counting down

Things I just bought for Athens:

• little red suitcase
  
• big red suitcase
• SPF 50 lotion for weekends on the islands
  
• SPF 30 spray for days in the city
• cute dress
• navy blue strappy espadrille wedges
• black summer pumps
  

Things I need to buy for Athens:

• space bags
• battery for travel clock
• compact hair brush
• loofah
• new turbie twist
• new tennis shoe insoles
• travel toilet paper
• after sun gel
• extra camera battery 

My packing plan

Big suitcase:

• clothes
• shoes
• pillow
  

Little suitcase:

• toiletries
• food (brownie mix, muffin mix, lipton rice sides, mac & cheese)
  
• towels (1 beach, 1 regular, 1 face, turbie twist)
  
• books
• collapsable tote
• down throw
  

Backpack: 

• laptop
  
• moleskine journal
  
• 1 book, probably the Colossus of Maroussi
  
• Stewart
  
• purse stuff
  
• travel toiletry case w/necessities & prescriptions
  
• 1 change of clothes, 1 pair pajamas, 1 bathing suit
  
• travel pillow and blanket
  
• all electrical cords & gadgets (I learned that lesson last summer...stupid Delta)

On the third go around, I think I've finally figured out the perfect combination of stuff to take and how to take it. 

My brilliant solution to the problem of having lots of extra stuff to bring back as the result of summer shopping, is to take one whole suitcase of stuff that I will then throw away before I leave Athens.  So my little 21 inch suitcase will be empty when it's time to go back, the toiletries will be used up, the food will be eaten, and the towels are already old and gross so I don't mind throwing them away. 

I also learned from last year's mistake of taking too many clothes, so I've narrowed it down to this: 3 jersey skirts, one long skirt, 1 dress, 3 bathing suits, a handful of tank tops, 2 or 3 short sleeve shirts, 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of gauchos and 1 or 2 pairs of shorts.  All of this will be crammed into space bags, of course.  Shoes have been narrowed down to my european adidas, my new espadrilles, and black summer pumps.  On the plane, I'll probably wear my long brown gauchos, a short sleeve shirt, and a hoodie with my greek sandals. 

My backpack will be my only carry-on, so that I can use my collapsable tote on the way back should I need to, and I've learned that it's better to be safe than sorry and pack an extra set of clothes in my carry-on, just in case.  I also learned last year that airlines do not hold themselves responsible for the loss of any type of electrical cord or plug...not sure why, but they don't.  So they will all be safely tucked away in my backpack.

I've also devised the perfect combination of stuff to ensure that I actually get some sleep on the flight over...Airborne Nighttime, Tylenol PM, a playlist of classical music, heavy duty ear plugs, and staying up ridiculously late the night before.  I'm determined to sleep more than an hour this year.  Also, there will be no talking to whatever creepy person inevitably ends up sitting next to me...I'll fake a contagious disease if I have to.

I arrive in exactly one month...I can't wait. 

~RLM