All the Preparing

 

It is the day before the start of a two week trip to Spain, Portugal and France.  This trip will be unusual for me because I have had very little to do with the planning.  I didn't have to do the hard work of figuring out flights, how long to stay in each place or the Airbnbs.  It felt weird on so many levels, especially, given the fact that I am a control freak!  My daughter, Beth, and Matt did all the planning.  That is the hardest job.  I thank them on so many levels.

 I would like to say that I really haven't paid much attention to the details.  I've been so bad that I even got the date we were leaving wrong.  I thought it was the end of July not June.  It didn't matter that I put it in my calendar.  I thought it was a mistake.  Also, it has been wonderful not feeling stressed before going on a holiday.  I, now, understand why it's easy for people to sit back and let someone else look after bookings, etc.  This is the first time I've experienced this.

The list of what to take has begun.  Every trip I take, I say I will travel light.  If anyone can figure out how to do that, I would like to know.  Just putting a hair dryer, meds, toiletries and a jacket in the suitcase already makes it heavy.  I haven't even got to the part of clothes!  I may have to take on man behaviour - turn underwear inside out so you get two days wear?  hahaha  Oh rude!

 

 

My first step was to throw things into the suitcase.  It'll be sorted later.  Some things will go into my backpack.  I can't travel without that.  Oh and this time, I won't forget to take the correct currency with me.  My trip in 2022 started out on the wrong foot.  I arrived in Amsterdam, went to a grocery store to buy some groceries only to realize I'd brought British currency instead of Euros!  I had a heart attack.  Now I am super paranoid about forgetting my money.  With travelling and usually afterward, running into difficulties is just one more bit of education.  You do survive and also have a story to tell.  To be honest, I don't want any surprises this time but if it happens, I won't be travelling on my own.  I'll have my family to lean on.

It's going to be interesting travelling with my five year old granddaughter.  I want to believe that she will make the pace a little slower so I won't get tired before Beth and Matt.  Fingers crossed.

Our flight leaves Victoria at 6 am on Saturday, June 29.  I have never departed that early before.  Geesh, if I usually go to bed at 1:30 in the morning, I'll have to be up three hours later.  I guess I'd better not nap today.  haha

Alright, enough prattling.  I'm going to publish this now to see if my friends are able to read it via FB messenger without any trouble.  Easier to figure things out from the comfort of my couch at home than when I'm oversees.

Til tomorrow!