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?

Quick Whit's Travel NON-essentials

Hello to all! I hope everyone enjoyed Last week's Travel Essentials blog! Today's post is a little different, but just as important when packing: what NOT to pack. Because let's be honest, people over pack. Americans are pretty notorious for it, but let's be honest again, people EVERYWHERE over pack! Unless you are actually moving your entire family to a new place permanently, you really don't need to take your whole house with you!

People over pack for lots of reasons: we want to be sure we didn't forget something (and inevitably, you do); we want to be prepared for anything (and inevitably, we can't be); we think we need all those things (I often make myself revisit the meanings of "want" and "need"); perhaps we think we're better safe than sorry (except when the bag is so heavy with all that stuff you end up injuring yourself while lifting, dragging, pushing, pulling, or lowering it from the overhead bin).

I'll tell you a secret.

I sometimes over pack. But not for lack of trying!

Last weekend, Steve and I met some friends in Monterey, CA, to celebrate Val's and my 30th birthdays. Woohoo! But did I wear the nice dress I packed to go to dinner? Nope. Did I wear that other top I brought so I wouldn't have to re-wear the top I really liked best? Nope. Did I lug those things around the whole time? Yep!

I'll tell you another secret.

I have occasionally under packed!

While traveling in Warsaw, Krakow, Bratislava, and Prague a few years ago, I was not prepared for the climate. It was unseasonably warm in Warsaw, chilly in Krakow, hot as an oven in Bratislava, and chilly again in Prague! I finally couldn't take the heat again in Bratislava, so I went and bought a dress at a local store. It was not expensive, and it's ended up being one of my favorites, and I still wear it to this day. It's also the last thing I purchased before meeting my future husband, Steve, in Prague a couple of days later! So that all worked out--I have a great souvenir!

So cute, right? 

Oh, and I wish I'd taken maybe one more shirt to the Galapagos with me. But it worked out fine! I just re-wore my t-shirt another time before it was time to toss it! (More on tossing clothes later.)

Here is my list of things that I never bother packing. I realize everyone's different, and you should certainly use your own judgement, but maybe this post will give you some ideas for packing light next time you travel, even just overnight!

1. A Checked Bag

These are all carry-on sized. Pick one, two at most! 

Maybe you're convinced you HAVE to check a bag. You can't possibly fit an entire day and night's wardrobe and accessories into one carry-on and one personal item (like a purse or laptop bag). But I'm here to save your back and your space! Let's be frank: checking a bag is expensive. If you pay around $75 a year for an airline club card, you might be able to check one bag free, but then you've paid $75 for something "free." If you're lucky, your airline only charges $20 for your first domestic checked bag, but international checked bag fees can certainly be even more than that! And what if your bag is just an ounce over the weight limit? Be ready for an extra $100 coming out of your pocket on many airlines! I never ever check a bag!

Not only is there an extra cost, it takes an awful lot more time to wait for it once you reach your destination. And what if your connecting flight gets cancelled? Then you're on a different flight, but are your bags? And bags do still get lost, believe it or not. With as much as Steve and I travel, our odds of having a bag lost go way up!

2. More Clothes than I'll Need

Do not pack your entire closet! 

A good rule of thumb is to pack your bag, then take out half of your clothes. If that scares you, just take out a third! Really, if you do a little planning, pack things that mix and match (you don't have to pack all black, but that's sure an easy way to go!). It IS ok to re-wear a few or even all of your things! I will be writing a blog post soon about clothes to leave behind. Subscribe above and look for it coming to your inbox! For now, just wrap your mind around packing half of what you think you'll need.

3. My Laptop

OK, as a travel writer, this is a hard one to type up (I'm currently typing on my precious laptop!). I have a very efficient MacBook Air. It's five years old, and I bought it with the intent of taking it with me while I travel. But in the age of iPads, e-readers, smartphones, and more gadgets coming out all the time, laptops have almost become obsolete! There are plenty of things I prefer to do on my laptop, but while I'm traveling, I can do pretty much everything I need to do on my iPhone. I blog in the Notes app, and it goes straight to the Notes app on my laptop so I can copy-and-paste it into my blogging website. I can review sites, hotels, and restaurants on my phone (and find them with the "Near Me Now" feature in the Trip Advisor app), I can post pictures, Skype or FaceTime with my family, and have my calendar at my fingertips when I need to know what we have up next on our schedule.

However, if I was going to be gone two weeks or more, and I wouldn't be moving around too much (like if we went on a cruise), it would make sense to have my laptop with me and do some day-of blog posts. But for trips 10 days or fewer, I can be patient enough to use my phone for all my computing needs abroad and save laptop work for when I get home!

