Inside My Pack: South America

 The itinerary: 9 days total spent in Peru and 9 days in Bolivia, just prior to the onset of the rainy season; late September into early October.

I did so much research prior to take off, consulting the weather of the various cities I was to visit and still I struggled with figuring out what exactly to pack.

In the end, I realized I was putting too much stress on myself as to what I was putting in my suitcase, when really there was no need. If I forgot anything or required warmer clothing, I could easily buy items in the larger city centres I was traveling to.

Once I made that realization, it all became a lot easier and I was able to start packing. I kept a neutral colour pallet in mind (so things could be mixed and matched), the weather (so I would be comfortable), and my desire to keep things limited to the space available in my carryon bag (so I wouldn't have to lug around a huge suitcase).

Here's what I packed.

In my suitcase (which is a carry-on)

3 trousers
1 leggings*
3 tank tops**
1 windbreaker
6 shirts (most short sleeved or 3/4 lenth)
1 pashmina
1 sweatshirt
2 long sleeved shirts
1 spring coat
1 swimsuit
1 wool headband and gloves
1 warm pjs
1 small purse
1 fold up reusable bag
2 travel towels (one bath and one face)
travel laundry liquid
3 pairs of shoes: flip flops, slip ons***, and hiking shoes

*I ended up only wearing these once and really didn't need them.
**could have done with one less tank top, as I only wore two of them. The sun was piercing and the culture modest, I solely wore them as undershirts.
***Do over: I'd switch these out to some sneakers. 

Toiletries 
toilet paper*
facial cloths**
shampoo and conditioner
toothbrush and paste
sunscreen
face cream with SPF
foundation with SPF and other make up
chap stick with SPF
wet wipes
deodorant
razor
shower gel
hand sanitizer
bug repellent
band-aids
mini first-aid kit
medications: anti-nausea pills, anti-diarrhea pills, antibiotic ointment, chewable antacid, and Ibuprofen, after bite cream, altitude pills***

*Don't skip this one. Find the room in your bag no matter what. It's first on the list for a reason. I brought a whole roll. Smushed it down and removed the cardboard centre to save a bit of space. Used the whole roll over the course of the trip. Handy for loo visits, and shared with a friend.
**I had dry ones that require a bit of water for lather, however, I would recommend wet ones as I didn't always have access to water when washing up.
***Got a perscription from my doctor before leaving, but I'm told this can be picked up in country easily enough. 

small backpack* 
snacks; 4 cliff bars and 4 fruit bars
head lamp
sunglasses
lock
money belt
Soles and American Dollars**
warm socks
sleep mask
ear plugs
inflatable pillow
clear bag for liquids at security***
a good book/magazine
phone and charger
ear phones
travel journal and pencils
Spanish/English dictionary book
passport with copies
water bottle

*In this I packed the items that I'd want to have close at hand while flying
**I also required Bolivianos but didn't get any until I was in Peru.
***Pro tip! When doing international travel pre-pack your carry on liquids (all under 100ml) into an airport appropriate baggie and keep at the ready for a quicker security check. No hassel, no fuss, no muss. 

While visiting Peru and Bolivia I noticed a lot of people wearing traditional dress and others wearing western casual clothing. I didn't see  too many people dressed up or even all that dressy. Bringing clothes for a night out on the town would have been very out of place. The tourists, I noted were wearing activewear and comfortable walking shoes. These are not the streets of Paris.

Locals also know how piercing the sun can be in these parts. They are completely covered. Wearing long sleeves, hats and pants even in the heat of the day. Take their lead and cover up exposed skin and don't forget the sunscreen if you do happen to be caught with your elbows out.

I hope that is helpful to someone out there stressing about what and how to pack for there trip to South America.

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

What to do When You're Not Having Fun Travelling

Bad Weather

Bad weather can cause a smile to waver and a mood to shift downward. Here you had such big plans for your trip and along comes the heavy clouds and cold winds to take it all away. But just like the US Postal service motto says 'neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night' should keep you from getting out there and exploring you city of choice. If it's raining, fight the #rainitis and get out there, just like Emma of Adventures of a London Kiwi who discovered how lovely Winchester could be even with a little drizzle.
Likewise don't let the cold stop you. Travelling in off seasons could mean less tourists and generally cheaper costs. So bundle up and book that winter vacation. Here are some tips for surviving a cold city break.

