DH and I celebrated our 30th anniversary with a 19 day trip that included a 1 week cruise in the Mediterranean and then traveling by train between Rome, Florence and Venice. It was an amazing trip and I am absolutely in love with Italy!

However, on to the important stuff - what did I pack? We had pretty restrictive parameters: No washing machines, everything was washed in a sink and dried on a traveling clothesline. It had to fit in our suitcase style backpacks and weigh less than 26 lbs per our airline (KLM). We do not use rolling luggage because it weighs more and we feel that the backpacks are easier to handle when getting on and off trains and vaporettos. The temperature would range from almost 80 in Palma de Mallorca to 60 in Venice and the weather forecast predicted rain for almost every day of the trip.

I decided on a very simple capsule that relied on layers and a color palette of black, gray and white with some colorful scarves.
Here is what I ended up packing:
4 t-shirts (Old Navy): black gray, black & white stripes, gray & white stripes.
4 camisoles (Uniqlo Airism): fast drying and prolonged the life of the t-shirts.
3 merino v-neck cardigans (Uniqlo): black, charcoal and gray
3 pairs of light weight jeans: black, gray and pale blue
1 pair of shorts (Gap boyfriend): light gray (for the ship)
2 dressy t-shirts (Halogen): black and a black & white print
1 tube skirt (Vince Camuto): black
2 belts: black and white
3 pairs of shoes: black & white Nike's, white moccasin loafers and black ballet flats
3 scarves: assorted colors
1 leather jacket: black, the Spiegal "lemming" jacket
1 packable rain parka (Lands' End)
1 umbrella

Analysis: The skirt and 2 dressier shirts would have been left at home. We were so tired every night that we ate in the buffet on the ship or just ate a simple meal in a caffeine than went straight to bed! Everything else worked out perfectly. The t-shirts, cardigans and jeans provided me with plenty of variation, especially when I could add a scarf. The Nike's were my workhorse shoes but when they were soaked for 36 hours after a driving rain, the loafers were an adequate replacement. Best of all - I told my DH yesterday that I was glad to be able to wear different clothes because I had been in the same 4 t-shirts and 3 cardigans for almost 3 weeks. He looked at me and said, "Really? I never noticed." Success!

Thanks for reading and I have included a few photos, However, most were taken by DH and he hardly ever includes my feet.
1. At the hotel in Civitavecchia before the cruise left.
2. On the ship
3. With tour guides in Pompeii
4. Getting soaked at the Forum
5. St. Peter's Square - waiting for the Pope's Sunday morning appearance.
6.Ready for the day in Florence.
7. Our last day - on the train back to Rome.