Europe 2002

This page is constantly updated as I prepare to and travel in Europe between 2002-03-02 and 2002-04-04

After a lot of planning together with my girlfriend Akiko, after making plans to go to Canada and Alaska, we decided to go to Europe instead!

Present Location

[2002-04-06T13:03GMT+9] At home in Sapporo, Japan

News and Updates

[2002-04-06T13:03GMT+9] The trip is over!

[2002-04-03T01:03GMT+3] Tomorrow I am going to Sofia and on Wednesday I am flying back to Japan. This journey is about to end soon :-(

[2002-03-22T11:23GMT+2] Use my new mobile phone to reach me while in Bulgaria. (+359 98) 254 099

[2002-03-18T12:15GMT+2] Finally got to my home in Rousse, Bulgaria. Came back from Italy together with the Bulgarian Antarctic expedition.

[2002-03-09T13:05GMT] We made it to Chamonix. Snowboarded for 2 days and ice climbed for one. Akiko went back to Japan yesterday. I am staying in La Vagabond.

[2002-03-02T03:54GMT+9] The confirmation from our hotel in Rome finally came!

[2002-03-01T18:05GMT+9] Another phone call from my travel agent: My return flight AZ 7786 will be a day later! Updated the schedule

[2002-03-01T13:25GMT+9] Made reservation for the hotel in Rome!

[2002-03-01T11:05GMT+9] Just got a phone call from my travel agent: My return flight AZ 7786 MAY BE canceld due to some runway problems... Go figure!

Flight Schedule (as of 03-01)

NoDateTimeFromToDateTimeFlight
KOZHUHAROV/KALIN MR + AKIKO/KATO MS
12002-03-0207:50Sapporo SPKTokyo HND2002-03-0209:20JL 500
22002-03-0213:30Tokyo NRTRome FCO2002-03-0218:05AZ 7789
32002-03-0319:55Rome FCOGeneva GVA2002-03-0321:25AZ 576
KOZHUHAROV/KALIN MR
42002-03-1411:10Geneva GVAMilan MXP2002-03-1412:30AZ 583
52002-03-1413:55Milan MXPSofia SOF2002-03-1417:00AZ 518
62002-04-0417:40Sofia SOFMilan MXP2002-04-0419:00AZ 519
72002-04-0421:20Milan MPXTokyo NRT2002-04-0516:05AZ 7786
82002-04-0518:30Tokyo NRTSapporo SPK2002-04-0520:05JL 565
AKIKO/KATO MS
42002-03-0816:05Lyon LYSMilan MXP2002-03-0817:00AZ 7831
52002-03-0820:40Milan MPXTokyo NRT2002-03-0916:30AZ 7786
62002-03-0918:00Tokyo NRTSapporo SPK2002-03-0919:30JL 565

Italy (2002-03-03/04)

We stayed for one night in Rome at B&B Abitazione Pigneto.

Had a look through the old Rome and bought some souvenirs. Took some pictures. We were almost robbed, travelled almost illegaly in the metro and other fun :-) More - later.

France (2002-03-04/14)

An interesting feature of Geneva Airport (GVA) is that it has exits directly both in Switzerland and in France! So using my priviledge of a Bulgarian passport (and Japanese don't need visa for France) we go directly to France. It was quite late, so we had to wait in the airport till the morning. Then we took a taxi (€60) to Belgarde and train to Chamonix (€30).

Stayed at La Vallisagne for 3 nights. Climbing, snow-boarding, having-fun!

On 8th, we went to Lyon and there Akiko goes back to Japan via Milan. A lot of problems with the Tax - free shopping! I came back to Chamonix for some more climbing. Yesterday I had to sleep under the open sky, as all hostels were full. Today relaxing, shopping. I found a hostel - Gite le Vagabond. Tomorrow some climbing near du Midi

On 14th, I took a plane from Geneva to Milan and from there to Bulgaria. From Milan I travelled together with the Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition :-)

Bulgaria (2002-03-14/04-03)

I will be mostly in Rousse and Sofia.

I am in Sofia on March 20th-21st and 28th-29th, April 3rd-4th.

Notes

Total cost of air travel for me: ¥144,480 (about €1240)

Our hotel in Rome: B&B Abitazione Pigneto; Our host is Giorgio (tel 3388558359 or 067010710)

Gear list

Party
Rope50m doubleBuy at Chamonix?
2-carabiner slings10 setsdifferent lengths
3-carabiner slings2 setsfor belay
Rock pitons6 pcon a biner
Ice screws7 pcBD-2, Ti-5
Hexcentrics5 pcset for big cracks, 2 biners
Nuts4 pcMetolius Curve Nut 1-4, 1 biner
Free carabiners5 pc3 for leave behind
Other climbing Pulley, aider, nutter
Non-climbing LPG head, pots, thermos
Personal
PickelCM60 cm
Ice axeDMM Alienhex wrench
Ice hammerBD Cobraspare pick, wrench
CramponsCM M-10file
HarnessPetzl Gouroudaisy, 2 locks, T-block,Reverso, prussiks
HelpmetPetzl Ecrin-Rockred
HeadlampsPetzl Tikka, Zoomspare bulbs for Zoom
TrancieverIcom IC-S222m radio-amateur
BivyMont-BellGore-Tex
Sleeping bagMont-Bell Down Hugger #3-13°C

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