Yay vacation and family
In just under 12 hours, I'll be walking out of my apartment to head for JFK, embarking on a two-week trip to Europe. Itinerary this time around: 2 days in Prague (via Amsterdam), then back to Amsterdam to meet up with my mom and grandfather before boarding the Celebrity Constellation for a 12-night journey through the Baltic Sea. Stops along the way: Warnemunde, Germany, which will serve as a gateway to Berlin; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark. Then one final night in Amsterdam before heading home.
Prague, Tallinn, and St. Petersburg will definitely be new realms for me. It's been ages since I've been to Germany and Denmark. Funnily enough, I was in Stockholm just two years ago as a post-Norway trip trip. I thought about going to Helsinki instead, but I guess this works out.
I am impressed that my grandfather (who is leaving the US on Saturday to spend an extra night in Amsterdam) has the energy and verve to put up with a 10 hour flight each way, and then what might be a halfway physically active itinerary. He's 92. I do wish that I have the energy, spirit, and health to do that when I'm his age. On a slightly darker note, I can't help but consider that this might be one of his last trips, and there's the possibility that it may be the last time I get to see him since I'm no longer just a 40 minute drive across the Bay. So I hope I get a chance to chat a bit more, and enjoy his company, even if it's just sitting in a lounge watching the world go by. I think I have him to thank for many of my wanderlust traits, for pushing to always go out and to see the world. When booking his flight, I ended up suggesting a flight with Air France, since they offer a true premium economy cabin (I couldn't for the life of me find awards tickets that weren't like, 120K miles each way...freakin Europe vacation season). He was a bit concerned about a tight connection in CDG, and I offered to change his flights, and one of the chances was to switch from an A380 operated flight to a B777 operated flight. He told me I can change whatever but he wanted a chance to ride on the A380. Maybe that's where I get it from.
This also will likely be the last time I get to use my first adult passport, issued in January 2005. I find myself, and my passport, very fortunate to have passed through all six currently human permanently settled continents. Ok, maybe my passport only has five of them, since my Australia visit last year went into my official work passport. But if we consider Tahiti to be part of Australia/South Pacific? Anyway, I hope you have had as good a time as I have, passport. I wish I didn't have to replace you pretty much as soon as I get home but you're kind of useless after July or September since so many places require a passport valid for at least 3 or 6 months beyond the date of entry (or even departure).
Most of my stuff is packed up, I'm impressed I was able to fit not just tourist clothes but also some nicer dress clothes and even a tux all into my suitcase. Now the big question is whether I can lift it and finagle it through the streets of Prague and Amsterdam later...or...y'know, on the subway just to get to the airport. To bed now, because I still have to work a half day tomorrow.