In the words of Chuck, here are some things you might need to know.
Suave 24 Hour Protection anti-perspirant deodorant may work fine as a back-up travel deodorant for women whose vacations consist of sitting around in cold places, but it is totally worthless for those whose idea of a getaway involves copious amounts of walking in hot weather while toting messenger bags weighed down by 8 pound cameras, Rick Steves guidebooks, water bottles, hand sanitizer, extra sweaters, Power bars, and sundry other necessities for 12-13 hours away from one’s hotel in a large city. Such ladies may find themselves giving the lie to the old adage, “Horses sweat, men perspire, but women merely glow.”
Speaking of messenger bags, there is perhaps a reason that photographers with multiple lenses weighing several pounds don’t just tote their equipment around in any old backpack made by the Gap circa 2001. While my old college messenger bag served me well for a dozen years and my past three visits to Europe, it wasn’t up to toting around my new lens, 8 boxes of tea, and half a dozen books. RIP, bag strap. Now it’s time to save up my pennies for that Epiphanie camera bag I’ve had my eye on as a new purse/camera bag/diaper bag combo! (Since I also need to save my pennies for a new double stroller to replace the $800 one I ran over and for a new mixer to replace my junky $500 Kitchenaid which I gave away for parts after it burned out a second time, it’s going to be awhile…)
Here’s how things stood on Saturday evening. We nursed it through Sunday by carrying it under our arm to church and tea, but it broke Monday morning in Victoria Station.
And while we’re on the subject of lugging around heavy cameras with gigantic lenses, it will perhaps benefit others to know that it is not wise to toss one’s plastic sunglasses into a large void also inhabited by a large Sigma 24-105 mm lens. In a head-to-head battle, the cheap plastic sunglasses will always lose. Unless one is looking for an excuse to pop into Marks and Spencer and buy something. Then the 5 pounds one has to spend for some British made-in-China sunglasses might be money well spent.
When traveling without children, lunch is overrated. If scones with clotted cream and/or cake and/or Power Bars are readily available, why waste the calories on lunch? It is entirely possible to spend a whole week abroad without consuming a formal “lunch” meal. Indeed, if one gorges oneself on an unlimited afternoon tea at one of London’s finest establishments, one needn’t eat lunch or dinner…
Feet that have walked long distances, stood in cathedrals or museums, and climbed four flights of stairs multiple times in one day tend to have a distinct odor. I won’t go into further detail but shall leave it to the discriminating reader’s imagination.
You ran over your Phil and Teds?
Yes, it got left behind Derek’s car on a Saturday morning when I was going out to ballet class, and I didn’t think to look before backing out. I was physically sick about it for several days. I cracked the frame, so there’s no fixing it.