Phew. My Allianz travel insurance is covering the suitcase costs that Icelandair is not.

They made it pretty painless to submit a claim, too. Possibly because it's not a big claim, but nonetheless it's appreciated.

#Travel #MoveOrBust

Got the first really affordable food since landing in Tirana.

Repeated bad luck in trying to get out of the US made it so I arrived here at exactly the wrong time of year to do so - prices for short-term stays double in summer. And some other prices also rise.

The food prices have been slightly more reasonable than what I experienced in the US or the same. The rent I'm paying for the short-term stay is about the same as Davis.

So I'm not doing well money-wise. #MoveOrBust

Icelandair baggage crew.

I wish I'd gotten a photo of it, but I was worried he'd feel it was nosy. However, before I noticed they'd torn two wheels and part of the shell out of my suitcase, I saw they'd beaten the shit out of the suitcase of a pilot. And it was just as dented as the blue suitcase in this commercial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b1aRop-UbU #MoveOrBust #Travel

Greetings from Tirana, #Albania

It was an epic trip. Sort of a disabled Odyssey, but I'm here!

I'm glad Past Me didn't get the converted basement to save money, but knew that Future Me would be tired as hell from modern air travel and would need something calming.

It's a beautiful apt with a balcony. I heard my first call to prayer (and at first thought it was that the ambulances sounded "weird" here...)

Had a great convo with the taxi driver on the way here. Great guy.

#MoveOrBust

I should have measured the moment I finally booked airfare, but I just found out my carry-on is about 2" too deep to make the airline's limitations. :tooth grinding:

Now to measure the main bag. This is a real disadvantage of brick & mortar shops being less common. I'm not sure if even if I go all the way into Vancouver to shop that I'll find luggage that suits me. (And I *just* bought this set!) #MoveOrBust