We’ve promised many of our friends and family that we’d do some sort of blog during our trip to Europe. Two days before the trip, we thought it’d be good to write our first post.
We finished packing our bags, and we were both happy that they came in so light. Austin’s end up weighing only 22 pounds and Carly’s came in at 16. The difference, Austin claims, is just a lot of candy.
We’re each so ready for this trip. It’s been a very busy year for the both of us. Since we each work in education, our lives go by the academic year from September to September instead of the regular calendar year. Carly just finished her first year of teaching, and Austin finished his third year at Westen. In just the last six months, we bought a duplex, moved into and renovated the lower unit, and then moved into and renovated the upper unit.
Carly’s lifelong dream has been to be a teacher, and one of Austin’s dreams has been to be a landlord. Certain days, though, make us realize how fine the line is between a dream and a nightmare. Because sometimes students and tenants misbehave.
Talking about Europe started out as therapy. It was so nice to come home from a stressful day and think how great it’d be to get away. Then we booked our plane ticket and things got real. For the last six months, we’ve been busy planning and trying to learn about the places we want to see.
Our first stop will be Dublin, where we’ll rent a car with a steering wheel on the right and a stick shift on the left. But hey, Austin’s $20 international drivers’ license says he's good to go. After Dublin and the Guinness Brew House, we’ll go to London, and then onto Belgium, France, Italy, and Greece. We’re both eager to see “all the old things” and to look for ways to get off the beaten path.
We’ll try to do our best to occasionally post to this blog throughout our trip, maybe on the long train rides between the stops. We’re each excited for all we’ll learn and see and experience together over the next thirty-five days. If you're our parents, you're naturally interested. For all the rest of you, please enjoy at your leisure.