Voyager, comme c'est beau

 My passport arrived in the mail! 

Which is pretty much just taking me another step closer to the trip, and gives me one more little thing to be excited about! And I am. Thank-you passport Canada! With the day off from work, I feel like I've dedicated a lot of today to planning the trip and what I need. Yet I've still neglected to look for the last hotels that we need to book. How do I manage that? I'm a natural procrastinator.

And when I procrastinate, I do it my way.

I keep thinking about how I'm going to pack. Who thinks about that this far in advance? Well, I do, I suppose. How many dresses, skirts, shorts and tops do I really need for the trip? What about toiletries and electronics? And is it honestly going to all fit comfortably, and not bursting at the seems like my usual suitcases are? The last time I packed for a 5 day trip I could barely fit everything in. And that was the same suitcase I plan on using for the trip. Needless to say I'm a serial over-packer.  It seems to be (to me) a major challenge that I am supposed to pack for what is undoubtedly the most thrilling, adventurous, multi-country European vacation of my life thus far - in one small suitcase.

Ever heard of this new thing called checked luggage?

 Yes, yes. I know. There is always the option of checked luggage. But it is exactly that, an option.  My fellow wanderers and myself have concluded that risking losing our luggage is not worth checking anything. I've personally been through many airports with checked luggage, and have never experienced the tragedy that is a lost bag. But I know many who have. And it's true that it would be a major nuisance if any one of us lost our bag in the journey. One that we can't afford to risk. Plus, isn't it just generally a good idea to travel super light when you're traveling Europe by planes, trains, boats and possibly automobile?

I've been there, and it wasn't pretty.

The last time I got on a plane I had two checked full 50 pound suitcases, a guitar, and my carry-on - I was moving, so it was pretty much that or give up most of my stuff. Everywhere I hauled the load (pushing one suitcase in front of me with the guitar balanced on top, carry-on bag on my shoulder, hauling the second suitcase behind me in what was an almost circus-like marvel) things would drop or swivel wrong or I would fail to fit through doors. It took all of my physical strength to haul my way across a parking lots. It is NOT something I would want to experience again. So light travel is the way to go. And when I'm hauling that suitcase up all those steps in Santorini... I'll thank myself that I'm not 'that person' again. Steps and suitcases do not go hand in hand.

Google images has taught me that Santorini is a land of many steps.

Not to mention that carrying that kind of hefty luggage does NOT seem like it would be a fun thing to have to do in Venice. Okay, I lied. I would do anything in Venice. Practically anything sounds good to me if it's there. But water taxis and an overdose of luggage sounds like a bad combo to me. So there you have it. Why to travel light. 

Probably the best way to get around a city, ever. 

Why is traveling so great? To me, it's kind of like this beautiful, prolonged dream that has seeped into reality. You're free. You live in every moment. You can meet the most amazing people and the most insane people. You can be you and know that the future is in your hands, and that you never have to see anyone again but anything could change in an instant. So travel is beautiful. 

And that's why I'm always finding ways to do it.

-Monica

The Europe Bag

First of all, I was totally inspired by Amelia's last post. As you can see.

Yes, it took me less than 24 hours after seeing her blog post to buy the bag. I just bought it in blue (pink and red were sold out), but then I got to thinking that Madeline should get the bag, too. And she has blue hair (at the moment), so she should totally have this blue bag. If I can procure it in pink or red I'll give it to her (out of the goodness of my heart). And we can all rock the bag in different colors! It is the perfect little Europe travel bag.

I also went out and got a worldwide outlet converter set for only 5$! It comes with a nice little black travel pouch. I have to say, I am truly obsessed with travel shopping. There's just so much to look forward to when one goes shopping for their trip!  It makes everything feel so much closer to reality. I still have to get some decent travel shoes, extra camera batteries and a bunch of under 100ml toiletries, hair products etc. So more to look forward to. And more savvy purchases to make!

Great travel bag? Awesome! Dupe for a designer? Even Better!

