Malta Continued

Since I didn't debrief from one trip before going on the next and I don't have any upcoming vacations planned I figured I better get some Malta photos up here to do some quick recaps. Malta was a really great island and here are a few more snapshots with captions. 

 This is St. Agatha's tower and it dates to 1649. It was a watch tower and mostly defended by 4 men although it has a much greater capacity of 50 according to the plaque. From below it looks much more impressive but somehow I love it's imperfect coloring and weedy surroundings.

View from the hillside by the tower of the ocean and the hotel we almost booked, not a bad location but much more isolated from the rest of the island than where we actually stayed.

The best part about this photo is that it was taken by an Ed Hardy family (the dad) who made a snide comment about the fact that I had an actual camera. He prefers to use his iPhone but ironically walked up to us and offered to take a photo so he could not feel guilty asking us to take one of his family. We got a good laugh out of them.

This one ominous wall was further along the path towards the sea. It somehow represents Malta well in that it appears to be the start of something great that was abandoned all to soon. Malta is a small island with great potential but somehow lacks follow through. 

I just liked this abandoned cluster of buildings. Not sure what they ever were or how old they are. Thought they looked eerie and destitute against the sky and cement.

I wish I was on that sail boat in the middle of such beautiful blue ocean.

One of my favorite things about Malta was the color of the ocean...too bad it was too cold for swimming on our Easter visit.

This is Popeye's Village a left over set from the movie (I've never heard of or seen said movie) which has been turned into an amusement park of sorts. 

After  our return from Gozo (next post) we watched the waves crash on Popeye's village and took some photos as we waited for the sunset.

I'm a sucker for a sunset over the ocean.

One of the many ornate and well kept churches on the island. This photo was taken from our Kia while driving up a super windy road.

The Malta bus. These guys are an interesting part of the island culture and as I learned will be extinct by now. All of the buses on Malta were privately owned. We were told by this summer that would change and a private company would bring in new buses and take over the service while retaining some drivers and putting others out of work. However, we experienced the privately owned/operated buses which means some buses are much cleaner/newer/quieter than others. There are a lot of buses and I have no idea how they determine who runs which route but the bus schedule means very little in reality as buses just seem to turn up at bus stops. Bus fare is super cheap, we paid 60 EUR cents for a 30 minute ride to Valetta. Knowing that the bus drivers are essentially businessmen I was surprised to see them turn people away when the bus was not yet at capacity. If anything, I would have expected over crowded buses. I'm not sure if the buses actually changed but it would be nice to have cleaner running buses although there are hundreds of these and junking them all at once is not really so great for the environment either. I'm also curious to know what will become of the million souvenirs with buses on them.

Next up, our day on the island of Gozo.

Living Under Construction

Literally, my street and apartment have both become construction zones. Just as the construction near my office all but finished, the project on my street started amping up big time and getting closer to my home. On top of that some sort of pipe replacement project is going on in my apartment building and will eventually be in my apartment. But, this morning it all came to a boiling point when the noise outside started at 5am! It was not even light out and I could hear bump...bump...bump...bump... followed by beep beep beep beep. Turns out that is the way of removing a barracade to parking, knocking each post over one at a time and then getting in a truck and backing down the entire street so you can pick them up. I live on the 3rd floor and even with our double pane windows closed, I could still hear the truck! Not how I wanted to start my day.

Here Comes Malta

It seems I am constantly composing blog posts in my head in the moment but never actually typing them out. This was the case throughout our Malta trip back in April. I also took almost 700 photos over the course of the trip and thought about which ones I'd blog. Then I came home and didn't blog the trip at all. Last weekend I finally completed a photo book I'd been working on (only for a week, not since April) and it reminded me about blogging the trip. So, expect Malta posts about one per day from now on.

I will remind you that I arrived sans suitcase to an island off the coast of Africa known for its warm spring and sunshine only to be greeted by rain clouds and reports of 25 degrees back in Germany (this is insane for April).  I'v prepared a brief photo intro to set the scene.

Picked up our rental Kia around 2:30am, luckily there was another German couple doing the same as it came with no maps and our Google map showed street names but the streets we drove on were largely unlabeled and we had to drive across the island. Later, I learned that there used to be plenty of signs indicating the distance to the capital city of Valetta but they were removed because they made it too easy for enemy soldiers to find the city when the island was occupied. No one thought to reinstall them for tourists?

 The beach by our hotel on day 2

 Palm trees along the side of the road always make me happy, even when wet.

Patent leather ballerinas are not the appropriate shoes for rocky beaches. Since my suitcase missed 4 flights, I eventually bought flip flops the following day, unfortunately it was too late and these shoes had to be thrown out during the trip. Also, the day I got the flip flops was the day we decided to wander around on a cliff with cacti. 

