A few weeks ago, in anticipation of making another trip to Spain next year, I applied for two separate Vaughantown weeks - one in May and one in late August. My thinking was that 1) I truly love Spain in May, and 2) I do intend to do part of the Camino at some point, and a friend who just did it told me that August was a great time because the weather is perfect in that part of the country then. I don't really know if I could do two trips in one year (though I still anticipate the Publishers Clearing House people appearing at my door at any time), but I wanted to get a couple of dates set down just in case.
A few days ago, someone tipped me off to an unbelieveable airfare from Chicago to Paris - $472!! Considering that this past May, using SkyMiles for a $300 discount, my fare was slightly over $1000, I was astonished. I checked it out and found that the sale ends on May 10, 2017. My May VT week was May 14-19....hmmmm. It's a day earlier in the week than I usually fly, but the price doubles the next day. Without looking any further or considering anything else, I booked a ticket for May 10 with a return on May 25. Within a day or two, EasyJet published their spring schedule through June, and I found a round trip to Madrid for a total of $115, including my checked bag. I will get in to Paris at 6:45 a.m. and fly out to Madrid at 6:00 p.m., so I have time to get into the city and take a quick look around before moving on! On the way back, I will leave Madrid on May 24, arriving about noon. And on the following morning, I will fly home.
The shuttle to O'Hare will work out perfectly timewise, too, so I think it was just meant to be! There are still a few little details to iron out, but several months to accomplish that. I'm excited! Paris has never been on my list, but so what? Maybe I will go back and maybe I won't, but at least will be able to say I've seen it.
Stay tuned.
