Adventure 2015!

After returning from three months in Mexico, we barely had two months to get ready for our next big safari – four months in Europe!  Our itinerary includes Croatia, Greece (Hydra and our favourite island Sifnos), Spain, Morocco (Africa!), Portugal, Gibraltar, France, and Italy where our daughter Melissa, son Geoffrey, and our darling grandchildren – Mia, Cadence and Kinghston  join us for two weeks.  We had originally planned to land in Turkey and spend some time there, but the refugee situation and the specter of ISIS changed our minds.

So we have spent the last two months planning and preparing, with Sweet Lorraine doing most of the work.  She has spent literally hundreds of hours on the computer, comparing reviews, getting prices, scoping out the best hikes and scenic spots. I went online to buy a new “Travelcaster” as my Telecoustic was broken in Mexico.  This one is actually a “Stratacoustic”.  They are made by Fender and feature a carbon-fibre body with a bolt-on neck, which is critical as I have to take the neck off to pack it in the suitcase.

 Yesterday we packed, enjoying our first use of our brand new upgraded luggage. Alas, the neck of the new Travelcaster would not fit so we were grateful that we had not yet donated our old luggage, but disappointed that we could not now make use of our new co-ordinated set.  (“One of these things is not like the other…”)

Tomorrow we leave for Venice, where  we stay the night (to return later in the trip) and then we are off by train to Croatia!

The new "Travelcaster"  my Stratacoustic.

The Travelcaster with the neck off ready to pack.

Starting to pack  hiking gear and all.

I printed off a month of my beloved Cryptic puzzles for the journey.

There were lists, and lists of lists to get ready!