Packing
I hate packing. I always think I'm taking too many shirts (shoes, socks, whatever)... or maybe too few... or maybe not the right kind... and I must be forgetting something...
This year I decided to get expert help from the Rick Steves website. Steves is a traveler and guidebook writer whose advice we've followed on several trips. His claim to fame is a series called " ... Through the Back Door", as in "Europe Through the Back Door," "London Through the Back Door," etc. He looks for inexpensive and interesting places a bit off the beaten path. I'd highly recommend Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2008
But meanwhile, back on the website Rick has a very helpful and comprehensive packing list, which I printed out and kept in front of me as I pulled things out of closets and drawers. This guy travels with just a backpack three months every year, so he knows a lot better than I what you need. I worked my way down the list, and I'm just about finished packing now. I'm pretty sure I've got (mostly) the right stuff. Tomorrow I leave for Amsterdam.
After a few days in Amsterdam we'll be visiting with friends in Germany for nearly a week, then on to the Swiss Alps.
The last time we visited Switzerland we followed Rick's suggestions of what to do and where to stay and had a great time. This year we're following a similar itinerary but will stay in different places, including the Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald, literally perched on the side of a mountain with fabulous views. We hiked past it in our previous visit and swore we'd stay there if we ever came back. The picture from their website shows exactly how I remember the path leading downhill from the hostel. And the fact that they've added an outdoor hot tub is just icing on the cake!
Our last stop in Switzerland is near Lausanne where a friend has a chalet in the mountains. Gotta like that!
I'm not taking a computer, so won't update this website until I get home. Be patient. The pictures and stories will be worth the wait. Look for new stuff on the trip around the first week in August.
Top |
|
