Pittsburgh = good times

I thought it was only right to update my blog on the day that I head overseas. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot to report unless the Pittsburgh International airport gives you goose bumps just thinking about it.

We have been testing our sanity by visiting a variety airports: LAX, PIT, PHL, RDU, PHL and back to Pit. We spent a wonderful weekend in Myrtle Beach (Eat, Sleep, Beach, Pool, Wedding activities, repeat). We should be arriving in Chicago in about an hour or two before we board our trans atlantic flight to London and then on to Dublin.

Once again, not that exciting.

On the plus side, they have a brookstone in the airport. Rock on.. massage chair.

Back Home safe and sound

We arrived last night by subway, plane, train, bus and car. The trip was magnificant and we are looking forward to our future adventures.

I still have some back logged posts that I will slowly post over the couse of this week. Stay tuned.

Mauri

Step 1 - Done

I took 1 of my two red eye flights out to Philadelphia last night armed with my pack full of travel gear and a suitcase for my time spent in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Our clothes and gear easily fit into our pack with room to spare once I ditched Joe's TEVA sandals. Joe mourned the loss of his beloved shoes. Our load will even be lighter on Friday once we wear our travel clothes on the flight.

My first lessons learned is to reconsider the attachment of my water bottle. I used a carabiner clip to attach my 1 liter water bottle to the outside of my pack. That hard plastic really gets in the way. I put my bag down in the airport and heard the loud bounce of my bottle settling on the floor. Of course everyone looked at me like I was some sort of moron. I picked up my bag and threw it on my pack. Once again, my bottle let me down and smacked me in the head. Same thing again in the overhead compartment on the airplane: off my head and banging against the bin. Everyone looked.

Nice start Mauri.

Here are some helpful sites on packing for those interested.

www.onebag.com
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlight.htm

Eucharist and a Beer

If you ever get a chance to visit pittsburgh, do not miss the Church Brew Works.

This restuarant is simply an old church with all the fixings: Stain glass windows, high arched ceilings, pews and statues of the virgin mary. The owners have fully restored the church, but have placed their beer tanks where the alter once stood.

While in Pittsburgh, I sampled many beers such that Celestial Gold, Pipe Organ Pale Ale and Pious Monk Dunkle while I waited for god to strike me down with a bolt lightening.