Our last few days in NYC contained a visit to the UN, Rockerfeller, Central Park Zoo and a Broadway Show (Jerusalem — amazing!). Central Park was a nice change from the big city… ‘earthy smells’. On the 4th, we caught a cab to Newark airport to catch our connecting flight to Toronto, then to London. However, our flight was delayed by almost 2 hours, and they made us miss our flight to London. After some loud profanity in the Pearson Airport resonance chamber, we ended up catching a later flight. In protest, we purchased a 40 pounder bottle of rum and drank it on the flight. This got us into London at 9am, today. I was just a tad hungover. Ha! After arriving in Heathrow airport, and activiting our BritRail Passes, we caught our first train to Paddington Station, London, where Jord lost his pass. Luckily, it was turned in an hour later, and the our adventure continued. We headed up to Oxford where we explored the town and had lunch. Then, we heading to Leamington Spa, to catch a connecting train to Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birth place of the bard (Shakespeare). We didn’t explore this area too much, but plan to tomorrow. After a 2 mile hike to our first hostel, we ended at the Stratford-Upon-Avon YHA hostel… where we proceeded to drink cheap beers… finally! We should be ending tomorrow on the west coast of Wales before heading back into England (Manchester). We are both glad to of made it here finally! Time to sleep!

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It’s a hell of a town! We arrived late yesterday evening in muggy Newark after 12 hours of plane travel and made our way to the Park Central hotel where we are staying for 3 nights. With suits on we explored a little, had a few beers and then hit the hay to rest up for the next day. Thursday, much more exploring. Breakfast at Carnegie’s Deli, walked to the Empire State building and went up to the 102nd floor. We took a breather on the steps of the New York City post office, which is right across from Madison Square Garden. We went to ground zero and then took the subway to Battery Park and walked along the causeway which has a great view of Liberty and Ellis islands. More walking and exploring, just taking in as much as we can of this big stinky city. The subway is great for getting around, and smells better than most of the city. We went to Wall St. and saw the New York city stock exchange, walked through China town and then took the subway up to Rockefellar Center.  Just in the New York city public library using the free internet for some blogging and photo uploading.  We are going to suit up again and have some dins and get back out and explore some more.  The weather is gorgeous!

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Finally, June 1st has come, and I can not sleep despite the deprivation. Our flight leaves YYJ at 0645 and I am starting to get a little bit excited now. We will get into New York just after 2000 in time to watch the game. Not sure where we will be when the Nucks win the cup, but certainly we shall not be sober. Waiting, and waiting some more, and waiting…

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Well, everything is finally winding down. After a crazy night of working and pulling my hair out, I am finally done! DONE!

Leaving tomorrow, 6:45am. Here we go!

1 day to go!

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So close, but yet seemingly so far away. I have all of my gear, my finances, and other miscellaneous items. This is the final countdown. My stuff is almost all packed and ready for storage. The only thing left to do is clean my place before I leave and then wait. The waiting is the worst part. The anticipation and excitment that is boiling up inside me is almost too much. My imagination is running wild for what will seem like a never ending European summer.

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My last shift of work tonight and then it will be a relaxing two week wait until we leave for New York city.  Everything is coming together and June 1st is creeping up faster and faster.  Two weeks from tonight and Sean and I will be more giddy than small children on Christmas Eve.

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Finances = Check
Route = Check
Flights = Check

Cell phone goes to ‘Vacation Mode’ on the 23rd of May. Going T-Mobile UK starting June 4. New number to follow.

So much to go in the next little while. It’s crunch time!

20 days to go!

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Here is the complete country list (34 countries), in order of first visit (some places we visit more than once based on our route):

– USA (New York)
– England
– Wales
– Scotland
– Northern Ireland
– Ireland
– France
– Belgium
– Netherlands
– Germany
– Denmark
– Sweden
– Norway
– Finland
– Latvia
– Poland
– Czech Republic
– Switzerland
– Luxembourg
– Spain
– Portugal
– Monaco
– Italy
– Vatican City
– Malta
– Croatia
– Slovenia
– Austria
– Slovakia
– Hungary
– Serbia
– Bulgaria
– Turkey
– Greece

50 days to go!

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Our route through Greece is set!

Jord and I land in Athens, Greece on September 7th, from Istanbul, Turkey. On the 8th, Samantha arrives in Athens. Due to jet lag, we will be spending a couple days in Athens before heading through the cyclades. On the 10th we will start our voyage to Milos. From Milos, we head to Santorini a couple days later. We plan to spend 5 days in Santorini, before heading to Koufonissi, which is a tiny island south of Naxos. After Koufonissi, we will head to Iraklia, another tiny island (only 18km from end to end). After Iraklia, we head north to Naxos, where we will be staying in a very nice beach resort, on the longest and nicest beach on the island. Leaving Naxos a couple days later, we head to Mykonos, the last island before heading back to the mainland.

We fly home on the 26th of September.

69 days to go!

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The rough route to Athens, Greece is planned. Turns out we have 10 days to spare before having to be in Athens. We are now going back to look over which areas we may of missed and re-planning a bit of the trip. We are perfectly aware we will deviate from our initial plan… but this gives us a rough guideline so we can see as much as possible in the 118 days we are in Europe.

New possibilities: Morocco, Malta or Croatia

Samantha arrives in Athens to meet us on the 8th of September. We have 19 days to travel around the Greek islands… although this part of our trip will be a little more relaxed.

90 days to go!

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