So the Beachhead crew, particularly Tommy, has been asking me to update the blog regularly with what I’m up to in Europe. First of all, for those who didn’t know, as of six hours ago, I am in Europe (central London, to be more specific). This blog is probably the best way to follow what I’m up to, though I’m also updating my Jaiku account frequently and my Facebook page somewhat less so. Don’t bother with my MySpace account. If you’re on Dopplr (or want to be, I have some invites remaining), you can see my movements across Europe in the next few weeks.
So, what’s this whole Europe trip? I’m in the process of getting a permit that falls under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty, one of the lesser known of all treaties, to be a self-employed web developer in Amsterdam. Because I had the return leg of a flight to London, I landed there today around noon. The trip was uneventful, with a stop-over at a deserted JFK for the midnight flight to LHR. I spent most of the trip engrossed in Jeanne d’Arc, which I just got for my PSP (thanks Beachhead!). It’s a cool anime tactical RPG set in a fantasty Hundreds Year War in which the English have summoned demons to help them conquer France (not that fantastic, I know). For the second leg I shared the middle aisle of an exit row (I got exit row sets both legs) with four Hasidic Jews about my age. The guys were kind of annoying punks and constantly talking but whatever, they didn’t bother me too much. I think I even slept a few hours.
Here in London I’m meeting with a few professional contacts and trying to see as many friends as possible. That’ll be hard, as I have an 11:20 am flight from Stanstead on Saturday to Tours, France. There I’m attending the wedding of an old family friend (my mom will also be there). On Sunday my mom and I are heading up to Paris. I’ll try to see Seb and Svavar, two friends from London who are in town, before I go to Brussels around the 4th or so. There I’m seeing friends again and also picking up some stuff I had to leave when I left in the spring.
Then it’s onward to Amsterdam. I’m trying to find a short term flat rental I could take so I have some place to stay while I look for more long-term housing. I have a few replies to a Craigslist ad I posted, but nothing’s determined yet. Apparently a friend’s cousin is looking to rent her apartment, and long term, so maybe that’ll be my solution.
More to come as I have it. I’m about to run out and meet some friends at the pub now, but first I’ll mention that the new carry-on bag I got from Patagonica, the MLC (Maximum Legal Carry-On) [note: the website is stupid and won't let me directly link to one item], is incredible. I have a shitload of stuf in it right now — 3 phones, a small camera [not my SLR], my laptop, my PSP, some files, a large water bottle, a change of clothes — and it’s working like a champ. The backpack straps were great once the sholder strap started to to bother me as I was crossing Waterloo Bridge.