Backpacking 101

My lovely familia in Cinque Terre, Italy (June 2013)

187 days ago, I returned from a life-changing backpacking trek through Europe with my family. As hectic and crazy and way too short as it was, this was by far the most amazing trip I've ever taken and the best time I've ever spent with my family. 

Initially I was not 100% on board with the whole backpacking idea and spending 12 days living out of a minuscule pack that I had to cart around everywhere. You see I'm that girl you spot in the airport dragging multiple overstuffed bags behind her, a pair of rain boots that didn't fit in one hand, passport/wallet/keys in the other, and 2 pairs of sunglasses perched on her forehead. I am a walking, talking, textbook case of the overpacker. (See, I was a Girl Scout for 2 weeks so I take being prepared pretty seriously.) Needless to say, packing up 2 weeks of my life in a backpack was something of a challenge for me. However, despite my desire to stuff as much into my pack as possible and disregard my own personal good sense to not pack those giant 5 inch wedges that took up so much precious space (yet, I packed them anyway), I did, in fact, make some very good packing choices. 

The Herschel Little America Backpack
(from herschelsupply.com)

So here are my recommendations to anyone planning a short backpacking adventure. Trust me, they'll serve you well! 

1. a sturdy backpack: This here was mine- the Herschel Little America backpack. While perhaps not ideal for a more outdoorsy trip, my Herschel pack was perfect for the extensive train travel and almost constant moving around we did. Super roomy, stylish, extremely comfy shoulder straps, and made in America- what more could you want in a backpack?! 

The Totes mini umbrella
(from totes-isotoner.com)

2. a teeny, tiny umbrella: I got mine from Totes, but any small, compact, sturdy umbrella is a marvelous traveling companion. Small enough to fit into your bag or pocket, I was immediately grateful I packed this when, on Day 1, we waited outside the Musee d'Orsay for half an hour in the 40-degree Paris drizzle. Weather is unpredictable everywhere, so unless you're off to the desert, I highly recommend you bring a mini umbrella along. 

The Vapur Reflex
(from vapur.us)

3. the Vapur Reflex: Just look at this incredible water pouch! This little guy is reusable, collapsible, flattenable, eco-friendly- the ideal anti-bottle water-carrying device. It even has a handy side clip so you can strap it onto your bag or your person for even greater convenience. You can avoid purchasing pricey airport water bottles, bring it along on your hike, and then pack it away easily when you don't need it. Now I can't even imagine life without my Vapur! Highly recommended. 


4. a backpack cover: A brilliant idea by my mother, Valerie. It rained about half of our trip and the backpack cover not only keeps your clothes dry but also adds an additional layer of security against anyone trying to get their grimy paws into your pack. 

Check it out- I fit ALL THIS in my backpack
(disclaimer: I did not include the wedges. I don't recommend taking
anything so ridiculous.) 

5. a color scheme: This may seem silly or foolish BUT when you have limited space and NO LAUNDRY ACCESS, every article of clothing counts. Take a few hours, plan out your outfits and make sure you have enough to mix and match in the event of inclement weather, or the washing machine not working, or someone dropping gelato on your lap. Because that will probably happen if you are accident-prone like myself. Just look at all the stuff I fit into my backpack! I had plenty of versatile pieces, definitely a plus considering the 45 degree+ range of weather I experienced while in Europe in the spring.  



So those are my wise words of backpacking advice! Have you gone backpacking? What are your essential items for a successful trip? 

Inaugural Blogural: Welcome Aboard!

Me and my dad Bob at the Pantheon, Rome (June 2013)

Hello, and welcome to my blog! 



(By which I mean, thank you friends and family members for stopping by and being supportive today!) Anyway, it's 1am in the midst of exam week and I should absolutely be studying or sleeping, however while watching West Wing reruns, I was hit by a brilliant idea- I SHOULD START A TRAVEL BLOG. So here we are.

Nice, France (May 2013)

And who am I exactly? Well, I'm Meggy- an adventurous scholar, an avid reader, an intrepid explorer, a cuisine connoisseur...basically I'm a wanderlust-crazed college student biding my time until my next big adventure. Travel is my passion, food is my life, Harry Potter was my childhood. And this is my blog- where I shall share my adventures and experiences and aspirations and we can all talk about it together. So, why did I decide to start this blog? Well, in spite of my spontaneous decision to launch myself headfirst into the blogging world, I've been thinking about the idea for some time now, for a number of reasons, including:

Pont de l'Archevêché, Paris, France (May 2013)

1. Because I absolutely LOVE traveling (obviously) and I LOVE talking about all things travel-related. (And, this propensity to discuss travel ad nauseam has at times strained my personal relationships. For example, my dad Bob doesn't care for me interrupting his work to discuss the fjords of Norway. Luckily you're here voluntarily, so this works out perfectly for all of us.)

2. To bide my time between larger, grander adventures. Not only will I regale you with stories of distant lands, I will also check out the local scene and tell you about that too. I, as I am sure happens to others driven mad by wanderlust yet confined to one place for long periods of time, sometimes overlook the little adventures one can have close to home. I love to hate my hometown, Buffalo NY, but there are hidden gems here too. Trust me, it's not all beer and snow and chicken wings and losing sports teams (although there certainly is plenty of that to go around.) 

Glorious Florence, or in Italiano- Firenze (June 2013)

3. To quote a line from an Oscar Wilde play, "I'm so full of interesting information, I feel like the latest edition of something or other." In my 21 years I've accumulated quite the wealth of riveting information which I am just DYING to share with any interested parties. 

4. And finally, the driving force behind this blog is because approximately 6 and a half months ago, I had a life-changing adventure which truly solidified my case of wanderlust and my undying, relentless passion for travel- and I will tell you all about it in the coming weeks. 


So that's my story! I am beyond excited to jump into this next big adventure! Welcome aboard!