Erin McElvaney

Hey all, I'll be leaving for a journey to Italy and perhaps various other places in about a week.  I've spent the past week in Baltimore, after having spent 5 days in Vegas and 4 previous days celebrating my 'break up' with IBM.  I quit my full time job as a programmer there and my last day was September 1st.  You can see photos of my Quitfest Celebration.

I'll be going to Ocean city for a few days this coming weekend, and then I fly out to Europe.  I'm not sure exactly when or where I'll fly, considering the strange one-way ticket I bought, but I should hopefully know some time tomorrow.  Check out http://www.airtech.com.  Has anyone else ever used this?  It's a bit of a risk but I'm in a risk-taking mood lately ;).

Anyhow, I plan to first make my way to Rome where I'll visit my cousin Renee who is studying there for the semester.  She's offered a free bed and an extra key and I've managed to locate free wifi in one of the parks in Rome.  I also plan to visit Cinque Terres again shortly after arriving, and also exploring the regions of Tuscany, lake Como and the Dolomites, Umbria and the other hill towns of central Italy, the Amalfi coast and Capri, and Sicily.  I may also venture into southern France and Barcelona if I decide to stay long enough.  Nothing is set in stone, however!  It's going to be a full blown adventure.  I'm going with my small suitcase / backpack and day pack, equipped with some pants, some shirts, a few pair of shoes, a couple of Italy guide books, my earplugs and eye mask of course, my spirit and my curiosity.  I can't wait to see the beautiful towns of Italy again, and I'm so excited to be going back!  If you know anyone traveling there in the next month or so, write me and let me know.. maybe I can rendezvous with some other fellow travelers ;).  Yes, as of now I am going alone.

As a part of this adventure, I plan to write some while traveling.  I am bringing a laptop for the first time on a trip. It will be heavy and ridiculously annoying but I refuse to pay 4.50 euro for 30 minutes of internet time in a cafe.  Plus I hate their keyboards! 

The site I will be updating to is a little endeavor that myself and a few others (Irene, Jessica) had planned on starting back in the beginning of summer.  It hasn't really taken a good form yet, but I have content so I need to start writing!  Please, do me a favor and link to the website here: www.anticipatetravel.com.  I need to increase my google page ranking there...

There are two prototypes in the works right now, but hopefully within the next week we will narrow down the format to one of our content managers and then that link will be pointing to it.  What you'll see as of (today) is the first prototype.

I will be writing about my travel experiences, including packing tips and what I'm bringing on this trip, my trip's on-going itinerary.. perhaps with a little map or something :).  I also plan to write little articles as I go, so keep an eye out.  I know a lot of people are jealous that I could quit my job and just go to Italy for a month or whatever, and I'm sorry.  I just can't stand the thought of going back to a job like that, much less without having at least traveled some before recommiting to that lifestyle again!  Maybe on this trip I will begin to figure out what it is I should really do as a career.  I know some things I'd LIKE to do, but I also know people don't really get paid for doing those things.  Like.. traveling for fun.  So if you have any suggestions, let me know. 

I'm going to be going as budget as I can while still enjoying the cuisine and sleeping in hostels (not camping I don't think.. no sleeping bag here!).

So anyhow, check my site out as I go.  Anticipate Travel