Training - Hoping

Yes, I have been in training for this trip. Maybe not the type of training you would assume. I have not taken any German, Italian or Czech languages classes… though Roomy has taught me a few need-to-know Czech words. I have also not joined any obstacle course Italian race car (palindrome) driving sessions. Rick Steves did not even get a penny from me this year for European tourism suggestions. As all good women with a slower than desirable metabolism should do before going to Italy, I have been in sweat camp training. I paid an ungodly sum to loose weight before my trip and it has been successful. 1998, my junior year of high school, was the last time the scale registered something this small. I am pretty proud of myself, but I can not wait to feel guiltless while dining in Europe. Local, authentic cuisine here I come! J

Now on to ranting a bit.

I believe the iThingamajigs and MPwidgets have changed traveling for the worst. Train rides and mass transportation commutes aren’t like they used to be. It seems the majority of passengers are ‘busy’ being ‘entertained’ and are not open for friendly, random, spontaneous 3D conversation. I do hope this is different in Europe. Two dimensional communication is really the pits, plus I am a really great Texashingtonian that all Europeans should aspire to meet. I need entertaining too by golly!




Seriously, the next time you’re on a train, bus, ferry, subway or hot air balloon, try turning off your mass storage gadget that is podcasting the latest Hollywood scandal, streaming NPR, or bumping the most hippest, never officially released secret track and talk to the person next to you. Just because their playlist might not be as awesome or they might not have the latest version of the sleekest doohickey doesn’t mean they can’t enhance the (nonexistent) conversation, if only for a while. I guess if my expectations of European travelers are squashed, I can always read a book. Maybe someone will be hip and brave enough to talk GGK or DRR with me. ;)

Random warning: Man, now I really want to take an Italian race car out on an obstacle course. Also, the spell check actually knew thingamajig and doohickey. You can test it yourself. Odd.

Nav, Scavenge and Concerns... oh my!

There have been a few questions, comments and concerns that have surfaced due to my first post.

1) No, I did not loose my job. I am just taking time off from my responsibilities but I will have every single one of them upon my return, probably three fold. Work will build up, the knowledge I have gained on school related subjects will probably need some priming and Beastly will need to accompany me on three marathons in a row to calm down.

2) I will be gone for most of the month of August. It's easier to say the whole month, but it's really 3.5 weeks (See: one month is much easier and more impressive to say than 3.5 weeks).

3) Even though I also see myself having major anxiety about traveling by car through Europe, I have to remind myself and yall (can you believe I actually first typed 'you all' instead? My Texas roots almost just failed me) that I am going to be there with Europeans. We have rented our car through a reputable company that costs a bit more and Fireball has nav. (I believe that is the new hip way of saying navigation. I personally have not experienced how the additional cost are justified but this trip might make me a believer).

One more item of business for now.

Has anyone seen my perfect passport pouch? I bought it for my first international trip and have used it ever since. I just can't remember where it went. Actually, it's on the tip of my head-tongue. You know the feeling. It's like forgetting a person's name or a certain word, you can't really concentrate on tasks at hand until your mind randomly remembers... That is how I'm feeling about this silly pouch. Any help is appreciated.

Ok, I lied, one other item.

I want to do a digital photo scavenger hunt while I am there. Does anyone have any suggestions on the theme or objective? Mom has given me a pretty good one and if a better one (or more attainable one) does not come along, I will share the idea shortly (hopefully with my first found European picture post). Seriously, I love scavenger hunts and I want ideas!

Closing for now but leaving you with a picture I took yesterday that I personally think is awesome. and it's eatable! I also wonder if it's a representation of Fibonacci's number. Can anyone tell?

T Minus 7 Days

Please check back here for updates and pictures from my trip to Europe. Wow, I am ready to get some distance from Bellingham and shake the dust off my travel legs. YAY!

The saddest part of my trip? I am leaving during the end of Berry and Cherry Season in Washington, the land where 90 degrees is a ‘scorcher’ in August. Oh, and of course, leaving Beastly behind. If only she should shrink to pocketsize! But I will rest well at night knowing she is in GREAT hands.

Here is the rough itinerary:
Germany-Prague-Germany-Italy-Germany.

Andernach, Germany will be my ‘base camp’ and is where Fireball lives. Fireball is a friend I have known for many years but have not seen in while. Let’s just say a 3dimensional conversation between Fireball and I is LONG overdue. Thank goodness for email, or I would have missed her dearly . I will spend a few days at basecamp getting over jetlag and soaking up as much Fireball as I can before flying on to Prague.

I will leave her behind for my Czech adventure. Prague has been calling my name for years and I now get to experience it with a few locals. I will meet up with another longtime friend, GP, in Prague. Every time I think of GP a story involving Guatemala Pants comes to mind, so it’s a very fitting blog-nickname.

I will then return to basecamp where I will spend lots of time with Fireball and Fraulein, her best friend. We will drink wine and tour the part of Germany they live in, but mostly rest for Italy. Yes, all three of us are taking a vacation to Italy together! The Fs and I have rented a Tuscan apartment and a car where we will do day trips from. It was the most budget worthy plan and how awesome is it that I will have a Tuscan apartment and car for 10 days?

Then it’s back to basecamp for a week where Fireball is off from work. Can anyone say Germany staycation? Eeek! I am looking forward to this week the most.

That is really all I know for now.

Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to come back and peek in on my trip anytime.

In case you didn’t catch on, I do not like using actual given first names. I prefer blog nicknames. Please use this preference when commenting. Feel free to even make up a nickname of yourself in your comments that I can use in my blog!

Ok, enough for now.