Backpacking through Europe in 1994

Day 99 • December 14, 1994
My final day in Tours, France

This is it, we made it to the last day of activities. Rachel had been wanting me to take sexy, French-Style portraits of her since I arrived, and like most things in life, put it off to the very end. However, we got it done!

I also took portraits of Rachel and Olivier together, and one - ONE FRAME - of Rachel and me together. Unfortunately, I have no idea why, I took ZERO pictures of Olivier and Me together.

I was so sad about that when I got home and developed my pictures.

Perhaps that is why I am so obsessive about taking so many pictures and selfies today whenever I am with my friends!

That said, this was a glorious final day in Tours: Spending time with Olivier and Rachel, having lunch with Marina. (I took pictures of the men we met in the cafe, alas, again, no selfies of us!), then the special sexy portrait session for Rachel, and to cap the day off, I even had an evening date with Corrine at Donald’s Pub!!

As you’ll read in my journal entry, I made it back to Olivier and Rachel’s apartment just before the clock struck midnight.

And Poof! Just like that, my magical adventure of Backpacking through Europe, Discovering Myself, and Taking Amazing Pictures was over.

All that was left was to get to Paris the next morning and make it on the airplane home.

Rachel’s Portrait Session from Today in tours, france

My Final Photographs from today in tours, france

DAY 99 / 12-14-94
My final day in Tours, France

Well, this is it. My final day in France, in Europe for that matter. Fuck.

I got up at 10:30, bathed, then packed. I left at 11:30 to rendezvous avec Marina for lunch. We went to a tiny Chinese food place & met 2 very nice rural French men, 1 of whom offered to house me & give me money if I needed it the next time I was in France. After taking their picture, Marina & I went to Donald’s Pub to meet Olivier.

The next few hours were difficult for me. I was so anxious to get going, & the time was dragging at a snail’s pace. I decided to splurge & buy a USA Today [newspaper], which helped pass the time. Rachel showed up, & we went shopping. They don’t celebrate Halloween here, but they do dress up for New Year’s Eve/Day & they were looking for costumes.

Along the way, I bought a rose for Ra-Ra [Rachel], to thank her for all she’s done for me.

When we got home I finished my wrapping & packing. The good news is everything fits, the bad is that it is heavier than a motherfucker!

Olivier had to leave for work at 8:00 [pm], then Rachel posed for some pictures for me. It’s funny, the first day I arrived she said she would, but it took until my last day to do it. We had to hurry because I had to catch the 9:15 [pm] bus, but I think I got 1 or 2 useable ones.

I was supposed to meet Corrine at 10 [pm], at Donald’s Pub, but she called me because she was running late. She didn’t get there until 11, which was too bad because she was looking hot & I only got to spend a half-hour with her.

I was glad because Lionel showed up just as I was leaving so I could say goodbye to him. Had I stayed here longer he was the one guy I feel I could’ve become good friends with.

I caught the 11:40 bus home, the last bus ride I would take.

After getting in at 12:00 [am], I did my final packing & recheck.

God, I can’t believe tomorrow at this time I’ll be in the Fucking United States of America!

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