Easter, 2011

We leave five weeks from today. We looked at each other this morning and asked, “What do we need to do before we leave?” We came up with the following list:
1. Phone(s) I have an AT&T Iphone 3G, Jody has a smartphone and an Ipod.
     A. Arrange to have the bills paid in our absence
     B. The bigger question is . . .what kinds of service can we afford
         while abroad? The choices are myriad. We’d like to:
          (1.) Allow folks here in the U.S. to get in touch with us,
                 especially in emergency situations.
          (2.) Allow us to call home from time to time to let folks know
                where we are and that we are safe and well.
          (3.) Be able to search websites for theatres, campgrounds, and
                 other attractions and/or information.
2. Prescriptions: I’ve half a dozen that need to be extended for about three
          months. My GP is amenable, but it needs to be done.
3. Yard maintenance. Jody’s brother-in-law works these jobs as a second income. She will speak
          with him about mowing every couple of weeks. I need to finish my ‘cheap-O’ sprinkler system
          and set up the timers.
4. Stop the newspaper.5. Pay ahead on the water. This one is very easy.
6. Electric - pay ahead, if possible. Don’t recall how this was done.
7. Gas - pay ahead. Should be no problem.
8. Credit cards      A. Pay any balances.
      B. Let them know we’ll be gone. Make sure we can access accounts
          from abroad. We’ve had some trouble with this before. My
          London students generally score with ATM’s about 50% of the
          time. We encountered the ‘chip and pin’ card situation a number of
          times in GB, especially in Ireland. No company in the US seems
          to offer this method of operation. Too bad.
 9. PermaGreen lawn care.
10 Tickets abroad:
      1. Commedie Francais
      2. PQ admissions
      3. Epidaurus “Women”
      4. Bregenz Opera Festival
      5. Other theatres and museums. . . .Ufizzi? Louvre? Etc.?
6. Ferry connections.(rather not establish that tight an itinerary)
11. Timers on a couple of interior lights in the house.

First Reservations

Our trip plan is quite flexible, with only fixed dates for flights, the PQ opening, and occasional shows that may be difficult to ticket easily.  One fixed location is Prague.  We want to be there for the opening ceremonies and three or four of the following days.  Consequently, we searched for a convenient campsite and found Drusus Campground, offering the upper floor of a farmhouse, 30 min. from downtown for 700 Czech Republic Koruna per night.  Sounds a little expensive until you find that a Czech Crown is worth about 6 cents.  Makes it $42 a night. . .just a bit more than a tent site, and with a private bath!  I seems that after three weeks under mylon in the Mutha Hubba tent, we'll be ready for a real room and bed!

A student of mine just returned from Paris, where he saw the floorshow at the Moulin Rouge.  That famous show seemed to fit our needs until I found that dinner and show for two would run nearly $500.  Looks like we will be seeing Brecht's Threepenny Opera at La Comedie Francaise for about $60 each.  Probably much more educational. . .yet, there's something rather special about a topless French girl. . .not to mention two dozen of them!  Two dozen girls, that is.  Oh, well. . .

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