Thursday, July 8, 2010

Trip Planning

I'm ambivalent about doing this blog and all the other technology that allow me to stay connected 24/7. Yesterday Debra and I got a call from Rachel, who's doing Summer volunteer work in Honduras. She called us using Skype, which cost her nothing and her voice came through so clearly over the computer that Chewy (our dog) went crazy thinking she was in the same room with us. Although we couldn't see her because her computer didn't have a built-in camera, she could see us and Debra could even show her work she had done on her computer. So equipped with Skype, iPhone, and a Notepad, I have everything needed to stay connected, but does this make sense? Can I really get into the Europe scene, let it take me where it will, if I'm constantly reporting back - expectations controlling my every movement? "Well, what do you plan to do today?" I hear coming out of every corner of the technology.

I Have a Plan
I have a plan. Yes, one needs some sort of plan but in communicating it, well that's another matter - too many expectations. I fear a sort of  self-imposed rigor mortis will zap the life out of an otherwise mind-bending adventure. Okay, here it is, but other than a few hard dates, don't hold me to it. First the hard dates: I leave on July 14 and return October 12. Debra and Rachel are producing a press event for Electronic Arts in Cologne in August. I'll be with them August 17 - 19.  I'm meeting my friend, Nick, in Belgrade on September 6 and Debra in Athens on September 26. Debra and I will spend the last two weeks on the sun drenched Greek islands of Mykonos, Santorini, and Paros.

 Here's the whole shebang:
  • July 14
    • San Francisco (Fly 11 Hours)
  • July 15
    • Frankfurt, German (Train 8.0 Hours
    • Sylt, Germany (Train 4.0 Hours)
    • Kiel, Germany (Train 6.0 Hours)
  • July 23
    • Szczecin, Poland (Train 3.0 Hours)
    • Schlawe, Poland (Bus 2.0 Hours
    • Nacmierz, Schlawe, Poland (Bus 2.0 Hour)
    • Schlawe, Poland (Train 2.5 Hours)
    • Gdansk, Poland (Train 4.5 Hours)
    • Warsaw, Poland (Fly 2.0 Hours)
    • Tallinn, Estonia (Drive 4.5 Hours)
    • Riga, Latvia (Drive 3.5 hours)
    • Vilnius, Lithuania (Drive 7.0)
  • August 9
    • Warsaw, Poland (Train 3.0 Hours )
    • Krakow, Poland (Train 6.0 Hours)
    • Presov, Slovakia (Train 5.5 Hours
    • Bratislava, Slovakia (Train 2.5 Hours)
    • Budapest, Hungary (Train 3.0 Hours) 
    • Vienna, Austria (Fly 2.0 Hours)
    • Cologne, Germany (Fly 2.0 Hours)
    • Vienna, Austria (Train 6.0 Hours)
  • August 21
    • Ljubljana, Slovenia (Train 2.5 Hours)
    • Zagreb, Croatia (Train 5.0 Hours)
    • Rijeka, Croatia (Ferry 8.5 Hours)
    • Split, Croatia (Bus 4.5 Hours)
    • Dubrovnik, Croatia (Drive 2 Hours)
    • Podgorica, Montenegro (Train 6 Hours)
    • Sofia, Bulgaria (Train 5 Hours)
  • September 6
    • Belgrade, Serbia (Train 3.0 Hours) Nick arrives 1:21 PM LH 3407
    • Timisoara, Romania (Train 5 Hours)
    • Craiova, Romania (Train 3.0 Hours)
    • Bucharest, Romania (Train 2.5 Hours)
  • September 10
    • Ruse, Romania (Train 4.0 Hours)
    • Varna, Bulgaria (Train 2.0 Hours)
    • Burgas, Bulgaria (Train 3.0 Hours)
    • Stara Zagora, Bulgaria (Train 4.5 Hours)
    • Sofia, Bulgaria (Bus 5 Hours)
  • September 21
    • Skopje, Macedonia (Train 4.5 Hours) Nick leaves for Belgrad
    • Thessaloniki, Greece (Train 5.0 Hours)
  • September 26 Debra arrives
    • Athens, Greece (Ferry 4.0 Hours)
    • Mykonos, Greek Island (Drive ? Hours)
    • Santorini, Greek Island (Drive ? Hours)
    • Paros, Greek Island (Ferry 4.0 Hours)
  • October 12
    • Athens, Greece (Fly 3.0 Hours)
    • Frankfurt, Germany (Fly 11.5 Hours)
    • San Francisco 


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