 Despite it all, we were greeted by the prettiest water I have ever seen!

Spring Fever

It's finally starting to feel like spring in Mannheim and I couldn't be happier with the morning sunshine in my office. In fact, it's prety addicting and making me crave more sun.

I'm ready for spring break! Too bad, that does not exist beyond college...I'm sort of in college, where' my break? The worst part is, Spring break is next week or at least, I'm pretty sure it would have been if I were still at URI since it was always over St. Patrick's Day. It also seemed that spring break fell on the birthday week of one of my college besties. I guess sharing your birthday with Spring break is a bit like having a summer birthday, something I know a lot about. It seems either you get to celebrate your birthday in a fun place (Miami and Ireland come to mind for M, while I remember Oslo and amusement parks for me) or you're celebrating alone because your friends are all off on vacation somewhere. This was supposed to be about vacations but alas I got distracted by birthdays, Happy Early Birthday M!

However, all is not lost as I do have a vacation planned for Easter. It just means I have to wait a little longer and hope the local sun remains consistant in my office window because I'll be spending a lot of time in the office between now and then!

The most exciting part about booking a vacation months in advance is the anticipation, somehow I have to build up more. We're going to the tiny island of Malta, a place I, nor anyone I know, has ever been. So I need some help with the anticipation. Have you been to Malta? What would you recommend we do? We'll have plenty of time to check out the entire island as well as it's neighbor Gorzo.

Anticipation inspiration:

The Europe Packing List - What Not to Bring

I mentioned that I was most looking forward to this post on what not to bring to Europe. That's mostly because there are so many "tips" on things you should leave at home that i don't agree with. However, there are some things that you just should not bring unless you want to call attention to yourself as an American tourist*. Some of the things I would leave at home include:

• Sweat pants/yoga pants - Unless you plan on engaging in sports or using the hotel gym do not fly in or pack active wear. I love my yoga pants and sometimes wear them on the train home from pilates but that's when I'm literally between the workout and my shower so I give myself a pass. There is no other excuse to wear lounge wear in public, Americans get a reputation for being sloppy largely because of this.
• White sneakers - same exceptions as above. These also carry an American stereotype, besides they'd be grey by the end of your trip so leave them at home.
• Backpack - I know this is a traveler's best friend but I hate them, if you're not a student they pretty much scream tourist. How about a messenger or tote instead?
• Shorts - Unless it's over 30 degrees Celsius for an entire week, most Europeans won't be wearing shorts. Again, there are activity based exceptions and shorts will come out at BBQs in the park, by the beach, etc. but not in a city and not unless it is really hot. As a woman, wear a skirt, it's suitable for more occasions anyway. Men, you're out of luck unless you like the look of man-pris.
• Hair dryer - aside from the electricity being a different voltage and potentially frying your device, save room in your luggage. Sadly, the same applies to hair straighteners.
• Traveler's checks - This also applies to American Express/Visa gift cards. Such things are often nearly impossible to redeem, specifically if they are not in the currency of the country you are visiting. Make sure your ATM card works abroad and let your bank know where you will be so they don't freeze the card for suspicious actions. Pack a Visa as well, it really is everywhere you want to be.

Things other people tell you to skip that I would bring include:

• Flip flops - (for walking around the hotel room if nothing else) but this is a vice of mine.
• Jewelry - Yes, diamond engagement rings are not typical in most European countries so that may be a leave at home piece but I find it stupid to leave all jewelry at home. If you feel uncomfortable wearing the necklace that your late grandmother gave you as a present for your 18th birthday, leave it at home but there's no reason to leave everything behind, you most likely have a similar chance of losing it/getting robbed in a local big city, just be aware of your surroundings.

So that's the last of my packing segment, hope it can help someone prepare. Again, please feel free to add or subtract from my lists. I am interested to do more mini series type posts on worthwhile topics going forward so please email me if you have a topic you'd like to see me post on.

*I don't think anyone should be ashamed of their nationality and I am proud to be an American but I don't like to contribute to negative stereotypes of my culture and therefore won't encourage anyone else to do so.

If I had a Smartphone

...my blog would be so much more entertaining because I could take discrete photos of all the random people I see on public transportation each day. Seriously, there's just no way to use a camera without being rude and my phone has a camera but not blogging capabilities.

The Europe Packing List - The Suitcase

Here's the second installment of The Europe Packing List and this time, I'm going to tell you what I put in my suitcase. To be completely honest, this is more what I would put in my suitcase for vacation because what I actually put in my suitcase when flying from the US to Europe is often unpractical for most. If you make it to the end of the post, I'll share a list of the most random things I've packed on my recent journies across the Atlantic.

