We have now settled into an apartment for our three week stay in Barcelona, a week of which has already passed. We are staying in an old historic apartment building with a beautiful lift that is over 100 years old. We’ve gotten used to the different ways things work including doors/locks, lights/outlets, faucets, dishwashers, microwaves, washing/drying machine, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, etc. so are off and running. Barcelona is a beautiful historical city I will tell you more about in my next article.
I think I wrote about this subject before but it bears repeating for older readers who are dreaming about taking off for parts unknown themselves. It’s said that aging isn’t for sissies, well neither is travel at this age. The first challenge is proper packing which I suggest include one larger checked bag and one medium sized carry on messenger bag or backpack that includes a small purse. The biggest challenge I have is staying below the 50 pound weight limit with all the clothes and accoutrements I pack in what I refer to as my hard sided coffin. I have yet to find the sweet spot for packing just enough and not too much. Another challenge is leaving enough room and pounds available to acquire a few things to return home with without breaking the scale because excess weight is expensive. Just ask my friend who got tangled up with an olive vendor in the Vienna market and ended up with 10 plus pounds of vacuum packed Spanish olives to somehow cram into her checked bag without paying for extra weight or straining her back/neck by lugging around a heavy carry-on. I can’t wait to hear how this saga ended.
With regard to your carry-on bag only take one, I repeat…only ONE, if you don’t want to be mad and miserable by the time you board the plane. I am constantly trying to edit what goes into this bag so it is not overflowing yet has everything I might need during my flight and a day of travel in case my baggage gets lost. Make sure both pieces of luggage are in good shape so you aren’t struggling with your bags or worse yet need to replace bags during your travels. Although, there is lots of eye candy out there in the world of luggage and bags to gaze upon as you walk city streets.
City excursions require preparation and management of multiple variables as follows:
-Traveling during shoulder season requires layering options so pack accordingly. Mistakes can still be made; I packed a sweatshirt zip up jacket that was not necessary with temperatures and humidity levels higher than anticipated. My light weight rain resistant jacket is the most versatile item I pack. With heavy rain I can still get wet so duck into a café or museum until the rain subsides.
-Pack high quality broken in walking shoes, preferably two pairs for variety and rotation. I got some custom made orthotics for this trip and have benefitted greatly.
-Make sure you are properly nourished or you will be drooling in front of every bakery window.
-Drink plenty of water before, during and after your excursion to prevent dehydration.
-Manage your bladder by using the restroom before you head out and at every opportunity along the way. When nature calls, speak up or take action early as it may take a while to locate the nearest WC and have your coins ready as you need to pay for bathrooms use in Europe. I don’t have it in me to talk about bowel movement management but you know the drill.
-Pack a small front oriented purse/bag when touring and take water, ibuprofen, cough drops, tissues, band aids, chap-stick, sunscreen, a hat and anything else you might require along the way.
-Pace yourself or you will be a hurting pup by the end of the day and may lose the following day recovering. This year’s 200 minute weekly movement goal was not enough to successfully take on 200 minutes plus a day walking as I launched into our travels and my lower back, hips, legs and feet spoke up accordingly. After three weeks, my body is reconditioned and I am hurting less; maybe I am also doing a better job of taking more frequent breaks during the day. Remember you won’t always have ice or heat to take the edge off as you might at home. In addition to anti-inflammatories, I suggest you bring muscle relaxers, pain medication and icy-hot to treat any possible infirmities that emerge during your travels.
Finally, mind your mental health so you don’t flame out. This means getting proper sleep, doing your research for excursions, setting realistic expectations and maintaining proper boundaries with your travel companions all of which will set you up for successful travel. We have two weeks left and I am optimistic the trip will physically end better than it started. Cheers to your future travel adventures!