More Research ~By Danette

I just checked out three books from the library today. Europe by Rail, Europe, and Europe on a Shoestring by Lonely Planet. They have been extremely useful thus far! My computer bit the dust the other day and I was more than upset. I text Amy freaking out saying "how am I supposed to f'ing plan Europe without a computer!!!!!" Well, I am improvising. And I almost feel this is easier than trying to find a useful website. Flipping pages and writing on paper with an actual pen, its actually kind of nice.

~By Danette

Purchases ~By Danette

Backpacks, shoes, jackets, sleeping bags and all the other jazz that we need to buy before our trip. Where is a person start?

Ive been online looking at everything trying to figure out which thing will work best for me and what I need. I obviously worry too much because i am so concerned im going to buy the wrong thing because I didn't research enough. Well, I finally made my first purchase today. (other than my plane ticket.) I just bought a Colombia jacket! It was originally $270, but I scored it for $140. Still pricey, but I love it! Waterproof, comes apart in to a lighter jacket and it's black, so it will match with everything!
Can't wait to take a trip to anchorage and get some more of the thing I need.

~By Danette

Tickets!!!!

I cannot believe this is my life!!!! Amy and I have just purchased one way tickets to Europe!!! WE ARE GOING TO EUROPE!!!!! We leave Anchorage Alaska August 26th! We have a a ten hour layover in Iceland so we are very excited to check out Reykjavik for a couple of hours! Then onto Barcelona, Spain where we will officially start off this two month adventure!!!

I dreamt last night we had just landed in Europe and it was mad chaos, we had brought so much stuff with us that mascara, eyeliner and curling iron cords were just falling out of our backpacks. We looked like crazies! So in reality, very minimal of that stuff is going to make it into my backpack! I want to take the very least that I can. :) Though I've already changed my mind from no flat iron to my mini flat iron. I can't look like a hobo the whole time I am there. :)

Passport En Route! ~ Amy

  
Welp its official! I have applied for my United States Passport! it shall be here within 6 weeks! I just can't believe me of all people am going to EUROPE!!! OMG and my passport picture is crazy horrible too!
   I have also applied for three different major travel credit cards too. I have never been fond of those things and actually only have one to my name as of now, but ive read its a great way to avoid foreign transaction fees and everything else that comes along with banking overseas. We shall see, I hope i get approve for at least one. 
   Next big purchase should be our tickets!!!!

My Savings Board ~ By Danette

Well, I got several emails from concerned friends about my money board.

In theory it was a good idea, but perhaps not the smartest one I have ever had. I guess I am too trusting. Well, that and I figured no one but close friends have any idea what state I live in, let alone what city.

So to the bank my savings have gone.

Thanks to all my friends for encouraging me to be safer. :)

My Board ~By Danette

I

I am so happy to say that my money board is growing! This is working very well for me. Though I really have the urge to put it in my bank account. I feel like I have more money when it's all combined and in one location.

So, since my original post about my board (the end of January), I now have $1,050.00 pinned!! My only big expense this month (out side of rent) was having to buy a new computer. =[ My Ol Faithful bit the dust. But other than that things seem to be going smoothly. I am working about 60 hours a week, I feel like there are about 4 days in a row ever week that I want to die. I'm not exactly always getting the 10 hours of sleep I require. My saving grace is that sometimes in between going to work at the salon in the morning and the restaurant at night I get to take a nap. It makes life so much better. Also, not a huge fan of cutting out all delicious coffees. I've been craving my Big Train Chai Tea I get in Alaska, but I guess it's a small price to pay for a an adventure of a lifetime! Totally going to be worth it!!!

So there you have it, hopefully I can double that by the end of March? Or am I dreaming?

~Danette

Tentative Route ~By Danette

So I kind of made a vague route of how we might do our trip. Flying into Barcelona, Spain and going from there. We want to spend quite a bit of time in Ireland then work our way to Sweden (will get to see one of my very best friends!) and Norway and then hit Eastern Europe. Back towards Italy and then that may be the end. I'm hoping I get to see several of my European friends along the way! So excited!

~Danette