Pack lighter! I read it over and over at the Fodor's forums, but I didn't pay attention because I wanted to be able to cart home my souvenirs easily. I could have fit all my clothes in a 22" rollaboard, but I took the 25" suiter instead. While I appreciated having my pillow with me (left it behind when I left to make room for the souvenirs), if we were doing much train travel or carting around with the luggage, I definitely would appreciate smaller and lighter. You can probably buy an inexpensive tote bag to check on the way home if absolutely necessary. We put all our dirty clothes into a tote that we had packed in our luggage on the way home and packed the souvenirs where those clothes would be in the suitcase.
I had planned to mail souvenirs home but was told not to trust the local post office in Serbia, so I'm glad I had room for the souvenirs in my luggage. It was heavy getting on and off the train though. It was also difficult to navigate from the Tube to the hotel in London. If the tube station isn't almost in site of the hotel with a large suitcase, I would go ahead and take a cab from the tube station to the hotel.
I was smart in packing just a little over a week's worth of clothing and doing the laundry locally. I wore just about everything I packed, with the exception of perhaps one outfit.
Also, I didn't use most of what I thought was essential in a carry-on. The inflatable neck pillow was important as was the eye mask on the plane. We should have shut the window shades when we went to sleep. It never occurred to us and the sun popped up as we passed into morning with the time zone passage and once it hit my eyes, I was awake! The noise canceling headphones with light classical music playing were marvelous. Definitely want to take those again. I might carry a book or I might not on an overnight flight. I found that I didn't read it on the trip over and only minimally on the trip home. I did knit both ways though and I did listen to my iPod, but I listened equally to the plane's entertainment system on the international segment. The inflight music wasn't always available on shorter runs--that is when the iPod came in handy. The pashmina was helpful for warmth as I needed it as well. I used the airplane blanket around my legs and their pillow as a lumbar support.
I carried snacks, but would have been fine not carrying them or putting them in checked luggage. I had plenty to eat on the planes and water was plentiful.
Definitely carry your prescription medicines with you.
The purse I bought at Totes with a strap across my body and one snap and one zip compartment was perfect for almost everything. The passports fit in the zipper section and the credit cards and money/change in the snap section. My daughter carried a small purse size backpack with the umbrella, guide book and camera since I was carrying everything else. She was even able to stuff her jacket inside.
If returning to the dorm in Serbia, bring a small battery operated fan (no more than 7") in case of heat--extra batteries would be nice, but they are pretty cheap there. Buy the Eveready batteries if replenishing in Europe--the local "cheap" option were also not durable. Find an electronics store ASAP if it is hot for an electric fan! Also, if we return to Serbia, I will carry a towel of my own. I will carry some small gifts from home that I can give to the ladies that work in the dormitory. I will carry a local phrase book/dictionary to aid in communication. Carrying pictures of my family on the iPod was great as a communication/sharing device. These are good ideas if staying in other areas as part of a home-stay or hostel/dormitory experience as well.
Carry an unlocked cell phone and buy local SIMS for the cheapest option. Incoming calls are free in Europe on a cell phone. Arrange for a cheap international plan on your home phone for family to call your cell phone. Activate international Blackberry service before your trip to easily check email or take your chances with the internet cafes. Personally, I wouldn't mess with lugging around a laptop.
While I didn't read on the planes much, I did read at night in the hotel/dorm room. Research the area and see if there are English language bookstores in the area to buy books as you go and then leave behind for other travellers. If not, carry a supply that will be reasonable while you are in the areas that lack in bookstores. Don't plan to read a tremendous amount though. Touring will take up your days, leisurely meals and walks will take up your evenings (or other entertainment). Even if you are a voracious reader, you more than likely will not read at anything approaching your normal reading pace.
Take a deck of cards. Take a ballpoint pen. If you can email trip reports to family, friends or even just yourself, that will act as a journal. If not, carry a journal to write in. You will want to remember everything clearly for yourself and your grandchildren. Take your family's addresses with you on a mailing labels folded into your luggage so you can just put a sticker on a postcard and mail. That was a very good idea and helpful. It also tells you quickly if you sent someone a postcard or not. Postcards make good memories for later as well...those pictures are taken by professionals and are probably better than yours if you are just shooting it for the overall architecture or view. Don't sacrifice taking your own pictures too though. Those will trigger memories of what else was going on as you took them.
Pack the adapter and/or converter for your appliances. Take fully charged cell phone, camera, iPod, etc. to hold you until you are in a stable place to charge. If you want the freedom to charge more than one overnight, carry more than one adapter. I wish I had carried my sync cords for my cell phone and my iPod. It would have allowed me to charge them without an adapter when convenient.
I took several credit cards and more than one ATM card. I didn't end up needing more than one of each, but it gave me peace of mind in case an ATM had eaten one or a card had gotten refused. I just put them in the waist money belt or a room safe when possible. Getting money locally at the ATM is the cheapest and easiest option. All the ATM's I saw always had a "choose language" feature that included English.
While I read over and over that taking scarves to "dress up" and change your outfits was a good plan, I didn't wear a scarf more than once or twice in 3 weeks. That was probably because it was so hot. I ended up sweaty and gross in anything that was around my neck. I didn't take much jewelry and that was good, because I didn't want to wear it in the heat either.
I didn't think about my feet or hands swelling when it got really hot. I didn't wear my wedding ring for almost the entire 2 weeks in Serbia and my comfortable shoes were not as comfortable after a couple of days due to my feet swelling. The spare pair that were slightly large from having stretched through use however (leather) were perfect when my feet swelled. You don't need more than 2 pairs of shoes.
A smile goes a long way toward shared communication--it truly is universal. Gestures and simple drawings (stick figures) can go a long way toward aiding communication when you don't have a dictionary as well. A small map of the US might have been nice so that I could show people where Alabama is instead of telling them that it was the state next door to Florida--where Mickey Mouse lives! :-) Most young people speak at least some English and appreciate the opportunity to practice their skills. That is helpful for those of us who don't have a facility for languages. Everyone appreciates your attempting at least a few words in their language though. That is true here and abroad.
Ice cream is better in Europe. Some soft drinks are better in Europe and I wish they would make them here. Ask for "still" water to make sure you don't end up with mineral water. Almost every drink comes in a bottle. When in doubt in a restaurant, point to a picture. The menus are often in English, but also often have pictures that you can point to. Since the local, non-tourist, place is often the best and won't have the English, the pictures can be very helpful. If not, just take your chances and try whatever you end up with. This is an adventure, remember!
No comments:
Post a Comment