Last month I posted about potential trips for 2007 and I mentioned about going back to Ireland in the spring.
I sent a couple emails out to friends and my sister to see if there was any interest. Up until tonight I hadn't heard anything from any of the people I ran this "potential" trip by.
Tonight I got an email from my friend Scott...my travel partner from the infamous 2004 Italy trip! He said he was interested in a week in Ireland. So now the ball is in my court. I'll talk to Scott and see what his thoughts are about what he would like to see and do while there and what his timeline would be. Then I also have to do a real "down and dirty" realistic trip cost to see if I can swing Ireland for a week in May of 2007 and then my 2 weeks in Turkey in September 2007. I've put the deposit on the Turkey trip but it's fully refundable until the end of December.
Oh.... what problems to have to consider...Ireland or Turkey, or both...I really want both, but don't know if I can realistically swing both, but going with a travel partner and splitting car rental and accommodation costs, it just might be "doable", that is if I can find a decent airfare to Ireland! :)
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Cautiously Optimistic!
Let's just say that after a meeting today regarding the grant I'm administering, I am feeling much better about going on vacation for 4 weeks!
A big item that I thought would have to be completed while I was out of the office (and therefore have to delegate to a co-worker or my boss) turned out to have been completed by a partner organization in this project...whew!
At least I left the office today feeling like a bit of weight has been lifted off my shoulders...let's hope I can keep it up for 5 weeks and leave on vacation without worrying about what's going on at the office!
Ok, enough entries about work! Next time I will have to think of a humorous travel post!
A big item that I thought would have to be completed while I was out of the office (and therefore have to delegate to a co-worker or my boss) turned out to have been completed by a partner organization in this project...whew!
At least I left the office today feeling like a bit of weight has been lifted off my shoulders...let's hope I can keep it up for 5 weeks and leave on vacation without worrying about what's going on at the office!
Ok, enough entries about work! Next time I will have to think of a humorous travel post!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Deep Cleansing Breaths!
This is my mantra for the next 5 weeks and 2 days...when it comes to work and going on vacation.
I've got a huge grant that I am administering and it wouldn't be so bad, but I am just beginning the start-up process (just received award notification at the end of June) and because it is federal funds the requirements are very detailed.
On the bright side, I put together a checklist of everything that has to be done from start to finish. Not only for my use, but my boss (or whoever will be handling things while I'm out) will be able to use it too.
One good thing is that as part of the start-up process a special environmental review is required and that involves 13 state or federal agencies that have to review the project and the project can't start until the agencies send me determination letters on their findings (essentially saying the project is ok or not based on their requirements). And knowing how "quickly" (wink wink) those agencies typically work I can go on my vacation in September and not worry about having to move the project forward until I get back, because I am pretty sure those agencies will take longer then the 4 weeks they said they take to review these requests. At least that is what I would like to think. But as long as I make sure all my information is accessible to my boss it should all be good...well, that's what I am telling myself...heck I deserve this vacation!
Of course, some days I handle this philosoply better then others, but I'm just anxious for this trip to begin. I've put so much time researching the destinations that I can't wait to get there and experience what I have been reading about for the last 9 months!
Here's to ...Breathing in...Breathing out...Breathing in...Breathing out...ahhh...I can feel the stress melting away as I type....yeah right! :)
I've got a huge grant that I am administering and it wouldn't be so bad, but I am just beginning the start-up process (just received award notification at the end of June) and because it is federal funds the requirements are very detailed.
On the bright side, I put together a checklist of everything that has to be done from start to finish. Not only for my use, but my boss (or whoever will be handling things while I'm out) will be able to use it too.
One good thing is that as part of the start-up process a special environmental review is required and that involves 13 state or federal agencies that have to review the project and the project can't start until the agencies send me determination letters on their findings (essentially saying the project is ok or not based on their requirements). And knowing how "quickly" (wink wink) those agencies typically work I can go on my vacation in September and not worry about having to move the project forward until I get back, because I am pretty sure those agencies will take longer then the 4 weeks they said they take to review these requests. At least that is what I would like to think. But as long as I make sure all my information is accessible to my boss it should all be good...well, that's what I am telling myself...heck I deserve this vacation!
Of course, some days I handle this philosoply better then others, but I'm just anxious for this trip to begin. I've put so much time researching the destinations that I can't wait to get there and experience what I have been reading about for the last 9 months!