Checked Luggage

Note: Most airlines allow one piece of free luggage on flights between North American and Europe and enforce a strict weight limit For a

vacation, I would suggest you adhere to tis limit in order to both save some $$$ and save yourself the hassle of schlepping 2 large suitcases around.

• Toiletries (and other liquid essentials) - save yourself the hassle of trying to carry these things on and just check them, better yet, travel light and use what is offered by the hotel.
• Jeans - despite some rumors, jeans are very popular in Europe and are just as versatile as as hope. Currently trends in Germany are straight or skinnies with the ability to be tucked into boots in the winter. For a week, I'd wear a pair on the plane and bring two more.
• Skirt/dress - Depending on the season and what you plan to do, I would bring at least one skirt and one dress (more in the summer, tights in the winter). These are clothes you can dress up or down and they take up less room in your suitcase. Of course, this does not apply to men. Men bring a pair of chinos. Likely there is no where that will forbid your jeans but sometimes it's nice to have options to dress up a bit.
• Tops - I can't stress layering enough! Pack one cardigan no matter what the season. In spring/fall, I'd suggest a short sleeve T/polo or a tank top as a base layer for each day. Then I'd bring one button down and a couple of long sleeved Ts. I'd rely on my scarf and cardi under a light weight coat in cooler temps and have the option to use just one as the sun comes out.
• Underwear/socks - I trust you can figure out that you should have enough of these basics for each day or plan to do laundry.
• Shoes - This can be a serious space suck in any suitcase. I learned in college that it's important to travel with a pair of black shoes which can be worn with jeans or black pants. My tried and true shoe is a black patent ballet flat with moderate support. I've gone through two pairs in recent years and can confirm that these also work well with business dress. The male equivalent is a boat shoe or slip on leather shoe. Sneakers are, for me a question mark and I only travel with sneakers when I intend to engage in sport (hiking, hotel gym, etc.). If you wear white sneakers in Europe, you will automatically be identified as an American tourist. If you are more comfortable in sneakers, I would suggest investing in a pair that are not classified as running shoes, maybe in a black or brown leather, "Chucks" are also popular these days but I find them both uncomfortable and on their way out. Flip flops but only for the shower and as house shoes. I always travel with my Havianas as they are completely water resistant and nearly indestructible. They work by the pool, around the hotel room and in the shower (should it look like it has not been cleaned thoroughly). I wear them in cities as well but don't be surprised if people, particularly in Germany, stare at your feet and talk about your shoe choice, I've even had strangers ask if my feet were cold. In coastal regions, flip flops are more acceptable. From June-August, if you want to blend in add a strap-y sandal like a gladiator or something else with a bit more substance that is not rubber.

What to Wear on the Plane

• Jacket - Again, this varies by season and location. Check the weather via www.weather.com or another online weather source. Don't just look at forecasts for your dates but pay attention to the actual temps for the week before your travel. Don't waste space in your suitcase though, wear this on the plane and shove it in the overhead bin.
• Socks - I love to take my shoes off on long plane rides but won't walk around barefoot so wear or bring some warm comfy socks.
• Boots - if you want to bring boots, wear them. They will be your largest pair of footwear and you don't need them taking up space in your suitcase. This is slightly annoying when going through security but you'll get over it when it means you have room to pack a bottle of wine (or another recent purchase) on the way home.
• Sweater - I think I mentioned before that planes are cold when telling you to carry on a scarf but wear a sweater of some sorts with a t-shirt underneath regardless of the season. Even in the summer, planes are cold and you can always remove the sweater if you are too warm.

I hope I covered everything you'll need. What would you add/subtract from this list? I tried to keep it as basic as possible to be used in multiple locations/seasons but please let me know if there's something you can't live without or just don't think is necessary, I'm always open to new tips.

When you live in Europe, you try to bring back as much as possible as evidenced by the below photo taken after a Christmas trip in 2009, right before the checked baggage allotment was reduced to 1. That was luggage for two people! If you notice, P was wearing the largest coat he had with him together with his bulky hoodie in order to save space.

Over the years I'e traveled with some random things in both directions. Some of the notables include, 18 bottles of beer, 36 bottles of wine (over several trips), 2 area rugs, a dutch oven, toss pillows, my entire wardrobe (again over several trips and not all the clothes I own just the ones I wear on a regular basis). Specifically to that trip, I know that in one of those suitcases, you'd find a KitchenAid mixer.

Next up, the final installment of this series, and one I'm most looking forward to writing, what not to bring.