Is Your Suitcase Packed?

Our departure date is just a little over a week away and I'm sure many of you have started thinking about what you are going to take. I've been watching the long range forecast for the three countries we will be visiting as well as talking to our Tour Directors. The weather at this time of year can be very unpredictable therefore we should be prepared for rain and varying temperatures.  Hopefully we will see lots of sunshine and temperatures in the low 20s, however, we will need to be prepared for rain showers.  We will need rain gear such as  an umbrella and  hooded rain proof jacket. Plan to dress in layers because we won't be going back to our hotel during the day. An extra hoodie or long sleeved shirt can save the day if you get caught in an unexpected downpour, or rolled and stuffed in your backpack when you get too warm!  It might be a good idea to carry a hat and sunglasses, I understand it can get very hot when visiting some of the ruins such as Ephesus or the Acropolis.  We will have time to visit the beaches in Greece as well as go swimming on the cruise ship so you may want to pack a swim suit.

We will be attending a Greek Evening in Athens and Carol has also mentioned that there is a possibility of a Greek Dinner on the cruise ship.  She mentioned that they often suggest people wear blue and white to the dinner so you may want to pack something for the dinner.

Many  of the religious sites we will be visiting such as churches or mosques have very strict dress codes.  Please be prepared to dress accordingly, no shorts or short skirts, leggings  or sleeveless tops.  All females will need to cover their hair, arms and legs when we visit mosques so you might want to bring a scarf  to carry with you in your backpack and a sweater or jacket.  In Mosques you will also remove your shoes so you may want to carry a light pair of socks in your backpack when we are in Turkey. On  Patmos we may  be able to  be part of the Greek  Easter church celebrations and Carol has suggested that everyone might want to bring something nice to wear that night.

Have you packed a comfortable pair of  walking shoes? We will be doing lots of walking on our tour and most of the streets will be cobblestone. Flip flops are great when you are at the hotel, but aren't practical for our daily tours. 

I hope everyone will use the  EF backpack as their carry on luggage. We will all be carrying them as daypacks when we are with the group as they are a quick and very visible way for us to keep track of our group.  Anything you might want during the flight should be packed in your backpack. If you usually wear contacts, you will probably want to also have your glasses for the overnight flight. Liquids must fit into a small  1 litre ziplock bag (no more than 3.4 ounces per bottle) if you are going to carry them in your backpack. This includes items such as liquid makeup, mascara, lip gloss, toothpaste, lotions etc. if you are not sure about the size or item, it might be best to put them in your checked luggage and avoid having them confiscated at check-in. Any medication you need should be put in your carry on, in case your luggage is lost on the way.

I have had a few parents ask about "sea sickness" medication. I spoke with Janelle Ballard, a pharmacist and former student and she has suggested  that you can use Gravol or there are patches (transderm-v) that you wear behind your ear and shouldn't cause drowsiness.  Each patch  lasts 3 days and it is best to put the patch on 1 day before it is needed.  They are about $15  for 2 patches and kept behind the pharmacy.  Carol, our Tour Director, suggested pressure or sea bands.  I hope we will not need any kind of medication but it is better to be prepared.  

It has been suggested that we might want to carry a change of clothes and items such as a toothbrush etc in our carryon bag to freshen up when we reach Amsterdam. This also saves you some grief if your luggage is delayed among the way.  Please be sure to pack your rain gear in your carryon as we plan to go on a walk when we arrive in Istanbul and we may not have access to our luggage.  

And remember my words of advice......after your suitcase is packed, carry it up and down a few flights of stairs. Is it too heavy? Then it's time to reconsider what you have packed. Don't forget to leave room for the souvenirs you will be shopping for along the way.