Angie -- Thank you! I'm having so much fun growing and evolving my linen capsule. I never expected to be a hair-up person! I've realized that a topknot is almost as easy and out-of-the-way as a pixie, but with the option to let it down when the mood strikes.
Suntiger -- The pale greens have been a fun surprise! Both the shirt and the scarf came to me through clothing swaps and they're such keepers.
Sal -- The Bosco Verticale is so cool! I'd read about it before and was probably more excited about seeing that than the Duomo, etc. (And I definitely prefer my beer with a killer view .)
Irina -- My neighbours growing up had peacocks, and later on the college I attended had peacocks on campus, so I always get excited when I come across one. They seem to be a theme for me! Between the swans on the river and the peacocks in Vojanovy Sady, Prague feels quite enchanted.
The Cat -- Ooh, I like the 5 C's. I will take that to heart!
Kelly -- All the pics were taken with an iPhone 13 mini; it's got a great camera! I met so many people carrying extensive DSLR setups, but I'm too much of a minimalist for that.
slim cat -- Thank you!
Barbara Diane -- Thank you!
Bijou -- The packs make it harder, for sure, but we can go places we couldn't otherwise. I don't think ours were ever over 25 lbs (~11.5 kg) for this trip, since there are lots of places to refill water and sooo many opportunities to buy fresh food. On a typical North American trip, we're often carrying 3 - 5 days worth of food and a whole day's worth of water!
ChristelJ -- I am so sold on midi skirts! The ultimate for versatility, comfort, coverage. Easy breezy!
kkards -- Yeah, the "baguette pocket" is super handy and ensures the freshest baked goods don't get squished.
Olive Green -- Same! This baguette was the "back-up" -- plus a pain au chocolat for each of us. Nine full days of hiking meant we were eating pretty much every chance we got. Can't complain.
Brooklyn -- Thank you!
Dee -- I love those pants so much, I duplicated them in a second colour! I recommend them to people all the time. Lightweight, stretchy, zip pockets... so good!
pirouette -- Wow, an Audrey comparison! *blushing*
salt-sea -- #14 is the view from Col de Balme, on the border between Switzerland and France. It makes a great day hike from Chamonix! Spectacular panorama plus food at the refuge. You can use the ski lifts to get partway up. https://www.10adventures.com/h.....-de-balme/
RobinF -- The Alps are great! There's tons of public transit and accommodations so it's really easy to put together whatever kind of adventure you want. In terms of places to stay, I especially loved Courmayeur, Italy and Champex Lac in Switzerland, but I honestly don't think you can go wrong; wherever you end up it's stunningly beautiful plus friendly and hospitable.
Sisi -- Thank you! Fingers crossed I'll be able to come back to Italy someday.
LJP -- Thank you for the high praise. I feel ridiculously lucky and privileged to have the opportunity for a trip like this. It's been a while since I've packed for a long overseas trip, and I was a bit astonished at how easily the travel capsule came together, and at how well it functioned. I guess all the try-ons and shopping and closet editing can eventually pay off. (Side note: DH is a chronic under-packer and it really showed on this trip. Next time I'll be sneaking in an extra pair of shoes for him, an extra pair of shorts, some pants that aren't jeans, and duplicate basics! )
Runcarla -- Thanks! The post-trip write-ups and photo dumps are almost as much fun for me as the thing itself.
Suz -- Hah, yeah, you can tell I'm happiest in the mountains! The golden wall is from an Airbnb near JFK; we had one day in NYC on each end of the trip, and this little studio in Queens was much, much nicer than the airport hotels.
Cardiff girl -- Aw, thanks! My experience has been that outdoor activities have done wonders for my body image and overall mental health as well; the biggest benefit in my book.
Jules -- #9 is Karlstejn Castle, a quick train ride from Prague We were able to go to Cesky Krumlov the last time we were in Czechia (2019) -- absolutely magical village! My impression is that Prague is really flourishing and diversifying. I would've loved the chance to spend a day in Little Vietnam, Prague's equivalent of Chinatown... next time! We spent a lot of time this trip simply visiting different neighborhoods, exploring parks and city rec trails, trying to get a sense of what it would be like to live there for a while. If DH keeps his current job, a transfer wouldn't be too hard, and there's lots of work for English teachers there...
Rachylou -- I used to be intimidated by packing linen, then I learned to spritz it down with water and hang it next to the shower to combat the creases. Now I don't think of it any differently than woven cotton. Honestly, it behaves better than some flimsy poplins do!
Jaime -- Thank you! Can't wait to see your Copenhagen report.
