Packing tips for the 60+ solo female traveler

Traveling solo means there’s no one to help with the bags. What you take, you carry.

I’m trying my best to pack light when I travel. There are lots of ways to do it. By sharing some of the ways I cut down on what I carry, I’m hoping you’ll share some your packing tips with me.

Always be prepared to carry your own stuff.

That doesn’t mean you can’t look at some younger, strong-armed person standing nearby and give him your pathetic, “I’m an old lady” smile. It’s just that you can’t always count on being rescued.

Pack light.

By “pack light” I mean don’t tote a suitcase you can’t lift. Onto a moving train. By yourself.  It’s happened more times than I’d like to remember.

Most airlines allow one carry-on bag and one personal item in the cabin with you.

For your carry-on, be sure it has rollers. If you’re like me, your flight is always at the gate at the end of the terminal.

For your personal item, consider a backpack instead of a handbag. If you plan smartly, the carry-on bag and the backpack may be all you need. Then there’s no waiting for luggage at the terminal at the end of a long day.

A travel backpack is one of my most prized possessions. I bought one in Norway 10 years ago. It was made of parachute material so it was almost weightless. It stretched to hold more than you should realistically carry on your back. When not in use, it folded up into its own tiny bag.

I replaced my favorite backpack recently. The pompiers in Aigue Morte cut it off my shoulder after my fall in the street in September. I haven’t found an identical bag to replace it, but here’s one works the same.

“What to bring?”

Travel day

Washable slacks/pants. Black (or other dark/patterned), comfortable, long pants. Dark colors hide spills or mishaps which are sure to happen. You can wear them throughout your trip whether you’re dressing smart or casual. “Comfortable” is the operative word, especially for airline wear. Overseas flights, for example, can be more than 24 hours long.

Walking shoes. Traveling means you’re bound to spend a lot of time in an airport or train station. Wear comfortable shoes. Hopefully they’re the heaviest shoes you’ll be bringing along so you don’t have to pack them. You may need to take off your shoes through security checks, so be sure they’re easy to slip on and off.

A shirt with sleeves. Wear a shirt with short sleeves or with sleeves that roll up. If the shirt is a dark color or patterned (see above regarding spills) it’s perfect. The problem with long sleeves is, if you get overheated, you can’t take it off. It happens!

Lightweight jacket. When packing light, wear your travel jacket to free up suitcase space. Sometimes you may feel like you’re taking it on or off constantly, but you’ll be glad you have it. You can always use it as a pillow.

Scarf. My neck often gets cold on a train or airplane. A scarf not only guards against a chill, it’ s stylish. Some of my friends travel wearing a comfy hat. Same purpose.

Socks or booties. I wear socks or booties with my travel shoes. I don’t like to walk barefooted through security if they ask me to remove my shoes.

Jewelry. I’m an accessory freak, but airports are where I play it down. Remember, the jewelry you wear has to go through a security check. Keep it simple. I carry the jewelry I’m not wearing in my personal carry-on.

Daytime activities

During the day when I’m traveling, I spend a lot of time walking. When I want to explore shops, cafes, galleries and side streets, I wear slacks, a skirt or a casual dress. It’s important to be comfortable, but don’t dress down to the point you avoid going into a “nice” restaurant or shop. That goes for shoes, too.

Washable skirts/pants/dress. I love my knit clothes. I choose them to mix and match. A dress can be worn with a sweater or jacket, or you can put a top over it and it looks like you have on a skirt. In addition to knits being easy to roll and pack, they wash and dry overnight. They’re so versatile you can sleep in them!

Washable tops. Choose tops that mix and match with both your skirts and pants. A longer top or sweater can change a look from day to night time chic. On a recent three week trip, I packed one knit dress, three knit skirts (one long), two pairs of knit pants, four tops and a long sweater. It was liberating!

Bathing suit. Taking a bathing suit along is optional. After a long day sightseeing, a swim is relaxing. The long top you bring for skirts and pants will work as stylish cover-up.

Jacket and/or rain gear.  “Must haves.”  Some of the new, lightweight jackets that fold into small bags are ideal. Check out the Ultra Light Down collection at UNIQLO.

