“The fact that I will be walking around the streets of Cork on Wednesday is incredibly surreal.”

Same, girl. Same.

That’s a line from my very first blog! Published 2,287 days ago on December 31, 2012. I remember being anxious the night before I left for my semester abroad. More than six years later, as I prepare for another journey, Euro Trip II, my emotions are still confusing. But this time they’re not confusing because I’m hesitant to go.

I’m excited to return to Europe: Ireland, Spain & England. And I’m grateful to be heading back with the same friend I traveled with during undergrad, Taylor. We leave next week and return at the end of April—I’ll share our exact itinerary when we’re back in the states.

As I attempt to mentally prepare, I still think my leading emotion is tear-filled, but for very different reasons. As a college junior, I thought I’d cry from being an emotionally-homesick li’l mess, which thankfully, didn’t happen. Now when I think about returning to a place that represents such meaningful, personal transformation, it’s difficult to imagine what it will be like. When we arrive, I anticipate feeling overwhelmed and nostalgic—in a way that I haven’t experienced before. Some people love being nostalgic; It’s something I actively work to embrace.

Alternatively, the experience may not be wildly emotional. It may be just as surreal as it was the first time. I might just feel like I’m re-entering a dream—picking up where I left off—refreshing my senses and being reminded of what Ireland looks, feels, and smells like.

London is a different animal. Our first experience in London was mutually underwhelming, so we’re excited to return and discover why so many people adore the capital of England. To be honest, arriving with a “Let’s embrace the arts” mindset rather than a “Let’s go on a pub crawl” mindset might help. TBD. While in London, we’re each seeing a different play. Taylor is seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I am seeing The Book of Mormon. I’m excited. Taylor is whatever someone experiences beyond excitement.

Spain is an entirely new animal. It was on our list of places to visit when we studied abroad, but logistically, we couldn’t fit it into our 27-day backpacking trip. We’re staying in a coastal town near Barcelona known for its Mediterranean beaches. Taylor has spent the past month brushing up on her Spanish. I have not. That said, I have researched where to find the best tapas. A tapa translates to a small portion of any kind of Spanish cuisine, like an appetizer or snack. Stay tuned.

From a physical preparation standpoint, I feel ready. We are both bringing a small carryon and a backpack. To travel among the three countries, we are flying with Ryan Air again which is a budget airline similar to Spirit or Frontier. This means they’re pretty strict about baggage allowances. Here’s what my packing looks like:

Which fits within the smallest sized carryon, plus a cat. This carryon will also fit undergarments for 14 days, several pairs of shoes, a small daypack, and other miscellaneous items.

To ease some of your potential concerns, the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is grounded. And more comforting, our roundtrip flight from Minneapolis to Dublin is with Delta. Delta does not have any 737 MAX aircraft in its fleet. Second, if you saw the news about the hidden camera in a Cork, Ireland Airbnb, do not fret. I still advocate for Airbnb, but also rest easy knowing that we are staying in hotels throughout our trip. No Airbnb rentals or hostels. And lastly, unlike our previous trip—when I locked myself out of my Irish flip phone on the second day (2/27)—we will have our smartphones, will likely be connected to the European network, and will for sure have frequent access to Wifi.

And last, but not least, let’s all celebrate the fact that our roundtrip flights, which have great departure and arrival times, cost us $459.63.

Sláinte, friends.