Unbelievable... I just have to wake up 3 more times before I board the plane for Chicago! Things are falling into place nicely. At one point this afternoon, I was wishing that I could just get on the plane TOMORROW already!
Special thanks for a friend for letting me borrow her gear and giving me tips about her solo Euro trip from a few years back. Also, special thanks so a certain second cousin for the information, tips, maps/guides, and encouragement!
I've confirmed that I can indeed wander Chicago for the day while I wait for my flight to Dublin to happen. Cool! I bought 2 magnetic games just bigger than a deck of cards in case I can make a friend who will want to play Chinese Checkers or Chess with me on the plane, train, or in the hostel.
But now I have some loose ends to tie up... Still quite a lot of things to do before I leave. Packing is probably the biggest on the list. Yipeeeee!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
My First Booking!
I'm already learning my lesson and I haven't even left the province yet. Did you know that you pay 20% more on a Eurail pass when you purchase it when you're actually IN Europe? So now I have to pay a $35 fee to have it EXPEDITED because I didn't bother ordering one yet. Oh well.
Despite my mother's urgings, which usually causes me to act contrary to her will, I have decided to book my hostel in Dublin. My logic originally was, "I'm arriving in Dublin at 8 AM... I have all day to find a hostel". But I was reading on one of my favourite go-to sites, backpackeurope.com, and the writer said that when arriving on a Friday or Saturday, it's best to have your accommodations booked ahead of time. This contradicts the free-spirited policy that I'm trying to enact for my trip, but I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities to be spontaneous.
So here it is, folks:
The Abbey Court hostel. It is right near the Temple Bar District, which is Dublin's answer to Winnipeg's Osborne Village. I usually don't count myself as 'hip' enough to frequent Osborne Village, but I'm giving this District a go! I've heard a lot of good things about it. Apparently it's bumpin'!
6 more sleeps! aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!
Despite my mother's urgings, which usually causes me to act contrary to her will, I have decided to book my hostel in Dublin. My logic originally was, "I'm arriving in Dublin at 8 AM... I have all day to find a hostel". But I was reading on one of my favourite go-to sites, backpackeurope.com, and the writer said that when arriving on a Friday or Saturday, it's best to have your accommodations booked ahead of time. This contradicts the free-spirited policy that I'm trying to enact for my trip, but I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities to be spontaneous.
So here it is, folks:
The Abbey Court hostel. It is right near the Temple Bar District, which is Dublin's answer to Winnipeg's Osborne Village. I usually don't count myself as 'hip' enough to frequent Osborne Village, but I'm giving this District a go! I've heard a lot of good things about it. Apparently it's bumpin'!
6 more sleeps! aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
8 more sleeps......
When I said in my last post that it was getting harder to breathe, I really wasn't kidding. And it's hard to breathe right now too. I constantly feel my heart fluttering in my chest, just thinking about what I got into. Nevertheless, onward ho!
There's a bunch of trivial last-minute things to do that don't sound very glamorous. Dye my hair (because in 3 weeks time, I won't want to be running around Europe with dreadful roots), gather up all the addresses of the people I want to send postcards to, acquire those, borrow this, sew that, tie up some loose ends, etc.
Did I mention that there's only 8 MORE SLEEPS until I get on that plane to Chicago? (And then have a 9 hour layover before I board the plan for DUBLIN?!) Let's think about this, folks... My head is literally going to hit the pillow 8 MORE TIMES before I leave (not including naps)! Insanity! I cannot communicate the sensation of butterflies clogging up my chest cavity well enough.
Now about this 9 hour layover... yes, I could probably phone someone to ask about moving my flight around, but I kinda want to venture out into Chicago for the day. It'll be nice to be back there! And how many people visit Chicago on their EuroTrip? Probably no one!
There's a bunch of trivial last-minute things to do that don't sound very glamorous. Dye my hair (because in 3 weeks time, I won't want to be running around Europe with dreadful roots), gather up all the addresses of the people I want to send postcards to, acquire those, borrow this, sew that, tie up some loose ends, etc.
