Packing for Mazatlan

I'll be in Mexico on the beach for 6 nights. Here's what I'm packing in my suitcase (which will probably carry on):

1. 8 underwear, 3 white socks
   
2. 4 nice short sleeve shirts
3. 1 long sleeve shirt
   
4. 4 t-shirts
5. 3 shorts
6. 1 khakis
7. tevas
8. prescription goggles
9. light jacket (probably won't be needed in late June!)
10. beach towel
11. 2 bathing suit
12. 3 books
13. toiletries (travel toothbrush, paste, deodorant, hair brush, 1 razor, shaving cream)

Here is what is in my fanny back-pack

1. medicine
2. prescription sun-glasses
3. 1 science fiction novels
4. digital camera & charger
5. passport
6. 1 hat
   

And here is what I will wear on the plane:

1. sneakers
2. linen pants
   
3. short-sleeve shirt

Ski Trip

I'm going on a 3 day (2 ski days) ski trip. Here's my packing list (I'll need something like it next month).

• ski jacket (and hood)
  
• hat
  
• 2X ski gloves (they can get wet halfway through the day)
  
• 4 pairs underwear
  
• black sweat pants
  
• pajamas
  
• 2X ski socks
  
• boots, poles, skiis
  
• 1 wool sweater
  
• long and short sleeve fleece (depends on temperature)
  
• ski goggles
  
• jeans
  
• 3 t-shirts
  
• medicine
  
• other toiletries
  
• money
  
• directions and phone numbers
  
• cell phone plus charger
  
• wicking long underwear (top and bottoms)
  
• perscription sunglasses
  
• ski-mask
  
• ski pants
  

Back From Philly

Had to fly through JFK and since it was the Sunday after Thanksgiving, I had a pretty long layover. What got me though was that all of the food places just closed up even though they had extra patrons that night.

I need my own jet.

Traveled Last Night to Philly

I'm home visiting my Mom for Thanksgiving.

I flew on a Delta commuter flight. Even though it was small, it was nice to be able to check my bag at the plane and get it when I got off (since Philly doesn't exactly have the quickest baggage handlers).

Where to now

I have to start thinking about a winter vacation. Besides a ski trip, this year I'd like to get some sun and salt water. Maybe South America?

Some Ideas on Packing Right

Obviously one of the most important activities when planning for a trip is to pack the right items. In an effort to reduce the amount of luggage I needed to bring on my last trip to Europe (went to Italy's Almalfi Coast, Greece's islands Mykonos and Santorini, as well as Istanbul, Turkey), I didn't pack everything I needed.

Not having a long sleeved shirt or a jacket proved to be a big problem and a pair of black sox and a pair of black shoes would have been nice (I should have left my brown shoes at home).

Previously when I traveled, I would pull out my last packing list and make small modifications to it and then mark down each item as I finally put it in the suitcase or my backpack. This way obvious things like your cell phone travel charger, digital camera/charger, ipod stuff, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc., all end up in your bag.

I was by keeping these lists and noticing how much clean clothes that I had at the end of the trip that I got the smart idea of trying to minimize the amount of stuff I would carry with my to Europe. Whereas my last trip to asia I packed one of the large size suitcases, this time I packed a bag that could be carried on the plane (though I checked bags anyways, so it didn't really help me travel more easily anyways).

Anyways, my tip is to make a template for various kinds of trips and then use that as a start for your next trip so that you don't forget something important, like a jacket. I think I will require at least four templates: business trip, summer/beach trip, ski trip, and family trip (visiting my mom or brother).

I'll post some templates later.

Visting California

Hey world. I just went to one of my favorite burrito places in San Mateo, CA. It's called Pancho Villa.