Pre-Trip Interview

We are in the thick of preparations and getting VERY excited/anxious for our adventure!!!

Fortunately, we have made some great friends who have provided great advice and have been more than helpful in helping us prepare for our trip. We honestly don't how prepared we would be without their help and travel knowledge!!! Here are some of our travel preparations (mostly provided by Beth & Shaloot-thanks for all of your help, gifts and advice!). I think we are well prepared and are ready for our travels!!!

The video post isn't working as expected. We are unable to upload videos from the video camera so we can only post pictures/short videos from the photo camera. We had filmed a video diary with the video camera and unfortunately are unable to post. However, we can type and transcript this video diary. We asked 4 questions, answered them and will reassess them after our trip. Below is an abbreviated transcript of the interview:

Question 1: What is the ONE thing that if you don't get to do, you will be disappointed?

Jeremy: If I don't get to go to the top of the Roman Colosseum, I'll be disappointed. After watching Gladiator, the ultimate guy movie, I definitely want to see that!

Dana: Going to the Louvre! I think it will be great and I'm excited about seeing the art! I'm nervous about our time being cut short, so I'm saying this so we can be sure to go ; )

Question 2: What city do you think you will like the MOST?

Jeremy: I think I'm going to enjoy Rome. I've always enjoyed the history and the military and Julius Ceasar. There's something about the food also . You can't really go wrong with Italian food. Sounds like a good combination: good food and cool history. There's something about Paris that makes it a kind of a girly-place and London, it may do nothing but rain.

Dana: I think Paris will be my favorite city. I've been to Rome and I'm not as excited about London as I am Paris, so I would 100% say I'm most excited about Paris!

Question 3: What are you looking forward to the LEAST & why?

Jeremy: I can't say 1 thing, I have 4 things:

1. Dana will be in Europe for 8 or 9 days before I get there and I'm going to miss her so much

2, 3. These two long flights we'll be on. Raleigh-London, Rome-Raleigh...LONG flights here people. I've never been in a plane for more than 4 hours, so this could be different for me.

4. I've heard the horror stories of people waiting at their table to get their check for HOURS, 3-4 HOURS, and I don't think I can be that patient.

Dana: I have a couple too!

1. Also, being away from Jeremy in Poland BY MYSELF!!! AHHHH!!!!! I will miss him of course!!!

2. Getting my luggage. After a rough experience concerning baggage arrival delays on both of my previous Europe trips, I'm not holding out for the most successful arrival of my bags for this trip.

Question 4: What do you think you'll be the MOST surprised by?

Jeremy: Probably 2 things:

1. I'm going over there expecting the food to be great, but it'll probably be average.

2. I'm expecting the people to be rude and/or obnoxious, but I'm sure they won't be that bad.

Dana: Seeing the Mona Lisa, I am not dying to see this, but I think that when I'm standing in front of it, I will be surprised by how much I enjoy it.