Okay, the nerves are beginning to take over!  Today, I sent out e-mails to all my hotels requesting to re-confirm my room reservations.  I also requested suggestions for transportations from the airport/train stations to their hotels.  I suppose if all else fails I could catch a taxi, but it would be nice to avoid any potential scams to rip me off. 

 

Tomorrow, I'll start contacting the post-office and newspaper to hold deliveries for me until I return.  Next, contact my banks and credit card companies to notify them of my travel plans. 

 

Okay, back to preparing my notes . . . more tomorrow I'm sure!

 

 

 

Finally, I got my butt to AAA to get my International Drivers Permit.  That’s right!  I may try to drive in Salzburg.  But why?  Well, I’ve heard that driving a car is the best way to stop and enjoy the scenery.  I wanted to try to drive to Halstatt and St. Gilgen, so I can photograph those famous "Austrian Hills!  As I drive through the countryside, I'll probably be singing . . . The hills are alive, with the sound of music!  I think I'll even go on one of those tours!

 

These past two weeks have been so busy. Last weekend, I volunteered to take pictures for a friend that was sponsoring a 5K Charity Walk in Long Beach.  It was more work than I thought, because I had to run to different points along the course to photograph the participants.  Under normal running conditions I would say that would be pretty easy, but NOT while carrying a heavy DSLR camera.  The experience did, however, give me a chance to practice using my Nikon Lens (18-200 mm) and it worked beautifully!

 

This weekend I got together with some really good friends for brunch.  A belated birthday treat for ME!  That was pretty cool!  One of them just got back from visiting her daughter now living in London.  It was so much fun talking about Europe and re-living our trip last May.  We're going to get together again when I return from my trip! 

 

In between everything going on in my life, I’m trying to organize my notes for my trip, do a little bit of packing and still continue training for the Las Vegas Half Marathon and Santa Run that is scheduled two weeks after I return from Europe.  DANG!  What the heck was I thinking!  Oh well, I'm still very excited about everything!

 

This weekend the weather by the beach was perfect.  Warm and sunny! 

 

 

Now, when I look up the weather in Prague, it’s been rather cold (35-50 F).  I’m going to go from warm and sunny to cold, wet and cloudy!  Double YIKES!!  But isn't that why we enjoy traveling?  To learn and experience things, food, places and people that are diffierent than what we are used to!  Even the questionable weather can be an adventure while traveling!

 

In exactly one week I'll be strolling along the world famous Charles Bridge in Prague . . . check out this webcam:  

 

 http://www.hejda.cz/Camery/praha1.htm

 

 

 

I just watched a delightful program called “Italy Revealed” on the Discovery Channel.  It featured a gondolier wanna be in Venice; a free diver in Sicily; a fashion designer in Milan; a teenage race car driver in Rome; a horse jockey riding in the Palio in Siena and a volunteer rescuer in the Italian alps.  It was incredible!

 

I was in awe with the Carnival in Venice and the Palio race in Siena.  After watching the show . . . I actually heard ITALY calling out to me!

 

For now I need to focus on my trip to Prague, CK, Salzburg and Munich since I only have 26 more sleeps left before I leave.  As soon as I return, I'll get started on my "Italy 2007 Trip!  

 

Ciao’

 

 

It seems like it was ages ago since I first started to formulate my "Back to Europe" trip in my head and now it is only 36 more sleeps away!

 

I'm getting pretty nervous and yet excited!  I'm now trying to organize my notes of the things I want to see and do.  I want to try to keep it loose and yet try to make sure I see and learn about the things that interested me in Prague, CK, Salzburg and Munich. 

 

This Month's picture was taken in the small fishing village of Vernazza, Italy.  What struck me about this picture were the "colors" of the buildings, the umbrellas and the white tables/chairs belonging to the Gianni Franzi restaurant.  Then just above it a row of laundry hung out to dry.  It's funny but I haven't hung laundry outside to dry since the days growing up in Hawaii.  It was actually fun to take part in the tradition.  We hand washed a few items and hung them out of our apartment window!  It was great fun!