Flight Risk: Boredom!

We all love long flights, right? They take us to exciting, faraway destinations, you can't get where you're going any faster than in a plane, and you get free meals (which you paid for with your pricey plane ticket)!

But after you get over the initial excitement of your flight… then what? Now you have five, eight, maybe even fifteen hours looming ahead of you. What’s a traveler to do? Even the lucky folks in Business Class have to find something to do on long flights. Luxury does not make the flight go faster!

For those of you who can sleep on planes, you are truly blessed individuals! For the rest of us, here are some options to keep you occupied.

1.    Read

Bring your e-readers! Bring your magazines! Bring your good ol’ fashioned books! If you’re an avid reader, maybe a long flight is a good excuse to unplug and get in several hours of uninterrupted reading. With no unexpected phone calls, texts, social media alerts, or anything else to distract you, you can start reading a new novel or finish that one that’s been sitting by your bed for the last couple of months. If you're like me and you don't have an e-reader, but you do have a smartphone, apps like Classicly, Nook, and Kindle give you access to thousands of books. 

A word of caution: don’t get cocky! Even on 15-hours flights, don’t be tempted to bring more than one book (unless of course, you have an e-reader). Too many books will take up too much precious space and add weight. And choose a paperback over hardcover. Even just a few ounces can be frustrating to tote all over the world. 

Also, don’t be afraid to leave a book in an airport or at a hotel and buy another one on your trip. Many hotels and hostels have lending libraries or “take a book, leave a book” policies in their business center or a corner of the lobby. Most airports will have plenty of books in English, no matter the native language of your destination. 

2.    Organize

OK, so this one’s not all that exciting to most, but it works for me! I typically have multiple to-do lists going in my Notes app, and being on a long flight gives me a chance to reorganize them. (Just make sure your phone is in airplane mode!) Once you have some of those things organized, you’ll also feel more relaxed knowing that’s taken care of and you’re not forgetting anything important.

3.    Plan Your Trip!

Didn’t get your itinerary mapped out before you left? Here’s your opportunity! Make sure to pack a guidebook (Steve and I like the Eyewitness Travel series) in your carry-on, along with a pen and maybe a small notebook (and if you’re like me, post-it tabs and a highlighter or two) to learn what exactly there is to do and why those things might be worthwhile. For instance, what exactly is Angkor Wot and why is it famous? This is your chance to find out!

4.    Watch TV and Movies

If your flight is five hours or fewer, you probably won’t have on-demand TV or movies to watch, but for flights in the six-hour range or longer, odds are you will have your choice of recorded entertainment. Steve and I both like to track our progress periodically on the flight map, but you can also listen to music, watch selected episodes of TV shows (sitcoms, dramas, documentaries, and the like), and watch movies (classic, new releases, kid-friendly, comedy, independent films, etc.). Some people bring portable DVD players and download shows and movies to their laptops beforehand, but for me, those things often weigh me down. To each his own!

5.    Sleep

 Again, if you’re blessed enough to be able to sleep on a plane, DO IT! You’ll definitely be more refreshed than those of us who can’t. I sometimes take melatonin with me to help me sleep, but sometimes it just makes me more tired and I still can’t sleep, and even if I do get to sleep, it often makes me have really weird dreams or nightmares. I’ve gotten better about sleeping on planes, but I usually just plan not to!

6.    Listen to Podcasts

If you’re on top of things, maybe you’ll think of downloading some podcasts before you leave. I usually don’t think about it but then wish I had! iTunes U also allows you to take classes for free! 

7.    Eat

Be careful with this one. You definitely don’t want to eat all your energy bars in the first couple of hours, but eating is a way to pass the time when needed! I just heard a flight attendant on my last flight (about five hours from Quito to Houston) say that meals are included on international flights of six hours or more, and snacks are available for purchase on flights less than that, so plan accordingly. Maybe plan to eat something every three hours or so, such as a piece of fruit, protein bar, trail mix, and the like. This will keep you from overeating and give you something to break up the monotony every so often. Steve usually brings a cheese sandwich, hummus sandwich, and maybe some leftovers from the fridge as well. I've even brought a baked sweet potato before. As long as it's not liquid, it's game! 