4. Beautification Tools 

This would be things like curling irons, hair dryers (even "travel size"), nail polish, flat iron, curlers, etc. Embrace the hair God gave you and enjoy the natural look! Most hotels have hair dryers, and if not, maybe you'll find a new way to wear your hair that you like even better! Or wear a ponytail. Or wear a hat. Or better yet, get a fabulous hat as a souvenir!

5. Excessive Toiletries

Meet my travel toiletries stash. No, I do not pack them all! 

Just about any place you stay (even many hostels) have shampoo, conditioner, soap, and maybe even lotion, toothpaste, and mouthwash!

Shampoo:
I have also learned that I do not need to shampoo my hair every day. And actually, no one does! I can easily go 8-10 days between shampoos and no one is the wiser! So I don't bother bringing shampoo unless I'll be gone more than 10 days or will be at the beach.

Conditioner:
Personally, I'm particular about my conditioner, so I have a 3-oz, TSA-approved bottle I take with me and refill from home as needed. If I had straight hair, I would totally use whatever the hotel or hostel gave me for free. Conditioner is my one toiletry item I maybe shouldn't pack, but do.

Liquid face wash:
Don't do it! The wipes are a little more expensive, perhaps, but #1 you don't have to worry about another liquid; #2 they lay flat instead of being an awkward shape and size, so they're easy to pack and take up almost no precious space; and #3 you can use them on the plane or in the airport after a long flight without getting messy with water splashing everywhere (like on your clothes or your luggage).

Soap:
Just use what's provided. It'll get you clean, even if it's not your favorite scent.

Lotion:
There is usually some in your accommodation, but if not, you can use the coconut oil I recommended in my Travel Essentials post that pulls double and triple duty!

Perfume:
If you're traveling with friends or family, they don't care how you smell as long as you're clean! If you're traveling alone, you have no one to impress!

6. TSA Prohibited Items

NO WATER! (Or peanut butter.)
Absolutely no water at all, and no liquids over 3.4 ounces. Three ounces is more common, and there is less room for discrepancies! Steve and I were going through security a couple of weeks ago, and the woman in front of us had a 16-ounce bottle of unopened, freshly purchased water. Liquids, even unopened bottles of water, have been banned since 2006. Bring an empty bottle and refill it. Oh, and I once had my 16-oz peanut butter confiscated. The security officer said it can be melted and made into a liquid. I was upset. That was for my in-flight snack!

Full-size toiletries:
See "NO WATER!" Additionally, they take up too much precious space.

Dip spreaders, knives, scissors, optometry tools, and the like:
I'm originally from the South, and I know tons of people who've lost their pocket knives because they simply forgot. My mom got her bag searched going through security from Canada to the US because she had bought a dip spreader as a gift and decided to carry-on her bag at the last minute. Whoops. My dad, an optometrist, had some of his optometric tools with him (rather expensive items) on our way home from a trip. He got stopped at security, but thankfully he didn't have them confiscated! He was able to mail them back to himself.

These are the most common faux pas I can think of. But please check the TSA website for more!
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/prohibited-items

7. Money

Believe it or not! I never travel with cash money. Sure, take some if it makes you feel more comfortable--perhaps for a cab to get to your hotel if you get in late at night, or for a cab ride home once you return to your homeland. I take one credit card (one that has a good rewards program and NO international fees) and my debit card. In most of the popular destinations like countries in western Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, and more, you can use a credit card for everything you need. The big exception here is Ecuador. They use US currency as their own for now, and small bills are what you want to have on hand. Just about anywhere else, you're better off leaving your money at home most of the time.

I like to have some of the local currency on me for that cool, tiny shop that doesn't take a credit card, or for street vendors, or for tips for tour guides, but I get it from the first ATM I see. Exchanging money is expensive (more expensive than you think), but getting money from an ATM charges a nominal fee, if any fee at all, depending on your banks ATM regulations.

So those are some things I never pack, or if I do, I better have a good reason or be going to a third-world country where they may not have toiletries! What would you add to this list?

Destination Birthday Extravaganza in Monterey!

Just when you thought Steve and I were going to be hanging up our traveling gear for a while, we packed it all up again! This time we took a domestic trip to beautiful Monterey, California! My friend Valarie's birthday is the day after mine, so we like to celebrate together when we can! This trip was a bit delayed, but we got it in the right month!

The birthday girls!