Here's to ...Breathing in...Breathing out...Breathing in...Breathing out...ahhh...I can feel the stress melting away as I type....yeah right! :)
Thursday, July 20, 2006
44 More Days...
What do you do when it feels like the longest work week in the history of time? Add another trip countdown entry to my blog of course!
I just talked to CL this morning and her new suitcase arrived and she did a "mini-pack" to see how she likes the bag...hmmmm...I must be rubbing off on her! :)
So I think we are pretty much set as far as the trip planning and trip related purchases are concerned!
Suitcase....................Check
Backpack/day bag....Check
New walking shoes...Check
Convertible pants.....Check
Guidebooks................Check
It sure looks to me like we are ready, and only 44 more days. It will be trudgery getting through the next 6 weeks! Hey...when I say 6 weeks, it doesn't sound as long as 44 days! At least today it doesn't sound as long, I could change my mind by tonight!
Of course I have alot on my plate coming up at work which doesn't ease my mind about going away for 4 weeks of vacation. But I've planned this trip for a year and the work world won't stop just because I am on the other side of the planet! Someone will take care of whatever comes up or it will wait until I get back.
And on that note, I will end this blog with the song lyrics that are running through my mind at this very moment....
I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane...Don't know when I'll be back again!
I just talked to CL this morning and her new suitcase arrived and she did a "mini-pack" to see how she likes the bag...hmmmm...I must be rubbing off on her! :)
So I think we are pretty much set as far as the trip planning and trip related purchases are concerned!
Suitcase....................Check
Backpack/day bag....Check
New walking shoes...Check
Convertible pants.....Check
Guidebooks................Check
It sure looks to me like we are ready, and only 44 more days. It will be trudgery getting through the next 6 weeks! Hey...when I say 6 weeks, it doesn't sound as long as 44 days! At least today it doesn't sound as long, I could change my mind by tonight!
Of course I have alot on my plate coming up at work which doesn't ease my mind about going away for 4 weeks of vacation. But I've planned this trip for a year and the work world won't stop just because I am on the other side of the planet! Someone will take care of whatever comes up or it will wait until I get back.
And on that note, I will end this blog with the song lyrics that are running through my mind at this very moment....
I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane...Don't know when I'll be back again!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
A Saturday in the Life of Me....
Ahhhh....It wouldn't be a Saturday if I didn't spend some time at the local Starbucks drinking an iced carmel macchiatto and reading the latest Oprah magazine!
Although this doesn't seem like a "travel related" entry, it really is, well, kind of.
In an effort to become more familiar with my camera (yes, I've had it more then a year), I'm trying to use more of the special settings. For this picture I used the macro setting which I recently learned is for close up photos! So this is my first attempt and I think it turned out pretty good.
The next camera setting I want to tackle is the night photo setting but that's a bit more tricky since I have to place the camera on a stable surface or get a tripod (not likely at the moment).
So I will continue to post any "trial photos" that I think are interesting!
Friday, July 14, 2006
50 More Days....
CathyLee just ordered her "ultimate" roll-aboard carry-on for our trip. Looks like she may have gotten a better bargain then me. LL Bean has a 21" roll-aboard with more cubic inches then the suitcase I bought and about $30 less then what I spent. But it's all good. I don't think the one she orded expands, and mine does, so hopefully that will make up the difference in cubic inches! :) If not, I can always buy another bag during the trip...afterall, I've been known to do that in the past!
Last week I purchased my reading material for the trip. The second book in the Outlander series, it's 900+ pages so that should keep me occupied for a good part of the trip and I won't be reading every day. But it's a little "compact" paperback, so it won't take up too much room and if I finish it while traveling, I'll just leave it for the next occupant of the room!
I have been trying to post a picture of the cover of the Footprints Croatia Guidebook, but I am not having much luck posting it. I will keep trying.
Well, tonight I don't have any travel-isms to extoll, so I'm calling it a night.
Last week I purchased my reading material for the trip. The second book in the Outlander series, it's 900+ pages so that should keep me occupied for a good part of the trip and I won't be reading every day. But it's a little "compact" paperback, so it won't take up too much room and if I finish it while traveling, I'll just leave it for the next occupant of the room!
I have been trying to post a picture of the cover of the Footprints Croatia Guidebook, but I am not having much luck posting it. I will keep trying.
Well, tonight I don't have any travel-isms to extoll, so I'm calling it a night.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Footprint Guidebook!
