Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The Current To-do List

So, Jeff and I made a trip to MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) to pick up a backpack that he had scoped out on the internet (thank you internet Creator!)... a good quality, exactly-what-he-needs and decently priced bag (bingo). Another to-do taken off the list...

The rest of the list is looking like this:

Talk to gym about membership – hold for Sept & Oct

Call Rogers to hold account for Sept & Oct

Purchase "gear"/wishlist:

Blister medic kit (because no matter how much we break in our shoes, we need a back up plan!)

Squishable water bottles

Good quality socks

Small travel alarm clock

Mini locks for our bags

Money belt/pouch

Wallet and or wallet-chain for Jeff

Memory card for camera

Purchase Travelers Insurance

Practice Packing

Set Up First Aid Kit

Pick up Hosteling International Card

Figure out who’s driving us and picking us up from the airport

Figure out directions from various hostels from arrival points

Photocopy important documents

Figure out how much cash we are taking with us

Call banks and get information regarding fees for international use of debit and credit cards as well as notify them of travel plans


So, still lots to do yet but the big pieces are done.

Jeff came home tonight asking if I'd done any 'travel related' work today since I was at home relaxing... I guess he's got the pre-travel bug! Awhile ago we were both so stoked about going that we almost got TOO excited!! We've got to level ourselves out as it's still 3 months before we leave! lol

We're still so very excited though! Every time I see a place we'll be visiting on t.v. or in a movie I pay extra attention :) I even watched one of my favourite movies, Under the Tuscan Sun just to see the Italian landscape!

This week's goal: try and figure out how we'll access money in Europe without paying through the nose in service charges.


Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Eurotrip Fall 2011

I can hardly believe that 4 years ago I would have already been in Ghana for a week... and what a first week it was! I don't think I'll ever forget it. I just re-read all of my blog entries throughout that trip and my heart aches to return to my host family. Pops still emails me and keeps me updated as much as he can but his emails lack a lot of content, although they are full of good wishes!

Now, after 4 years, it is time for my next adventure and this time I'm lucky enough to be traveling with my other-half, Jeff. It's taken approximately 3 years to convince him, but finally the time has come and he's absolutely ready and just as excited as I am for our European adventure. I've never been to Europe!!

South America - Check
Africa - Check
Europe - Soon!

I'm really, REALLY excited to be taking off on another adventure and this one will be quite different from my last two. In Ecuador and in Ghana I had a host family, a "base" if you will, somewhere to return to at the end of the day, somewhere to get food and rest... this Eurotrip is going to be a backpacking adventure! I'm nervous but definitely more excited.

We'll be flying into Lisbon, Portugal in September, spending a couple of days there and then heading to Lagos (Portugal) for four nights...

Check out a beach in Lagos below...



















GORGEOUS!!

Then we'll be flying to either Belgium or Holland (we're still looking at flights!). We'll see both countries before heading into Germany (Oktoberfest!!), Austria, Czech Republic and Italy (flying home from Rome at the end of October).

We'll be gone for 57 days or 8 glorious weeks!! EIGHT WEEKS!! That's a TON considering Jeff initially agreed to 2 weeks... and then he realized how much more time we needed to see what we wanted to see!

There is still lots to do but we've got lots of time to do it.

This week, we need to get Jeff a backpack!