We’ve arrived! After too many hours stuffed like forcemeat into a Boeing 767 carcass, our plane landed at Paris’ Charles DeGaulle Airport. The sun was shining brightly in a clear blue sky, streaked with fresh airplane trails. The language was foreign, and yet all too familiar. I was back in Europe.

Perhaps I should digress though – because the trip really does start at departure.

After a hungover pack job, and farewell kisses to my ever-accepting parents, we were dropped off at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. Check-in was relatively painless, and it wasn’t long before we had nothing but a few hours to kill before our departure. We saddled up at the airport bar, and actually got to watch the opening game of the World Cup, an easy defeat of Costa Rica by the home country Germany.

We also got to laugh at some of the stereotypical travellers that frequent Europe every summer, not unlike myself at some point, I guess.

Firstly, there were the Eager Beavers, Canadians who are all too proud and quick to show their national colours. Oversized Canadian flags, often times more than one, shine like beacons from their packs. These types wear baseball caps, often sporting the Hockey Canada logo. As far as I’m concerned, all of this is completely unnecessary, and acts as a beacon to thieves, cons and muggers as much as it would a helpful, kind citizen.

Secondly, there was the Cannabis Canuck, the sort who’s “going to Amsterdam – gonna smoke some weed, bud!” Original.

Keeping in form with a bit of a Canadian stereotype, we did indeed watched the Edmonton Oilers game live last night! We tracked down a ‘Canadian’ bar, and stayed out in Paris until the wee hours of the morning, unfortunately watching the Oilers be defeated in game four. Stanley Cup playoffs are about the only circumstance that I can imagine finding myself in a such an establishment in Europe.

Anyways! It’s been a great few days in France. We are crashing with a friend not far from Paris, and have spent a few long days wandering about the “the city of love.” We’ve made meals of fresh-baked baguettes and camembert cheese. We’ve spent next to nothing on delicious wines that warm the heart and bring a smile to the lips.

Even more notably, we’ve been melting in a bit of a heat-wave that’s struck Western Europe. Temperatures have been in the mid-thirties since our arrival, and hydration is an issue that must be kept in mind, especially when you’ve been drinking beer all day.

Tonight we will be heading out on the rails, taking a night train to Hamburg before continuing north to Copenhagen in the morning. We look forward to a break in the heat, and what I imagine will be an incredible train ride by land and sea to reach the Danish capital.

Bon Voyage!