What am I bringing to Europe?

May 10th, 2010

So the second most popular question everyone keeps asking me is what the hell does one bring on a 70 day solo backpacking trip? Well, from what I’ve gathered from extensive research, AS LITTLE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE! So not only did I want to bring a light load due to my bad back, I wanted to keep it limited to just one bag, which weighs less than 30 lbs so I can carry it on to planes (they are more strict on the small, intercontinental flights I’ll be taking over there). So here is a comprehensive list of my life-line for the next 2.5 months:

• My totally awesome convertible Rick Steves suitcase/backpack with a hand sewn Gator patch that I painstakingly stitched on myself
• One pair of sneakers, one pair of sandals
• 5 T-shirts, one casual button down for formal places like the Vatican, 2 pairs of khaki shorts, one pair of long khakis, 5 pairs of boxers and socks, belt and one pair of board shorts
• 3 locks (padlock for lockers, bag lock to ensure no one can get into the bag, and a bike lock so I can lock it to the rack on long train rides)
• Waterproof flashlight
• Water bottle with built in filtration system so I don’t contract Montezuma’s Revenge again
• Money belt with plane tickets, rail pass, credit cards, international student ID card, passport, cash, and important phone numbers
• 2 guide books that I cut up and rebound together with only the sections that pertain to my trip and a pocket sized French, Italian and German phrase book
• Laptop, extended battery, chargers, and European socket converter plug
• Sleep sack for filthy hostel beds (like a very light sleeping bag)
• Totally sweet Eddie Bauer foldable day pack (Thanks Dad!)
• Cheap-o wrist watch which will hopefully wake me up every morning
• Hanging toiletries bag with shaving mirror, filled with ~1 months worth of toiletries, razors, nail clippers, toothbrush, etc.
• Eye mask, ear plugs, and neck pillow for long train rides
• Elastic clothesline, bar of detergent soap and a drain plug for doing my own laundry in hostel bathroom sinks
• Florida postcards to give as gifts to my couchsurfing hosts
• Duct tape
• Prescription muscle relaxers and vicodin in case the herniated disk in my back flares up again and I can’t get to a doctor
• Sewing kit
• Quick-drying camping towel
• Small notepad and pens for making quick notes and writing down names, etc.
• Poncho
• Mp3 player with extra headphones
• Cheap binoculars that I will likely lose on the first day of sightseeing
• Gator hat, Phillies hat, 3 bandanas
• Bill fold/coin holder
• Disinfectant wipes for those hostels that have showers that are too gross to step foot into
• Small American flag to leave at the American cemetery in Bayeaux (near the Normandy beaches)
• Sunglasses
• Photos taken with my new Casio Elixim waterproof, shockproof, drunk Batty proof camera with 8 gig memory card, mini tripod to take pictures of myself (since I’ll be alone!) and a carabiner to clip it to my shorts so it doesn’t get pick pocketed

And here is my bag totally packed and ready to rock! Only weighs 28 lbs! LETS DO THIS!