Wednesday, April 22, 2009

A Bit of a Packing Delima

Thanks so much ladies and gents for all of your suggestions. I have so many things written down now that I want to see and do! Hopefully we can fit everything in during our three day visit. I am so looking forward to going on this trip. After reading all of your fabulous comments I got even more excited about this mini-vaca. I definitely think for me this is a trip of a lifetime, some place that I have wanted to visit since I was a little girl and I definitely didn't think I would get this opportunity until later in life. (Thanks to living in Germany, I now have that opportunity.) Jon couldn't have given me a better birthday gift and in all honesty he went way above and beyond for me. I truly am one blessed and lucky girl.

Things To See:

* Guinness Storehouse (of course)
* Kilmainham Jail
* Dublin Castle
* St. Patrick's Cathedral
* Temple Bar area
* Catch a pub crawl
* Take a Wild Wicklow Tour
* Visit the country side

That sure is a big list! We also have our own personal tour guide, whom I mentioned in my post yesterday, Oisin. He will be taking us around all day Saturday. I am so happy to have a tour from a born and bred Irishman. I know we'll get to see some awesome things with him.

Now to my packing issue:

Jon said the easiest thing for us to do is to carry our luggage onto the plane. That is perfectly cool with me and totally understandable, I'm just at a loss on how I am going to fit everything into ONE backpack (yes that's right, you're only allowed ONE carry-on that includes your purse,) that is equal to or less than 25 pounds. Yup. You read that correctly. So needless to say I am only bringing WHAT I will actually need to get me through 3 days of traveling. I am "that woman" that packs four bags for a weekend trip.

I'm not complaining in any way shape or form. I mean come on I'm going to IRELAND! I am just saying that if I can fit everything into a 25 pound bag, I should probably get some sort of packing award from Guinness Book of World Records or something. RIGHT! I guess the airport is a huge stickler on the dimensions of a carry-on as well so it has to fit the exact dimensions or you're screwed. (Which means you'll have to check your bag, costing extra money and there is a chance it will get lost, which I was told this airport is known for losing baggage.)

But I am so excited I've already started packing. I am already up to 10 pounds on my bag and I hope I can fit everything else in. Of course there are some things I will have to leave at home, (like my four other bags of random junk that I NEED for everything vacation.) but I think I will manage ;)

Again thanks for all of the advice. If I have left anything off my list that you think I HAVE to see while I am there please add to it!

Also, I have been having my weird dizzy spells again. This morning I had a wicked spell and I am hoping that I will be better before my trip! Please say a little prayer for me. It would mean the world to me. I would be devastated if I were sick on this trip! Thanks so much!

Hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday!

P.S. Aren't these so fun! We have four beer mugs with My Goodness My Guinness and similar pictures written on them. I also bought several plaques like these for my dad and he now has them hanging in his garage.



19 comments:

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

I wouldn't know how to only pack one bag either!!! I've always got at least one bag in check in and one on the plane.

The Purple Carrot said...

Oh my ... I'm that girl when it comes to packing too!! Good luck!!!

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

Wow, you are a brave girl! I went somewhere where all I had was carry on and never again. Good luck and I am sure you will have fun!

Gussy Sews said...

aww, Ireland! have a great time!!!!!! :)

Chase said...

you'll have a great time!

For room: roll everything.
For weight: find ways to lesson weight (every bit counts!) If you're packing a toothbrush, you's plastic as it's wrapper rather than a big case. Same could go for soap, etc. Don't bring full tubes of toothpaste... that sort of stuff.
Anything you can do to knock a few ounces off will go a long way when you've got a 25 pound cap.

Megan said...

Whew, I don't think I would make it to pack so lightly--good luck!!

Said a prayer for the dizzyness to go away..

Brahmin in Boston said...

I completely commiserate with you! But you know what I did when I was in the same dilemma?

I wore some of the pieces of cloth that I was supposed to put in my bag (also I made my hubby do the same)... Crazy huh?

But it DID lessen the load and some space in the bag so I considered the effort worth taking!

Good luck on your packing!

Mrs. Realife said...

I'm TOTALLY PUMPED for you!!!!!!!!! YAY! What a husband you have! You think I could get your man to call my man? ;0)

The only packing advice I have for you is to roll your clothes... I know it sounds funny, but it works!

msprimadonna67 said...

One bag??? That would have to be some creative packing for me! (My hubby Doug is just as bad as I am at the whole overpacking thing, so he wouldn't be any help either.) Good luck!

In This Wonderful Life said...

oh my goodness!! 25 lbs....that is not much at all. I'm sure I would fail miserably!! I have no good advice :( You can do it!!?! haha. Ya'll will have so much fun!!

PS - My husband LOVES Guinness!!

JennyLee said...

I am the world's worst packer. I never manage to only take one bag! I hope your dizzy spells go away. Praying for you!

Lindsey said...

I have always loved these posters, so cute!

Gosh, I'm so stinkin' excited for you!!! Good luck with the packing!

Grand Pooba said...

Oh I hope you are better for your trip! I am definately not the one to come to for packing ideas. I can't pack light if my life depended on it!

Emily said...

well i have no advice on packing bec I always check two bags.. one with makeup, hair stuff and another with shoes and clothes:) yeah for you and your ligh packing:)

Cher said...

What an exiting adventure to live in Europe! I would serioulsy LOVE that... sounds like you are in for a treat in Ireland! Enjoy it!

erin - heart in ireland said...

Living in Europe and flying on the budget airlines taught be all about the packing light, I am a PRO at taking a small backpack for 5-7 days. I pick one color usually black and go around it. So for 4 days I would have a pair of jeans, khakis, 4 shirts/sweaters (all colors that go together for layering), cardigan, 1-2 dressy tops or whatever, pjs and underwear. 1 pair of shoes (plus the pair I wear). You just have to be smart about what you pack and re-wear pants.

Wicklow isn't too far, it is close by car, bus or train. Also a lot of day tours go if you are interested in that. Having your friend is going to be awesome, because there is no better way to see it than with someone. I would also say Christ Church Cathedral, the General Post Office(GPO) - an important landmark in the Easter Rising (there are still bullet holes) and an original proclimation of 1916. Kilmainham is also one of my favorite places in Dublin.

Have fun!!

Courtney said...

wow- those are some crazy packing restraints!! You're going to have a fabulous time!!

valerie said...

How fun! Ireland!
I've heard it's just beautiful. You guys will have a blast. It's pretty neat that you know someone who lives there too.
The one small carry-on does sound like a little bit of a challenge, but you'll make it work.
I will pray that you won't have any of the dizzy spells.
I can't wait for pictures of Ireland!

Unknown said...

Don't forget that since you're carrying on, all your hair products and make up need to meet the restrictions. You're allowed one one-quart bag to put the stuff in and it all has to fit. There's also restrictions regarding amount, but I can never remember. As for packing, I've done this a bunch. Wear one pair of great pants and pack another. Wear one sweater and pack another. Then all you really need is light shirts, underwear and socks. Make sure you save room for souveniers. The shop at Guinness has lots of great stuff.