Monday, September 17, 2007

First Week Plans

Hello faithful readership (if you so exist!),

Just a little update on what's going on. I am well into packing my things at this point; even my clothes are packed! I have so many clothes (NOT a good thing!) I can pack all I want to bring and still have plenty to wear for the next two weeks. Passengers in first class are allowed 2 pieces of luggage, each weighing no more than 32kg each... that means I can bring more than my body weight in luggage, ha ha ha!!! I can manage that, I think. Basically, if I have room for it, I am going to pack it...no worries on bringing too much, I'm going to be there quite a while. I don't want to have to go scurrying around town in Germany to find this item or that item if I've already got it at home and have such a large luggage allowance. Might as well just pack it.

My cousin (technically he's my 2nd uncle) Tobias works for Sparkasse, a popular bank with branches at every corner in Germany. Soooo to my luck, he is opening an account for me at Sparkasse before I even get there, saving me the hassle of doing it by myself when I get there. I am going to visit my cousins in Ingolstadt the first weekend I am in Germany.

Last night, I got an excellent deal on a train ticket from Koblenz to Ingolstadt. I was sooo close to buying a railpass, a 4 day one for $202 (w/ shipping) that I wasn't even sure I'd be able to use. I'm sure I'd find some way to use it, but still... so, I went to the Deutsche Bahn website again just to double-check the prices on the ticket I wanted, and lo and behold! For some reason, the special price wasn't listed a few days ago, but it was now... I got my ticket for $43 as opposed to $110! The reason I am going to visit them is because they have things of mine that they brought back when they left last week so I didn't have to pack them, AND...

I'm going to Oktoberfest in Munich! YESSSS! A life goal will be scratched off the list on that very weekend. I am excited already. I can't wait to eat a Bratwurstsemmel (a bratwurst on a crispy roll) with mustard... mmm!!!

Doing a good job packing, though, I think I'm covering all the bases. I looked at the pictures of my friend's apartment again today. She lives in the same building as I'll be in. The apartments are so cute and everything is new. I am very excited about it!!

I can't believe I'm leaving in two weeks!

Keeping you posted,
Caitlin