Travel Day (outbound)

It was an check-in and security, though I did get extra screening (a rear-end pat down and hand swab). The gate area is quiet and empty as it's two hours before check in.

I arrive in Germany 7:00 am local time (that's midnight to you folks in the Midwest). A few hours, then it's a short hop to Paris by 10 am (3 am at home). Followed by border security, find Mom, and a taxi to the hotel—and then try to stay awake long enough to adjust to a shift seven hours into the future. Total travel door-to-door is approximately 17 hours.

We won't do much on arrival day (Tuesday) other than get acclimated by walking and eating. Not a bad beginning.

Packing Begins

Packing isn't the most laborious part of my travel preparation, but I do tend to procrastinate. Time to get cracking!

I'm trying a new system this time. One laundry bin for the stuff (mostly clothes) that will go in the suitcase, the other for my carry-on (electronics/medication/change of clothes/entertainment)—and a critical third one for all the crap I thought I could take but cannot.