This year, along with
a move from an apartment to a condo, I’ve gone back several times to Illinois
for special occasions, and to visit friends. Along with those hops, I’m also
going to the Georgia Romance Writers conference in Atlanta this coming October. On the way back I plan to stop in Asheville, and visit the
many art galleries that have found a home there. Then it will be time for the
beginning of the holiday season and family. This year time seemed to disappear.
I did book back-to-back cruises from Rome in 2016 that will
take me to Portugal, Spain Turkey, a few Greek Islands, and Israel-with a stop
in Haifa. I plan to visit Mt. Carmel and a certain boarding school where I
spent 2 years in my youth. Amazingly enough, it is still there.
I tend to travel light, I’m not as young as I used to be, and
lugging heavy suitcases is a pain, literally and figuratively. I have an
expanding suitcase, that for some strange reason is fully expanded on the way
back.
I have two grandchildren, and I bring back a few souvenirs,
but am careful what I buy. Books tend to make the top of the list, paperback
edition of the history of the area, local architecture, and of course there are
many artists that display their works around popular tourist areas, and I tend
to gravitate to that, of course t-shirts and hats, all that takes space. Thankfully
I no longer hunt for espresso cups-I collect them-but with condo living, space
is limited and I had to stop. That is why the suitcases expand on the way home.
I also have a gigantic purse that could pass for a suitcase,
and put all my essential information there, passport, travel information, and
anything I can’t do without should my luggage get lost. I’m allowed a carry on,
and that is packed with my small and light lap top, camera, Kindle, a spare
change of clothes, travel book, and the allowed make-up accoutrements, along
with anything else I’ll need. I also have a copy of my passport page-just in
case, which I keep with me but not in the same place as my passport.
I never, never put anything valuable in my suitcase. I don’t
travel with a lot of cash, and many credits cards. I take two credit cards,
only because should something happen, I have another options I keep the
telephone numbers of the cards, and use the hotel or cabin safe, if on board
ship. It is not full proof, and I’m sure if anyone wanted to break in-they
would simply destroy the safe-but as the saying goes-it keeps the honest people
out.
I have a daily budget, the rest stays in safe, and I only
take one credit card with me when touring, the other one remains in the safe.
Money belts work well, and I have a small comfortable purse that goes over my
shoulder, the purse is in front, so I can see it at all times, and I hang on to
the straps. Best advice, is pure common sense, be aware of your surroundings.
Over the years, I have bought clothes that I can roll easily,
and of course there are shoes. I love shoes, but have learned to pack them sparingly;
one good and comfortable pair of walking shoes. I don’t worry if the shoes will
match whatever I’m going to wear-never did-and won’t start now. I want to be
comfortable and avoid blisters if at all possible. I do pack a box of band-aids,
those things are expensive, especially on board ship.
I used to pack my gym shoes, because I love to walk on the
jogging deck while on the ship, but now use the walking shoes for that as
well-they have rubber soles and offer excellent support, and they are not as
bulky as gym shoes. Notice I said walk-I do not run or jog-I walk. One pair of
dress shoes, along with a couple pair of sandals that will do for short walks,
or simply while on board ship, FitFlops work well. A pair of dressy black pants, and a couple of
sparkly tops for the formal nights on board ship, and by the way I roll them up
too.
I don’t pack an outfit or two for each day, I pack mix and
match outfits, and always remember there are laundry facilities in hotels and
cruises-should the need arise. The laundry prices in hotels tend to be expensive,
but in an emergency, it’s there. I also remind myself how much airlines charge
for overweight luggage-that cures me of even thinking of over packing.
If you cruise enough, and join their frequent cruising club,
eventually you’ll get a laundry allowance or discounted prices on board ship.
I have seen people bring a few suitcases per person when
boarding a ship, and always wonder where they are going to put all that
stuff-the cabins are small, and storage space is limited.
Cheers,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
A Hotel in Venice
Blood Art
A Fire Within
www.mjustes.com
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