i did my research. read 906 articles on how to pack lightly and efficiently for a trip abroad. it's a fairly even split on whether to roll your clothes or to fold them. i roll. then there is the stupid advice about underwear! almost every article told you to bring your oldest skeesiest panties and throw out each pair as you wear them.
underwear takes up almost zero room and the maids will not thank you for this. if i were the maid and someone left me a pair of dirty old panties everyday i would figure out some sort of subtle retaliation like oh i don't know, a carefully placed scorpion at the bottom of your bed or i would plant enough hashish in your luggage to get you in a mess of trouble. then call the local police. turkish prisons are not fun. remember midnight express?
they go on to say that it is perfectly acceptable to wear the same clothes for several days. NO IT'S NOT!!
or you can bring packets of laundry soap and wash your clothes in the bathtub every night. excuse me! i'm on vacation! hmmmmmmmm drink wine at a local cafe and savour the sights and sounds of an exotic land? or hand wash my clothes in a bathtub?
i have pared down as much as possible. i'm bringing my e-reader so i do not need to take a mess of books with me. i am bringing only 2 pairs of shoes and will be wearing one pair on the plane. what's this you say only two pairs of shoes! there is a method to this madness. i am going with my brother and he will make me Walk hundreds of miles daily, at a very fast pace i might add. so i am wearing my ugly walking shoes and have packed one pair of open toed sandals with just a kitten heel for evenings. no stilettos! remember, my brother will make me walk. so take away the shoe and book factor and i am left just with clothes. because turkey is largely muslim, i have to cover up. no tank tops or shorts unless i want the locals to throw rocks at my head, so long skirts, long sleeved shirts and pants are the order of the day. way more material so they take up way more room. you see my dilemma.
this was my fantasy suitcase!
i need to find a happy medium. any and all suggestions that do not included gifting the maid with my old dirty underwear would be greatly appreciated!
