In something like 18 hours, I'll be boarding a plane to Europe.
Between now and then, I need to check, double check, and triple check that all my stuff is together.
In other news, my Russian visa was approved, so yay!
In slightly worse other news, my international phone doesn't work, so boo!
And I'm off!
Showing posts with label planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label planning. Show all posts
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Technology
So I decided against taking my laptop with me. There simply isn't enough room in my backpack, and the rule for this trip is, "If it won't fit, leave it." Instead, I'm taking three, smaller, more portable pieces of tech: a GPS, an Ipod, and a cell phone.
The reason for the cell phone should be obvious. I need a way of
calling out and having others call in, though, with the exorbitant call rates, there probably won't be much talking in either direction.
The point of the Ipod, while less obvious, should also be readily apparent. I'm taking quite a few plane, train, and ferry rides and I want to have a bit of music along with me to pass the time.
The GPS, however, is something I was undecided about for a long time. I'm not a gadget geek by anyone's imagining. In fact, I'm more of a luddite; technology scares me. However, I did want to have a way of a) figuring out where I was and b) figuring out where I needed to go without having to pull out a map everytime.
Therefore, I settled on a small, outdated GPS (mine is a 200 version while the company is making 800 versions) which comes pre-loaded with maps of America, Canada, and Europe. Now that I think about it, I should probably play with it before I go.
The reason for the cell phone should be obvious. I need a way of
calling out and having others call in, though, with the exorbitant call rates, there probably won't be much talking in either direction.The point of the Ipod, while less obvious, should also be readily apparent. I'm taking quite a few plane, train, and ferry rides and I want to have a bit of music along with me to pass the time.
The GPS, however, is something I was undecided about for a long time. I'm not a gadget geek by anyone's imagining. In fact, I'm more of a luddite; technology scares me. However, I did want to have a way of a) figuring out where I was and b) figuring out where I needed to go without having to pull out a map everytime.
Therefore, I settled on a small, outdated GPS (mine is a 200 version while the company is making 800 versions) which comes pre-loaded with maps of America, Canada, and Europe. Now that I think about it, I should probably play with it before I go.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
3.5 weeks to go
Not surprisingly, I've been slacking off a bit lately. Haven't been going to gym, haven't been looking for a mailbox, haven't been putting my stuff into boxes, and so on.
With only 3 and a half weeks to go, my slacking off has to stop. Like now.
This morning, I drove back up to Athens and my uncomfortably empty apartment. In the next couple of days, I'm tossing the rest of my crap (mostly magazines, dishes, and a few linens) into the trunk of my car and closing up shop. After that, I'm driving down to my parents house in Macon to spend the weekend.
Next week, I'm cleaning my apartment and handing the keys back to management. The week after that, I'm putting all my stuff into storage. That weekend is Dragon*Con, and the very next weekend is when I leave.
Wow...it really doesn't seem like long when I put it that way.
With only 3 and a half weeks to go, my slacking off has to stop. Like now.
This morning, I drove back up to Athens and my uncomfortably empty apartment. In the next couple of days, I'm tossing the rest of my crap (mostly magazines, dishes, and a few linens) into the trunk of my car and closing up shop. After that, I'm driving down to my parents house in Macon to spend the weekend.
Next week, I'm cleaning my apartment and handing the keys back to management. The week after that, I'm putting all my stuff into storage. That weekend is Dragon*Con, and the very next weekend is when I leave.
Wow...it really doesn't seem like long when I put it that way.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
one month to go
I'm now in the final countdown until my big trip to Europe. I've bought my plane tickets, my travel insurance, and made all my hotel reservations (a major gaffe, I later learned, but this is my first trip outside the country).
I'm a little tentative, a little nervous, and a lot excited. I've wanted to travel for as long as I can remember, but couldn't--or wouldn't--for one reason or another. Now that my dream is becoming a reality, I'm practically vibrating with anticipation.
My itinerary, which is long and crowded, looks like this:
9/5-9/8--Oslo, Norway
9/8-9/11--Bergen, Norway
9/11-9/13--Stockholm, Sweden
9/13-9/26--Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Irkutsk)
9/26-9/30--Munich, Germany
9/30-10/2--Amsterdam, Netherlands
10/2-10/4--Brussels, Belgium
10/4-10/7--Geneva, Switzerland
10/7-10/11--Vienna, Austria
10/11-10/26--Italy (Padua, Venice, Florence, Rome, Vatican City, Naples)
10/26-11/3--Greece (Athens, Paros, Crete, Delphi)
11/3-11/15-Paris, France
11/15-11/23--Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, daytrips to Cordoba and Seville)
11/23-11/26--Edinburgh, Scotland
11/26-11/28--Belfast, North Ireland
11/28-11/29--Dublin, Ireland
11/29-11/30--Cardiff, Wales
11/30-12/12--London, England (and surrounding towns)
Wow...if just typing it out makes me tired, I wonder how traveling it is going to feel! Nonetheless, I'll find a way to make it work. The thing I have to remember is that this is the trip of a lifetime, and I should treat it as such.
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