To here.....
Finally to here...
6.27.2010
6.24.2010
6.23.2010
Packing List
I have not exactly been traveling light lately, but I am determined to take just this one bag plus a carry on bag for my trip to France with Patti. I leave on Tuesday, June 29 and return on July 25. I have been obsessing about what to wear ever since we decided to go and have been castigating myself for wanting to bring too much. The problem is that it is easier to travel light in cold weather than in hot weather. On one memorable trip to France with my good friend DP, I took one skirt, one pair of pants, no more than 3 tops and was just fine for 2 weeks.
As you will see later in this post, I am taking more than 5 pieces of clothing on this trip. I did a trial packing run on Monday night and am thrilled that I can take everything I want using just this Rick Steves 21" rolling bag and a carry on. This bag actually qualifies as a carry on, but so many people are trying to avoid luggage fees that the overhead bins fill quickly. Competing for space is not worth the hassle. So this bag will be checked although I am bringing a change of clothing in my carry on in case of a baggage delay. I am using one packing cube and one compression bag.
Here is my list:
3 pairs of black pants (linen, cotton and silk) plus one pair of yoga pants for walking in the mornings. (We have made a pact that we will walk in the morning for flat out exercise in a lovely nearby park...the Luxembourg Gardens.)
1 pair white cotton pants
1 black linen dress
1 b/w flowered skirt
1 b/w checked blouse
1 b/w striped blouse
1 grey blouse
2 white cotton blouses
2 white linen blouses
1 yellow linen blouse (Yes, yellow. A girl has to have some color in her life.)
1 black tee shirt
1 white tee shirt
1 black sweater
5 scarves - White, blue&white striped, greyish blue, b/w striped, pink/grey silk
Swim suit, wrap, google, flip flops (for swimming pool at our hotel in Villefranche-sur-mer)
5 pairs of shoes (black flats, black Tsubos, black Danskos, grey walking shoes, nude sandals. The walking shoes have to travel in my carry on, and I plan to wear the Danskos.)
Then there are all the miscellaneous items: umbrella, underwear, cosmetics, camera, guide books, phrase book, reading material, notebook, money.
Believe it or not, everything fits. Yes, it is a tight fit, but a fit nevertheless, and I am not using the expansion feature. And my carry on is a big handbag...not another full size carry on suitcase. I couldn't find a picture of it but will keep looking or will take one. I will save the expansion feature for the return trip in case I find a few trinkets to buy.
As you will see later in this post, I am taking more than 5 pieces of clothing on this trip. I did a trial packing run on Monday night and am thrilled that I can take everything I want using just this Rick Steves 21" rolling bag and a carry on. This bag actually qualifies as a carry on, but so many people are trying to avoid luggage fees that the overhead bins fill quickly. Competing for space is not worth the hassle. So this bag will be checked although I am bringing a change of clothing in my carry on in case of a baggage delay. I am using one packing cube and one compression bag.
Here is my list:3 pairs of black pants (linen, cotton and silk) plus one pair of yoga pants for walking in the mornings. (We have made a pact that we will walk in the morning for flat out exercise in a lovely nearby park...the Luxembourg Gardens.)
1 pair white cotton pants
1 black linen dress
1 b/w flowered skirt
1 b/w checked blouse
1 b/w striped blouse
1 grey blouse
2 white cotton blouses
2 white linen blouses
1 yellow linen blouse (Yes, yellow. A girl has to have some color in her life.)
1 black tee shirt
1 white tee shirt
1 black sweater
5 scarves - White, blue&white striped, greyish blue, b/w striped, pink/grey silk
Swim suit, wrap, google, flip flops (for swimming pool at our hotel in Villefranche-sur-mer)
5 pairs of shoes (black flats, black Tsubos, black Danskos, grey walking shoes, nude sandals. The walking shoes have to travel in my carry on, and I plan to wear the Danskos.)