8.    Drink Up!

Drink LOTS of water because flying is dehydrating. Planes are pressurized to create an atmosphere as if you’re at 8,000 feet above sea level. Any more than that, and people start to get altitude sickness. I don’t claim to know all the science behind altitude and hydration, but I do know that being 8,000 feet above sea level will make your body lose more water somehow. I always take a full 32-ounce bottle of water with me on the plane, AND I take one of those little cups of water every time the flight attendant comes by with beverages, AND I’m not afraid to ask for more! Shoot for at least 8 ounces per hour on long flights (about 1.5-2 of the little cups they give you).

Coffee, caffeinated tea, and alcohol are all beverages that will actually not help you stay hydrated, and sugary drinks like cokes or juices will also make you feel thirsty more quickly, so I try to stay away from those. (For those not from the South, “coke” means any carbonated beverage of any brand, especially the sweetened and flavored kind.) I’m a coffee girl, so I’ll have one of those tiny cups of coffee with breakfast if I'm on a plane around breakfast time so I don't get a headache, but otherwise I stick with water.

My one other exception is that sometimes I’ll bring my own tea bag or vitamin C drink with me and ask for a cup of hot water. I’ve never had anyone look at me funny for asking for a cup of hot water, and I even had one flight attendant say how smart if was for me to bring my own vitamin C drink because it was flu season, and every little bit helps! Whatever will keep you hydrated. 

9.    Pee

Since you’ll be drinking lots of water, make sure you also take the time to take care of business! It can get complicated unless you’re in the aisle seat, but even if you’re next to the window, you gotta do what you gotta do.

10. Do Your Daily Routines

Since you’ll already be in the bathroom several times during your flight, use your time to do your daily and nightly routines as much as possible. I bring facial wipes with me to wash my face and use coconut oil as a moisturizer (since it’s a dry atmosphere), and I also take my contacts out and brush my teeth while I’m in there. Be courteous and don’t take up half an hour, but it does take up about five to ten minutes, and I feel better both during and after my flight if I’ve let myself do my “night time routine.” I do my morning routine, too: wash face, apply coconut oil, brush teeth, put on makeup (eyeliner and mascara only for me), and put my hair up if it’s looking tired, which it typically does on long flights. It takes up time, and it makes me feel a bit more alert as well!

11. Walk

Finally, try to walk the length of the plane every time you go to the bathroom, or at least once an hour (unless, of course, you’re a plane sleeper). This will help you keep those muscles moving to prevent muscle cramps, joint aches, and swollen legs and feet.

There you have it, my friends. I hope this helps you along on your next long flight, or perhaps it’ll help you prepare for your first long flight! What do you do on long flights that I didn’t mention here?

Feet in the Middle

Surprise! Mr. Peabody Pembroke and I are off again! This time it's just a short trip, but a very memorable and symbolic one.

There are the surgically repaired feet... in the middle! 

On September 17, 2014, my left foot and I went in for the first of two foot surgeries. So I decided that on September 17, 2015, I would take Lefty on a real adventure... to the equator! Since Steve and I missed it last month due to volcanic activity, I figured this was my chance! I only told a few people I was going, so it was a surprise to everyone else, even my parents!

My husband dropped me off at Dulles Wednesday morning, and I set off to Houston! And guess who sat next to me on the plane... A woman in a walking boot! She had bunion surgery just three weeks prior, so we chatted about that for a while. She's around my age, and this was her first go at surgery. She probably won't have to have the other one done, at least not for a while--lucky duck!--but I was happy to provide someone to complain to! I told her a few of my secrets as well. She'll be back on her foot again in no time!

From there, onward to Quito! If you read my previous post about our time there last month, you already know it's not my favorite place on Earth. But I can do anything for a couple of days--really just 25 hours, if you're the hour counting kind. I had an equator to see! The air pollution was better this time because the volcano didn't feel like smoking this time around. And I prayed it would be calm and inactivated until after time for me to leave!

By the way, I blew my nose while I was there, and grayish-black stuff came out. Ew. No picture.

The plane landed about 20 or so minutes late, but the driver from my hotel was still there waiting for me when I finally cleared passport control! He was energetic and friendly, even at 11:30 at night when we started our one hour drive to El Crater Hotel. The Quito airport is close to the city, just nine miles away, but somehow it takes an hour to get to it or from it, no matter where you're coming from! We were actually so late starting the trek that the front desk at the hotel called to see if we were still coming or if there was a problem!

We finally made it, safe and sound. To be honest, the guy who checked me in and showed me to my room was borderline rude and left out important information like where breakfast would be, where I can get clean water to brush my teeth, and the wi-fi passcode. There was a bottle of water in the room that I used to brush my teeth, and I eventually got the wi-fi passcode after trying a couple of numbers for the reception. After I emailed Steve and my parents to let them know I made it, I was so pooped I didn't care about brushing my teeth. Good thing I brushed on the plane!

