I returned the Danish bike...
.....jumped on the trampoline with the Danish kids one last time
....said good-bye to my Danish co-workers (didn't cry this time)
....mostly because I was way to excited about my upcoming vacation (!)
In the 6+ years that Trevor and I have been dating we never really went on a vacation just the two of us. We've gone to plenty of and family reunions and a couple group vacations and I'm not trying to say those weren't fun, but after years full of crazy long weekend wedding vacations we were really just looking forward to lounging, sleeping in, and not having to be anywhere on time.
Trevor was in Germany for a conference during my last week in Copenhagen. I didn't get to talk to him too much during the week because we were both really busy. Plus his phone didn't work and we were never on the computer at the same time. We made vague plans to meet outside some restaurant in a tiny little town of Lindau, Germany. I was to fly into Zurich, rent a car, and drive 1.5 hours to pick him up. No problem.
Well as the time drew closer I started getting a little nervous about driving a rental car in a foreign country. So I googled it to see what other people had to say. Most people mentioned an international drivers permit..... crap, I didn't get that! Further research suggested it is required to rent and drive a car in a foreign country. What if they don't rent me a car?! Germany at least will rent cars to foreigners without international drivers permits as long as their licenses are in English. Plan B: take train to Germany and rent a car from there. Then I realize my driver's license is set to expire on my birthday which is halfway through the trip! Damn. Now they are definitely not going to rent me a car anywhere! Plan C: have Trevor rent the car in Germany and drive to me. But the reservation was pre-paid and changes to it could mean changes in price. Plus I can't get a hold of Trevor because neither of our phones work and he's not online. I decide to take my chances in Zurich....but then I start flooding my consciousness with worst case scenarios. If they don't rent me a car, and Trevor's phone doesn't work...how will I let him know changes to the plan? I requested an automatic transmission, but what if the only cars they have left are manual? Should I try to drive it? I requested a GPS, but what if it's only in German? What if I can't figure out how to use it? And I won't be able to call Trevor for help? What if I don't get a car at all and have to take the train to Lindau? How will I manage will all my 100lbs of luggage and lack of any physical strength to carry it? How will I know how to get from the train station to the restaurant?
Needless to say I slept like a baby that night...... I woke up every 5 minutes crying.
That was a joke.... about the crying. But I did sleep like a baby in the sense that I barely slept at all. I took a cab to the airport, checked my bags and crossed my fingers.
When I got to the Swiss rental service desk I was so unsure of what my day was going to be like. But the sweet Swiss lady had the keys in her hand with my name on them. She copied my passport and credit card, set up the GPS for me, and handed over the keys to my little euro automatic station wagon and I was on my way. Simple as pie. No questions asked.
1.5 hours later I found Trevor right outside the restaurant he said he'd be. I swear things never work out this easy for me......
Now about that European vacation ...... Let's start from the very beginning...a very good place to start....
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