.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/14\/surprise-im-moving-to-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"Surprise! I\u2019m Moving to Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"sunset
\nPosted:<\/strong> 1\/14\/19 | January 14th, 2019<\/p>\n

Ever since I first set eyes upon it, I\u2019ve wanted to move to Paris<\/a>. It was everything I\u2019ve imagined it to be. A city that oozed sophistication and history from its cobblestone streets, ancient buildings, cafes, restaurants, and Parisians strolling down the street.<\/p>\n

I loved the lights, the food, the music, the people, that special je ne sais quoi.<\/em><\/p>\n

I know I idealize Paris<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I know living somewhere is a lot different than dropping in for a few weeks at a time.<\/p>\n

But I\u2019ve always wanted to be the clich\u00e9d American travel writer who wakes up, has his coffee, and writes on his balcony or in some caf\u00e9 while lingering over wine for hours.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always wanted to immerse myself in Paris. To learn the language<\/a> and everything one could possibly know about the city.<\/p>\n

And so, since there is no time like the present, it\u2019s time to finally do it.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m moving to Paris!<\/p>\n

Not forever. Just until June.<\/p>\n

Maybe \u201cmoving\u201d is a strong word. Maybe an \u201cextended stay\u201d might be a better term.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t care.<\/p>\n

I feel that is long enough to say I\u2019m (temporarily) \u201cmoving\u201d to Paris.<\/p>\n

It will be my base of operations. My sole domicile. My home.<\/p>\n

Next month, I\u2019ll return from Colombia<\/a>, pack my things, and by the end of the month, be ensconced in the City of Lights.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

I know my time there will fly by. I remember the summer I spent in Stockholm<\/a> and how quickly that came to an end. Right as I started meeting people, it was time to go.<\/p>\n

Luckily, Americans get to stay six months in France<\/a>, so I\u2019ll have a longer time to play with.<\/p>\n

I have a lot of plans for that time:<\/p>\n

I am going to write \u2014 a lot!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to find a \u201920s swing dance group.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to seek out all the best jazz the city has to offer.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to visit every tourist attraction in town<\/a>. Just because.<\/p>\n

I plan to learn French.<\/p>\n

My 2019 mantra is \u201cdo less but better.\u201d I plan to cut down the number of things I do \u2014 but go deeper into them.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to focus on living. I plan to work in the mornings, sightsee in the afternoon, check in with the team, and have long dinners.<\/p>\n

\"Nomadic<\/p>\n

Paris is the first step in making that happen.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not over New York<\/a>. Just over living there.<\/p>\n

New York City will always be a part of me<\/a>, and I\u2019m glad I was here so much this year, but I don\u2019t have good habits in the city: I\u2019m out too often and too late, and I don\u2019t find myself sleeping a lot. I don\u2019t have a productive workspace or a kitchen. Many of my friends have started to move away or are planning to have kids.<\/p>\n

The life I want to lead is not found there any longer. <\/p>\n

My time there has come to an end.<\/p>\n

And I\u2019m OK with it. Since I decided to do this, I haven\u2019t had one moment of regret.<\/p>\n

So before June brings TravelCon<\/a> and July brings my next book and book tour (more on that later), I feel like this is the perfect window to live out all my Paris writer dreams.<\/p>\n

Opportunity is knocking. <\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t answer the door, it will move on to the next person.<\/p>\n

So I\u2019m doing it.<\/p>\n

I’m finally going to live in Paris! <\/p>\n

And I\u2019m pretty damn excited about it!<\/p>\n

Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Paris!<\/h3>\n

\"Nomadic<\/a>For more in-depth information, check out my guidebook to Paris written for budget travelers like yourself! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money in one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. You\u2019ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on- and off-the-beaten-path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more! Click here to learn more and get started.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Book Your Trip to Paris: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a> or Momondo<\/a>. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.<\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. Some of my favorite places to stay in Paris are:<\/p>\n