Welcome one and all to my first travel blog! As I’ve been telling all my friends and family, during my trip this spring I’m going to be doing a travel blog. Earlier this year I set out on a goal to head to Italy at the end of the school term. As the date fast approached, it started to become more talk than reality. After my last final of my bachelors was when it finally hit me that I’m done, and that the planning should probably begin.
Around May 6th is when I started planning this trip - and yes I’m writing this at the airport May 29th so it did happen - so in just 3 weeks I not only changed this from being a solo trip to Italy, but to a duo trip to Dublin THEN Italy with my buddy Dean.
For those that don’t know, Dean (no not The Dean, just Dean) is an amazing man I met at my role on student council this last year at BCIT. He was the Chair of the School of Energy, and was also finishing his degree in Mechanical Engineering. About 1 week into planning I asked if he’d like to join, and all he could say was “yes.” I could not be more excited to head out on this trip with such a great guy, and I can’t wait to make some great memories, visit gorgeous cities and meet some amazing new people.
As for the planning and the trip with an incredible amount of support - really I could not have planned all of this without the help, input, tips and tricks form everyone - everything came together with the final plan being: 4 days in Dublin, 2 days in Rome, 3 days in Florence and 4 days in Venice.
I’m holding Venice because I have dreamed of going there my entire life and it’s finally happening.
I’d just like to say thank you once more to everyone. Thank you for all the support and kind words. I know I speak for both Dean and I in saying we couldn’t have done this without you and we can’t wait to show you all the pictures and tell you all the *other* stories when we get back.
The first day started great. Woke up at 07:00, said bye to my mom and brother as they both headed off to school and I then got to work double checking my packing. Everything was in order and ready to walk out the door, besides changing my cell’s SIM card. As I went to check my flights around 09:00 everything was still on schedule and ready to go, 17:15 out of YVR landing at 10:05 LGW time and 15:05 out of LGW and landing 16:35 DUB.
”Awesome,” I thought as I turned on my PC deciding to get a few last games in before I really had to get going. Then at about 10:00 is when things started to go sideways. I checked my flight again and low and behold it says Delayed Departure: 19:15 out of YVR; Arrive at 13:05 LGW. (Insert a wut meme here because that was my face the entire time at the airport.) Things have not gotten off to a great start.
Even with the delay, things still stayed on schedule as if we were to leave at 17:05 out of Vancoucer. I met Dean at his house and we headed by SkyTrain to the airport. Once we got there the flight now says Delayed Departure: 20:20; Arrive: 14:04. Our used to be 4h30m layover in London was now shredded to a measly hour.
The day was just getting better too. I then sat on the phone with Aer Lingus waiting for 35m to speak with a representative (Nancy you were amazing and thank you for helping me at 23:40 your time) to figure out contingencies in case we miss the flight. There is either the 19:50 flight (expensive one and full) or the 21:35 flight (cheaper and empty) that we can change to depending when we fly in. We decided to wait till we get in to decide.
Either way, there was still 5 hours spent at the airport before we got on the flight. At least the food we ate (we got some snacks first then went for a Subway dinner) was decent, and we got a bit extra for the flight too so midnight snacks will be real.
We decided to play some chess as we were waiting for the flight to board. Sadly we were called before we could complete it, but I wish to challenge Dean when we get back. Boarding the plan was easy and as I sit in my seat the hype has hit an 8/10. Soon to be 10/10 when we land in Dublin. As we took off I decided to take my opportunity to play ‘Learn to Fly’ by Foo Fighters for both Dean and I to enjoy (and might I say we had a good chuckle).
Now it’s time to sit back, do some reading, listen to music, watch some of The Office downloaded on my phone and of course sleep. Be sure to stay tuned as the story unfolds!
~Spencer
> The security line was long; glad Dean said “let’s go early.
> Forgot how beautiful Vancouver airport is.
> We grabbed the charging station at the gate (WOO!) and Dean went to grab some food. I’m next.
> Sad to leave Vancouver on such a sunny day, but there will be much more of those to come when we’re back!
> Decided to play some chess but our flight zone got called so for now it is a draw until we can resume!