Here are some fun facts about Val's and my friendship: 

Valarie was the first friend I made after I moved to DC! She and I met at a volunteer dinner before the Cherry Blossom Festival in March 2008. We found out our birthdays were just one day apart, and we've been friends ever since! 

We both married older men... and they're both named Steve! 

The picture that pops up on Val's phone when I text or call her makes me look like I'm picking her nose. 

And lastly, if you didn't figure it out yet, we're goofy together! 

Val and I have been planning this trip since May, so we had been excited for a while, and the day had finally come! My Steve and I rose early on Friday (yeah, just 6 days after the Volcano of Doom Debacle) and headed back to our home airport, Washington-Dulles! Whoever Steve calls to pick us up and take us to the airport, they're pretty great. They're always early, so we are never waiting for them--which is good, since we like to cut it close! 

I desperately needed some coffee, and luck for us... a new Starbucks opened across from our gate! Woohoo! And we were off. The good thing about flights from the east coast to the west coast is that you really only lose a couple of hours, even though you're flying for about 5! We landed around 9:00 am and hit the road! Our rental car even had our name on it! 

See that handsome man sitting in the driver's seat? =) 

The drive from San Francisco to Monterey was a nice one, and surprisingly swift. I guess we beat the morning rush! We stopped for lunch downtown on Cannery Row, right on the water. It was a little chilly, but the food was good, and the views were beautiful, even on an overcast day! 

We took a romantic stroll along the trail that goes through town, and eventually, the sun came out! 

And we made some dolphin friends! 

Time to check in! Val and her Steve were still on their way up from Camarillo, so my Steve and I made a stop at Trader Joe's for some weekend food essentials and found our Air BnB (like a house-sharing thing). We would have the two bed, one bath house to ourselves for the weekend! After putting away the groceries and settling in to rest for a while, Val and Steve arrived about 3:00 or so. It was a happy reunion! Steve and I had only seen them once since their wedding last year, so it was great to catch up! 

The four of us drove to town to check it out (just a couple of miles away), and them made our way to Val's friend's house, just a couple of communities over. They have a beautiful farm! Their house is from the 1800s (I think she said maybe 1880s?), and though they've added on over the years, they've made a real effort to keep it antiquated and charming! If I'd had my wits about me, I would have taken a picture of their awesome kitchen! They even have an authentic stove that's over 100 years old! 

Oh, and they have a dog friend! 

So sweet! Dogs love my Steve, and my Steve loves all dogs!

And they have a swing! 

Yes, Val had too much fun with that. 

And so did we!

So fun. Her friends are originally from Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside of DC--what are the odds? Anyway, Val knows her from working at National Geographic. Maybe they were friends of friends, something like that. But they welcomed us like we were all old friends! So sweet. 

After dinner, we pretty much headed right to bed. We're not really nightlife people. =) 

Saturday! Time to run! There is a really nice running and biking trail through Monterey, called the Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail. It goes through town and extends I don't know how far. But it was really nice to run by the shoreline! People were out there swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, and SCUBA diving. The water would definitely be too cold for me, but to each his own! It was so nice to run in a cool place with low humidity, though. I felt like I could go forever! But I stopped at 3.5 miles. =) 

Back at the house, Val and her Steve had already showered and were ready and raring to go! Another of Val's friends was driving down from San Jose to meet us for brunch around 10, but he hit traffic (of course!), so we went ahead and ate while we waited for him. 

There are a couple of things you need to know about Val and her Steve. Val likes to try her hand at EVERYTHING! She has crops in their backyard--avocados, oranges, blood oranges, lemons, key limes, sapotes, onions, tomatoes, and more! And they have chickens--hooray farm fresh eggs! The other thing is that her Steve is an amazing cook! We ate very well both mornings! 

Val's friend, Brett, got there eventually, so Steve dutifully made him an omelette and we all got to know him! He has been living in Israel making olive oil-based soap using Old Testament ingredients. Val has the most interesting friends! He joined us for an afternoon at the world-renown Monterey Bay Aquarium and lunch at the famous Cindy's Waterfront Restaurant as well. 

Something else you should know about Val is that she has a degree in marine biology, and she loves the cephalopods--those are the octopuses and such. We got an education going through an aquarium with her! 

Don't forget: don't flash the octopus! Can you see his tentacles? 

My favorite part of the aquarium was the "Open Sea" exhibit. There were all sorts of fish, but also hammerhead sharks and sea turtles! It was too dark for my pictures to come out well, though. You'll just have to go see them for yourself! 

