It’s happening.

John Polk here.

On May 26th, I’m boarding a plane to Europe with my son Cash, my niece Evie, and my mom Mick. This trip is my mom’s 8th grade graduation gift to Cash and Evie. We are a year late because the whole family went to Hawaii last summer. I am still not entirely sure why Mick wanted me to tag along. Most of the time I have no idea where I am or what is going on around me. Completely aloof. Both Mick and I have been to Europe several times, but this is Cash and Evie’s first time.

The itinerary is as follows: First, we are flying into London and spending a few days there. The last time I was in London was for only one night because I had a layover there on my way to Ireland. I had the whole day to explore, but I was feeling pretty lazy, so I just turned on Harry Potter and drank vodka in my hotel room. Hoping to see more of the city this time around.

Next we’re hopping on the Chunnel to Paris. Never been on the Chunnel before, and I don’t know how I feel about it. Nothing says “relaxing vacation” like entering a pressurized metal tube and going 100mph under the ocean on a train.

After a few days in Paris, we’re off to Nice via high-speed rail. From there we rent a car (yes, I’m driving, and no, I probably should not) and head through Monaco, making overnight stops in Rapallo, Viareggio, and ultimately dropping the car off in Florence (which I am already looking forward to.) Then we take a train to Rome. We spend a few nights in Rome, hopefully still speaking to one another and not permanently banned from any countries. Pray for us. Then we head back to the states.

I made a blog for this trip because Facebook was the only other option I could think of, and Facebook blows. I know that this not the first travel blog that has ever been made, but it will probably be the most unremarkable. So do not buckle up for this. I have also been weighing the idea of rating the attractions we see from 1-5 stars based on how much fun I have at each of them. I am not Rick Steves and I am not an expert in anything, so don’t take offense. If you are interested in what a semi-socially awkward, often annoyed, 45-year-old white guy thinks about famous monuments and attractions across Europe, you have come to the right place.