Packing, travelling

This was a Q&A about what to pack, etc when travelling to Europe between a friend of mine and myself. She asked, I answered. I'm now referring to it for my trip to Africa.

What kind of shoes did you wear while backpacking? Did you find the
need for fancy shoes, or nice shoes and clothes much?

The little european style flat tennis shoes are great. Lightweight,
comfortable, don't take up too much space. I also brought flip flops
that were comfortable, durable, and could go in the shower as shower
shoes. Hannah had a pair of Keen shoes, which are like a sport sandal.
She loved them. Don't buy new shoes that will need to be broken in.
Blisters would be a bitch with as much walking as you'll be doing.

You will not need any kind of dressy clothes really. You'll have to
bring pieces that are versatile, so if you bring black tennis shoes,
or something, you can pair it up with jeans or black pants and a
decent shirt. The most you would need to dress for is going out on the
town at night.

The trick is to pack as few items as possible, but pack it all in a
similar color palette, so you can do some heavy duty mixing and
matching. I also brought 2 silk scarves that could be worn as neck
scarves, belts, headbands, etc to mix it up. And I think I brought 2
necklaces. That way, you can make it look like different outfits.

Clothes I packed: (give or take)
1 jeans
1 khakis
1 sweater
1 zip up hooded sweatshirt (thin)
3 t-shirts
1 button up shirt
1 pj pant (that could be worn as bummy pants)
1 tank top
1 medium weight jacket
1 light sweater- acrylic is good so you can dry it easily.
1 gloves
1 bathing suit (though you might not need it this time of year)
7 underwear
3 bras
4-5 socks

Pack your stuff in those vacuum seal bags that you roll up to get the
air out of. That will save a lot of space in your pack, and also
protect and organize your clothes. I had 2 big ones, one for tops, one
for bottoms, then one small one for underwear, socks, etc.

Ziploc bags are also awesome! I packed stuff in them, and also brought
a bunch of medium and large freezer bags folded up and rubber-banded
for later in the trip. A very good thing to have.

I used a cosmetic case for my toiletries. One had shampoo,
conditioner, soap (in case), razor, small puff. (all shower stuff).
Another had lotion, deodorant, mascara, tweezers, etc. I also had a
ziploc bag first aid kit, with a little bit of everything, minus
boxes, and such.



What kind/ size backpack did you bring? Im trying to stick to a carry-on size.

That's going to be tricky to keep it as a carry-on. How long is your trip?

Somewhere in the market of 4000-5000 cubic inches is a good size.
http://www.backpacker.com/gear/article/0,1023,2435,00.html Mine was
borrowed from Heather Dietzold, and was perfect. It was a Kelty-check
out the Tornado. campmor.com

You'll also want a (SMALL) backpack or day-pack. It'll act sort of
like a purse, but don't keep your money in there (use a money belt!).
I used it to carry my journal, anything I bought, food, daily
essentials while out and about.


Did you bring a sleeping bag?

No, too bulky. But I did bring a "sleep sack" which was great to
have. It's just a flat sheet folded in half and sewn up into a pocket.
That way, you're always good to go, and won't have to pay to rent
sheets at hostels.



How do you know if a train station or hostel has lockers for you to
leave your bags in? and how big do these typically tend to be?

Well, definitely bring a padlock for when these opportunities
arise. I also had several smaller locks to lock up the zippers on my
bag when there wasn't a locker at the hostel. When there are lockers,
a 5000 cu. in. pack will definitely fit. They're usually made to fit
this size bag.

Most hostels have lockers, and some train stations do. You won't
usually need one at a train station unless you have a few hours
layover, though.


Do you have any other advice that I may not be thinking of? Is there
anything you wish you had known before you left? is there anything you
were glad you knew about before you left?

Definitely bring:
Hand sanitizer
money belt (worn under clothes)
inflatable neck pillow (for traveling)
Shout wipes
detergent (small liquid container. you can wash some things in sinks)
baby wipes
guidebook (tear out sections/countries you won't need on this trip to
make it lighter)
small locks, one padlock


Definitely utilize this site: http://guideforeurope.com/

This was the planning stage of my trip:
http://euroexp.blogspot.com/2005_08_28_euroexp_archive.html

Print these worksheets out, they're very helpful:
http://www.guideforeurope.com/planning_worksheet.html (planning)
http://members.shaw.ca/guideforeurope/packinglist.html (packing) This
will help a LOT. Call me if you want help narrowing it down.
http://members.shaw.ca/guideforeurope/backpackchecklist.html (buying a backpack)

Cost?
3 months in Europe, Fall 2005
5302.29
including 2 plane tix (one round trip to Turkey - 900, one from Spain to Turkey - 228), Eurail pass, hostels, food, travel insurance (200), pre-trip packing, atm withdrawls, etc.

