One week to go...

One week to go. Seems like I have been dreaming and planning and anticipating for FOREVER - and a week from now I'll be on my way to London. It's been a year since the possibilities were mentioned, and a good six months since the plans were actually made.

I spent today going through all the notes and papers that I've made over these last few months and organizing them. Most were put into recycling as they were duplicates, but a few were saved. A few were tucked into my Rick Steves books, and I made notes in the books for a few others.

The suitcase is mentally packed, and physically packed with all but my clothes. Some of my clothes are already in the suitcase, too - but I don't want to put them into the compression bags too soon.

What's left? Oh yeah, I need a TRAIN TICKET to Germany! It's a done deal now, hope there are no last minute calls for deployment because it's non refundable. That's why I've waited until now to get it. I tried to get it through the de.bahn site (German Rail) but they only mail the tickets. Nope, that won't work. Too long to get a ticket mailed from Germany. So go to the Rail Europe site (a US site.) For whatever reason, it didn't recognize Paris or Trier as train stops! So I noted the 800 number and waited until this morning to call. I now have a ticket - First class yet! - from Paris L'Est to Trier, where Scott will pick me up on Monday the 30th. I'll go back to Paris on the train Thursday afternoon, the 2nd, then go to my airport hotel and fly out the next morning. Didn't really need the first class ride but one way it was actually cheaper, and the other way it was only $14 more (that's dollars, not euros.) So what the hey. I'm officially "all set" with plans and tickets. Cross your fingers anyway. I know things can come up but I'm good to go as of now. Oh, and the ticket will be UPS'ed to me and should arrive by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest.

My sis Debbie called this morning! She's just as excited as I am, neither of us have been to Europe before. She wanted to know for sure that I was just taking a carryon. I confirmed that, and she is only taking a carryon as well. We talked for a while about the trip and what we want to do and see. BTW, she says Hi Mom! and to let you (mom) know that Paula's laptop isn't working and skype doesn't work on her dialup either.

Tonight I'm going to go to the RATP site (Paris Metro) and use their search engine to figure out some directions to different places. I did do this a little in the past but now have a different hotel to get directions from (the Residence Vauvilliers.) I have a good map which includes metro stops, but am most concerned with getting up to the airport hotel from Gare L'Est, and getting to Gare L'Est from the hotel. Shouldn't be a problem, I just want to check it out though.

I also realized that I will have Monday morning in Paris as well. I don't have to check out of the hotel until noon, and the train to Trier doesn't leave until 2. So that leaves a few more hours to do something I didn't have time for before, or just absorb some more Paris magic. We'll see. I would have liked to have left a little earlier in the day but that's the way the schedule worked out. Also coming back to Paris in late afternoon on Thursday rather than evening, also just the way the schedule worked out. So that means I have a little time before I need to head out to the hotel.

Will be tough to keep my head out of the clouds this coming week, I'm sure.