Opportunity meets preparation

So one thing I've found myself doing more than anything else in regards to this excursion is preparing. I have no idea why, really. It's not really necessary, but I do enjoy it. I find myself utilizing my free time nowadays fine tuning the details that I have set or potentially planned. Some of my friends say I'm nuts for going as detailed as I've gone, but I see it as something to help me keep organized, and to give me a guide on what I want to do.

This is really the first time I'm going on a vacation alone that is this extensive, so I'd rather be over-prepared than under. But enough about my thoughts on it, what exactly have I done? If you want to skip straight to the specifics, just jump to the end, but here's the long-winded version: Well, for starters, you should take a look at the google calendar I put together of my itinerary. It goes into fairly ridiculous detail, meaning that I took into account walking time between sites, when the latest train I can take leaves and arrives, and other things.

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation." - Arthur Ashe 

I put together a packing list. This was probably the easiest thing, mostly because I'm going to be packing really light, but I don't want to forget anything. So, when I start packing I'll lay everything out and check things off as they're put in my bag. I also put together a very extensive to-do list. Now, because this is the first trip of this kind for me, there were a number of to-dos that I may not have to ever do again, or at least for a long time (I bought plug adapters for Europe, a new camera, a money belt, new padlocks and luggage locks, etc.).

Finally, I itemized my budget for the trip. Each day, I went through and planned out how much each meal should potentially cost me. This got easier for me, because I've made a number of reservations already and planned out several other restaurants. I estimated very conservatively, so that I could allow myself the opportunity to eat what I wish, but it still turned out to be a rather eye-opening exercise.

Any of these things are remarkably easy to do on your own. I used Google spreadsheet so that I could dabble with it during down time at work. I'm sure Excel would work just as well, if not better.

But the real key to the planning I've done is how flexible it actually allows me to be. I've had people ask me if I'm planning too much. I've had them suggest that maybe I should be a bit more spontaneous. I actually only have a very rough framework of things that I absolutely have to do. For the most part, if I want to deviate from things I'd be more than ok with doing so. The only things I absolutely must do are be at my trains and planes by the time I need to be there, be at the Borghese Gallery at the reserved time, and be at a wine tasting by the time I reserved. Other than that, everything is flexible. It gives me a great guideline to follow if nothing better comes up, though, and helped me prioritize what things were important to me. It also gave me the opportunity to research ahead of time what each place had to offer.

So, what are the specifics of what I've had to do, and what do I still have to do?
Done already:

1. Budgeted $73.14 per day. This includes fees from my card for translating to international currencies. (If you are going international, check whichever cards you might use and find out what kind of fees they have). I also budgeted about $27 per day for site seeing beyond what I've already spent.
2. Itinerary almost complete, I'm still waiting on 1 or 2 things.
3. I bought a new Camera and SD card. I also got a connector for the SD card to an iPad. I don't plan on taking my laptop, but I will take my iPad. I had to get a replacement frame for my iPad keyboard (an adonit writer 2 plus folio... it's awesome). It was under warranty, so I got lucky there.
4. All of my train tickets and plane tickets. I bought my Eurail pass, and put down money on reservations at hostels.
5. I was gifted some awesome luggage that I bought an accessory to.
6. I needed plug adapters, and a surge protector that was compatible with European voltages.
7. A padlock and luggage locks
8. A money belt to keep important stuff in. It's more secure and far more discreet than a fanny pack, but still practical.
9. I needed travel containers for toiletries, because of the stupid rules regarding liquid, gels and airplanes.
10. I hired a car to pick me up from Heathrow in London and drive me to my friend's place. It would've taken 2 hours by public transportation...
11. I bought new sunglasses.

The only things I have left to do is make reservations in Epernay for a champagne tour, download the audio tours I'll use, and download maps so that I don't induce data charges internationally by looking at maps on my phone or iPad.