So, to be honest, pretty much the whole hotel experience was less than expected... except for the view:

Wow. I could wake up to that more than once for sure! 

Before I went to sleep, the guy at the hotel told me that breakfast would be at 7:00. I asked when breakfast ended, but he just said breakfast was at 7:00 and didn't look like he wanted to tolerate a spoiled American who wanted a later breakfast. So, dutifully, I rose at 6:30am to get ready for breakfast! The view made the early morning wake-up worthwhile, thought. I have to admit it! 

Breakfast was fruit, eggs, croissants with jam, juice, and coffee. I tried to cut away the parts of the fruit that may have been washed with contaminated water or touched any part of any other fruit that may have been washed with contaminated water. The meal was good, but I failed. Something made my little tummy gurgle... But after that it was done, and I was ready to go! 

I took my time showering and getting ready so that my phone would have as much time as possible to charge. Plus, I knew I didn't have much to see to take up my time the rest of the day. After a bit of a delay in getting a taxi, I was on my way to the Intinan Museum! 

Woohoo! Mr. Peabody Pembroke, Lefty, and I made it! This is what some call the "real" equator. The location was pinpointed using GPS (in the late '90s or early 2000s), and a new, open-air museum has been built not only to show off the equator but to show some of the history of the area. 

First stop: the shrunken heads! 

Sorry for the poop photo quality. That in the center is a real shrunken human head! And in the lower left corner is a shrunken animal head. Perhaps a sloth? Anyway, the process the Shuar people used is called Tzanza, and what they would do was remove the human bones, smoke the skin like one would do leather. Then the shape would be recreated with small rocks. They did this to keep the souls of prominent people, as well as the souls of their enemies, both for their power. No, they did not kill random people for their heads. They let people die of natural causes--or in the case of enemies, during wars. 

Another native people, the Wuaorani, put big holes in their earlobes, like some kids do today. The larger the hole, the higher their status. They also used really cool dart guns and spears! 

Finally, a people called the Quito, who lived there before the Incas came from Peru, would bury their dead in the fetal position and put them into big clay pots, so they would be ready to be reborn when the time came. Couples would often be buried together. Sweet, huh? If the man died first, his wife would be given a special drink and buried with him. There, she would suffocate. If the woman died first, they buried her alone. Nice, right? 

Anyway, then we got to the real attraction... the equatorial line! 

Ta-da! There's Lefty! Showing off and kicking' high! Our museum guide conducted demonstrations and even had us participate in them! We saw water drain from the same sink three different ways--clockwise just a few feet south of the line, counter-clockwise a few feet north, and straight down on the equator! There are many nay-sayers who claim this phenomenon doesn't exist, but I assure you quite confidently that I saw it happen! 

Next, we balanced an egg on the end of a nail. Only two of the seven of our group could do it, and I was one of them! We also tried to walk in a straight line right on the equator, but it's very difficult! Lastly, we did a strength test. It's true, a person is stronger away from the equator than when standing on top of it. Something to do with the gravitational pull and the Earth being wider around the middle than anywhere else. 

I was so excited! But there was more to see! 

Onward I went, ready and raring to see the "original" equatorial line and monument. The one that was calculated in 1736 by the Spanish (or the French--I heard both while I was there). Anyway, that was the assumed equator for two hundred years before they built the monument! 

It's a nine-story structure with a great big globe on the top! Your first stop will be to the top and get an impressive view of the Andes Mountains in all directions, and each floor below hosts exhibits of equatorial and Ecuadorean history. 

The site where this monument was built is called the Mitad del Mundo--"Half of the World"! The site is actually a huge complex with shops and restaurants, like a whole city. They really did a lot of work to make it a place for tourists to come and see the jewel of Ecuador... but then of course the whole thing happened with GPS. This is still an historic monument with historical significance, of course, but the experiments wouldn't work here... so there are none! 

Anyway, I found a place to get some empanadas (not quite as good as the ones we had before, but they were still authentic!), and I got to use their wi-fi to e-mail with Steve and post some pictures to Facebook. That's when Steve said, "You are 4,000 miles away, but given your WIFI, you could easily be sitting by the pool or in Old Town, as far as hearing from you and about you throughout the day!" So cute! 

