Quick Thoughts On Packing

One of the few things that you can control completely on your trip is what you pack, and what you pack it in.

Having never been on a long trip I had no clue where to start. So I got a traditional two-wheeled roller suitcase.

Considering that I was planning to be in Europe for two months, I thought I was doing well with the one Med/Large rolling suitcase and my camera bag as my single carryon.

Unfortunately, I also packed both bags so tightly that it required a map fit everything!

This wasn't a problem on the (then) generous US airlines, but they were much too heavy for the European airlines. In an attempt to make everything better, I bought an extra duffel bag in Paris. But by the time I headed home, both bags were ridiculously heavy and I still had my WELL packed camera bag. Thank God the US airline didn't weigh the camera bag- it was roughly 3x the allowed weight.

Needless to say, having to carry all this through airports/train stations/metro stations and neighborhoods was a nightmare!

So, when the time came to pack for my next trip (to Chicago for New Years) for the weekend I knew I didn't want a roller bag. The temptation to pack roller bags ridiculously heavy is too much temptation!

Well- I did pack less, but still brought too much stuff. Since all I had in the apartment was small duffel bags, between the Boy (my boyfriend) and myself we had 3 duffels and a camera bag.

That is too much to carry through the city!

When we got home with sore spines, my next step was the internet. Having bags that I could carry was definitely better than the roller bag, and I knew I wanted a bag that could be backpack style or shoulderbag, but still would be big enough to carry everything I needed.

E-bags came through with the following:

http://www.ebags.com/ebags/mother_lode_tls_weekender_convertible/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=143101

My most recent trip was with this bag, and it was great! It fit on the plane as a carry on, it went on the metro as a backpack, and with me as I got lost finding the hotel. (Note to self: Don't trust GPS).

It was still a little heavy though.

I'm planning another next trip to Chicago now, and now that I have the perfect bag, its time to look at what I'm going to put in it.

If you are trying to find the perfect bag for you, but are physically unable to carry a bag like what I chose then I would recommend the 4-wheel roller bags. These work better in crowded areas and can handle rough areas without flipping over. I would recommend going a size smaller than what you think you need- that will keep your packing down to a size that won't hurt you if you have to lift it.

A Change In Direction

Well- my adventure in Europe ended 8 months ago.

I miss it every day.

Since I cannot afford to go back right now I'm keeping myself under control by researching exactly how I can get back to the places I loved and how to get to new places. I'm also beginning to take smaller trips in the US as well.

Travel is my newest love, and I'm going to start sharing my trips and how I make them happen. First, I'll catch you up on my latest trips.

Enjoy!

The End of Paris...

Finally, time and quality internet at the same moment! I’ll try to make up for all the boring text only posts now!

Lets see- Paris was an eye opening experience, on one hand you have beautiful monuments

And then there are parts that are absolutely disgusting. The street our hotel was on smelled of things that you really didn’t want to think about. Drains all over the city overflowed on a regular basis, and trash was truly everywhere. Now, I don’t know if I feel this way because our neighborhood was so gross, and since it took almost an hour to get to the ‘nice’ part of town so we didn’t go there much, or if that’s how it really is. However, despite some cool photos, I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Paris.

We did see a group of skaters doing vaults(?!) that was pretty impressive.

And if you look closely at this guy’s shirt, it reads “Michigan Hornets, Grand Valley State”. Is Grand Valley ‘The Hornets”?

The Arc de Triumph is pretty cool looking- but now I see why any time there is an accident in that circle, the insurance companies just go 50/50, no questions. I couldn’t even count the number of times people almost got into accidents, not that they were driving badly by any means, just that it was TONS of cars, and not much space for them, and nothing painted on the ground for non-locals to follow!

Btw- those tiny things down there- those are the pillars! 

There was a police presence EVERYWHERE in Paris. I never could make up my mind if I thought that was comforting, or terrifying. As soon as we got off the train we saw 5 police officers with huge machine guns. ~gulp~.

The good news was that around the major tourist sites, if the police were there, the gypsies weren’t that bad. I feel so mean saying that- but it was horrible to have them around. They’d grab you, blatantly try to reach into your pockets, yell, scream, badger. Ugh! Thankfully, as long as there was a group of us, it wasn’t TOO bad.

For my captain obvious statements of the day:

1. The Eiffel tower is a lot bigger than I expected.

2. The Eiffel tower was a lot HIGHER than I expected.

Obviously I don’t appreciate the ground as much as I should, and I am working on appreciating it more. I was so scared by the time I got off that thing! It was an amazing, and yet terrifying experience!

I also got to visit the Rodan museum.

I met the Thinker. We’re friends now.

And saw the Gates of Hell. And if that doesn’t scare you straight- Nothing will! Yikes!

There are more photos of everything on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2751107&id=2332258&l=cd214c271b.

