In less than two weeks’ I’ll be taking flight to explore a region of the world I’ve never seen before. I’m really starting to get excited about my trip. So much so that I have the obnoxiously, LARGE green suitcase out; already filled with what I’m taking I think I’m taking on this trip. For the most part, when I travel out of the country, I’m usually pretty good about keeping things simple; packing light; using the small, black and inconspicuous, carry-on suitcase, because I’ve learned how to stretch the use of one, lonely black skirt multiple times. Heh.
This trip is a little different though. I’m headed to three completely different cities, and each are all climatically different, thus the need to think smart about the use of that black skirt…and then perhaps some…more.
I’ll be in school everyday, studying Spanish for one full week while in the city of Bogota, where the elevation is as high as the cocaine being exported from there. And even though it’s S.America, the temperatures can be a bit chilly at night. I then leave Bogota and say adios to school and hola to the beach, sun and surf. The temperature in Cartagena is hot, Hot and HOT. I’m also meeting a very handsome and sexy man on the second leg of this trip, so that means I need to make room for fun and sexy items inside Mr. Green Obnoxious!
Oh, and between home and Colombia, I’m stopping for short visit in San Diego Doug to visit family, friends and go to a U2 concert. So, you can see my suitcase packing ways requires a bit of creativity on my part. Creative is my midle name when it comes to things like story telling, decorating and putting the perfect outfit together…but packing all that into one suitcase? Eeesh. ?Como cest dice, SOS en Espanol todos?
Here’s what *I think* I’m taking:
black skirt (the old stand-by)
denim skirt (the alternative when I can’t possibly put the black one (above) on…again!)
2 long flowing dresses/skirt (good dinner solutions)
2 short dresses (girls’ must show off their legs in sun dresses)
pink, turquois and black camis (I don’t wear bras)
pink, black, turquois tank-tops (like how they coordinate with the cami’s above?)
2 pairs of shorts (yes, two pair)
2 bathing suit tops; 3 bathing suit bottoms (trying to be frugal here)
1 black long-sleeved shirt (layering)
1 white long-sleeved shirt (layering and sun protection)
1 pair of flip-flops (seriously. one. pair. I. swear!)
1 pair of sandals (sparkly ones)
1 pair of low black heels (cute, sexy, but practical for strolling cobbled streets)
1 pair of comfortable walking shoes (plan to walk to and from school each morning)
3 pairs of underwear (I might scale back to only 2 pairs…I’m a commando girl most of the time)
1 light-weight, windbreaker jacket (what if it rains?)
1 multi-colored pink scarf (add color to outfits without packing jewerly)
1 floppy, sun hat (my pale, Irish skin)
toiletry bag (necessito)
So, how’d I do with my packing? Too much? Just right? Not enough? Whaddaya’ think?
Neve Black
I’m impressed, actually—it looks like a wide-ranging, practical, succinct list. I don’t know that I would have pulled such a thing together so effectively (though I wouldn’t likely ever brag about being an effective packer, either! :)). Very nice!
Your trip sounds magnificent; safe travels and have a marvelous, beautiful time!
Xoxo,
Em
Hi Em!
Well thank you. I think the suitcase contents may have an edit or two before the bag and myself actually take off. I keep thinking….”well, what if?” “Oh, Chicken Little” I say, “they have stores where you’re going if you forget something.” Hope all is well with you, sweetie-pie.
Oh I so hear you about the stores—when traveling, I have been known to suddenly feel as though I must have virtually every item that may come into usefulness as though I am bound for a no-person’s-land and must have all my own provisions. Once I was fretting over some such item and Rick Write (my partner) said, “You know we could always stop at the store once we get there if you end up needing [whatever it was].” Oh yeah.
Hi again Em,
Here’s a funny to add to my “what I thought I was taking list”: I met with the travel group last night, and now I’m re-thinking what I’m packing. I think Bogota is supposed to be colder than I originally planned for, so I might pack a pair of tights; tights! Yes, tights. It’s something like 92 degrees today, and I’m typing the word: tights. It’s true though; if I do forget something that important, well, I’ll have a new souvenir from a foreign country, right?
Aah - I missed this post! Oh how great this sounds, Neve - good for you.
No bra or panties, eh? You naughty girl! But what if you get knocked down by a bus, hey? (As Grandma used to say)
Oh Janine, no worries, baby…I’m hit and miss when it comes to blog posting. I do plan on writing about this up-and-coming trip so S.America. Stay tuned, sexy girrrrrrrl. Miss you mucho.