After a fun afternoon of sea creature time, we decided to get back to the car and head to the house to refresh ourselves. But it took long enough to get there taking the free trolley that we decided to go back to downtown instead because as soon as we got to the house, we'd have to turn around and come back anyway! So we headed to the Sardine Factory (Monterey got its start in the sardine business) to fill the gap until ghost tour time.

Sardines, anyone? 

Mr. Peabody Pembroke had to get in on the sardine action. 

Talk about some fine dining! I literally felt like I was on the Titanic, it was so over-the-top grandiose. I loved it! Do I wish we'd been in fancy clothes because I like to play dress-up? Sure. But we were treated with kindness and were well attended-to even in our touristy street clothes! I highly recommend it, even f you just get some appetizers and soup like we did.

And now... on to the ghost tour! After yet another negative experience with the complimentary trolley (they drove past us and announced over the PA, "Sorry, full!" Oh, and their 10-12 minutes between trolleys advertisement is totally false), we summoned Uber and got where we needed to go in about 6 minutes. Bam.

Being a ghost tour guide myself, I'm always interested to see how other cities and companies do their thing! Our guide was great. He was funny, and we drove from place to place instead of walking because sites are more spread out there than they tend to be on the East Coast. But the best part was his dog, Nugget! He looked like a dachshund mix to me, but I don't know dog varieties that well. However, I do know he was cute! And very well-behaved!

We saw some of the oldest sites in town, heard some tantalizing tales, and had great fun, but the story that stuck out to me most was the one about a "doctor" who actually poisoned people! The population of Monterey went down 40% each year he was in practice there! And as it turned out later, he actually wasn't a doctor at all, he just told people he was! There's a restaurant now in the house he used to live in called 1833 (the year this doctor showed up in town). Eat there if you dare!

Bedtime.

Good morning! Time for a run. I usually don't run two days in a row, but it was just so pleasant, and I felt really great, so I did it. And it was great! My Steve ran that morning, too, and on my way back to the house, Steve and I met in the middle, gave each other a mid-stride smooch, and continued on our respective runs! I thought it was cute. ;)

We met back up at the house with Val and her Steve, and he outdid himself with breakfast again! We had marinated steak breakfast tacos with ingredients from their urban farm again. Amazing! We readied our selves and checked out of the house, then set out to explore the famous 17-mile Drive on the coast!

These are just some of the beautiful seaside views! 

We took our time and enjoyed it. There were seals and birds and cypress trees, the kind that only grow near seawater here in California! They're even called a California cypress.

We stopped briefly at Pebble Beach, but there was a bit of excitement upon our arrival... one of those famous California fires! Not to make light of it at all--it seems no one was actually hurt--but it seems an A/C unit caught fire on the roof. Several fire engines came out, guests were evacuated (and given perrier instead of water, of course), and the firemen took care of the problem.

We browsed around at the expensive shops and enjoyed the flowers and greenery (hotels and resorts can water more than most others in the state), then hopped back into Val's car and headed to beautiful, adorable Carmel-by-the-Sea! (AKA: Carmel)

It was getting on into the afternoon, so we needed to find some place for lunch. We found a cute little cafe on the most adorable little street you every did see! Clint Eastwood was the mayor for a few years, but it looks nothing like a Western town! There are trendy little shops and restaurants, a wonderful little lavender and scent shop called AJNE (we talked to the owner and her husband--so nice!), and there's even a Dr. Seuss art gallery! Made me think of my mama. She loves the Cat in the Hat! They had prints of the originals for sale!

After a delightful lunch and window shopping excursion, it was unfortunately time to head back to the house and pick up our rental car. For a long weekend trip, it sure was short! But then, time is always too short with good friends!

Val and her Steve headed on their way, and my Steve and I headed ours--back up to San Francisco! We had plenty of time to get there, and it's a good thing! We hit traffic on the way up. We planned to go to church that evening in San Jose, but those plans were thwarted with the hour-long traffic jam. :(

We made it to the San Francisco airport, wandered around until we figured out where to go (even seasoned travelers get lost and confused in the airport, especially when many would-be security lines are closed!), grabbed a couple of wraps for supper (because sometimes you just have to buy airport food), and waited for our flight to board.

So there we were, all settled in for the cross-country redeye flight:

He looks bright-eyed, but he was sleepy!

The flight back was uneventful (well, except for the screaming child in front of us who was, by the way, old enough to have his own seat). I didn't get any sleep on the plane but hey, what else is new? We both made it through Monday, and that was the goal!

Fore more pictures, click HERE!