So it Starts!

I finally did it! I did it! I did it!!!!!!

“What?” you may ask, “What have you finally done?”

I finally bought my first international plane ticket!

Where? Why, to the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa!! To say that I am supremely stoked would be the understatement of the century. I have been shilly-shallying around with the idea of going overseas for, Oh... I don't know, MY WHOLE LIFE.. So when I finally hit the submit button and booked my flight my Mom said “Oh, I thought you would never do it! I am so proud of you!”

Who cares that I have no idea what these islands are like. The food, the people, the anything..... All I know is that in a little over a month I will be getting on an airplane and taking a little trip o'er the pond!

Ok, so this idea of not knowing anything is a slight exaggeration.. I do know that the islands are Spanish, therefore, one can reasonably deduce that language spoken there will be Spanish. And luckily for me, a little over a year ago, while en route to New Mexico, I stopped in Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit my Granddad and he loaded me down with travel books. Who knew that when I took it, my new “Berlitz: Spanish for Travelers” book would come in handy so soon! Not I said the Fly...

And, lest you think I am an irresponsible fool.. I also know someone who will be there when I land. Alice, a French exchange student who has stayed with my family the last few summers will be working there this summer. When I think of Alice and I turned loose on a Spanish Island... Well lets just hope we don't get arrested.

So my next month will be spent in travel prep! I will be figuring out a budget and transferring currency, looking up more information on the islands so I can be a little prepared, studying my little Spanish phrase book and buying a bikini.. Wait! What? You heard me! A bikini.

After that month of preparation, I will pack up, drive to Nashville and take a 28 hour trip until I land on a far away island.....

No big deal, but I might as well mention that I will have a LOOONG layover in Ireland too. Who has two thumbs and will be drinking a Guinness in Ireland? This girl!!! Actually, on the way home I will be landing in Belfast at around midnight and not leaving until 11 the next morning.... I plan on bringing along a hammock and setting it up in the airport so I can rest in style. How wonderful that my last night abroad will be spent in Ireland, huh?

So, now that I have you hooked (its OK to admit it, I have that affect) you need to check back in every so often to see how my travel prep is going, learn a little bit more about the island I am going to and then get updates once I arrive in Spain....

Until then: Hasta luego!