We’d stayed in a hotel in Tübingen Monday night, and as we walked over to the apartment building — for the last time — first thing in the morning, there was a fierce wind swirling around and pieces of cardboard were flying about. You see, yesterday morning was the day in the month designated for cardboard pickup in town, and so people had put them on the street the night before, before the winds came. That is really apropos of nothing to do with our move, but was an odd sight to see to be sure.

Anyway, we made it through the walkthrough/exit interview from the apartment without any major hassles, although as with any apartment move-out, it’s not really over until you actually get the deposit back. But, for the moment, we’re done with that.

So after a few final goodbyes to people, including our neighbor who kindly volunteered to take us to the airport, we were off. It’s kind of like a title of an old movie: If this is Tuesday, it must be Tuebingen; Wednesday: London….

Today was the first day we hadn’t spent on move-related things in weeks. I discovered the consequences of how when you’re busy with last-minute packing you can’t fully concentrate on a typing a blog post: the three places I typed the new URL for this blog each had a unique typo. Creative if not accurate. Sorry about that – but if you’re reading this you have found your way here somehow.

Plus, one of the challenges for weeks has been sorting our stuff into dwindling piles: stuff to use for the past few weeks before we shipped stuff, stuff to use for the weekend after we shipped stuff but before we moved out, stuff to use at the hotel after we moved out but before we went on the plane, etc. If I ever write a book on how to pack, it will have a checklist that reminds you that if you’re staying in a hotel on Germany on Monday night, then a different hotel in London on Tuesday and Wednesday nights before you get to where you’ll be spending 4 weeks, you need to remember to leave 3 pairs of socks per person, not just 2, accessible at the top of your luggage. DO not tuck all the socks in those nooks and crannies that overwise help you pack efficiently when you’re using small pieces of luggage. I’m just saying. However, I now can attest that I can unpack and pack luggage really well in relatively short periods of time, even if I hadn’t anticipated have to do it here in London, and and despite my attempts at clever packing. Ah well.

Anyway, we’re spending our 36 hours here in London staying at our favorite little hotel, and managed to worked in two visits to our favorite coffee shop, which I call “Espresso Street”. Plus we had another nice lunch at the British Museum. Today’s “set meal” on offer was Greek themed, as they have a special exhibit on Greek sculpture on right now. Not quite as memorable overall as that “Ancient Flavors” meal from last year, but everything was good, the lamb meatball skewers dish was really good.

Right now our bags our almost packed (well, they were never really unpacked, except during the above described search for the socks, of course). We’re off early in the morning to Verona, via taxi, train and plane.

In the meantime, here’s a look at our meal today:

More to come … but probably not before we get to Verona tomorrow.