It all fits!

Two "views" of the clothes that fit in my carry on backpack:

• 2 pair of capris
• 2 skirts
• 1 pair leggings
• 4 pair socks, undies
• 3 bra tops
• 5 tops (2 tanks, 1 tshirt, 2 long sleeve shirts)
• 1 pair shoes
• toiletries

I'll wear jeans, 1 additional tshirt, 1 additional ong sleeve shirt and my fleece on the plane. Amazing: the list sounds like a lot of clothes, but the pack looks so small!

Shoulder Bag!

Nine days left! It's snowing in Bend right now so I'm even more excited to be in what looks to be real spring weather in Italy (50s-60s at least!). I'm imagining some chilly, rainy days, but those can be museum and coffee shop (or "bars" as they are called in Italy) days. But I am hoping for a some warm spring days, especially when we are at Cinque Terre and Sorrento.

For those who understand the pleasure of such things, I did find a shoulder bag (see top left): it's a PacSafe City 200. So far, I've been using it for 2 weeks and it seems to be comfortable (but we did have to add a shoulder pad to it).

And yes, we have figured out what to bring AND that it fits nicely (rolled and packed into 2 quart plastic ziploc bags with the air pushed out) into both our backpacks. I'll post those pictures another day.

Folks have been sending me restaurant recommendations: Jeanne says we should go to Da Ignacia in Venice, and Hilary says we need to go to Mimmi's in Florence. Katey gave me a list of places to eat at in Florence, her favorite gelato and sub sandwich shops! And I hear that the Pane Forte is yummy in Florence, too. Gary says to look for Umbertos in Sorrento. Send me more recommendations!

What to pack?

In one month classes and finals will be finished and I'll have 5-6 weeks to work on my online summer school class, start working on my actual sabbatical projects, and, most importantly, begin obsessing about what to pack for Italy.

Rick Steves' website (http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/tips_menu.htm) has lots of advice on what to pack and packing light. And I think I can manage packing as if going away for 5 days rather than nearly 30 days. My problem is choosing which 2 shirts, 2 pants, 2 shoes, 1 skirt, etc to bring!

Right now I'm looking for the following--if anyone has any advice please post a comment:

1. black capris (washable, comfortable, wrinkle free, slimming but not too tight, for hiking and for dining)

2. a shoulder bag (yes, I have a day pack, but I'd rather not look too much like a tourist while we are walking around cities, so a should bag that looks nice enough for a dinner in Florence, but not too nice that I can't walk for hours with it).

3. a travel vest, very lightweight, but with internal zippered pockets to hold essentials. Must be black or dark colored and not look like I'm going flyfishing....

I THINK I have good shoe options with my dressy and casual Keens (and Teva sandals, though I'm aware that is one extra pair of shoes I may not want to carry)....

More on packing obsessions in April (unless I find the perfect item first!)