Okay, I cannot be the only one who is completely obsessed with the Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac bag! It is the perfect purse for travelling- Why? Let me explain...

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac

• Super small and light! Perfect for all the necessities while out on the town (Digital Camera, Money, Lip Chap etc...)
• Goes with literally any outfit!
• Awesome protection! My mother (a fellow happy wanderer) actually had her purse cut off of her while she was sleeping on a train in Europe (goes to show you can never be too safe)! The chains on the strap would make cutting the bag off very difficult...
• Cross body bag style- Comfortable and once again adds to the protection of the bag!

However, at a hefty $200 (Yes, you read that right!), the Mini Mac is not exactly reasonable for those of us who are students on a budget… 

Today, I quickly ran into Walmart to pick up a few things. As I walked by the handbags, I did a double-take. I found a bag that looks very similar to the Mini Mac! It has all the pros of the Mini Mac, with a much more reasonable price tag. It comes in tons of colours and is absolutely wonderful! 'How much is this bag?' you may be wondering? $14! (And yes, you read that right!) This is the perfect bag to take to Europe (I'm planning to use it as my summer purse as well!). 

$14 Walmart Bag
(The IPhone is for size comparison)

Anyway, I hope this may have helped one of you readers! 

-Amelia
:)

This is the plan, guys.

1. We vow to take many pictures, and not delete any *group* photographs until we have reached a consensus on whether said photo is usable. This consensus must be reached after the trip, upon our return. An exception will be made if it is agreed we all look terrible in the photograph (It could happen more than once). We will retake photographs as necessary to achieve photos in front of all gorgeous/major landmarks.

2. We vow to attempt to put into use our language skills (or lack thereof), to communicate with the locals in Greek, Italian and French as much as possible. We vow to attempt to pronounce words even though we may fail miserably. We vow to be the cute foreign girls with accents (okay, we vow to TRY to be those girls).

Study up, people.

3. We vow to pack light. We will pack (1) small-medium size rolling suitcase with the majority of our clothing, toiletries, etcetera, per person. Clothing should consist of mostly light summer tops, dresses, skirts, 1-2 articles of swimwear, 1-2 long pants, 1-2 long shirts, 1-2 light jacket/hoodies. Pack socks/underwear accordingly. REMEMBER, people. 3 weeks of clothing doesn't mean 21 separate outfits. One purse/bag/fanny pack (okay please no fanny packs) in addition to the suitcase should be taken.

3 weeks, one suitcase. Good luck.

4. We vow to stick together, and if we split, we will split no smaller than in groups (of 2). This is to ensure that none of us will get raped, murdered, kidnapped etcetera. Sticking together consists of being within (distant) eyesight of one another at all times excluding bathroom breaks. Exceptions can be made according to group vote. Majority rules.

5. We vow to sleep in shifts on all overnight modes of transportation (trains, ferries, etc). Shifts shall be decided by all party members depending on the occasion, tiredness level of each party member, and estimated level of danger of being robbed. Shift watchers agree to stay awake, even if it means resorting to methods similar to those of Rowan Atkinson in Mr. Bean's Holiday.

That's right. Toothpicks. Pack em.

6. We vow to look out for each other, and not to hesistate to kick a potential rapist/killer/kidnapper of a fellow party member in the balls, or resort to any additional methods deemed necessary for the danger level of the situation.

Because we don't want to become the plot of the next Taken movie.

                     

7. We vow to be money savvy, at the risk of appearing cheap to all the locals in our current area. But we must also remember to experience.

8. We vow to shop, but not to over-shop.

9. We vow to eat, but not overeat.

10. We vow to look absolutely fabulous in Europe, knowing that we are surrounded by hot foreign guys. Seriously. They'll be everywhere.

-Monica

Meet the wanderers...

Amelia on the left, Madeline the right, me (Monica) smack dab in the middle.

Myself and my gorgeous aunt Diana. Yes, I'm a person of many hair colors.