It is 11:36 pm (PDT) and I will be getting up around 8am tomorrow to call AT&T to activate my international roaming then leaving at 9 am to head to my bank to deposit money and ask a few questions about using my card in the UK. Then, hopefully by 10 am, I will be off on the road to San Fran airport where I will be catching my flight - alone.
I've been holding out on saying this in the vain hope it wouldn't come true, but Laurie will not be able to go. It really devistated us all when we found out, not as much as her, but it really threw us all through a loop. Basically, Laurie's back is out of wack in such a way that she can't sit on a plane for 10 hours. I freaked out torn between worrying about her and myself. I think I've calmed down and have reworked some things and everything has worked out (thank God because some things fell into place almost perfectly), but I'm still really sad to know I can't travel with her and also a bit freaked I'm traveling out of country ON MY OWN for the first time. Just thinking about Laurie not being able to go brings tears to my eyes, but life will go on and we will do things in London/Edinburgh in her name! I may actually try a drink for her. :P
I finished packing tonight. I was able to get all my stuff into my travel backpack. I do have a carry on, but it's mostly empty (it will be holding all my souvenirs when I come home - LoL). Everything that is in it can fit into my backpack and the bag itself also, if I unzip the cover over the backpack straps. The backpack is HUGE on me (really tall). Wasn't my ideal as I'd rather have something wider than taller, but it was at a good price and had everything else I wanted so I went ahead with it. It weighs about 30 lbs (bit under). I think if I was staying longer I'd have packed a bit differently. In the way of doing laundry someplace, but I'm trying to avoid that since I'm only there 10 days. We'll see how that goes!
Looks like, also, instead of an overnight train back to London from Edinburgh I might be heading back on the train with Kate in Sunday the 22nd and stay at her house that night and head to London in the early morning (23rd). Taking an overnight train alone didn't sound terrific to me. :P
Anyway, with that, I must be off to do a few things before I can sleep, wake up, and head to the UK.
Showing posts with label pre-trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pre-trip. Show all posts
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Final Preparations
Final itinerary
Monday, July 16th - Leave for the UK with flight out of SFO at 4:30
Tuesday - Arrive at 10:30 am. Kate meets us at the airport; stay at Kate's
Wednesday - Stay at Kate's
Thursday - EARLY train to Edinburgh; Maria arrives by plane a bit before noon; check into Castlerock; dinner with some Leaky staffers
Friday - Look around; Kate arrives; get in line for the BOOK
Saturday - Read, read, eat, read, read, look around, read, read, sleep
Sunday - Look around; leave for London on overnight train
Monday - Check into Piccadilly, look around London
Tuesday - Thursday - Look around London
Friday, July 27th - Leave for home on 3:15 pm flight out of Heathrow
I'm packing, trying to get things done. I have left a few things to the very last minute, though. Of course by accident, but definitely learning moments. I was going to sign up with AT&T's international roaming fee/charge/plan and I can't do that till Monday morning and I have to go to the bank on Monday morning to deposit money into my checking so I have money while I'm there. LoL I thought the international roaming thing was going to be automated, but it's not so I have to actually talk to someone and the office is closed. Bummer.
Anyway, I need to continue to pack and all that. I'm getting to the point of being ready to go. Course, I have to by Sunday night. LoL
Monday, July 16th - Leave for the UK with flight out of SFO at 4:30
Tuesday - Arrive at 10:30 am. Kate meets us at the airport; stay at Kate's
Wednesday - Stay at Kate's
Thursday - EARLY train to Edinburgh; Maria arrives by plane a bit before noon; check into Castlerock; dinner with some Leaky staffers
Friday - Look around; Kate arrives; get in line for the BOOK
Saturday - Read, read, eat, read, read, look around, read, read, sleep
Sunday - Look around; leave for London on overnight train
Monday - Check into Piccadilly, look around London
Tuesday - Thursday - Look around London
Friday, July 27th - Leave for home on 3:15 pm flight out of Heathrow
I'm packing, trying to get things done. I have left a few things to the very last minute, though. Of course by accident, but definitely learning moments. I was going to sign up with AT&T's international roaming fee/charge/plan and I can't do that till Monday morning and I have to go to the bank on Monday morning to deposit money into my checking so I have money while I'm there. LoL I thought the international roaming thing was going to be automated, but it's not so I have to actually talk to someone and the office is closed. Bummer.
Anyway, I need to continue to pack and all that. I'm getting to the point of being ready to go. Course, I have to by Sunday night. LoL
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Passport!
