Less than 48 hours!

Yesterday, while celebrating our 7 year anniversary (woo hoo!) we finished packing and shopping for the last of the "necessary" items. On our last trip to Tennessee we checked with the airline to see how many pounds of luggage we could take with us. Fifty-five was the magic number we were told, which we both thought was crazy! If our bags for 1 week in Tennessee were verging on 45 lbs, how could we ever survive with only 55 lbs for three weeks! Well, let me tell you, when you are backpacking - and I mean really backpacking - through Europe, suddenly 55 lbs becomes the most oppressive weight you could ever imagine. It makes you take a long look at what you are bringing, because you, yes you, will have to lug that around for 3 weeks straight!

Rest assured, neither of our packs even approach 55 lbs. I am sitting at a slightly comfortable 26 lbs and Tim is around 23. He has the wine packaging for the wine we want to bring back, so although I have the heavier load now, he will be coming home with much more weight than I. A friend was telling us that you could bring back 3-4 bottles of wine, but the last time he was over was pre 9-11, now with the new carry-on restrictions, I doubt we can find 3 oz bottles of wine to carry on the plane. So Tim has a 3 bottle Styrofoam packaging system in a cardboard box, and we are hoping that it works!

We took the packs out for a spin last night around the block. We walked for an hour straight, at a brisk pace, logging in 5,246 steps on the pedometer. Imagine two people with backpackers backpacks walking down the middle of your street at 9:30 at night. Yup, that was us! We both were a little sore at the end, but held up well. Yes Mom, my knees and ankles were OK, and yes I would have said to stop if they were not well, and yes I know it is OK to tell people if my joints are not feeling well and yes I know not to push myself too hard. :) I have to add that in, as I know where my mom's mind is going right now as she is reading this. :) Love you mom!

So with a few odds and ends to clear up over the next couple of days, it looks like we are all set. Hopefully the next post will come from a charming little Internet cafe where we are slowly eating gelato or sipping on Italian coffee! Ciao!