A month from today I’ll be embarking on a whirl-wind 10 day vacation. DH and I will fly from Toronto, Ontario to Geneva, Switzerland, than move on to Basel for a couple of days before boarding a riverboat for an 8 day cruise up the Rhine ending in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The theme is ‘Christmas on the Rhine’ and we will be visiting villages/towns/cities along the way. We have at least one moderate (guided) urban ramble everyday as well as some freedom to explore on our own. There’s a dress code of ‘smart casual’ for the evening meal, with specific mention that there are no formal nights. Weather and temperature looks to be similar to what we experience here on the northern shores of Lake Ontario - temperatures hovering around freezing or a little above. Possible drizzle, or chance of snow.
Below (in Finds) is what I’m planning to wear/pack. 5 warm sweaters, 3 bottoms (1 faux leather, one corduroy, 1 denim) a skirt, a puffer, and a light weight wool coat, sturdy broken in boots, my favourite Converse sneakers, and a dressy flat. Accessories are: two scarves, three berets, a voluminous and light weight quilted bag.
I figure I’ll wear each top twice, and the bottoms 3-4 times. Everything is mix and match and I can add or subtract layers and choose footwear, based on the activities and the conditions. The pleather pants are especially versatile. They are soft and pliable, and even more comfortable than the green ones that have been such workhorses in my closet. From experience, I know they will cut the wind, repel any precipitation, and keep me warm when out of doors, and they are dressy enough for evenings. I can switch out of the jeans or corduroys and wear the red skirt to dinners as an alternative.
I’m not worried about bringing a rain coat, since the coat has a high wool content and sheds the wet quite well. There’s room in the suitcase for my collapsible umbrella - just in case.
I’m showing a bathing suit, because our hotel in Basel has a pool and spa! Not shown - pj’s, underthings, including some heat tech items, wool socks, a pair of gloves and a pair of shearling lined leather mitts.
I’m keeping my eyes open for a voluminous scarf/wrap that will double duty as a blanket on the plane and a neck warmer. I might sub out the Converse for a pair of leather sneakers (which I don’t have at the moment) though I’ve been plenty comfortable in the Cons when paired with my Darn Tough wool socks.
I run cold, so my goal is to keep warm, followed by comfortable feet!
Have I missed anything?
