14 Days

to go and 14 heart palpitations down before hitting the ground in Europe.

Purchasing a Eurail Pass should come with a warning label: side effects may include irregular heartbeat, catatonic stares, and momentary fits of "what in the world am I doing".  But I did it and I, as well as my bank account, survived. And now that the shock to my system has dulled a bit I'm back to planning and I've added a new leg; I'm fjord bound!


Now for my first destination (thanks to all those who cast guesses). It is . . .

London

then to Paris by way of the Chunnel!

If you're looking for ideas for festivities a little closer to home, why not throw a Chinese New Year Party. My sister, Christy celebrates with her family every year and just posted about her preparations here: House of Normandy

Russia for the Countdown

left to right: me and Christy modeling Snowhemian Chic

 

I feel like it is turning 

into Russia 

said my sister's Russian neighbor as we were all shoveling snow. There is that much snow in Utah right now.

Now for travel related news . . .

• My flight is booked!
• I will be in Europe in 19 days!
• My sister Christy is traveling  with me for the first week!
• And yes, I'm going to make her Yodel with me as we cross the Millenium Bridge (for more about this see the Mission Possible List). 

Let the Countdown begin  
*Cast your vote on the right if you think you know where I'm going first.

Food Heaven

Have you heard about this book!

Phaidon who produces beautiful books, just published it (2013). Do you see how they've printed on the book edge as well--it goes all the way around. Inside, the pages are clean, no fuss and loaded with information.

It's just about restaurants. Here's an excerpt from the preface: 

we sent questionnaires to an international line-up of leading chefs, asking them to tell us where they go for breakfast, where they eat late at night, where they think is a bargain, and which high-end restaurants they like to go to for a treat.

Organized by geographic region -- Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and South America -- you can travel the globe or stay somewhere near home to judge one of these establishments for yourself. The U.S. restaurants are in large cities like Los Angeles and Chicago. And with a large selection in Europe you know what that means: this book is coming with me (in spite of the heft) and I will share what I find.

The book as well as the on line synopsis indicate there is an iPhone and iPad app. Until they are available I will travel with the hardback version of Where Chefs Eat. 

Update: Thanks for the info from Adrián. The iPhone and iPad apps are due out in early February.

Rome with a load of coins

• Cast a coin [or several] in the Trevi Fountain in Rome and make a wish and let us know when it comes true - Jeff

I'm going to need a lot of coins to help me complete the to do's on this Mission Possible list because the theme is Amore!

• Have a romantic lunch with a sexy Frenchman - Allison
• Tell an Italian or French guy he is very handsome - David
• A date in every country! xoxo - Carrie - every country? phew, no pressure or anything. Then on the flip side . . .
• If a Frenchman tries to pinch or flirt with you just say "Non!" - Laurent 

In addition to coins I need to pack a lot of luck, guts, flirty winks and cute clothes. So if anyone knows a cute nice single guy in any of the countries on this list please help a girl out and let me know.

Or . . . maybe I just need to learn to Mambo Italiano

A Straight Jacket

That's what the Italians will put me in when I'm caught doing this:

• riding a bike and singing "my country tis of thee" (at the tops of my lungs) while wearing red white and blue somewhere in Italy. Thank you Tanni

For the second installment in the Mission Possible list the theme is Culture.
All the "to do's" below will immerse me in the culture of a locale while the item above will only validate the negative opinion that many Europeans have of Americans. I will have to get creative with that one. I seriously love my friends.

• Clog dressed in traditional clothing in Germany - Adrian

• A cooking lesson in every country! - Carrie

• A once in a lifetime experience in every country! - Carrie

• Drive on the autobahn in a BMW - Michelle

I mean really. I get to drive on the autobahn in a BMW without feeling the least bit of guilt for my frivolity.

A Field of Barley

Yes, that's right. I asked a group of friends to share what they would have me do while on my adventures in Europe and one said, "Run your hands through a field of Barley".

So here's the first installment of these zany to do's and the theme is Nature/Great outdoors.

• Run your hands through a field of Barley -Armando
• Yodel every time you cross a bridge -Katie, who will also Meet Me In Prague
• Run through the grass wearing a dress while singing "the hills are alive with the sound of music" (don't forget the nun hat) -  Tanni
• Visit the Ice Bar in Sweden - Michelle

I'll give it my best effort to accomplish all or die laughing or crying. For now we'll call it my Mission Possible list.

Barley 3 by Michał Ludwiński

A Packing Frenzy

Did you know the abominable snowman lives in southern CA? Okay maybe not the abominable snowman but decked out in all the snow gear I own I was a sight to behold. That's what happens when packing every single book, fondue pot, book, sofa pillow, book, refurbed dresser, bookcase . . .  during cold temps the likes of which we wimpy Californians haven't seen in 22 years.

But glory hallelujah it's all packed . . . phew. After 5 days of packing, 2 storage containers and 2 almost overweight suitcases (repacked at the jetblue check-in counter) I'm on my first leg of the trip: a month in Utah hanging out with my other most adorable niece and nephews.

Tomorrow . . . a sneak peak at some zany stuff on my adventure list.