Sitting in Washington D.C., next to a plug outlet...

I’m off to a great start: I forgot my toothbrush. Reframe: I didn’t forget my passport, wallet, iPhone or my capacity for reframing.

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So here’s the very, very flexible agenda for my travel this time:

Alicante, Spain:          May 11^th- May 14^th

Budapest, Hungary:  May 14^th- May 17^th

[GIANT UNPLANNED TIME]: May 17^th- May 26^th

Brussels, Belgium:     May 26^th- May 28^th

Madrid, Spain:           May 28^th- May 29^th

Fly home:                   May 29^th

“Giant Unplanned Time” will consist of me deciding on North (Vienna, Prague, Berlin) or South (Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia) from Budapest, then booking transportation to Brussels from wherever I am.  I’ll figure it out.

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As a refresher traveling course and to procrastinate on actually packing last night, I read through my old journal for forewarning and recollection.  

Here are some of my favsies:

1) Thou shall not look American. This means no T-shirts with brands, no khaki shorts (woops!), no flip-flops, no athletic shoes, no boating shoes, no hoodies, no North Face.  Of course, this careful selection of clothing is completely in vain; all of it is being carried around in my L. L Bean backpack.  Fail!

2) When you are lost, don’t look lost. Nothing says “Kill me and take my L.L Bean backpack” more than looking around at street signs and squinting with a giant map in your hand. Don’t know where you are? Just keep walking. You’ll eventually figure it out. Sometimes it just takes several hours.

3) Don’t smile. Americans smile at everything and its super obvious. When abroad, walk around with a face that says “Hey, I’m have a totally average not bad but not good day.” Natives will pin you as a native and ask you for directions! Seriously! Then you can tell them you have no idea where you are so you sure as hell can’t help them.

4) Ziplock bags are always useful. Only want half of that apple now? Put it in a ziplock! Half an apple could mean the difference between life and hunger later. Dirty socks, loose change, keeping things dry; You can never pack to many! Yes, you may look like a drug dealer at the airport. But since you wont have any drugs, the worst they can get you for is being mysterious. Which isn’t a real crime any civil country (so watch where you travel).

5) Be suspicious of everyone. On the hole, people aren’t evil because it takes to much energy. But if someone walks up to you and is smiling--- they want something from you, want to sell you something, or want to kidnap and sell you. Or they are American. Just trust your gut instinct.  Yes, telling strangers your name is okay; No, its not customary anywhere for strangers to ask for your blood type.

I intelligently didn’t pre-book transportation to Alicante, so I get to find a bus or a train or hitch a ride. Who plans ahead anyway?