Did I mention that there's only 8 MORE SLEEPS until I get on that plane to Chicago? (And then have a 9 hour layover before I board the plan for DUBLIN?!) Let's think about this, folks... My head is literally going to hit the pillow 8 MORE TIMES before I leave (not including naps)! Insanity! I cannot communicate the sensation of butterflies clogging up my chest cavity well enough.
Now about this 9 hour layover... yes, I could probably phone someone to ask about moving my flight around, but I kinda want to venture out into Chicago for the day. It'll be nice to be back there! And how many people visit Chicago on their EuroTrip? Probably no one!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
10 more sleeps!....
....and it's sure getting tough to breathe, these days. I'm serious--it actually feels like I can't get enough breath into my lungs. That is a sure sign that there is some anxiety going on in my head!
What is there to update since my last post? A lot of thinking. My original trip was to stick exclusively with Ireland and England, but I decided, what the heck--I have a whole month, and Europe isn't geographically built like Canada, so at the very least, I may as well see how many countries I can tag in that allotted time.
I went driving with my brother a few days ago, and it went so smoothly. But he claims that his Golf is super easy to drive without stalling. I was doing very well, until I came to a stop at a busy 4-way stop and tried to start in third (accidentally). Flustered by the subsequent stall, it took me another 5 tries to get going again. And my brother was surprisingly good about it! He helped me keep my cool for sure.
I haven't done much researching in the car-hire-Ireland department, probably because I'm afraid of what I'm going to find. One article I read suggested budgeting $750 per week of using a rental car. If that figure is in any way realistic, forget the car! I guess my biggest worry is figuring out exactly what type of insurance is necessary without grossly overpaying.
Getting nervous!
What is there to update since my last post? A lot of thinking. My original trip was to stick exclusively with Ireland and England, but I decided, what the heck--I have a whole month, and Europe isn't geographically built like Canada, so at the very least, I may as well see how many countries I can tag in that allotted time.
I went driving with my brother a few days ago, and it went so smoothly. But he claims that his Golf is super easy to drive without stalling. I was doing very well, until I came to a stop at a busy 4-way stop and tried to start in third (accidentally). Flustered by the subsequent stall, it took me another 5 tries to get going again. And my brother was surprisingly good about it! He helped me keep my cool for sure.
I haven't done much researching in the car-hire-Ireland department, probably because I'm afraid of what I'm going to find. One article I read suggested budgeting $750 per week of using a rental car. If that figure is in any way realistic, forget the car! I guess my biggest worry is figuring out exactly what type of insurance is necessary without grossly overpaying.
Getting nervous!
Friday, September 10, 2010
T plus 3 weeks and counting
I got my International Driving Permit today. It basically looks like an old brochure-booklet with my picture pasted to it and a couple of semiofficial-looking stamps on it. It seems to me like it would be easy to doctor one of these up!
I'm trying to find a compass-thermometer keychain. I'm not really sure why, it's just that this one list that I'm consulting says I should have one. Perhaps for getting lost. Which is perfect, because knowing where I am oriented in relation to the cardinal directions will surely be helpful... not. I found one at Canadian Tire but it was $7 and I'm too cheap to spend 7 dollars on such a thing unless it were to function as an alarm clock as well.
I ordered currency today! Yay! I picked up some other small supplies too. There's still some major work to do though--acquire a cell phone and corresponding SIM cards to use while I'm away, buy a new camera, research rental vehicles, practise driving a manual transmission, and get more of a plan together for what kinds of things I might want to see. Things are looking kind of blurry right now, but less blurry than yesterday and the day before that.
PS
The commonly used phrase "T minus 3 weeks" would in actuality refer to 3 weeks after my trip started. That is why I said "T plus 3 weeks".
