When I stop and think about it I can’t believe I’m leaving in already two weeks! Otherwise I’m very busy with finishing work stuff and preparing for the trip.
Yesterday I finally bought a plane ticket to Riga. After scouring many websites, I got it for $909.04 from STA Travel. It is a youth fare for people under 26. Lucky me! Flying out with Lufthansa SFO to FRA on early morning of 17th, 9 hour layover in FRA and then landing at RIX late at night on July 18th. The same fare on United/SAS costed $2300. The next best alternative was $1007. Some cheap fares showed up for $786 on skyscanner.com, but I wasn’t able to buy them through hop2.com. Looked pretty shady website, but thought it is worth a try. After entering all the information and clicking book, the ticket price changed to ~$4k. If it is too good to be true, it probably is!
As for preparing for the trip, I scoured through lots of packing lists and now have some sort of idea what I should pack. Learned about new things and gadgets, like compression sacks, sleeping bag liners, solid shampoo. Got bunch of that stuff on REI and Amazon. Will see how much of this will make into my backpack.
Since the last update I have found time to get all immunizations done. Plus I went to dentist and got annual physical. Yey for me! So happy was able to find my old immunization passport from Latvia, otherwise I would not have had any idea for what I have immunizations and for what I don’t have.
Next:
- Pack my backpack.
- Find sublet for my room.
- Figure out what to do with insurance, though I can buy it once I’m on the road as well.
- Might be useful to get international drivers license.
- Get passport photos.
- Finish setting up a blog.
- Pack up my apartment.
July 3rd, 2013 @ home in San Francsico