This time I’ll be gone for over a month, and the items I’ll
take will increase, but they will still fit in the same expandable suitcase, except this time it’ll
probably expand a little on the way.
I keep the suitcase relatively small and compact for that
reason. If I had a big suitcase, I’d probably manage to fill it up. Laundry is
available on board ship, and I have a couple of free coupons per cruise. That will suit me perfectly. As a rule, I
never, ever put anything valuable in the suitcase.
I take the suitcase, a carry-on, and a big purse that folds
into a little purse. In that purse I carry
my passport, wallet, a bit cash-the local currency as well as dollars, 2 credit cards, phone, and any important
papers I may have, all personal items, anything I can stuff in the big purse I
do, and that includes my small compact laptop, Kindle and camera. It all fits in that
big, lightweight black bag-it is terrific for travel. That bag stays under the
seat in front of me. It does not go in the luggage rack on the plane. I carry a
change of clothes and personal
toilette items in the carry-on.
My travel shoes have arrived, they’re not pretty, but they are incredibly comfortable. Since I
buy my walking shoes for comfort, I keep them until they literally fall apart. Even
though the trip is in October, I have already started my list.
I list everything I’m going to take on vacation, along with
the clothes, shoes, absolutely everything. I have one pair of dress shoes that
have lasted for years, and so far they’re holding up really well. I call them
my sparkly shoes, and they’re perfect for the formal nights on cruise, or just
an evening out, as long as it doesn’t include a lot of walking. I find that at my age, comfort and cute shoes
are not interchangeable-it’s an either or situation.
I pack 2 pair of
comfortable and durable strap sandals that I use for excursions, and a
couple pair of fit flops, for the pool and easy excursions, and the mules I'll wear on the plane. That’s it for shoes.
I love shoes, but I do not over pack.
For the formal nights, I picked 4 sparkly tops, one pair of
dress silky black pants, and I alternate the tops. They're lightweight,
and I roll them up-they take up less space in the suitcase. I roll everything I
can to consolidate space.
Slowly things fill up the pages, and for me it is much
easier than worry at the last minute that I forgot something-like a passport. As I think of things I add to the list.
Next is the trip closer to home coming up in May.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness...” Mark Twain
Cheers,
Margot
Justes
Blood Art
A Fire Within
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
A Hotel in Venice
www.mjustes.com