Bad Mood

Give your head a shake! What's the matter with you? You're on holiday! You're travelling! Still in a foul temper? Let's figure this out together with some self reflection. What's the reason for this poor humour? Are you hangry? Are little things not going your way? Where things not planned properly? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?
Now let's find a solution: eat a snack, take a break, do some ground research, shake it off. Seriously, you are travelling, this is an amazing opportunity you have here. Indulge for a moment in a teeny tiny hissy fit, then suck it up, buttercup and move on.

Bad Travel Buddy
Maybe your travel personas are not syncing up. Maybe they've woken up on the wrong side of the bed, Maybe this is your first trip together and you're discovering you aren't great travel partners. 

Whatever the reason, take a little break from each other. Some alone time might help reset moods and when you come back together, forget the past and start fresh from there. 

Bad Money (just trying to keep with the theme. I know, I'm sorry)
You've arrived to a place and discovered that it's a whole heck of a lot more expensive than you had anticipated. Don't let this get you down, there is still plenty you can do to enjoy the city on the cheap. You can pick and choose what you spend your money on and find free or cheap things to do in your area, but really some travel experiences are worth it.

With the exception of actually something terribly bad happening, nothing is so awful that you can't find some enjoyment. Not every city is going to be THE. BEST. EVER. But trying to not be a complete grump about it will mean a better time for you and any and all travel buddies. Now let's turn that frown upside down!

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

Pre-Travel Safety Tips

As I announced last week I have some upcoming travel plans in the works. So this week I thought it would be good to go over some pre-travel safety tips, if anyone is like me and has a love/hate relationship with the planning stage (I only want to focus on the fun bits like what food I'm going to try there or what things I'm going to see, and just hope that the nitty-gritty details just work themselves out)

1) Get insurance

This is boring, but as the old adage says, it's better to be safe than sorry. No one wants to get caught out, especially while away from home. So just suck it up, buttercup and buy yourself some insurance that includes medical and cancellation. Some credit cards have this part of your policy, so look into it. It's cheaper and easier to get than you might think. 

2) Look into visas

Being Canadian I often just assume a visa isn't required for my travel destinations and this is more times than not a correct thought, but how much would that suck to arrive some place just to be truned back because I didn't do the research before hand. 

Some places may not require a visa, but might require specific immuniations to enter the country, so look into that too.

3) Write down your itinerary

Even if it's just a loose idea of where you will be when, it's a good idea to write this info down. 

4) Share it with someone

Now, with that itinerary you wrote down? Share that with a family member or friend not going on the trip with you. If something were to happen, someone at home would know where you should be and possibly how to get a hold of you if needed.

5) Get mail picked up/stopped/checked

This could be the same family member/friend as above. Ask them nicely to checkup on your place once in a while and collect any mail/flyers/newspapers on your doorstep.  

6) Tell bank

As I mention in this month's travel link up post: Money tips whilst traveling, tell your bank where exactly you will be going and for how long. This protects yourself against if fraudulent activity were to occur at home or as a result of your trip.

Want more pre-travel safety tips? Check out Simplisafe's fun pre-vacation checklist infographic below, created specially to be shared with dear readers like you. Simplisafe is a wireless security system that helps protect your home whilst you'er away. You can also check out their blog post about ensuring your home is safe while travelling internationally. 

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

Link Up: Lessons Learned About Money While Traveling

This month's travel link up is all about lessons learned while travelling which happened to be perfectly timed with a conversation I had with my mother the other day. As I begin to plan for my next big trip (details to come), she and I were discussing things I'd need to remember before boarding a plane. One of those very important thing to remember was taking out local currency, which lead to the following tips and suggestions that I'm sharing with you lucky, shiny folks.

Take out local currency before you leave

It doesn't have to last for your entire trip, but should be good for the first few major expenses of settling into your destination.