I got my passport on Saturday! YAY! Definitely not the greatest picture of me, but oh well. :)
That's one thing off the list. Now to figure out my packing situation (travel backpack or not?) and what to bring.
Laurie and I met for the first time on Friday in San Fran for the Live PotterCast. It was good to see her and meet her! The PotterCast was also fun.
2 weeks from this Monday (15 days) is when Laurie and I depart for Europe!
That's one thing off the list. Now to figure out my packing situation (travel backpack or not?) and what to bring.
Laurie and I met for the first time on Friday in San Fran for the Live PotterCast. It was good to see her and meet her! The PotterCast was also fun.
2 weeks from this Monday (15 days) is when Laurie and I depart for Europe!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Welcome to Piccadilly!
Laurie and I have our London reservations for where we are staying!
We are staying at the Piccadilly Backpackers in a double room for 4 nights (arrive 23rd, depart 27th). We decided on a double/twin room because it gives us more privacy with all our stuff. Though each room comes with a small locker of sorts, having a room to our own will make us just that much more relaxed to know no one else can get to our stuff. This hostel also had the best location of any place we've checked out, so far. Good location (pretty central London) at a "cheap" price. We could have stayed at somewhere cheaper, but further out from central London and then we'd have to take the bus in or something. Just didn't seem worth it to us.
On another note, JK Rowling announced yesterday that she will be in London for the book release (20th). She will be doing a book signing for 1,700 fans/kids. Unfortunately, you have to send in an entry and Scholastic (for those who live in the US) only allows it for people under 21. Bloomsbury (for those who live in the UK/Rep. of Ireland) allows anyone of the age of 6 and older to apply. Thus, Laurie and I are a bit, uhm, screwed. :) I'm 21 NOW. *sniffles* Oh well. Kate and Maria can both apply, but Kate wouldn't want to go if she can't without us and Maria can't change her flight, so what's the point? Anywho, this long rambling paragraph is to say that we will be continuing on with our plans to go to Edinburgh for the release. Does it kill me? Yes. Will l get over it? Probably.
Days till departure: 53
I'm getting to the point where I'm excited, but also depressed. The book will be finishing and that means summer is almost over TOO! Hahaha. Must look at the good points; I'm meeting Maria, Kate, and Laurie and I'm going to the UK!!
We are staying at the Piccadilly Backpackers in a double room for 4 nights (arrive 23rd, depart 27th). We decided on a double/twin room because it gives us more privacy with all our stuff. Though each room comes with a small locker of sorts, having a room to our own will make us just that much more relaxed to know no one else can get to our stuff. This hostel also had the best location of any place we've checked out, so far. Good location (pretty central London) at a "cheap" price. We could have stayed at somewhere cheaper, but further out from central London and then we'd have to take the bus in or something. Just didn't seem worth it to us.
On another note, JK Rowling announced yesterday that she will be in London for the book release (20th). She will be doing a book signing for 1,700 fans/kids. Unfortunately, you have to send in an entry and Scholastic (for those who live in the US) only allows it for people under 21. Bloomsbury (for those who live in the UK/Rep. of Ireland) allows anyone of the age of 6 and older to apply. Thus, Laurie and I are a bit, uhm, screwed. :) I'm 21 NOW. *sniffles* Oh well. Kate and Maria can both apply, but Kate wouldn't want to go if she can't without us and Maria can't change her flight, so what's the point? Anywho, this long rambling paragraph is to say that we will be continuing on with our plans to go to Edinburgh for the release. Does it kill me? Yes. Will l get over it? Probably.
Days till departure: 53
I'm getting to the point where I'm excited, but also depressed. The book will be finishing and that means summer is almost over TOO! Hahaha. Must look at the good points; I'm meeting Maria, Kate, and Laurie and I'm going to the UK!!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Randomness and Waterstones
Days till departure: 81
It's getting closer and closer, yet it still seems SO far away. Laurie and I have both sent in for our passports and, of course, haven't received them. I don't expect to get mine till the end of May (at the soonest).
We all have decided to get our book at Waterstones at 13-14 Princes Street in Edinburgh. Some other Leaky Staffers are also going there to get there book. Apparently for one of the book releases MANY books ago, Jo (JK Rowling) showed up at the OTHER Waterstones on the other end of Princes Street. How cool is that? Not that it'll happen this year since she'd be mobbed, but it's still neat to know. From what I hear, this Waterstones (the one we're going to) is the larger of the two.
Here's a google map from our hostel to the bookstore. They're driving directions, not walking directions, so that's why we go around and backtrack a bit.
*pssttt* click the picture to make it bigger, if you didn't know.
