Well, the cats have taken up about 95% of my fret threshold so I haven't had too much time to freak out about the trip. But I did manage to get some last minute stuff done. I confirmed our hostel for the first couple of nights in Quito. We will be staying at the Blue House. www.bluehousequito.com.
It took quite a bit of questioning to get them to confirm that our private room has two beds. I will let you know if there was a 'language' issue and we end up sharing. I imagine after 24 hours in transit, arriving after midnight, I won't care too much on the first night. We also have an ensuite and they are meeting us at the airport.
I suspect we won't be there for more than a couple of nights. It looks pretty tourist hostel-y. I realize it IS a tourist hostel but that is no excuse to not be embarrassed by the fact. Case in point, this photo on their website:
Other last minute tasks completed today: I bought a case for my new camera and a plastic fanny pack so that I have something to hold my new waterproof camera while swimming. I took my rolled coin to bank and submitted my mileage claim form at work. This is my new travel budget. So sad. I also bought a new book (Hunger Games) for the flight. AND worked a full day.
And let's not forget dealing with vets. Again, let's all give a prayer of thanks for Chris who is not only going to have to take Samantha to the vet this weekend, and give her her regular meds and probably another round of antibiotics for her ears, but she is ALSO now going to have to deal with a radioactive GingyPuss. I kid you not. GP is going to the vet in two weeks and getting her thyroid zapped with radioiodine (I-131) while I am away. She will be radioactive for two weeks and her 'litter' (the poop kind, not the kitten kind) will have to be treated like nuclear waste (put in a barrel and rolled into Lake Springfield - a Simpson's reference and I haven't even left Canada yet!). And, jerk that I am, I will be away for all of that (seriously, I feel very guilty). Lesson here, never take your cat to the vet before embarking on a long trip unless you hate your cat sitter. (I do not hate Chris - I love Chris, I owe Chris a kidney or even my liver if she needs it - thank goodness she doesn't drink).
Now I have packed for the last time. I packed with all of my travel clothes (what I will be wearing on the plane but not while we are backpacking) to see how much weight I will be lugging around. Approximately 25 pounds. It doesn't sound like alot but I am a wimp. I lost a few items since the first pack. I am down to two tee shirts, two tank tops and one long sleeve shirt. Oh, how I am going to grow to loath those 5 tops over the next five weeks. I also tossed out my silk bed liner. I only used it once in India but it was pretty vital that one time. We'll see if I am sorry about this decision in time.
I only used the backpack space. I did not have to put any extra in the attachable day pack. This is good because it means I have some shuffling space and, more importantly, some shopping space.
Val will be here in the morning at 11:30 so we can take the 1 pm ferry. We will have lots of time to kill in Vancouver but I am paranoid about the ferries breaking down. Or just one medical emergency mid-crossing and we could miss our flight, so we are going over early.
One last concern. I bought a travel alarm clock for Cuba but never could quite figure out how to use it. But now, packed at the bottom of my bag, the alarm keeps beeping. But it is midnight and I am going to bed so I will de-beep, if I can, in the morning.
Final bag count for Lea and Alisma:
1 purse.
1 backpack
1 day pack
1 bigger purse/carry all
1 extra foldable bag for return trip.
Not bad. (I won't mention the fanny pack, the dry bag and the various little sacks stuffed with little things)
It took quite a bit of questioning to get them to confirm that our private room has two beds. I will let you know if there was a 'language' issue and we end up sharing. I imagine after 24 hours in transit, arriving after midnight, I won't care too much on the first night. We also have an ensuite and they are meeting us at the airport.
Yikes.
Other last minute tasks completed today: I bought a case for my new camera and a plastic fanny pack so that I have something to hold my new waterproof camera while swimming. I took my rolled coin to bank and submitted my mileage claim form at work. This is my new travel budget. So sad. I also bought a new book (Hunger Games) for the flight. AND worked a full day.
And let's not forget dealing with vets. Again, let's all give a prayer of thanks for Chris who is not only going to have to take Samantha to the vet this weekend, and give her her regular meds and probably another round of antibiotics for her ears, but she is ALSO now going to have to deal with a radioactive GingyPuss. I kid you not. GP is going to the vet in two weeks and getting her thyroid zapped with radioiodine (I-131) while I am away. She will be radioactive for two weeks and her 'litter' (the poop kind, not the kitten kind) will have to be treated like nuclear waste (put in a barrel and rolled into Lake Springfield - a Simpson's reference and I haven't even left Canada yet!). And, jerk that I am, I will be away for all of that (seriously, I feel very guilty). Lesson here, never take your cat to the vet before embarking on a long trip unless you hate your cat sitter. (I do not hate Chris - I love Chris, I owe Chris a kidney or even my liver if she needs it - thank goodness she doesn't drink).
At least she will be easy to find in a dark room.
I only used the backpack space. I did not have to put any extra in the attachable day pack. This is good because it means I have some shuffling space and, more importantly, some shopping space.
Val will be here in the morning at 11:30 so we can take the 1 pm ferry. We will have lots of time to kill in Vancouver but I am paranoid about the ferries breaking down. Or just one medical emergency mid-crossing and we could miss our flight, so we are going over early.
One last concern. I bought a travel alarm clock for Cuba but never could quite figure out how to use it. But now, packed at the bottom of my bag, the alarm keeps beeping. But it is midnight and I am going to bed so I will de-beep, if I can, in the morning.
Final bag count for Lea and Alisma:
1 purse.
1 backpack
1 day pack
1 bigger purse/carry all
1 extra foldable bag for return trip.
Not bad. (I won't mention the fanny pack, the dry bag and the various little sacks stuffed with little things)
No comments:
Post a Comment