Then there are all the miscellaneous items: umbrella, underwear, cosmetics, camera, guide books, phrase book, reading material, notebook, money.
Believe it or not, everything fits. Yes, it is a tight fit, but a fit nevertheless, and I am not using the expansion feature. And my carry on is a big handbag...not another full size carry on suitcase. I couldn't find a picture of it but will keep looking or will take one. I will save the expansion feature for the return trip in case I find a few trinkets to buy.
6.17.2010
Official Program Excursion
We leave early Friday morning for this place:
I will be staying here:
Students will stay here:
Let`s just think of this as the Boundary Waters of Mexico. A little less lifting and carrying but equally soothing for the soul. There is something about being on the water. Hope your weekend is equally peaceful.
I will be staying here:
Students will stay here:
Let`s just think of this as the Boundary Waters of Mexico. A little less lifting and carrying but equally soothing for the soul. There is something about being on the water. Hope your weekend is equally peaceful.6.15.2010
A Happy Group
A happy group is a photogenic group. These shots were taken on our fieldtrip last weekend. Our stops included an archeological site, a cave and a concert. The group is seen with the governor of Yucatan(in yellow pants) outside of the concert venue in the first shot.6.10.2010
VIP
Pictured here are four of my summer session students. Yes, the horrible, no good, very bad spring semester finally ended. Thank goodness Patti arrived soon after their departure to help me relax and unwind. The summer session has been big fun with motivated, smart students who are interested in learning and exploring. The first two weeks of the four week session have flown by. We leave tomorrow for a two day trip, but first they needed to experience what is probably my favorite activity in Merida---the VIP movie theatre. For about $5.00, the chairs recline, the footrest comes up, the waiter takes your order for anything from sushi to dessert and the movie begins in air conditioned comfort. Life is definitely getting better.
5.01.2010
May Day
May Day has many different meanings. There will always be a part of me that wants to get out the crepe paper, pipe cleaners, glue and, of course, candy. In Mexico, May 1 is Labor Day as it is in many parts of the world. A cry of "May Day" means help is needed. This May 1st, I sent up a silent cry of "May Day" to the universe and spent the day in bed reading, napping, drinking liters and liters of water and just generally relaxing. As I write this at 7:00, I am feeling better.
I was already tired when we left for Chiapas. Unfortunately, the trip was not at all relaxing or inspiring as it usually is. Several students were seriously sick. One student was mugged. Others partied through the night; their noisy return to the hotel at 4:00 in the morning caused us to be asked to leave the hotel where we were planning to spend a second night. Finding hotel rooms for 24 people was not my idea of a good time.
Serious personnel problems were waiting for me upon our return. The problems were so serious that four employees were terminated. Terminating employees in Mexico is complicated. Employees here are not "at will" employees as most of us are in the US. Even a termination means a substantial payout. I had to work with a labor attorney to make sure everything was in order. I and the remaining staff had to cover the work of the departed employees. I was on dish washing duty for lunch and dinner.
There is good news: Students leave this weekend. Patti arrives on Monday to spend a week.
In the meantime, I am turning off the computer and going back to my reading.
I was already tired when we left for Chiapas. Unfortunately, the trip was not at all relaxing or inspiring as it usually is. Several students were seriously sick. One student was mugged. Others partied through the night; their noisy return to the hotel at 4:00 in the morning caused us to be asked to leave the hotel where we were planning to spend a second night. Finding hotel rooms for 24 people was not my idea of a good time.
Serious personnel problems were waiting for me upon our return. The problems were so serious that four employees were terminated. Terminating employees in Mexico is complicated. Employees here are not "at will" employees as most of us are in the US. Even a termination means a substantial payout. I had to work with a labor attorney to make sure everything was in order. I and the remaining staff had to cover the work of the departed employees. I was on dish washing duty for lunch and dinner.
There is good news: Students leave this weekend. Patti arrives on Monday to spend a week.
In the meantime, I am turning off the computer and going back to my reading.
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