Shoes. Of all my addictions, shoes are not. The shoes I wear are almost always chosen mostly for comfort, not style. My brother used to say when he’d notice my shoes, “I sure hope they’re comfortable.” That says it all. So when I travel, I choose shoes for the flight, a pair for hiking or play (which may be the same as the ones for travel) and a dressy shoe that’s comfy — usually a ballerina flat. The color choice is usually black, yet for warmer weather I may go for beige or light colors.

Evening

A long knit skirt and top takes me where I want to go, night or day. Accessories make the difference. You can change an ordinary daytime outfit into something stunning for evening with jewelry and/or a belt. Be careful, however, not to overload your bag. Scarves are ideal for “dress-up” and they give you a great new look with little effort. Best of all, a scarf fits easily in your suitcase or hand carry.

Other items to pack

Airplane necessities. A small toothbrush, toothpaste, and bottle of mouthwash fit into a plastic ziplock bag. Take along hand sanitizer, face wipes, a hairbrush and a few basic cosmetics so you can freshen up after the flight. A change of underwear comes in handy if your luggage is lost. Medications stay with you, always.

Cosmetics. Keep it simple. Also remember to check the piece of luggage that contains all but your basic cosmetics. Then you don’t have to worry about carrying liquids and sprays through security.

Toiletries.Travel sized versions of your favorite brands are usually available. Or you can package your own. Put these into your checked luggage if you can do without them en route.

I’m certain I’ve forgotten something! I almost always do. But perhaps this list will give you some ideas for packing.

Do you have packing tips to share? Please leave a comment.

Learning French: Pétanque, Pastis et Passé Composé

If I had known that learning French is fun, I would have done it a long time ago.

Perhaps it’s fun now because I’m in one of the most beautiful towns in France: Aix-en-Provence.

French is fun

Perhaps French is fun because I love weekend markets.

Or it’s fun because boulangeries and chocolate shops are showing off in a most extravagant way.

French is fun

The school where I’m taking lessons, IS Aix-en-Provence, is surely the reason that learning French is fun this time around. Classes are small and the instructors are enthusiastic and encouraging.

Outside activities are part of the weekly plan so students can explore Aix; tour nearby towns; join cooking classes; or, as I did this week, play pétanques.

Even when we’re told to learn passé compose, it’s fun at IS Aix. For example my first week:

J’ai rencontré des étudiants du monde entier.

Nous avons appris à parler Français dans de petites classes.

Je suis allée au centre-ville parce-que c’était à proximité.

For more information about learning French in Aix-en-Provence visit www.is-Aix.com

French Lessons in Aix-en-Provence

If I could choose anyplace in the world for French lessons, it would be Aix-en-Provence. Just being here makes me feel like speaking French.

The cozy cafes…

Elegant courtyards with fountains…

…and colorful neighborhood markets.

The language will surely sink in.

French lessons at IS Aix-en-Provence

My first days at IS Aix-en-Provence have been more productive and fun than I ever imagined. Believe it or not, I haven’t been nervous or anxious about my poor language skills at all. The staff and atmosphere at the school are relaxed and welcoming.

You can tell from the moment you enter the school grounds — which is much like a private compound — that the business runs like a well-oiled machine. Having been around for over forty years, IS consistently proves they know the art of teaching French.

French lessons from Day 1

When I signed up for the course at IS, I chose to attend the two week course and stay with a French-speaking hostess. As luck would have it, my hostess and I are close to the same age and she lives within a five-minute walking distance to the school — past a beautiful park, I might add.

My first day of classes, I was sent merrily on my way by my hostess after a traditional French “petit déjeuner” and a cheerful bidding, “bonne chance.”

At school I joined a group of newcomers and met members of the staff who welcomed us and introduced our course of study. Later we were tested for our individual class placement.

Believe it or not, I placed in A2 which means I can: “understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (very basic personal information, shopping, local geography, employment, etc.) Can communicate in simple routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.”

Thank goodness for the ten-week experience in French hospitals.

My class for the two-week period consists of four students and two instructors who alternate days of teaching. Already the class of one Canadian, one Austrian, one Brazilian, plus me, an American, have bonded.

It’s going to be a great time filled with French language learning and lots of laughs. Stay tuned…

For more information about French lessons at IS Aix-in-Provence click here