New York, New Blog

Yet ANOTHER blog, but this one should be worth checking out...all about my adventures in NYC: leslieinny.blogspot.com

New Blog!

Now that this trip has ended and I am starting a new "chapter" in my life with a move to Jacksonville, I have decided to start a new blog!
Take a look at lifeinjax.blogspot.com

Day 61- 26 Hours Later...

Asli and I woke and caught a cab to the airport around 6am for my 8:30 flight. We had coffee together before hugging goodbye, and I passed through customs once again.
The flight to London was great- I had my own row of three leather seats and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the overhead monitors. We had a typical airplane breakfast, which wasn't exactly gourmet to say the least, then I opted to take a brief nap while the gettin' was good. A few short hours later, we had arrived in London.
My London layover was minimal and I killed some time browsing a bookstore before heading out to the gate. This was a crowded flight, but at least this time I had an aisle seat on the side-as opposed to a center seat in the middle of the plane. It was hard to sleep since the whole trip was daylight, but they played three movies, and this time we had our choice between them. I talked to the nice couple beside me who were returning from Israel and had just seen the River Jordan and Peter's boat (restoration of which was only finished in the past few years-mainly by algae-eating fish). We chatted and had a nice time in between naps, more airplane food and my pomegranate (which had to be eaten before entry to the States, so I split it with a flight attendant who squealed that she loved pomegranates when she saw mine).
My Chicago layover was over four hours long, but I mostly read (un-purchased bookstore books and my own) during my wait. The last flight was on a sketchy American Eagle plane with three seats across and so little head room that I almost had to duck when walking down the aisle. I doubted the safety of this one, but we did arrive safely in Pittsburgh around 10:30 at night.
I saw the red neon circle at the end of the tram getting closer, and therefore, bigger this time and ran down to baggage claim where I found my mom, Casey, and Michael waiting for me and running towards me like a slow motion field run from a cheesy movie. I gave Michael a ride on my suitcase out to the car where Russ and Donovan (sleeping) were waiting for us.
On the ride home, MIchael offered to let me play his Game boy (which is a rarity from what I understand), and we stopped at Sheetz for an MTO, completing the full circle-I stopped there on my way to the airport back in September, since I hadn't bought food all day.
After 26 hours of travel, I still stayed up till 3 am then only slept 5.5 hrs before getting up and starting the day. I was convinced that I was immune to jet-lag, but two nights later, it finally caught up with me in the form of complete exhaustion and emotion at my birthday dinner. The cheesecake (which ended up taking 4 sittings to eat) helped solve that, though. :)

Day 60- 30 Naked Ladies

After doing a lot of relaxing and nothing, we finally got the gumption to get out, walk and catch the public transportation to a Turkish bath.
We went to the most historic bath in Istanbul, built in the mid 1500s. When you arrive, you pay and get some plastic chips for your massages, then proceed to the women's section (the men's and women's sections are completely separate and identical). Upon entry to the locker room, you are handed a thin towel, and a locker key, and that is all you take with you into the bath area.
There is a large, round, marble stone in the center of a domed room that is called a "tummy stone." It is here that one finds that being shy just won't due, because relaxing and "preparing for perspiration" on the stone are about 15 ladies of all ages, sizes, and nationalities. The rest of the ladies are sitting by the sinks around the sides of the round room or in the little extension rooms that also have sinks in them. The sinks all have hot and cold water and little bowls that you fill and pour onto yourself. I have to admit, it was a little shocking at first, but as they say, "When in Turkey..."
It didn't take long to feel more at ease, and before I knew it, I was being summoned to the edge of the stone by a heavy set Turkish woman for my bath. She scrubs you down with a hand mitt before sudsing you up with what looks like a white pillowcase dipped in soapy water. After your shampooing, you're free to return to the stone for more relaxation before the oil massage. This was nice, although exiting the domed room is a chilly experience after you've been basking in the steam for over an hour. We hung out for awhile and eventually all of the pampering got old, so I dried off and had some water and an orange while waiting in the common area for Asli.
We took a cab part way back, then got dropped off in Taksim, where we-like many people in Turkey- walked arm-in-arm through the main street. I bought some dried figs to take home and a pomegranate (which I would have like to have taken home) then we caught the metro again and walked home.
Belgin (Asli's mom) came home late that night after having an incredibly long wait in the airport when returning from her Bayram holiday in southern Turkey. We visited briefly in the kitchen before all hitting the sack, preparing for an early morning.

