Using a trip as an excuse to get new gadgets

In preporation for this trip, I have "had" to aquire several new gadgets. The biggest purchase was an MSI Wind Netbook - it weighs only a couple of pounds but the keyboard and screen are not that much smaller then a full-size laptop. It has WiFi so I am hoping to be able to access the internet often. I've loaded tons of information onto it, instead of lugging around a bunch of books and paper notes.

I have a cleaver little plug converter from the Intel Store. Unlike some converters that have a completely different end piece for each type of plug, this one can transform to all different configurations. They don't sell it any more so I hope that doesn't mean it didn't work well!

Besides a plug adapter, I also got a battery recharger - it uses standard batteries to charge re-chargable batteries in cell phones or iPods. AND a solar recharger, which looks like cigarette holder and then opens up to catch the sunlight.

I also got a cell phone that will work over in Europe, a new camera, .....

It's all coming together...

We received our EurRail passes - good for 21 countries for 21 days - and our BritRail passes (darn non-conformists!). We got memberships in Scotland National Trust (good for all the the UK National Trust Sites) and Hostels International. I was also able to get tickets (free but limited) to see the "Ceremony of the keys" at the Tower of London on our very last night of the trip.

The EurRail Passes are good for:

Basic Plans

I leave Phoenix late on May 12th and fly direct to London, Heathrow.  Ian and Sean will follow on May 21st and then we return home together on June 16th.  While I'm there by myself I will be hopping over to Ireland - Dublin and then up the coast. Then back over to Scotland - exploring the Scottish Isles and working my way back to London.

 

When the boys arrive, we will spend a few days in London (the only time we have a hotel reservation) and then making a "loop" of central Europe.  Our plans are flexible but the basic order is this: Paris, Varsielle & Chartres, France; Milan and Venice, Italy; Salzburg, Austria; Munich, Germany; Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; Prague, Czech Republic; Berlin, Germany; possibly Denmark; Amsterdan, The Netherlands; Brussels and Bruges, Belgium..then back to Britian.  We'll then explore Britian and Glasgow/Edinburgh, Scotland until its time to come back to the States.

I know, you're wondering "Why 'The Tartan Thistle'?" I wanted something unique, easy to remember and spell, that was in some way related to my interests and the trip and didn't have our names in it. This wasn't my first choice but it was the first the wasn't taken!

I plan to post updates to this blog as first I and then Ian, Sean and myself travel on our big Europe trip. I should be able to post pictures as well. You can set it up so that you get an email each time we post if you want or just come and take a look every now and then.

I've never done a blog before - I'll try and make it short and interesting (which may or may not be sweet). ;^)