Get small bills
Large denominations will be harder to get change for in smaller towns you might be visiting. This is inclusive of Italy. While traveling through Tuscany I remember the dirty looks I got from shop owners when I paid for smaller items with a 20 Euro note.

Tell Your Bank

Call up your bank and credit card provider and let them know you will be travelling (for how long and where to). If there is any fraudulent activity on your card while you're away or when you return it might be easier to prove it wasn't you. And reversely, they might think the sudden charges in Timbuktu are suspicious activity and cancel your card on you.

Don't Accept Torn Notes

Not from anywhere. This was an issue we came across in Vietnam. The banks don't accept torn or written on bills, so therefore vendors don't accept torn or written on bills, but they might try to stick you with it. If someone tries to give you questionable money you can always ask for a different one.

Have Cash on you

Credit cards are often not accepted especially is smaller towns, this includes accommodation. Check ahead of time with where you're staying.

At the beginning of each month, I like to take part in the monthly travel link up hosted on the incredible blogs by Angie, Jessi, Emma,  and this month's special host Nano. You can join in too by leaving a comment below, checking out other posts on the link up, or adding your own post to the widget now until August 7th.

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

What to Expect When Visiting Edinburgh

Sometimes visiting a new place can be a bit overwhelming, you might experience some major culture shock, language barriers, and even homesickness. But fear not! Go ahead and plan that trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, I got you covered boo!

Expect Wind
It will whip and whirl around you, not a hair will stay in place. Accept it and style it out.

Expect to spend a lot of time on the Royal Mile
You got the castle at one end and Holyroodhouse on the other and so many wonderful things in between from museums to pubs. And if it's not on the mile, it's not too far off it.

Expect to find good food
We found a great Thai place one night when wandering, we had an excellent lunch in a museum cafe, and many perfect pints in interesting pubs. The food is good.

Expect to want to try haggis and deep fried mars bar and 
Spoiler alert, they're good.

Expect  to like it
Yeah. Like seriously. Don't be scared.

Expect  there to be Scotch drinks
You don't have to like it yourself, but respect the heritage this golden spirit has in this county.

Expect  tourists 
They will be everywhere, doing all the things you are doing. Accept it and deal. You are in an awesome city that's big enough and cool enough to share.

Most importantly expect to have an amazing time in Edinburgh. It's a glorious city with much to see and do.

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

How to be an Expat Returned

On this day, one year ago, I was on a plane returning to the Great White North. A few days after landing I tried to express some of the feels. A couple months later I wrote a sort of love letter to London and then made a decision to be positive about my return. I still have a ton of feels about my return to Canada, but I feel like I'm coping a bit better. If you are an expat about to transition into being an ex-expat after a long period abroad, here's a how to:

1.No stuff. Make do.

 If you were like me, before heading abroad gave/trashed/traded/stored all the knickknacks and stuff that made up my worldly possessions, only taking with me essentials and minimal clothes. Returning home means, most of those things are long gone. But it's just stuff, and you've survived without it so far. Take a moment to lament the old stuff and then remember all the things you were able to do because you let go of that stuff to travel and then smile because you're awesome.

2.Keep in touch

 I hung on to my UK number for an embarrassingly long time. It was my wireless cord to my friends abroad. But really, I needn't have stressed, we live in an amazing time of technology. Now there's an app of your choice to stay in contact with friends all over the world without spending a cent. What's App is a favourite in Europe, not as common with my North American friends I've discovered though. But there are a whole bunch more, not to mention social media helps me feel part of my friends lives even when I'm a great distance away.

It's okay to remember the past, just don't get stuck there. These can be life long friends with a little work on both your parts.

3.Seek the fun

 One of my favouite parts about living in London was all the activities that were happening everyday. Returning home I've had to make a conscience effort to say yes to adventure but it has helped me with enjoying being back home. Nothing's going to be like it was in London, but I'm certainly going to seek out the fun.

Keeping busy keeps away the 'expat returned' blues, especially in the beginning.

