Tuesday, June 10, 2014
I take off in 3 days!
Finally, the trip I've been dreaming about and planning since February is in the final count down. I received notification that month that I had been chosen to receive a grant from the Lilly Foundation for Teacher Creativity and Renewal. My grant proposal was to go to an art class in Italy to reconnect to the artist in myself, then travel around ex-Yugoslavia and search out roots and villages my Nana had told me about in her travels there more than 30 years ago. Since it's been a LONG time since I've been to Europe, I decided to begin the trip with a couple side excursions.
Since February, I've been reading guide books, perusing maps, brushing up on my languages, and dropping things I don't want to forget into my new suitcase.
I made the list yesterday; it's several pages of items I get to check off in the next upcoming days. First BIG one is: Put this school year with all it's requirements, meetings, and paperwork to bed. Check. Sleep tight until we meet again in August.
I'm free! I can finally shift my whole focus on the tasks at hand which include reserving lodging and rental cars, printing tickets and PACKing.
Here's the itinerary for the next 8 weeks.
June 14 - Take off into the wild blue yonder
June 15 - 22 Bardou, Mons, France - Check this place out...it's an old, rustic village in the mountains of SW France. We'll be there 7 blissful, quiet, restful days with Dave's Aunt Jean. No internet, no distractions to disconnect us from nature and peace. Ahhhhhh....
June 22 - 28 Barcelona, Spain - We've rented a place through Airbnb close to the beach and the interesting downtown districts. On the list is: Gaudi, Tapas, Las Ramblas, and beach time. Dave and Debbie fly back to the states on the 28th. Thus begins my solo trip.
June 28 - Fly to Rome, Italy I'll spend about a week in Bella Roma, reconnecting myself with all the old haunts.
July 6 - 16 Art Class in Umbria! I'm registered for a class in a Villa in the hills. We'll make art, visit nearby hill towns with famous art, and eat homemade pasta.
July 17 - Travel to the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. Tentatively I'm planning on traveling by boat from Italia to Dubrovnik.
July 18 - Aug. 2 Travel up the coast, stopping in Mostar, Bosnia to paint a bridge. More on that story later.
Aug. 2 - 9 Travel around northern Croatia with my mom, sister and aunt!! I'm thrilled they've decided to be part of this adventure with me.
Aug 13 - Return to states just in time for school meetings.
I'm signing off for today, it's time to get cracking on the list. Now I can cross another item off: Start a blog - check!
Ciao, Christine