I walked around to see the shops for a while, stopped into a miniature museum with dioramas of Quito over the years and some models of ships that made their way to South America in the 15th and 16th centuries, and made a beeline for the cabs on the street--I needed to get to the airport and use the shower and get a nap at the Gold Lounge! So long, Equator! 

The cab ride was an adventure in itself. The driver decided to take me on a "short cut." Of course, he didn't speak a lick of English, and I don't speak intelligible Spanish, so I was really not sure what was going on, but he was talking to me the whole time! As I mentioned before, the airport is actually very close to Quito and the surrounding areas, but you really have to go around your finger to get to your thumb to get there. So, the short cut pretty much took us the same amount of time, and the car was actually going slower than if we had taken the highway. We went through little villages and down and around winding little roads. I don't know if he got me there sooner or not, I was just glad to get there! 

Anyway, once I got there and got through security, it was 4:30, and I was pretty beat. I went up to the passport control lady, gave her my passport and showed her the boarding pass on my phone... and then she dropped the bad news. 

"I'm sorry ma'am, but I can't let you in until four hours before the flight," she said regretfully. 

My flight was set to leave at 11:55pm. I had 7 1/2 hours to go. 

After a show of frustration, which I soon regretted, I showed her my United Gold membership card, asked if there was anyway I could get in--I just wanted to shower in the lounge and take a nap because I can't sleep on planes--she said there was nothing she could do until the United representative came at 8:00pm to open the flight on the computer. In my mind I thought, they really need an override button, but out loud I just said ok, went over to the domestic terminal (I was not going back out of security and back through three and a half hours later), and e-mailed a temper tantrum to my loving, kind, understanding husband. Then I found a place that served chocolate cake with ice cream (and free wi-fi): 

So then I e-mailed Steve to apologize for my tantrum, and of course he was kind and understanding as always. He tried to FaceTime me, but the wi-fi signal was too week. His attempt at FaceTime was a huge deal because he does NOT like the looks of his own face on the screen, but for some reason he likes mine. =) Anyway, since the wi-fi was strong enough for e-mail but not FaceTime, we e-mailed. For three hours. It was just like we were dating again and we'd send e-mails back and forth all day long. =) 

Can you tell I was ready to be home to the World's Best Husband? I was. 

And eventually... 8:00 came! Back to passport control for me! So I crossed back over from the domestic terminal to the international terminal, but the security people insisted on checking my bag. So they put it through the conveyor belt, but thankfully, they didn't make me pass through again. 

I gave the lady my passport and my boarding pass... and she happily let me through! I was home free! Well, I was closer to home anyway. 

Through the duty-free shops, up the elevator, and there, smiling and ready to help, was the Gold Club agent. She checked my boarding pass, opened the doors, and I was IN! I asked where I could get a towel for the shower, and she said I could ask inside. So I asked inside, and they sent me back out. So I asked her again where I could get a towel, and she brought me one from the closet behind her. I don't know why I had to go back and forth, but I really didn't care. THIS is what I cared about! 

Why yes, that is in fact a very nice shower. And yes indeed, I felt renewed and refreshed after a nice, hot, long shower! Oh, happy day. 

So I got dressed and found a comfy place to sit. Unfortunately, all the seats had arm rests attached, so I wouldn't have been able to get any quality sleep anyway. But I filled my belly, curled up in as comfortable a position as possible, and sent Steve and e-mail letting him know I had finally gotten in. He was asleep at that point, but I wanted to let him know all the same. 

The flights home were relatively uneventful (no volcanic excitement this time!), but I did meet a nice Egyptian man on the flight from Houston to DC, and he got me thinking about that trip to Egypt I've been meaning to take! Now I have an insider friend! He lives in Houston now, but I have his card, and to me that means I also have an open invitation to ask questions! ;) 

Thank you for joining me on this journey! Stay tuned to find out where we go next! (And yes, my next trip is with my sweet husband!)

"Excessive" Items that Shouldn't go Abroad

We meet again. To accompany my what NOT to pack post, I thought I'd expand on the "excessive clothing" mention. I understand that no one wants to wear smelly clothes, but Febreeze comes in a travel size, and one of those takes up much less space than those extra clothes!

So, here are my suggestions for clothes and accessories that can be re-thought and re-placed into your closet from your suitcase. All these suggestions are dependent upon your destination and duration of stay, of course, so use your best judgement. These are just some good rules of thumb that I try to follow.

