Okay, this little one isn’t coming in the suitcase, but I have no other Visuals for you today, and I couldn’t resist posting a photo of the little doll I knit for a certain redheaded granddaughter’s birthday this week. Giving in, on Sunday, to the impulse to make her, managing to complete her on time for the Birthday Dinner Monday evening — yep, that’s put me behind schedule all week. Well worth it, I must say (and I still found enough time yesterday evening to watch Home Alone — again! — with the Newly Nine. Priorities, right?)
But despite the detours and the distractions, I’m closing in on the packing for next week’s travel. I think I’ve pulled together all the pieces I need, and now I just need to spend some time testing presumed combinations to see if they really work, then work out the laundry timing so that the garments I’m not ready to pack away yet are ready to go by the time I leave for the airport and that my carry-on actually closes and is a manageable weight (it’s a Rimowa, in case you’re curious, the Salsa Air, ever so light).
Once I know everything works and the case can be zipped, I’ll post on what I’m bringing, but meanwhile, a reader asked me if I could point her towards some of my earlier posts on travelling with only carry-on luggage. This seemed a good opportunity to gather these together, so here they are:
From way back in 2008, this one and this one, when we travelled for three weeks late May, early June, Paris-Portugal, no washing machine.
for a 2010 trip, I took afew photosof my nearly-packed carry-on as well as of some of the outfits I planned, for three weeks in London, Paris, and central Portugal, late spring
in 2011, I showed you how I managed the issue of carry-on restrictions for cosmetics and hair care products, and here’s theinventory of what I packed for that 6-week trip, but without any photographic evidence.
this inventory of what I packed, again sans photographic proof, from 2012 trip to Amsterdam, Bordeaux, and Paris in May. . . laundry facilities in Bordeaux.
this one from 2015 a 7-week trip that spanned September in Bordeaux and then three weeks in Italy, and during which we had access to a washing machine much of the time.
and then the real challenge, those Ten Weeks, One Carry-On, last year in Bordeaux (and Paris, and Berlin, and Rome, and Florence — that was a great trip!)
Of course, many of you already follow Sue at Une Femme and you know that she’s much more organized than I am, but for those who might have missed her 12-piece travel wardrobe posts, here’s a link to what she packed for her most recent trip to Paris, a week in fall and another for a 12-piece wardrobe she packed for two weeks in Scotland and England in the spring.
And as long as I’m larding this post with links, I will let you know that I’ve posted again to my reading blog.
Happy Weekend!
What a lovely doll!
Time goes by so quickly
Dottoressa
Doesn't it?!!
I enjoyed planning the carry on clothing…its a great exercise and one where scarves really make the difference to the success of the outfits.
Have fun!
Scarves definitely help vary the possible looks — I'm feeling more constrained than usual because the weather is likely to be colder, but I can always borrow from my daughter. . . 😉
I’m always so impressed with your carry on packing. I’m the other way I’m afraid especially when I’m going somewhere that is currently -1 c in the day bbbrrrrrrrr. So it’s a hold suitcase for me with lots of layers packed. Good luck with your packing and washing 🙂 B x
We'll have a day or two at freezing or below as well, it seems, but mostly just in transit. . . .Brrrr. . . .
So soon! I will watching this space with interest. What a great time of the year to travel……i know some people dislike traveling near Christmas but it suits me.
I've never done it before, and I wouldn't like it so much if we were at the airport during the busy days of Christmas week, but I think it's going to be good!
You are so organized! I love the doll. I'm in the market for new luggage – can you tell me why you chose Rimowa? The variety of suitcases/brands is bewildering.
I like the look of Rimowa, and the Salsa Air is so very light, yet strong. Plus the spinner wheels are so great — I can walk with the suitcase beside me for a change from pulling or pushing it, which means I don't risk aggravating my shoulder. But yes, the choice is overwhelming!
After reading all the posts about traveling with carry on only, I realize that I'm just not disciplined enough. I have just returned home from two months away and know I really did not need all the clothes that I had brought. The maybe I might need type of clothes. Shoes are always a problem. I seem to have a slight weakness there.
I will admit, standing at the carousel waiting and waiting is not much fun after a nine hour flight. However I do love the two new pair of shoes that I was able to bring back.
Ali
If you can get around just fine during your travels with the larger case and it suits you, there's no good reason to pressure yourself to change, really. But I'll be on my own for some of the travel, and I like to know I can heft my own case when I need to. That's actually more important to me than avoiding the carousel. But yes, the ability to bring back new pairs of shoes, that's an argument in the other direction 😉
That doll has lots of personality. Looking forward to seeing your holiday plans .
Wendy in York
I'll be posting along the way. . .
A lovely little doll to keep a special girl company…
As to packing, I can do either everything in a small backpack and just a change of essentials or lots of just in case in a large portmanteau, but have yet to crack the n weeks in a carry on. In my next life perhaps…
When we do a road trip, even if it's of fairly short duration, I take advantage of the car trunk space and do that same "lots of just in case." I laugh, sometimes, because I'll have so much more for a four-day trip to the island than I take for seven weeks in Europe. . . . So I can relate, definitely. . .
Love the doll. Shoes and boots can be a problem for carry-on only though.
I am pleased not to be the only person who really enjoys all the planning pre-packing. For some reason, it seems to make un-packing on the return so much easier as well, perhaps because of the orderliness. Just thinking about it, I have been actively doing this myself for almost 30 years…now that I have indulged myself with a beautiful leather bag that will age with me and carry everything I should need on a trip, I feel justified in all the careful preparation. One trusts you will leave enough space for some delightful purchases. What fun, a winter trip!