I cannot speak highly enough about the Footprint Croatia Guidebook, 3rd edition that was published in May 2006.
In preparation for my trip to Central Europe with 9 days in Croatia (after the guided tour ends) I was in search for a really good guidebook to Croatia. I had been trolling the internet for months and back in January I purchased the Brandt guide to Croatia which was published in 2005. At that time that book was the most recent Croatia travel guide I could find. It's an OK book, but I wasn't really happy with it.
A few months later I was checking things out on both the Barnes & Noble website and Amazon.com. They both listed this Footprint guide, with the note that it would be published in May 2006 and available in June. I was waiting with "bated breath" for June 1st to roll around and when it finally did I made a bee-line for the local Barnes & Noble store. Considering where I live, I came to the conclusion even before I went into the store that the chances of the book being on the shelf there was slim to none. And I was right. So, I beat it over to the information desk armed with both the title and author. You can imagine my surprise when the clerk typed in the information and it came up as not available. They couldn't even order it! I was flumoxed!
All through June I kept checking the websites, still not available. Then finally one day it said available, but a 4-6 week wait! UGGGGH...don't they know I'm leaving on September 2nd and I need to get my "ducks in a row". Ok, so maybe it's unrealistic for me to think that I am the center of the universe for Barnes & Noble and Amazon, but I did! :)
Then lo and behold at the end of June a miracle! The Barnes & Noble website had the book and it was available! I never ordered anything that fast in my life! A week later the book arrived and I did my little 'happy dance" around my living room. It was perfect timing. I got the book on a Thursday and I could spend the weekend going through it and that is exactly what I did.
Now, since I only needed information on a few places I was able to get through the whole book in 2 days, including using my trusty high lighter pen to note the information that most interested me!
So, what do I like the most about this book? Well, I like the way the chapters/information is formatted and it's very easy to read. The information flows well and it gives lots of restaurant recommendations. It gives just enough history information at the beginning of each section so that I don't feel bombarded and give up reading that portion. And I like the fact that even though it's a guide for the whole country it's not so thick that it will take up too much space in my bag!
I have to give credit where credit is due and thank one of my fellow fodorites on the Fodors website message boards for recommending this book to me. I was hesitant to order it online without being able to see if it contained the type of information I was looking for. But this guidebook was "right on the money" for what I was looking for!
In preparation for my trip to Central Europe with 9 days in Croatia (after the guided tour ends) I was in search for a really good guidebook to Croatia. I had been trolling the internet for months and back in January I purchased the Brandt guide to Croatia which was published in 2005. At that time that book was the most recent Croatia travel guide I could find. It's an OK book, but I wasn't really happy with it.
A few months later I was checking things out on both the Barnes & Noble website and Amazon.com. They both listed this Footprint guide, with the note that it would be published in May 2006 and available in June. I was waiting with "bated breath" for June 1st to roll around and when it finally did I made a bee-line for the local Barnes & Noble store. Considering where I live, I came to the conclusion even before I went into the store that the chances of the book being on the shelf there was slim to none. And I was right. So, I beat it over to the information desk armed with both the title and author. You can imagine my surprise when the clerk typed in the information and it came up as not available. They couldn't even order it! I was flumoxed!
All through June I kept checking the websites, still not available. Then finally one day it said available, but a 4-6 week wait! UGGGGH...don't they know I'm leaving on September 2nd and I need to get my "ducks in a row". Ok, so maybe it's unrealistic for me to think that I am the center of the universe for Barnes & Noble and Amazon, but I did! :)
Then lo and behold at the end of June a miracle! The Barnes & Noble website had the book and it was available! I never ordered anything that fast in my life! A week later the book arrived and I did my little 'happy dance" around my living room. It was perfect timing. I got the book on a Thursday and I could spend the weekend going through it and that is exactly what I did.
Now, since I only needed information on a few places I was able to get through the whole book in 2 days, including using my trusty high lighter pen to note the information that most interested me!
So, what do I like the most about this book? Well, I like the way the chapters/information is formatted and it's very easy to read. The information flows well and it gives lots of restaurant recommendations. It gives just enough history information at the beginning of each section so that I don't feel bombarded and give up reading that portion. And I like the fact that even though it's a guide for the whole country it's not so thick that it will take up too much space in my bag!
I have to give credit where credit is due and thank one of my fellow fodorites on the Fodors website message boards for recommending this book to me. I was hesitant to order it online without being able to see if it contained the type of information I was looking for. But this guidebook was "right on the money" for what I was looking for!