1. Multiple pairs of pants
You can wear the same pair of jeans all week. You can even wear the same pair of khakis all week, though khakis are more likely to show stains. You can also wear the same black pants (yoga pants are acceptable, if they're the right yoga pants) all week if you want! Pick two of those--whether long, capri, or shorts length--wear one pair to travel in and pack the other pair. On our trip to the Galapagos and Quito, Ecuador, I wore my black yoga pants on the plane, wore my shorts everywhere else, and wore the black yoga pants on our last day in Quito (because it was chillier there) and on the plane home.

One to wear and one to pack! 

2. Multiple pairs of shoes
Please, as a bunion surgery survivor, do not take high heels on vacation. Give your feet a vacation, too! Your shoes need to be comfortable because, inevitably, you'll be doing more walking than you think in most places you'll go, especially if you don't have access to a car. I always wear my running shoes to travel in, then either sandals, boots, or water shoes, depending on the destination! If you're staying in a hostel or a low-end hotel, bring some shower shoes (flip flops are best), but otherwise, pick two that will be the most comfortable and the most versatile.

Pick two--wear one, pack the other! 

Tip: Socks and underwear can be rolled up and packed inside boots or running shoes to save space! 

3. More than one purse
Pick a good travel purse and stick with it! Mine has bright colors and fun patterns, but it's super secure--the zipper to get in is always against my back, not facing the world to make it easy for pickpockets to get in. If I didn't have this one, I'd choose a neutral color bag that can close completely; one that's big enough that you can fit a water bottle, scarf or light jacket, phone, wallet, guidebook, and/or maps inside; and one that's small enough that you don't put too much in--no one wants to hurt their back or hips on vacation with an overly heavy purse!

The one on the left is my everywhere-travel bag. The purple one on the right is my other option--zips completely closed, has an adjustable shoulder strap or a handle option. 

4. Jewelry
I have lost several pairs of earrings over the years while traveling, even being as organized as I usually am! Many travel blogs I've seen recommend bringing statement jewelry with you that can help change up your outfits, but definitely don't overdo it. Personally, I've found that turquoise goes with just about everything, and so do pearls! I usually pick one pair of earrings that go with all or most of my outfits, wear them when I travel, and keep them in a designated (small) jewelry bag or in a pocket in my purse so I don't lose them when they're not in my ears.

Don't pack your entire jewelry drawer!

Definitely leave your diamonds and fine jewelry at home unless you've planned a special night out or a business dinner to go to. Use your judgement, and remember that necklaces get tangled, fine items signal that you may have money or other expensive items to steal, and if you don't wear it all the time (like a wedding ring), it might get lost!

But as a solution for tangled necklaces, string it through a straw if you can:

5. More than one set of PJs
You can totally wear the same pajamas all week! Or even longer, if needed, especially if you are a before bedtime shower person.

6. Workout clothes for every day you're gone
Depending on how sweaty you get and how often you workout, you probably won't need more than one set of workout clothes for a week or so. Particularly if you're super efficient and use the moisture wicking kind. You can wash them with regular soap in the shower or sink, let them dry, and you'll be fresh as a daisy next time you workout! Seriously, it won't hurt anything to wear slightly smelly workout clothes--you're just working out in them! Also, you'll be doing a lot of walking throughout the day, and you can definitely count those miles and miles of walking as cardio for the day!

Ladies: choose a top with a built-in sports bra, and you don't have to pack one!

7. More than one coat 
Sure, all your jackets and coats are cute--you bought them, didn't you? But really, bringing the most practical one is your best bet. I have a purple down jacket that squishes to almost nothing. It fits anywhere, even into a purse! If you're going to Alaska, Canada, or perhaps a Scandinavian country in the winter time, your heaviest coat is the one you need to take. However, if your travels are taking you to the US Northwest any time of year, a light jacket (usually, your cutest jacket) is maybe a better option. But no matter where you go, one jacket or coat will be quite enough.

I have way too many coats, but I just pick one when I travel! 

A couple of useful tips
When packing for any amount of time, any destination, any time of year, any reason, please remember: you will never see these people again! No one you see on your travels will know you're re-wearing your clothes. And if you take clothes that mix and match, no one will even be able to tell in your pictures either!

Lastly, a recommendation on something to take... clothes to toss! I usually take workout clothes to leave behind (the stinkiest of my clothes), underwear and socks that have seen their last days, even tops and pants or skirts that are ready for their last hurrah! It's also a great way to make extra room in your suitcase for souvenirs from your memorable, life-changing trip!

Do you have any other tips or tricks for packing light that you can share?