Musings

Observations and tips, including adaptive travel ideas

3 weeks before this trip, I broke my wrist. I had a cast from mid hand to my elbow. I had to rethink my entire travel wardrobe. But you know what? It worked out just fine. It forced me to be creative. Having just a few items to mix and match is all you need. Always check the weather to be prepared.

I put together this fall capsule wardrobe based on black, white and using outerware and a scarf for a pop of color. I found the following clothes perfect:

Patagonia long puffer coat. Compacts easily, warm, and nice length.
Jack Wolfskin JWP raincoat. It has a hood, is water proof, and has length to keep keep clothes dry. I didn't need an umbrella. It packs up to a small ball that can easily fit into a tote or suitcase without taking up alot of room.
Patagonia merino tee shirts. Warm, quick drying. Short sleeves fit over a cast.
Patagonia capilene zipper turtle neck. Warm, quick drying. Stretchy enough to get over a cast, too.
Merino wool sweater. Excellent for layering.
Fingerless gloves--great for cool days and still operate the phone and/or camera
Comfy shoes. My Hoka One One's would've been perfect. But I opted for another brand to be "fashionable." I regretted not having my Hoka's. Everyone wears athletic shoes in Europe.
Jeans- they go with everything. One pair is fine.
Leggings-- can be worn under coats, skirt and are comfortable during travel on buses and planes.
Northface down vest. Perfect for layering.
Black Skirt (Marine Layer Lexi) - provides fashion variety, comfort and ease to get in and out of. Especially with a cast.
Wolford knee highs. Fashion forward and takes up no space in bag.
Cashmere wrap. I could throw it over my vest, sweater, or coat to stay warm.
Recovery Hoka flip flops. My feet appreciated the comfort and support after a day of walking everywhere.

I used an Osprey 40l Women's Fairview back pack. My husband used the men's equivalent, the Farpoint. Using a back pack was liberating. Steps, whether it was a hotel or a train station, were the norm. It was easy to get up and down steps, navigate cobble streets and curbs wearing a back pack. On our way to Vienna, we had only 4 minutes to make a train and we made it because we didn't have to drag a bag over steps or try to find an elevator to get to the platform. Also with my cast, I didn't have to drag or lift a bag with my weakened arm. The 40l will fit into the overhead bins. Due to alot of travel disruptions, labor shortages that were occurring at this time, we didn't want to risk checking a bag.

Here are other ideas I found helpful.

Travel cubes to keep items organized.
Fashion. It is amazing how European women can look so effortlessy put together. First and foremost, be comfortable. Instead of bringing more clothes, bring accessories like scarves or hats.
It is not necessary to bring alot of hair care products. The hair dryers in the rooms are not that great and will not create salon style. I observed that European women didn't over do their hair. It was natural or tied back in pony tail. With a cast, styling was impossible. It didn't matter, I just wore a hat or used a hair tie.
Shoes--Be comfortable! Everyone is wearing athletic type shoes. There is alot of walking on these tours. (which we love) Cobbles, uneven pavement, and inclines can be brutal on the feet.
Arrive early to Europe and adjust to the time changes. We arrived to Europe 5 days before our tour started. We turned it into an adventure and by the time our BOEE started we were refreshed, acclimated and excited to get going. Have fun!