It's getting closer and closer, yet it still seems SO far away. Laurie and I have both sent in for our passports and, of course, haven't received them. I don't expect to get mine till the end of May (at the soonest).
We all have decided to get our book at Waterstones at 13-14 Princes Street in Edinburgh. Some other Leaky Staffers are also going there to get there book. Apparently for one of the book releases MANY books ago, Jo (JK Rowling) showed up at the OTHER Waterstones on the other end of Princes Street. How cool is that? Not that it'll happen this year since she'd be mobbed, but it's still neat to know. From what I hear, this Waterstones (the one we're going to) is the larger of the two.
Here's a google map from our hostel to the bookstore. They're driving directions, not walking directions, so that's why we go around and backtrack a bit.
*pssttt* click the picture to make it bigger, if you didn't know.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Our Tickets Arrived!
Thursday, March 8th, Laurie got a FedEx package with our tickets!!
Days till departure: 126
Days till departure: 126
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
More Flight Itinerary
Well as I've been officially, officially going for ages now, I guess I'll post my flight itinerary!
Depart Thurs, Jul 19 - 10 am from Cork, arrive Edinburgh at 11:35 am
Return Sun, Jul 22 - 8:35 pm from Edinburgh; arrive Cork 10:20 pm
Depart Thurs, Jul 19 - 10 am from Cork, arrive Edinburgh at 11:35 am
Return Sun, Jul 22 - 8:35 pm from Edinburgh; arrive Cork 10:20 pm
Monday, March 5, 2007
Flight Itinerary
Depart Mon, Jul 16 - 4:30 pm from SFO, arrive (next day) at LHR at 10:30 am
Return Fri, Jul 27 - 3:15 pm from LHR; arrive LAX 6:35 pm, depart 8:15 pm; arrive SFO 9:30 pm
Return Fri, Jul 27 - 3:15 pm from LHR; arrive LAX 6:35 pm, depart 8:15 pm; arrive SFO 9:30 pm
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Plane Tickets
Laurie and I are officially, officially going now!
We just bought our plane ticket to Heathrow! We leave July 16th from San Francisco and return on the 27th. Our tickets are non-refundable so whether JK Rowling does something in Edinburgh or the UK or not...we're going. LoL
So far our plans look like this:
July 16 - Depart from SFO
July 17 - Arrive in London; stay at Kate's
July 18 - Look around London and take an overnight train from London to Edinburgh (takes about 4.5 hours)
July 19 - Arrive in Edinburgh and meet with Maria; check into hostel
July 20 - Kate arrives; sightsee and get in line to get our BOOK!!!
July 21 - Read, read, read, sleep, read, read, eat, read, read (they'll probably be some sightseeing too)
July 22 - Sightsee and leave for London; check into London hostel
July 27 - Return home
Not sure where we're staying in London still.
Next important thing to do is get passports! I need a new one and Laurie too since her last one expired.
We just bought our plane ticket to Heathrow! We leave July 16th from San Francisco and return on the 27th. Our tickets are non-refundable so whether JK Rowling does something in Edinburgh or the UK or not...we're going. LoL
So far our plans look like this:
July 16 - Depart from SFO
July 17 - Arrive in London; stay at Kate's
July 18 - Look around London and take an overnight train from London to Edinburgh (takes about 4.5 hours)
July 19 - Arrive in Edinburgh and meet with Maria; check into hostel
July 20 - Kate arrives; sightsee and get in line to get our BOOK!!!
July 21 - Read, read, read, sleep, read, read, eat, read, read (they'll probably be some sightseeing too)
July 22 - Sightsee and leave for London; check into London hostel
July 27 - Return home
Not sure where we're staying in London still.
Next important thing to do is get passports! I need a new one and Laurie too since her last one expired.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The First Post
This blog is in prepartion for some of the Beanies going to the UK this summer for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book release.
This will be open for the Beanies and their families to see what adventures and mischief we four, Kate, Maria, Laurie, and Bethany (that's me!) are getting into. Pictures and stories will be posted along the way when either a) computers are happened upon or b) they feel like updating. One of us will update as it goes on, so check to see who posts! In essence, this will be the 21st century version of a travel journal
It might also tell about the steps we 4 take to prepare for the trip too!
This will be open for the Beanies and their families to see what adventures and mischief we four, Kate, Maria, Laurie, and Bethany (that's me!) are getting into. Pictures and stories will be posted along the way when either a) computers are happened upon or b) they feel like updating. One of us will update as it goes on, so check to see who posts! In essence, this will be the 21st century version of a travel journal
It might also tell about the steps we 4 take to prepare for the trip too!
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