I've been thinking about the planning process - at times I find it overwhelming - there are so many options and so many choices; so many places I would love to go and things I would love to see. I have to keep reminding myself that we really are just getting a taste of Europe and our heritage at this point. Maybe someday we'll go back to a few more specific places. I also find myself wondering how people planned trips without the benefit of the internet. It's exciting to take virtual tours of the islands of Iona and Mull in Scotland and see pictures of the castle we're hopefully going to spend a night at. On the other hand, without the internet there would probably be less decisions to make and the anticipation would be heightened and possibly, expectations would be more open-ended.
My other burning issue is - how does one pack for 6 weeks? How do I limit my shoes? What's most important to bring? Last night I kept waking up with recurring dreams in which my new suitcase just kept getting smaller and smaller with less and less packing room. My version of a nightmare, I guess.
I'm focussing on leaving my prairie perspective of distance behind me. It's hard to fathom a country where it will take an hour to travel twenty miles. The bus we're planning on taking on Mull will take us that long - twenty miles on a single-lane track with pull-outs for oncoming traffic. (Needless to say I wasn't really interested in renting a car for that jaunt.) No wonder Europeans marvel at the vast distances we will travel just to attend a specific event or visit for a short while. It's a different way of life. I wonder if they live at a more relaxed pace of life because of it. It'll be interesting to see.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
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