Day 58-Back in Turkeyland...

...Turkish keyboards and all!
So consider yourself lucky that there won't be too much to read.

This morning I woke before sunrise-without an alarm (I know, you're impressed-and wondering, 'Who IS this girl?!'). I had the idea last night to watch the sunrise from the beach, so after another lengthy walk in the dark with Asli, that's exactly what we did. And it was beautiful and orangey-pink.
We also went to the marketplace again, which I failed to mention in my previous blog. Picture a large, open-air, roof-covered area with at least 50 little stands inside. Each stand specializes in one thing or another, ranging from and including: candy, nuts, meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables, spices, ice cream, bakery, and more- all laid out in beautifully displayed presentations. I could live in this place and try something new everyday, although I my appetite for red meat that previously did not exist has turned to pure disgust (I wouldn't recommend it to vegetarians!).

We headed to the hostel and said goodbye to all of our friends there, then hopped the metro, train, and plane back to Istanbul, parting with Hannah at the metro station. Here in Istanbul we have Asli's house to ourselves because her parents (and the maid) are both out, and her parents won't return until Sunday. İt's so nice to be able to relax here-and that is exactly what we intend on doing for the next four days (plus the gym and Turkish bath!).

Day 57- Gaudi´s Candyland

Barcelona has been amazing.
Yesterday we went to the aquarium, then to Gaudi´s Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family) Cathedral. Construction began in the 1890s, and is projected to be finished around 2085. It is inspired by nature, and the columns look like trees with stylized branches that reach up and form a canopy as the ceiling.
Last night, we had another big group together, and ended up having a blast. Asli and I met up with our friends from England (Justin,Owen, Simon)that we originally met in Berlin. Also, another guy named Hunter (they were calling him Jager=Hunter in German) that Asli and I met on the train from Berlin to Amsterdam turned up here in Barcelona at the same hostel by coincidence (and he saw Asli in Granada-weird). He introduced us to his traveling buddy from school named Kellen. Also with us were some buddies that we met in Granada (Whitney and Jeff), a German girl named Linda, a Kiwi guy named Dan, and a girl from northern Montana named Erin.
We all hung out at the hostel bar for a bit, then decided to head out around 11, after losing Hunter and Kellen. There is an area on the shore called Port Olimpic, which is lined with bars and clubs of all sorts, some more scandalous than others. After a long walk there, we were dragged into several with promises of free drinks for the 10 of us. We accepted most of their offers, then moved along, and after about 4 bars, decided to walk down to the beach. By then we lost 2 more, and the 8 of us remaining sat by the water and played with the sand while talking and laughing the night away. Justin had some great anecdotes about the dog poo that litters the streets in many European cities, and had us in "stitches."
When the night came to an end, half got a cab, and 5 of us decided to walk the long walk back to the hostel. We had a great time, including tap dancing on a sidewalk corner and having a clap-jam, which is basically an impromptu percussion performance (I guess you had to have been there).

Today, Hannah and I were super productive, since it was my last day here and there is so much to see. We saw the Miro Foundation (great books and sculptures), the Olympic Stadium (like any other futbol stadium),the Parc Guell (designed by Gaudi, filled with colored tile mosaics, curved lines, and candyland-looking buildings. The whole place was originally designed as a nature community for the high society people until funding failed and it eventually became property of the city.), and finally, La Cuitadella (great park with a huge fountain, which I unfortunately only saw in the dark).

Tomorrow morning Asli and I fly to Istanbul (hopefully after catching the sunrise at the beach). Barcelona has left a great taste in my mouth, so to speak, and is a very nice place to end my trip. It´s also very livable, as Asli and I discussed last night, since it´s right on the water, has a lot of young people, and a ton to do. I´m sure I´ll be back.