4.Make connections

 Join a group of some sort, find a job, volunteer for your community, make friends. Making these kinds of connections will make you feel part of a bigger group. Staying home and binge-watching all the American shows you missed out on while away is fine enough to do every once in a while but feeling connected to your community helps you feel important and that you have a purpose. You're awesome, you need to share that awesomeness around!

5.Dogs make life better

 This is a general life rule. Dogs are great. Mine is the best. Occasionally the "expat returned" blues will sneak up on you even with doing the above things, but it's nothing a good dog cuddle can't cure.

24 hours in Montreal? Here's What I Would Do

When traveling to Montreal I did a bit of research about things to do in the city. I came across extensive lists of jampacked holidays over a 24, 26, 72 hour period. PHEW! I was tired after just reading them nevermind actually doing anything. 

We gave ourselves a pep talk, tied our shoes tight and went out to explore the city. Here's how I spent my

Arrive late on the day before, exhausted from your travels and glamourous train picnic and head straight to your accommodation. Maybe head to the nearest pub and just enjoy mixing with the locals/fellow tourists and worry about exploring your surroundings tomorrow.

11:00

Leisurely breakfast at a hole-in-the-wall diner called Moe's-Casse-Croute-du-Coin

12:00

Pass by the rich and wealthy homes of the Mount Royal neighbourhood as you make your way up the steep incline to St. Joseph's Oratory.

13:30

Head across the crest through Summit Woods to Mount Royal. There might have been an easier route to get there, but we were afraid of going too far down hill and bypassing it. Seriously, it was very steep and we just couldn't face the possibility of having to backtrack up it.

14:00

Enjoy the view from Mount Royal Chalet and do some people watching.

14:30

On your decent stop for a much needed ice lollie break, because if you're like me, you won't have any water with you and your feet will have started to blister from the heat of the day.

16:00

Walk along Boulevard St-Laurent for a bit, then take one of the small cross streets heading to Rue St-Denis. Good for window shopping and again people watching. You can stop at a cafe here.

We continued walking down Rue St-Denis to Chinatown and came across a few pedestrian streets and a festival. If walking isn't your thing, you can always jump on the Metro. I enjoy the walking though, you just never know what you're going to come across.

17:00

Old Montreal is my favourite bit on all of Montreal. It's oldie worldie feeling with cobbled streets, a main square where buskers perform and lots of patios in the summertime. Definitely a gathering place that very much reminded me of supper-ing and spending an evening out in squares in Europe. 

18:00

We walked along the shoreline checking out the happenings of the very active ports and marinas before heading back to the cobbled streets of Old Montreal for dinner.

19:00pm

After dinner, the evening was spent moving from every restaurant, pub,  and cafe that we liked the look of with a patio or rooftop bar.

We did a LOT of walking this day, but really didn't get up to much except observe the city and get a taste of its essence.  We made sure we got that essence all over ourselves, never to forget our short time in this lovely city.

10 Festive Things to do this Holiday

I'm a big fan of this time of year. Huge. The biggest! Here's a random list of my favourite things to do at this time of year. 

1. Drink the hot drinks
Whether it's a mulled beverage, a hot apple cider, or a festive drink from the local Starbucks, a hot drink is a must at this time of year. I really do think that the sprinkle of cinnamon, ginger, or other miscellaneous spice amps up the holiday spirit.

2. Sing Christmas carols
Either sung at the top of your voice, solo, in a crowd or simply hummed in your head, you can't escape them. But I can't understand why you would want to. If you tend to be a Grinch about this type of music at this time of year, suck it up, it will be over with in 17 days.

3. Walk in a gentle snowfall
Especially after sunset. On nights when it begins to come down in giant clumps of flakes, the air is still and the sky glows a soft orange light. The world has never been more peaceful and glittery than at that moment. It seriously is the best. Bundle up and get out there.

5. Warming cuddles
It's chilly out there. Find someone to share sweet cuddles with. It makes the cold air that much more bearable.

5. Eating
I generally enjoy eating all the time, but at this time of year I particularly love the festive foods. Mince pies, gingerbread cookies, turkey and stuffing, hot apple cider, mulled wine, eggnog, I could go on and on and on...

