1 rick steves travel guide ——- $20
a sturdy pair of new shoes ——- $60
a nice backpack (thanks jamie) — $0
2 round trip tickets to europe — priceless

well, not really priceless, but they are moderately priced at a mere $800 a piece!

Its official!

The dates have been chosen, there’s no turning back now. We’ll be gone Sep18 – Nov15 — 59 days. I know, I know, I wanted to be exploring for 60 days, but the tickets were $50 more a piece.

1) I have a better looking passport this time. In my last photo I was wearing a purple sweat shirt (gross on the attire, but I love purple).

2) I don’t have to worry about the exchange rate….it’s all Euro.

3) Always bring a roll of toilet paper with you. (You do indeed need it. Especially since some bathrooms charge for toilet paper).

4) People may not be too fond of Americans, that’s why I have a bag with pins around the world. Hmm I may even have an American flag on there somewhere.

5) I no longer need a hair dryer (less to pack, plus it’s easier).

6) I may actually get travel insurance this time.

7) I still don’t know a foreign language completely….but I will wing it.

I need some good looking shoes I can stomp around in.

9) Having some sort of an idea of places to stay in different countries could be a good thing…or we could just wing that too.

10) Coffee is better over there.

11) I love beer from everywhere now…I think in 1996 I liked crap beer.

12) Well I guess I didn’t learn too much.