As a teacher, I took groups of students on exchange trips to Germany every summer. The last trip I took was while I was pregnant with Campbell, 15 years ago. That is way too long. But absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?, so I'm looking forward to this trip more than any of my European vacations in the past. I've been preparing for months.
One of my goals for this trip is to enjoy and savor each moment. So instead of taking my real camera (which is still in need of repair, anyway), I will only use my phone's camera. I hope that this will encourage me to take snapshots but not spend lots of time setting up the perfect shot. I am also leaving behind my laptop and my iPad. I will only have my phone with me. One of the reasons for this particular blog entry is to test out my blogger app and make sure I'll be able to use this as a travel journal along the way. Another goal is to pack lightly, since we will be taking lots of trains and walking quite a bit. To that end, all of my "books" are downloaded to my phone's kindle app. And the Osprey suitcase above has wheels and a rolling handle, but also converts to a backpack for those bumpy cobblestone road moments when it would be easier to carry than roll. The small daypack zips onto the big convertible suitcase. My new Sherpani purse can be worn across one shoulder and in front of my body, and it's big enough to hold our passports and Eurail passes in addition to all the usual stuff.
Tune in again next week, when the adventure really begins!
