Ides Of June

A friend of mine is thinking of going to Spain for two weeks or so. His mother was born in Spain, and she wants to go see old friends and stuff.

Anyway, there is a little side trip planned. My friend knows someone going to graduate school in Belgium, and is planning a little side trip.

The status of the side trip is not exactly worked out yet. The master plan is to go from Spain to Belgium on the train, and then possibly off to Amsterdam.

Now this got me to thinking. Martin Air flies out of Miami with non-stop service to Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a mere 95 miles from Brussels. And Brussles is pretty close to a whole bunch of other places.

Now lets consider these situations:

1. The side trip to The Netherlands / Belgium will last at least four days.
2. I can manage to get four days approved leave (plus my usual weekend).
3. I get a short notice passport.
4. I can book a round trip flight from Miami to somewhere in Europe and get a rail pass.

The airfare alone is looking like it will set me back at least a grand. I would probably need at least another grand in cash - maybe more because of the value of the Euro compared to the Dollar. It all depends on the budget I decide to stick to. But it will not exactly be a budget basement deal. It will cost something.

Of course it will not be a first class luxury trip either. Coach airfare and a hotel room split at least three ways. Normal resturants - not 5 star places that come with a pirvate chef.

At this point all this is just nothing. Just a thought.