getting ready for the spain trip

just a few updates on the spain trip, lest you think i've gone AWOL on you. :p

i'm now all packed and ready to go. i actually had a little panic attack, because my weird memory told me that KLM allows carry-on luggage with a length of 17 inches, whereas my carry-on is 19 inches long. don't know where i got that information though, because upon checking a few minutes ago, KLM flights have the following carry-on baggage restrictions:

Each passenger is allowed to carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse or briefcase. Assistive devices and outer garments do not count as personal items. All carry-on luggage must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you and adhere to the following requirements:

• Maximum Dimensions of Carry-on Luggage: 22in x 14in x 10in/55cm x 35cm x 25cm (length x width x height)
• Maximum Weight of Carry-on Luggage: 22 lb/10 kg

(taken from seatguru by tripadvisor)

thank goodness that was cleared up. i had been going out of my mind trying to figure out how to fit the items in my carry-on into a smaller bag. actually, everything in the carry-on can still fit in my suitcase, but i want the laptop and a few clothes to be on my person should i encounter some mishap with baggage claim at madrid barajas.

upon weighing my bags, the carry-on comes to 5 kg, while the big elle suitcase weighs 15 kg, just 5 kg short of the limit. that means i can buy 5 more kilos of stuff. (as if i had the money!)

i'm pretty proud of my packing skills--they really came in handy this time. the suitcase has a lot of space left, and i actually thought i brought a little too much stuff. i used the sanitary napkin packs to pad the sides of the suitcase to protect some of the electronics. :D

this is also my first time to pack large amounts of toiletries. since i'll be there for a month, a month's worth of shampoo sachets will take up more space than a bottle of shampoo that will also last me a month. i was told that spain has dry weather, so i packed my lotion and facial moisturizers as well. still can't imagine what "dry" weather is, though. i've always lived in humid philippines.

i've photocopied my passport (details page and visa page), as well as my travel insurance, just in case i lose them. i'm also thinking of scanning them and saving a softcopy in my email. still thinking about that, because, you know, email is not completely secure.

i've tried my best to read up on the various spanish regions that i could visit, but the first item i read up on, which was the tren de la fresa (the strawberry train) to aranjuez, has me all daydreamy already, that i can't move on to other places. can you really blame me for being excited, when the train ticket includes

a guided visit to Aranjuez's beautiful gardens and palace, and all passengers receive a plate of Aranjuez's famous delicious strawberries en route.

trains, strawberries, gardens, and palaces! hoowee! maybe i should get this trip out of the way, so as not to distract me from the bullfighting and the flamenco that i also want to see. not to mention the tapas that are waiting to be eaten.

my friend kate was kind enough to buy me a spain guidebook, so i can get some reading done on the plane. the trip is from manila to amsterdam for 14 long hours, then another 2-hour flight from amsterdam to madrid. i think i'm gonna feel like a limp vegetable when susie comes to greet me at barajas.

good thing i arrive in spain a little before midnight. i can go straight to sleep instead of trying to fight jetlag. :p

will write more updates on the spain trip when i get there. seven more days!

cartoon taken from here.