'Twas the Summer of 2015

Ahhh the summer of 2015!

This year I will break my habit of executing one large annual international trip… in favor of two large international trips! It turns out my two best high school buddies both found international companions and are planning to wed them in their home countries. Although my friends will tell you otherwise, attendance for me is not optional. I have to be there to deliver the proper toasts and ensure dance floors are primed for everlasting marriages. Furthermore, instead of accept a mere long weekend in these locations, I choose to float the sunk costs of international airfare into regional vacations.

First up is a return to the Middle East, a place I haven’t visited since 2008. The wedding takes place in Haifa, Israel. Unfortunately, for the first trip in blog history, Bodds is unavailable. Luckily, my whole family was also invited to the wedding, so my parents and brothers will join me. This is the kind of man power it takes to replace the companionship and unwavering spirit of my favored travel companion.

The plan for the Middle East starts with stops in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Nazareth, and Galilee. After Israel, my brothers and I will head to Egypt for another 6 days of fun in the sun. We’ll fly into Cairo and play it by ear.

The second wedding requires a trip to Newcastle, England which sounds substantially more exotic when referred to (as it was on the wedding invite) as Newcastle upon Tyne. I’m pairing this trip with mainland European adventure (my first return since 2005): Switzerland and Northern Italy here I come.

The trip to Israel and Egypt began with a slow and nerve racking journey to the airport. I wanted to leverage Washington, DC public transportation to avoid airport car storage fees and also prepare for a return flight that would bring me to Philadelphia (in time for another wedding), as opposed to the nation’s capital. Despite leaving 4 hours for the public transit journey (a drive would have taken a cool 45 minutes), a series of insanely late buses, traffic james, and zig-zagging transfers got me to the airport with about 45 minutes before international departure.