Cyprus in A Can

FACT:Like many people, I L-O-V-E to travel. Airports make me happy. A ticket to just about anywhere would make me squirm with glee. Perhaps it was no mere coincidence, then, that I worked in the corporate travel industry for a good number of years (yes, they even called me "Travel Pup", since I was a little wet behind the ears). During this time, I found myself quietly transformed into the Queen of the Itinerary. As my livelihood, peer recognition and professional expertise were somewhat gauged on the flow and seamlessness of someone else's travel, I adopted a persona that crossed and recrossed the T's of travel details, day in and day out. Essentially, I was paid to sweat the details.

So it was particularly ironic when John and I decided to take a quick relaxing trip ("somewhere warm") before the school year got underway, and we left every single travel detail up to some really nice lady on the other end of the phone line. That's right. I bought my first Vacation-In-A-Can from lastminute.com!

Lest I get struck by lightning for saying this, there are many pro's to buying a Vacation-In-A-Can. First, it's dirt cheap. As a grad student, dirt cheap becomes very important. Then, there's the brainless quality of it all. You call a toll-free number, tell them what you want ("I'd like a McSunny 7-Day Getaway, and can you super size that with a side of Water Sports? Thanks"), give them your credit card, and presto! As long as you don't mind an early check-in time (3:45am was ours), fairly cramped legroom and an overall cattle-car feeling, you and 100 of your palest countrymen can be on an express party jet to a sunny, friendly, exotic locale! Unbelievable!

And sunny it was. We left London in a blanket of cold and mist, but were embraced by a scorching Greek-Cypriot sun. Although we only spent 4 days there, by the end it felt like we were dry to the bone. With our Vitamin D reserves at full capacity, it was time to head back and embrace the new school year...