So my numero uno travel/pack principle has stayed pretty constant over the gazillion years I’ve been on the planet. Even with increased maturity (hopefully), finances (sometimes you’re up, sometimes not), the principle is this: less is more, but only if the less includes my contacts/contact solution, coke bottle glasses as a back-up, cash/wallet, and at least one set of running clothes including my sneakers. The rest…meh, details. In my early 20’s I traveled for 4 months with an old-school gym bag (not the monstrosities of today). When I needed a change of clothes (after 3 -4 days in the current clothes), I headed to an open market wherever I was and haggled for a franc , a pound, a peseta’s worth of clothes. Time of your life kid, time of your life.
Pretty much only 1 time when I strayed from the principle and that was my honeymoon in France. I adopted the persona of Fifi LaRue…and Fifi needed lots of accoutrements. Minimum disclosure, I packed every shade of kitten heel imaginable, wore maybe one pair, maybe for 3 hours seated at dinner – no walking required. As a devotee of less is more, I defend my straying with 4 words…it was my honeymoon.
But alas Fifi appears to be making a limited reappearance. Kind of like Cat Stevens at this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction He’s gone on to be lots of other things, namely Yusuf Islam, but for a night, when he sang, man that was Cat Stevens. So don’t judge, Fifi is coming out of moth balls briefly and heading to…Italy; Rome and Como, and Monaco. I’m traveling with some of the Mr’s family and ceded considerations of “what to bring, what to wear”. There will be over-packing on full display and surely unworn clothes and shoes at trip’s end.
Don’t fret however, MC as Fifi will still assess judiciously if she has to pick demur and de-lovely over da-what-is-MC-wearing. And MC-like utilitarian clothes will make the cut. But Fifi will be full on Fifi in the following scenarios: If the Pope needs me, summons me for an audience, I will make sure my underpants are holy and not holey (here’s hoping he doesn’t care one way or the other). And If George Clooney needs me to swing by his house in Como, I promise no stained, it kind of fits t-shirt, and clunky MC-like shorts,
We leave Saturday night for a long week as I like to call it. Arrive in Rome Sunday AM for a few days, Como area/actually Bellagio for a few days, Monaco for a few days, and then a thud back to reality on Tuesday 6/17.
It’s Thursday night and my current status is freaked out. Necessary work deliverable due by tomorrow night and then switch gears for travel mode.
See attached pics for how well I’m adjusting to Fifi-ville….stay tuned.