54 More Days...
until I leave for my Central Europe trip! And better yet, 53 more days of work...being the "smartie" that I am, I decided to take the day before I leave off from work. This way I will have a day to take care of any last minute issues, final packing and of course my last gym workout before a "grueling" travel day.
I have decided to try a new approach to alleviate jetlag. It will be interesting to see how it works. On my last overseas trip I didn't have any difficulty (that I can remember), I just recall going to sleep pretty early on the first night. But I got a tip from the Fodors website that sounded interesting and I thought I might give it a try.
The premise is to go onto the destination's time a day or 2 before leaving. In my case that would be Prague time. My game plan is to start on Thursday night and go to sleep as early as possible (like around 7pm) get up on Friday morning at about 3am (since it will be 9am Prague time). I will go about my day on Friday doing whatever needs to get done and going to sleep as early as possible. In a perfect world that would be 6pm, but not sure it that is feasible, but I will give it a shot. Then on Saturday, the day of departure get up at 3am. We will have to leave for the airport by around 6am anyway, so getting up at 3am is realistic. By doing this I should be ready to go to sleep by the time we board the plane at JFK for the flight to Prague.
It may sound absurd, but I'm willing to give it a try and thinking about it now, if I can accomplish this I will probably be so exhausted by the time I sit down on the flight from JFK to Prague that I may not even be able to hold my eyes open for take off! This would be great since it will provide me with 7 hours of sleep on the plane! Well, I can dream can't I? Of course I have to get through the 2 flights prior to arriving at JFK, but since they are relatively short flights I don't see any problems there. But then again, when it comes to air travel it's best to always expect the worst and if that doesn't happen my expectations will be exceeded!
Here's to a swift 54 days!
I have decided to try a new approach to alleviate jetlag. It will be interesting to see how it works. On my last overseas trip I didn't have any difficulty (that I can remember), I just recall going to sleep pretty early on the first night. But I got a tip from the Fodors website that sounded interesting and I thought I might give it a try.
The premise is to go onto the destination's time a day or 2 before leaving. In my case that would be Prague time. My game plan is to start on Thursday night and go to sleep as early as possible (like around 7pm) get up on Friday morning at about 3am (since it will be 9am Prague time). I will go about my day on Friday doing whatever needs to get done and going to sleep as early as possible. In a perfect world that would be 6pm, but not sure it that is feasible, but I will give it a shot. Then on Saturday, the day of departure get up at 3am. We will have to leave for the airport by around 6am anyway, so getting up at 3am is realistic. By doing this I should be ready to go to sleep by the time we board the plane at JFK for the flight to Prague.
It may sound absurd, but I'm willing to give it a try and thinking about it now, if I can accomplish this I will probably be so exhausted by the time I sit down on the flight from JFK to Prague that I may not even be able to hold my eyes open for take off! This would be great since it will provide me with 7 hours of sleep on the plane! Well, I can dream can't I? Of course I have to get through the 2 flights prior to arriving at JFK, but since they are relatively short flights I don't see any problems there. But then again, when it comes to air travel it's best to always expect the worst and if that doesn't happen my expectations will be exceeded!
Here's to a swift 54 days!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
2 Months and Counting....
Yay! It's July 2nd and that means 2 months from today I will be jetting off to Prague! The anticipation is killing me! Since my trip is now just 2 months away I feel I can officially begin the countdown!
As nerotic as it may sound I spent a few hours this weekend doing a practice pack to see if everything on my packing list will fit into my bags. I'm glad I did this because I have downsized even more. Yes, I did a practice pack a few months ago, and deleted stuff then too. But, it's all looking good now. The completed packed roll-aboard carry-on weighs 25 pounds, so I'm "good to go"!
As I continue to downsize I keep telling myself "pack as if you are going away for a week". As long as I keep telling myself that and know I will have to do laundry along the way it really makes packing light a whole lot better!
As nerotic as it may sound I spent a few hours this weekend doing a practice pack to see if everything on my packing list will fit into my bags. I'm glad I did this because I have downsized even more. Yes, I did a practice pack a few months ago, and deleted stuff then too. But, it's all looking good now. The completed packed roll-aboard carry-on weighs 25 pounds, so I'm "good to go"!
As I continue to downsize I keep telling myself "pack as if you are going away for a week". As long as I keep telling myself that and know I will have to do laundry along the way it really makes packing light a whole lot better!
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