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Posted by Dain, Friday, May 20, 2005 2:02 AM (Eastern)
Packing for trips is always something of a quandry. Thank god, I pack light (which is a sort of gumption one must be born with). But it requires massive foresight, and a reasoned eye to judge what will be useful, and what will only hinder. Of course, there is a vast difference between, say, going home for Thanksgiving break, and going to Europe for a month. But I've some tips all the same. I will not attempt a comprehensive guide to travel (which would be a long article indeed), just a few random aphorisms and favorites, including some very expensive ones. These may seem like odd choices, until you realize that getting frazzled over traveling is entirely a state of mind. The less you worry whilst in transit, the better you'll feel about the whole ordeal.
Serve it Forth, by M.F.K Fisher: Great writing, but soothing, nothing to overwhelm the mind. Magazines are great for this, too! Other suggestions: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith, Brideshead Revisted, by Evelyn Waugh, The Once and Future King, by T.H. White, The Complete Poems (1927-1979), Elizabeth Bishop, Catch-22, by Joseph Heller. On location, I prefer something weightier and serious, i.e. something you can sit down with for an entire afternoon: Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand, The Palm at the End of the Mind, by Wallace Stevens, Foucault's Pendulum, by Umberto Eco, The Magic Mountain, by Thomas Mann, Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace, Far From the Madding Crowd, by Thomas Hardy. The perfect mix? Two of the former lightweight books (by "lightweight", I mean literally light in weight, and lighter in mood, rather than lighter in quality), and one of the latter for moments of sheer solitude.
Kneipp Herbal Bath ($17): It's a small bottle, and the rewards are vast. There's nothing like a soothing bath to relax you after you arrive at your hotel. This tints your bath water a pretty hue, and smells deliciously of some therapeutic herb or another.
Hermès Globetrotter Zip (~$760): A Hermès agenda is extravagant, to be sure, but it holds EVERYTHING paperworkish—cash, change, credit, receipts, passport, ID, a notebook in which to pen (which is the most essential of all, in my opinion), even a small map.
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock SPF 30 ($8.99): This isn't your highly modern, matte-finish, sheer, micronized formulae. Nay, this is the sort of old-fashioned creamy physical sunblock (titanium dioxide) that seem unpopular these days. But I have rather dryish, rather sensitive skin, and the scent of chemical sunscreens makes me nauseous. So this suits me, to a tee. (I warn you, this is not waterproof. But I'm not one for sun and swim, so again, I don't mind.)
Louis Vuitton Keepall 60 ($820): Vuitton luggage is hardly essential, but hell, this is a fantasy trip, innit?
Normally I loathe the monogram, but the luggage doesn't bother me at all (funny how that works), probably because no one else has it. This is chic, sturdy, large enough to accomodate "stuff", by itself alone, for two or three weeks (a month is too long of a trip, unless you're stationary), and no more. The worst thing in the world is to have too much, and this forces drastic minimalism upon you. You bring the stuff that should be brought, and a great way to schlepp it aroun'. For newly acquired purchases, I'd recommend packing a lightweight bag into your regular luggage—something easily foldable but durable enough to serve as a second piece of luggage on your trip back (Marni's gorgeous purple polka-dot print bag, anyone?).
audiovisual privacy, iPod and sunglasses: Aye, for obvious reasons. Of course, you'll want the sunglasses to hide your jetlagged eyes, bleary hangover eyes, or maybe just avoid eye contact with strangers. And an iPod, stocked with plenty of Franz Ferdinand, John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton (if you're me, anyway) will soothe away the hours spent waiting in endless terminals.
soft scarves/shawls: They're these lovely soft viscose scarves, which are wide enough to double as a shawl if you're chilly. They come in brilliant colors, and cost a mere €6. I don't know if you can find them stateside, but they're rampant in Paris (so pick one up if you happen to be there). Hmm... I can't even begin to expound on the versatility, comfort, stylishness, bargain-ness, etc., of these scarves. You'll get far more use out of these than a cardigan, and they're not as bulky.
eye mask & sleeping pills: If all else fails, you can just sleep through the damn flight: hence, the eye mask and drugs.
Picture courtesy www.eluxury.com.
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