I'm trying to find a compass-thermometer keychain. I'm not really sure why, it's just that this one list that I'm consulting says I should have one. Perhaps for getting lost. Which is perfect, because knowing where I am oriented in relation to the cardinal directions will surely be helpful... not. I found one at Canadian Tire but it was $7 and I'm too cheap to spend 7 dollars on such a thing unless it were to function as an alarm clock as well.
I ordered currency today! Yay! I picked up some other small supplies too. There's still some major work to do though--acquire a cell phone and corresponding SIM cards to use while I'm away, buy a new camera, research rental vehicles, practise driving a manual transmission, and get more of a plan together for what kinds of things I might want to see. Things are looking kind of blurry right now, but less blurry than yesterday and the day before that.
PS
The commonly used phrase "T minus 3 weeks" would in actuality refer to 3 weeks after my trip started. That is why I said "T plus 3 weeks".
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
23 More Sleeps
The planning is going at a relaxed pace at this point. A colleague has informed me that he has contacts in Dublin with whom he will get me in touch with so that I can do a little bit of serving, ie volunteering, during my time in Europe. I've become stuck on a Bible passage recently: James 1:19-27, which states that we should be doers, and it also gives us a reminder that the most tangible way to love people the way Jesus does is to look after the 'orphans and widows'. I personally believe that I ought to be giving back, and travelling is no excuse for me not to.
I had pictures taken today for my International Driving Permit. I'm still deciding whether I will rent a car in Ireland to more efficiently see the countryside and less-touristy places. There is this thing called the "Young Driver Surcharge", which essentially penalizes 23- and 24-year-olds for renting a car, to the tune of €10 per day. That's almost as much as the cost to rent a vehicle per day to begin with! Argh!
I've decided on my main footwear and acquired a sweet jacket for my backpacking adventures. Things are coming along well! I'm getting met with a lot of encouragement and optimism from the people around me, with the exception of, I don't know, let's say 4 individuals in my life!! haha. But I know they are only thinking of my well being.
I had pictures taken today for my International Driving Permit. I'm still deciding whether I will rent a car in Ireland to more efficiently see the countryside and less-touristy places. There is this thing called the "Young Driver Surcharge", which essentially penalizes 23- and 24-year-olds for renting a car, to the tune of €10 per day. That's almost as much as the cost to rent a vehicle per day to begin with! Argh!
I've decided on my main footwear and acquired a sweet jacket for my backpacking adventures. Things are coming along well! I'm getting met with a lot of encouragement and optimism from the people around me, with the exception of, I don't know, let's say 4 individuals in my life!! haha. But I know they are only thinking of my well being.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
The Journey Begins Today
Just a few days ago, I bought a plane ticket for Dublin. I'm leaving for less than a month, and I'll be staying for a month--all on my own.
"You're nuts" said Dad. But am I really nuts? I don't think so. I'm on the verge of starting a new chapter in my life--taking a leave from University, finding a second job, and buying a house--so doesn't it make sense to do the trip now as opposed to later? Plus, I need some distance and some life experience. And I haven't done the obligatory Euro-trip or YWAM adventure that most people in my life do, almost as a rite of passage.
I was planning on just writing in this blog to report on my daily travels, but since prepping for an overseas trip in less than a month's time is going to be very interesting, I thought I'd start now. Besides, I have plenty of feelings of nervousness and anxiety which will make for great blog fodder.
Come along!
"You're nuts" said Dad. But am I really nuts? I don't think so. I'm on the verge of starting a new chapter in my life--taking a leave from University, finding a second job, and buying a house--so doesn't it make sense to do the trip now as opposed to later? Plus, I need some distance and some life experience. And I haven't done the obligatory Euro-trip or YWAM adventure that most people in my life do, almost as a rite of passage.
I was planning on just writing in this blog to report on my daily travels, but since prepping for an overseas trip in less than a month's time is going to be very interesting, I thought I'd start now. Besides, I have plenty of feelings of nervousness and anxiety which will make for great blog fodder.
Come along!
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