It's been over a year since I returned to Canada from Berlin. It is crazy to me that is has already been a year. I have decided to embark on a new adventure...5 weeks in Europe!
I am taking my Mom with me this time and we will be gone the entire month of August. The plan is to fly into Paris, spend about a week there, then London for a week, Berlin for 5 days (Not enough time!!), Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Zurich, Dijon, and back to Paris for our flight out.
I am currently trying to work through what our itinerary will look like, but all the hotels have been book (with the last minute cancellation option of course). My Mom is getting excited, trying to work through what she wants to bring. A few months ago she requested that she take a wheelie bag...no. I also did not want her to get upset carry a bag all over Europe. I ended up finding a bag (well two bags actually) that would allow us to roll them around the airports and train stations...but that we could also carry like a backpack when rolling wasn't option (pretty much anywhere outside the airport and train stations). I got for my mom the Osprey Meridian Convertible 60L/22" - This bag is perfect for my Mom. The bag has a backpack that zippers onto the main bag. For myself I got the ozone convertible 50L/22" - Again this bag has a day backpack the zips onto the main bag. I got my Mom a bag that was a little bit larger but is still considered a carry-on bag when the backpacks are un zipped and considered the personal article of luggage. I got red, my Mom got orange!
Now that we have our bags I tasked my Mom to figure out what exactly she wanted to wear for 5 weeks, knowing we could probably do laundry once a week and she only had her bag to take with her...needless to say she is doing a great job and is almost done her selection process. One thing she has been stuck on for a while is SHOES. What shoes should she bring...runners? sandals? loafers? My Mom has orthotics that she always wears in her shows, which helps her feet stay comfortable. I wanted for to select a shoe that she could wear all day, hiking, museum touring, sight seeing, etc. She has purchased and returned about a dozen pairs of shoes trying to figure this out...mostly because I told her she could not wear her running shoes...this has yet to be resolved but will soon need to be! For myself I am just taking my white leather converse that I have Birkenstock insoles inside for support. I wear these everyday. I am also taking my foam Birkenstocks for hot days and questionable shower stalls.
I will probably post photos of our packing experience in a few weeks as we get ready to leave :)
- Madison