6. Taking a tour of the Christmas lights
When I was little we would drive around the neighbourhoods oohing and ahhhing at the decorated houses. I particularly liked it when we went further afield and checked out the store windows at the big downtown department stores. When I moved to London, Oxford Street, Regents Street, Carnaby, and Marylebone Street became my favourite destinations to checkout the displays. I highly recommend doing this.

7. Being with loved ones
My immediate family is quite small, being an only child, but both my parents have oodles of siblings and therefore I have oodles of cousins. I immensely look forward to getting together each year and catching up. The numbers have dwindled slightly over time, but I do still look forward to it.

8. Sit on Santa's knee
I don't care how old you are, it's always fun to make a Christmas wish and if you can do it directly to the fat man himself, even better! Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

9. Giving 
Getting presents are great, but even better than that is giving. I'm always broke so this time of year usually requires me to get creative with my giving, but I find the more thoughtful the give the more it's appreciated. And in return you get the warm and fuzzies, so you are actually always getting something. Win win for you.

10. Christmas Markets!!!
I might have mentioned once or twice that I enjoy partaking in Christmas market festivities. If you haven't been to one yet, you are missing out. Right now, drop what you are doing and head to your closest market; sing the carols, drink the hot drink, eat the market food, and cuddle someone...even if it has to be a stranger. You'll thank me. 

Christmas'd out yet? No? Check out Adventures of a London Kiwi's list of 10 things to do in London this holiday season. 

Don't miss a post! 

Sign up for email posts (found on the sidebar), like my facebook page, or follow me on bloglovin'. You can also keep up with my instagram feed and I occasionally tweet.

Let's get social

How to Survive Visiting an Expensive City

Right before we left for Denmark, someone offhandedly mentioned that Scandinavian countries are uber expensive. I took note of this but honestly thought, I'm sure it's not that bad. I was wrong. London is an expensive city to live in, but imagine all the low end, cheap restaurants disappeared and all you were left with was the special occasion, fancy restaurants for 3 meals a day. That was what I found Copenhagen to be like. Not extortionate, but high enough to make a dent in the budget fast.  We quickly regrouped and found ways for some cost cutting corners. 

1. Look up free things to do

One of my favourite things about London is that many of the popular museums are free to visit, this usually isn't the case on the continent. However, I was pleased to discover there were several free things to see and do. Meaning we weren't forced to hand over our precious fortunes to visit or to just stand at the gate peering in. 

In Copenhagen we visited the Postal and Tele Museum (trust me, it was fantastic!), the Christianborg Palace Tower, Frilandsmuseet (historic village museum, again it was good, trust me), and one of the many beautiful parks.

Being a DJ at the Postal and Tele Museum

View from Christianborg Palace Tower

Clog maker at the Frilandsmuseet

2. Picnic alfresco when possible

This is harder to do with big meals or if you have to prepare too much, but making a visit to the local grocery store means a relatively cheap and healthy meal while enjoying the sun and fresh air. We were lucky enough to have a grocery store and beautiful park close to our hostel.

3. Head off the beaten track (walk vs. public transportation)

While traveling there is nothing more satisfying than mastering the local public transportation system. That said, however, you just can't see as much than when on foot. I love exploring my local neighbourhood when I arrive some place new. You are guaranteed to be tired after a full day of walking, but that probably means sleeping well no matter what kind of condition your bed for the night is.

4. Choose what to spend money on

It's impossible to not spend any money while traveling no matter how frugal, but seriously, where is the fun in that? If you consider the things you are spending your precious pounds on it will make them seem that much more special and valuable. Sacrifices might have to be made, but if it's something you've been dreaming about then it would not be a waste. 

Taking a canal boat tour was a great way to see the city

The Round Tower was expensive and I preferred it to the Christianborg Tower

5. Sharing is caring

We could not afford to stay anyway nice or private in this very pricey city. Even the hostel was more than I'd usually like to pay. We eventually found a 6 person shared room in a hostel close to the centre. The Generator Copenhagen was the best hostel I've ever been in with a shared room. I would definitely recommend it and stay there again. (Not a sponsored post!)

Fun travels!