the transporter.

It’s a crazy plan, one that people hear and immediately say, “that’s crazy.” I have a wedding to attend in Washington DC one day before I leave for Europe. So what do I do? The answer is obvious: take Amtrak to Newark Airport and fly out of there. At the time of booking, 7 months in advance, the airfare for a non-stop Continental flight to Dublin (my portal to the continent) is a good $400 cheaper than flying out of Dulles, and the time saved would not be worth that much.

So my initial journey is multi-legged: Amtrak from DC to Jersey, flight from Jersey to Dublin, budget flight from Dublin to Geneva. The total cost of the trip is $122 for the train, $767.20 for the roundtrip transatlantic flight and €301.35 for the roundtrip flight to the continent. So in the end, I probably don’t save all that much money versus flying straight from DC to Geneva, but this way I get to spend a day and a night in Ireland, a place I’ve long wanted to visit. Plus, I’ll be saving money once I get to Geneva because Phil will be putting me up for a night and giving me a ride to Italy.

I’ve stuffed my Kelty backback full of five weeks’ worth of clothing, the indispensable Lonely Planet’s Europe on a Shoestring and essential equipment (iPod+charger, check…phone+charger, check…electrical converter, check…flashlight, check…soap+shampoo+toothbrush+toothpaste+deodorant+lotion+razor+alcohol pads+bandaids, check…reading material, check…passport+eurail pass, check), and am taking Steve’s and Caroline’s wedding gift in a paper bag. Carrying the stuff is already a pain but at least I’ll be able to ditch the gift before I fly out.

Now I’m ready to transport myself across the ocean.

-D