One Medium Roller Suitcase

Getting ready for any trip is always a time of high anxiety, even after doing it so many times. It does seem like I am getting better at it, but then afterwards it always seems like I could have done better.

To begin with, I always seem to be in the mode of ‘not forgetting something’, and usually am successful at accomplishing that. However, that success always seems to lead to me bring too much stuff. 

On this trip, I felt that we should attempt to ‘travel light’, as unlike some cruises I have been on, I would not have the need to dress other than casually for the entire trip. Furthermore, the climate was going to be similar for the entire stay, unlike a recent cruise around Cape Horn in southern South America, which had climates varying from hot and sticky, to cold and windy. Plus, there was the possibility of doing laundry.

So, could I limit my two-weeks worth of clothes to an amount that would fit in one medium-sized roller suitcase? No problem. Numbers of underwear & socks will depend on one laundry day. Enough short-sleeve shirts for all of the sightseeing days, T-shirts for the relaxing days around the house. And just two pairs of shoes. An everyday, comfortable walking shoe, and a casual, but dressier loafer (probably will never get worn) just in case I need to go somewhere a little dressier.

Two pairs of jeans, one pair of khakis (for the churches, dining out, etc.), and something a little warmer, just in case. A hat and raincoat, and that is about it.

But, of course, there is still "the equipment".

Photographic Equipment

Let’s start with my ‘basic kit’:

Nikon D200 12 megapixel camera.
17-35mm f/2.8 lens
28-70mm - f/2.8 lens
80-200mm f/2.8 lens
Shoemount flash
Spare camera battery
4 spare AA batteries
Wallet of 4 flashcards

This is what I like to have with me most of the time, and it all fits nicely in my Tamrac backpack, or a Domke shoulder bag (without the camera and one lens).

The lenses are somewhat heavy, as they are Nikon’s faster AF-S lenses.  But, that is what I have.

With the camera and lens around my neck or over my shoulder, the backpack is very comfortable, and still has room for a raincoat, snacks, notebook, umbrella, etc.  While it is a little more difficult to work quickly from, I have really come to prefer the backpack to the shoulder bag.  The Tamrac pack, while encumbered with two many zippers and buckles, seems to be the most ‘backpack-looking’ of the photo backpacks on the market.  Therefore, I feel it is less likely to be noticed as a potential theft target.

Additional equipment that I feel I need to take, but only use as needed, are two additional lenses:

14mm f/2.8 lens
300mm f/4 lens

And, my tripod:

Gitzo carbon-fiber mountaineer with Arca-Swiss ball head. (packs in with the clothes in the suitcase)

Beyond that basic equipment, I usually bring one spare camera body, an older Nikon D100, and a spare flash. Assorted accessory devices such as remote release, level, tools, extra batteries,, etc.

Except for the tripod, the balance of this equipment will pack in a Lightware case, which is sized to be able to carry on any airline, however, it is also designed to be sturdy enough to be checked.

Computer Equipment 

MacBook Pro laptop (fits perfectly in the Tamrac backpack)
FireLite USB external hard drive (for backups)
iPhone

Packing

Most of this delicate equipment can be packed in the Lightware case, and carried onto the plane.  However, despite it meeting the size restrictions, it will surely be overweight.  But, since that is usually a gate decision, it is usually not a problem.  But, the case is sturdy enough, and designed to be checked if necessary.  If I am not traveling alone, I will split my gear between the Lightware case and my Tamrac backpack.  In that way, the Lightware case is lighter, but more importantly, if it needs to get check, and then either gets lost or damaged, all of my gear is not in that one place.

Both of these pieces fit nicely on a small collapsable luggage handcart, and can be easily wheeled through the airport.
 

We made some major decisions this evening concerning some basic sightseeing in Rome and Florence. As a first time visitor, there is of course, a ton of things that fall into the ‘must see’ category. So, tonight we booked three tours, two in Rome and one in Florence, spread over the two weeks that we will have in the country.  

