Autumn is my favorite season and this year is different than the past six: I am not browsing the school supplies choosing essentials for the year, and my spreadsheets are for budgets and daily schedules for upcoming trips instead of comparing how much each book costs in each store and making sure classes do not overlap. It is exciting to see my schedule fill up with mini vacations, a scrap-booking retreat to document the vacations, and a run (or two) with my sister who has started running this year and has been begging me to participate. My original plan was to continue my education by beginning Nursing School this fall; however, God has other plans. I plan to use this blog to share my travel adventures and tips I learn along the way.
The Challenge: to pack for two weeks in something small enough to manage on every kind of public transportation.
Earlier today I emptied out one of my pieces of luggage and a couple of my friends watched as a loaded what I will need for two weeks on the British Isles in what they referred to as a "carry-on" (it is technically too big to be a carry-on). I believe I have succeeded, but I still have a few small things to throw in that I still need in the days before I leave and the true test will be the trip.
Three years ago I went to Europe with the older of my two sisters, so I have been keeping in mind two things as I prepare for my second trip across the Atlantic: how terrible I packed for that trip and what I did right. Here is what I learned...
What I should have included
1) A fleece. We went at the end of July, but the rain soaked through my cotton jacket and kept me cold instead of warm. Raindrops stay on the surface of fleece keeping the wearer dry and warm. (Have I mentioned I'm from Florida? I don't handle cold too well).
2) A reusable shopping bag. Grocery stores over there do not provide bags and reusable shopping bags can be used as an extra tote bag.
3) An empty bag that can be used as a carry-on when coming home. Most travelers come home with souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.
4) A re-useable water bottle that folds flat. (Can be found at Office Depot for $1.00 or Vapur.us for $9.99).
What I did Right
1) A small umbrella that will fit your purse, or what I call my Day Bag.
2) An extra tote bag. If you are staying in a hostel like we did you most of our trip, then you will need to carry your clothes from your room to the bathroom and back. I was able to hang my bag up on a hook to keep my clean clothes high and dry.
3) A zip-close allergen pillowcase. A pillow is up close to the face for an entire night, so if you have allergies I highly recommend taking your own pillowcase.
4) A cheap drawstring backpack. We did a little hiking, so a small backpack was nice to hold a water bottle, snacks, and camera.
5) Laundry Soap. We washed our clothes in the sink when we had a private room.
Happy Traveling!
