June 2, 2012 (3 days from now) is to be my departure date (I hope). I have decided to fly on a buddy pass and will take my luck at landing in Europe. For those who are unfamiliar, a buddy pass is a discounted fare ticket given by an airline employee that allows a passenger to fly "standby". If the flight is full, I get to waive goodbye to my plane (and my bags if I checked one). Obviously this is not ideal, but for someone that doesn’t like to plan, I bring this situation on myself. This technique has its ups and downs. 2 years ago I flew home from Israel and was upgraded to a $13,000 first class seat (for free)! I could only smile to myself as I cut into a filet mignon and sipped red wine at 180 degrees. This was especially nice as I was capping off a 4 month epic trip through Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. However, 2 months ago, the buddy passes did me in. While trying to get home from Vegas, I ended up at 3 different airports (JFK, LGA, AGS) before giving up and renting a car to drive home from Augusta, Georgia. I didn't learn my lesson, and the following week I waved my plane off from Orlando's domestic terminal before renting another car to get home. I won't have that luxury this trip! There are no rental cars that can cross the Atlantic that I know of (please let me know if there are!!), and the swim is probably out of my capabilities as well.

So where am I going then?? That's the $500 dollar question (the cost of a buddy pass). I have done extensive research (about 30 minutes online) and narrowed my choices down to Amsterdam, London, Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Madrid. These represent major hubs in Europe with at least one or more direct flights a day from Atlanta. This will increase my chances of making the flight on a standby ticket. I will not know until the moment of departure, (I.e. when I'm actually boarding the plane), of where my jumping off destination will be. So I will prepare my pallet for fish and chips (England) or tapas (Spain), my thirst for beer (Belgium, Germany), wine (France), or sangria (Spain), and I'll keep my mind open for the "arts" of Holland.

But wait Matt....you've been to all these places before!! Why repeat these destination when you've "been there, done that"? Good question, I guess I will just have to leave once I arrive. Of course, problem solved...I will fly to Europe for $500 dollars (the last minute ticket is going for $1,300 right now and eliminates my flexibility of dates and destinations), arrive in an amazing European city that I happened to have already visited, and then after a day or two of indulgence I will simply leave for somewhere else I have never been (destination TBD, of course). Wow, either I'm a genius (ha, no that's not possible) or, this is really easy (probably not)!! Stay tuned......this should be fun (...and likely painful and exhausting)......