On Monday, July 6th, after a restful Sunday at Olivia, we venture directly into Rome for what most will probably consider the #1 ‘must see’ of any trip to Italy. The Vatican.

Our tour of the Vatican, with a highly-recommended tour company, Avventure Belissime will give us 4 hours to walk through the various highlights of the Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basillica and other sites.  Since it doesn’t begin until early afternoon, it will give us plenty of time to make our way into town from Olivia, via the train from the nearby town of Orte.

On the following Saturday, we head to Florence, which should be about a two-hour drive, to meet our tour guide for a five-hour "Florence in a Day" tour.  Then, on the next Thursday, we head back to Rome for a short tour of the ancient ruins to include the Colosseum.  

There has been a lot of discussion about what sights to see, how far to range from our home base of Villa Olivia, day-trips, overnight-trips, etc.

Since it is our first visit to Italy, the natural reaction is to try and see as many of the main sights as possible.  However, it hasn’t taken long to realize that this would not be such a great idea, as they are spread around the country enough to make it not very practical.

Instead, I think a better approach will be to map out a general outline of how to spend our time.  After all, we will be staying in what we expect to be a very beautiful and relaxing ‘Villa’ nestled into the countryside, away from tourists.  So, it certainly makes sense to maximize that aspect of the trip and avoid spending a lot of time commuting from one city to another.

Since we are close to Rome, it is obvious that we will spend as much time there as possible.  I imagine, like any large historical city, you could spend the entire two weeks just exploring the sights within the city.  

I see us spending three full days in Rome, commuting back and forth to the Villa.  For sure, a full day at the Vatican, with probably the help of an organized tour of some sort.  Another full day exploring the antiquities of Rome centered around the coliseum, and perhaps a third day, spent either on another major sight, or simply wandering about Rome.

As for large cities, Florence is probably second behind Rome in importance, and luckily is a not-to-far commute from Olivia.  Other major sights, Pompeii near Naples, and Venice seem to be just out of reach for a day-trip.  I anticipate spending two full days in Florence.  Hopefully, one of them might include a side-trip to Pisa, which is about 40 miles to the west of Florence.  Pisa seems like a must-see for any first time trip to Italy, as the Leaning Tower is as identifiable with Italy as the Eiffel Tower is with France.  However, I can imagine that a visit could be a bit anti-climatic as a side-trip.

Beyond allotting five days to these two major cities, I see spending another five or six days exploring the smaller towns around Olivia.  I would split these into 3 full days and 2 or 3 shorter days.  Full meaning, that we would probably get back to Olivia only in time to fall into bed.  I’d like to take a look at what each of the smaller towns around Olivia have to offer, and come up with some kind of day-trip plan that minimizes the driving, either out and back from Olivia, or perhaps in some kind of circular or triangular route.

That leaves two or three more days.  I suspect one will be spend on the initial Sunday, relaxing, getting un-jet-lagged, and perhaps exploring the nearby town of Otricoli.  The other two can be spent in the same way, down-time at Olivia, or as additions to the above plans.

Just thirty days until we depart for two weeks in Italy.  So, I guess it is time to start doing some serious planning.  

We’ve got our airline tickets, and will be traveling on Lufthansa to Florence, via Frankfurt outbound, and via Munich on the return.  I recently received word, that our outbound flight from Dulles had been changed to a slightly later time, creating a slightly later arrival in Italy, but the biggest change was that we have been switched from an Airbus A330 to a Boeing 747.  Believe it or not, this will be my first trip on a 747, as somehow over many flights, I have managed to have never been scheduled on one.

Of course, we have our accommodations all set, as the rented villa was the primary reason for making the trip.  It is located about an hour north of Rome, just over the border of the province of Umbria.

As you can see on the map, we are located out in the country, not too far off the main Rome-Florence highway near the small town of Otricoli.  I’ve been told that the nearest railroad station is just to the east, either in the town of Orte or Orte Scalo, and the trip into Rome takes 45-90 minutes, depending on the train.