The past couple of holiday/adventures have started with a bit of a rush. Well to be honest a cram and heightened stress level, accompanied by self beating up for not getting things organised and being too complacent. Reflecting back to our 2013 trip I didn’t work the three months prior to departure and had this time to plan the trip and prepare well. We were so proud of that organisation we forgot how much work in fact goes into a smooth departure and resulting trip. This time I was determined to be better prepared even though I was working full time up to the day before departure.

The actual planning has taken us the two years since the 2015 adventure. As usual we enjoy this as much as the actual trip – deliberating and debating where we go, what we might do and then consolidating and joining all the dots. Packing started about a month ago and several repacks later (all under the watchful and disapproving eye of Bella the poodle), we were ready.

We still have our trusty Rick Steves travel bags, and they are nicely full like a pregnant manatee weighing in at a respectable 15kg. For someone with two wardrobes of clothes I do very well to fit 2 months of travel essentials into one small suitcase. An additional challenge is packing for two different seasons and climates; the cooler and wetter Baltic and the warmer Mediterranean. Accordingly our bags are rather full, so in order to lighten the load we will post some items home after the northern leg to enjoy an even lighter load for the remaining time.

Our last day went well finalising details and double checking the pack. Following a final goodbye to poodle and our parents we got to the local airport on time for our early evening flight to Auckland. Whilst the pack went very well, I didn’t manage to complete all the little things around home that I had hoped like weeding the garden and cleaning the microwave….. As I sat on the plane looking over the green farmland to the comforting perfect dome of Mount Putuaki I thought that was in fact a good analogy for life – there will never be enough time to get everything you want done, but it is sufficient to know you have got the important things completed.

At Auckland we walked the short distance to the international airport and checked into the Novotel for a relaxed evening and good sleep before our big day tomorrow. Our plan was also to meet Lili for dinner, which was at a fabulous modern Chinese – Bao cafe at the Junction, Manukau. We are fortunate to have so much great Asian food in Auckland and it’s always lovely and important to grab those memories with your special loved ones – just because you can.

At this point it doesn’t feel real that we are going on another adventure – more like a weekend in Auckland or off to Aussie for a few weeks. Still a weird winding down and letting go kind of mood.

The Novotel is a very nice 4.5* hotel, super comfortable bed and for members of Accor like us we even get welcome drinks, free wifi and a few other benefits. I enjoyed a very nice and generous Pinot Gris and Vern a crisp cool Cider. After a soothing mint tea sleep came quickly with happy thoughts of what tomorrow and the next few weeks may bring.