I've got some photos from Prague up there already! I'll get them up here with real explanations soon!

Not much time...

Well- thankfully I was pretty much wrong on EVERYTHING to do with Prague.

1. The Hostel is actually cool- we have apartments! Shared- but apartments! (and the Hostel has a bar in it too- keeps people close to home at night)

2. We have internet (only in the bar- hence why this has to be quick, I feel my lungs blackening and my hearing going as I type)

3. Prague is GORGEOUS! There's not enough adjectives to describe how great Prague is, so mentally list your favorites and add here: Prague is ___________.

Ok- I'm off, the music went up another three hundred decibels and I just can't take it. I'm a wimp. I admit it.

Next Stop, Prague!

Our time in Paris is over. It was fun(ish). 

I have heard a rumor that we won't have internet in Prague, hopefully its wrong. 

Paris is a wonderful city, but when you add in how much more difficult our HW was with the language barrier, and how far away our hotel was from everything, I don't know that I feel like it was worth it, we didn't get to see Paris the way we did London. In London, we were maybe 10 minutes from everything. Here it was closer to 45mins. Ridiculous.

Oh well, I have to pack in order to be ready on time, Hopefully I'll be able to find internet that will allow me to upload photos soon!

Quick Update...

So, apparently the French have an 'in' with the big man upstairs. Because right after our slightly mocking baguette, frommage and wine meal on the grass behind the Eiffel tower we were excitedly taking photos of the cool lightning around the tower, and the awesome light show (yeah- you probably see this coming) the skies OPENED up! And the wind started knocking people over. Now, I won't claim that it was hurricane strength like some of the tourists around me, but it was definitely gail force or really darn close. 

I'm here to say: Marble is pretty- but slick as ____ and horrifically hard. Especially the third time you fall on it. Not pretty. (For anyone who cares- yes, the Camera and Wine are fine.)

I got to the subway in time for the rain to stop (of course) and couldn't see a darn thing (thank you glasses and soaking wet clothes). For the first time in my life, I actually was able to create a sizable puddle just from my clothes! After spending 10 minutes looking for the rest of my group, I gave up and headed back to the hotel. Dripping the whole way. 

Oh, and the rest of the group was already at the hotel. Apparently none of the 3 french speakers, or 8 others, felt it was worthwhile to wait/look for me. :-\

Hopefully I'll get photos up, I think I actually got some lightning behind the tower *fingers crossed*

Still Alive in Paris

Well, obviously the plan of a post every day has fallen through. 

I pulled my project out for London, but didn't get much of a response from Bossen. Which was a little sad. I'll have to pull him aside and see if I can get any more response from him. 

I'm glad that I get a few more days in London at the very end of my trip, its an amazing city and I didn't get to do as much as I wanted because of the project. 

Right now we have the broadest photo project of my life: "Paris". I have NO clue how I will start and we're already on day 3! 

We came in on Bastille Day (similar to 4th of July) and I decided against going to the Eiffel Tower for the fireworks. I'm glad I made that decision in the end. Apparently on the way back the subway got so stuffed someone right next to the group got stuck in the door and was seriously injured. Yikes! I wandered around our neighborhood here hoping for inspiration on what to photograph. (no luck).

The group dynamic has become very interesting. With 3-4 students haring off on their own, and the rest sticking together. Sadly, becoming lost in every city we visit has become a new tradition ~sigh~ Definitely one I could live without!

Today we went to Notre Dame and I had my first experience of someone trying to pickpocket me. Muahahaha! It was really funny 'cause I happened to be wearing my shorts with the zipper pockets and she couldn't figure out how to get into them. My camera bag is locked constantly, and I don't carry much cash so she just didn't have a chance. It was hilarious!

Surprisingly enough, between people who speak english, pointing and 'Bonjour', I've actually done pretty well for myself here. The only downside right now is our hotel. Its a cute little place, but we're on the 6th floor (a.k.a.- 7th back home) and you can either wait for the world's smallest and slowest elevator; or take a tiny twisted staircase up 7 flights. Its a bad dilemma, although, the fact that we don't have AC (or any way to get cooled off) once we get up here is a point in favor of the elevator. 

So, Parisian rudeness isn't nearly as bad as I expected. So far the only thing that could be chalked up to rudeness is that no matter where we go for something to drink, if I order Coke, I get Diet. I'm guessing its an unspoken commentary. But as long as it stays unspoken I'll survive. 

I haven't downloaded anything in the past 3 days, so I'm going to stop for now and get ready for our stereotyped evening of sitting near the Eiffel tower eating baguettes and cheese and drinking wine. :-) Tomorrow is another day, and come heck or high water, I will get over to Pere Lachaise (sp?) Cemetary. Its right by our hotel and is AWESOME!