Pack Attack!

In ONE DAY my adventure begins! I can hardly believe it; I am a jittery ball full of nerves and excitement…and flight anxiety...but we won’t talk about that. But before I can start telling you about what I will be doing while in Thessaloniki, I have to prepare to get there first. As a late high school graduation present (I graduated in the spring of 2016) my sister, Jessica (AKA "Acissej" in the picture above), recently gifted me two brand new suitcases to travel with me across the world.

They are Swiss Army spinner suitcases, with 1.5” of expandable space, and they are super lightweight! I got the 20” and 29” at TJ Maxx; you can check out a similar style here: https://www.swissgear.com/luggage/swissgear-7297-28-expandable-spinner-luggage. They also happen to match the color of my trusty High Sierra backpack, which I usually bring on the plane as a personal item.

So, now it is time to fill those suitcases up!

I will be using the smaller suitcase as a carry-on for small toiletries and a change of clothes, should my checked baggage get lost (knock on wood that it is not). I will buy the rest of my toiletries in full size once I arrive, since I cannot fit five weeks’ worth of goop into a quart size bag, nor do I want to add weight to my luggage. The larger suitcase will of course carry the rest of my clothing and some of the school supplies I am bringing from home (most of it will be bought in Greece, along with the toiletries).

On my past trips, a majority of what I pack ends up crumpled at the bottom of my suitcase, never having been taken out, or even touched during my stay. I'm a very organized person who likes to be prepared for anything. And I mean anything. Yes, the average temperature during the summer in Thessaloniki is 77 degrees Fahrenheit, but what if there's a snowstorm!? Highly improbable, I know, but like I said, prepared for anything. So, you can see how I could over pack and worry that I am still unprepared. But this time, that is not going to happen (well, one can only hope)! That is why I have packed only a handful of shirts, bottoms, and dresses. These can all be mixed and matched throughout the five weeks I will be in Greece, instead of planning a separate outfit for each day.

While packing, I tried on outfits and took a photo log of what I could wear with them as a sort of virtual closet so I can be sure to get full use out of every piece of clothing in my suitcase. Also, these clothes will not be staying in my glorified wheeled box. I plan to take full advantage of any closet or dresser in my apartment so no piece of clothing is left behind and unworn.

The last two photos show all 23 pieces I am bringing- 8 shirts, 9 bottoms (one pair of jeans for colder nights), 2 light jackets, and 4 dresses/rompers. Together, they make 37+ outfits for each day away from home. I also packed four pairs of shoes: tennis shoes, dressy sandals, nude flats, and my Birkenstock Yara’s. I love my Birks! They are so comfortable and perfect for summer travel because they let your feet breathe but are still supported on long treks through city centers. Not pictured are pajamas and workout/lounge clothing, for those lazy times that I will be stuck in my room, doing homework or otherwise (let’s face it, there are probably still going to be some late-night Netflix marathons, no matter how beautiful the country I am in).

However, I will be sure to report back on all the hours not spent doing homework, bingeing TV shows, or sleeping (I know, I wish I didn’t have to waste time catching Z’s either, but there will be plenty of adventure in my woken state of mind). ‘Til next time!