Communication
Friday April 15, 2011
In order to stay in contact with my family while I travel outside of the United States, I purchased for myself and my husband the brand new 4th Generation Ipod touches that contain a program called Facetime. It is a lot like Skype and is free as long as you have a WiFi connection. This appealed to me since the cost of pre-paid phone cards was more than I wanted to spend and an additional plus to traveling with the Ipod touch is that it includes a great camera that takes both video and still shots and also allows postings to such sites as Facebook and Blogger. I wanted to be able to do this so that my family could keep up with the events of the previous day through photos and journaling. I would definitely recommend this to those wanting to be able to communicate in all the ways listed above.
Passports
Friday January 14, 2011
Brandon and I submitted our information to the Department of State office for our passports. It was not a particularly hard process, but time consuming. The government website for passport applications was very convienent, but then you have to submitt the information to an intermediary office like at a post office or a county clercks office in order for them to collect the fees associated with the passport. It cost in total $135.00 for a passport book and twill take a total of about 4-6 weeks.
Luggage
Saturday January 8, 2011
Brandon and I found and purchased matching luggage. I know that sounds pathetic, but we were really excited about them. Since we've been married we've only had luggage that we brought into the partnership from our college days. To say that they are a little worn and grungy is an understatement, so when this trip presented an opportunity to purchase new luggage we optimistically embraced it. We now both have bright red luggage that will definitely stand out of the crowd and keep up from misplacing or being mistaken my many others. (or at least that's our hope)
For this trip we are only allowed on carry one suitcase and a bag, so we will have to utilize every little bit of the luggage and hope that it will be enough. Any suggestions for how to pack a months worth of clothing and personal items into a small 22x13x8 sized carry on suitcase? Would appreciate any suggestions!
Travel Tour Deposit
Friday April 15, 2011
In order to stay in contact with my family while I travel outside of the United States, I purchased for myself and my husband the brand new 4th Generation Ipod touches that contain a program called Facetime. It is a lot like Skype and is free as long as you have a WiFi connection. This appealed to me since the cost of pre-paid phone cards was more than I wanted to spend and an additional plus to traveling with the Ipod touch is that it includes a great camera that takes both video and still shots and also allows postings to such sites as Facebook and Blogger. I wanted to be able to do this so that my family could keep up with the events of the previous day through photos and journaling. I would definitely recommend this to those wanting to be able to communicate in all the ways listed above.
Passports
Friday January 14, 2011
Brandon and I submitted our information to the Department of State office for our passports. It was not a particularly hard process, but time consuming. The government website for passport applications was very convienent, but then you have to submitt the information to an intermediary office like at a post office or a county clercks office in order for them to collect the fees associated with the passport. It cost in total $135.00 for a passport book and twill take a total of about 4-6 weeks.
Luggage
Saturday January 8, 2011
Brandon and I found and purchased matching luggage. I know that sounds pathetic, but we were really excited about them. Since we've been married we've only had luggage that we brought into the partnership from our college days. To say that they are a little worn and grungy is an understatement, so when this trip presented an opportunity to purchase new luggage we optimistically embraced it. We now both have bright red luggage that will definitely stand out of the crowd and keep up from misplacing or being mistaken my many others. (or at least that's our hope)
For this trip we are only allowed on carry one suitcase and a bag, so we will have to utilize every little bit of the luggage and hope that it will be enough. Any suggestions for how to pack a months worth of clothing and personal items into a small 22x13x8 sized carry on suitcase? Would appreciate any suggestions!
Travel Tour Deposit
Tuesday October 26, 2010
One of the first steps to verifying and committing to the tour is to put down a deposit to guarentee your place. Last Thursday, I did just that. I am in the game, can't back out now, and if I did, I would probably lose my deposit. So, check list in hand, I'm checking off step number one. On to step number two...not quite sure what that is yet, but I will keep you up to date on the process.
Brit. Lit. Tour Travel Advice
Monday November 29, 2010
British Literary Pilgrimage: packing list 2010
Rule: GO LIGHT! One carry-on bag and a handbag or small backpack will hold all you need. We don’t want to lose luggage, exhaust ourselves carrying it, or smother under it in a city bus or subway train. At the Dublin airport we get on a bus and drive away to Moher and Galway, never to return to the Dublin Airport. There’s no time for hanging around the lost luggage office.
Currently, American Airlines allows carry-on baggage up to a total weight of 45 pounds, including:
(1) a carry-on bag with combined dimensions of 45” (length + height + width), for example 22” x 14” x 9”;
(2) a briefcase, purse, or camera bag, with combined dimensions up to 36”; and
(3) a jacket or wrap.
Get complete information by searching “carry on baggage” at aa.com.
You have two hands; you should restrict yourself to two items to carry (and keep). For security reasons, this means a total of two items for you to keep track of—even if one of them is “only” a camera. Shoulder straps make things easier to remember, easier to carry, and more secure. Wheeled luggage is not usable everywhere—cobblestones still exist in parts of the world, as do stairways, unpaved stretches, and so on.
From time to time we will have access to a laundromat. More frequently, you can wash out light things in the sink in your room. There is no need to pack lots of outfits. You will notice that the natives, too, dress simply and in plain colors.
A good rule of thumb: If you won’t use it repeatedly, leave it home. Travelers always comment, at the end of the trip, that they brought too much stuff.
General items:
1. Your warm, bare body (attire it from the list below)
2. Passport and passport bag (the bag will be provided to you)
3. Money for incidentals (separate handout and instruction are forthcoming on money and shopping)
4. Camera (film and/or batteries are cheaper here than there, and more convenient to find)
Anticipate temperatures from 50° - 70°. Anticipate rain and shine. Anticipate standing still in cool churches and hiking or biking in sun or rain or wind – or all three.
Clothing and equipment:
Women and Men
2-3 pairs of slacks or trousers
6 lightweight shirts or tops
6 pairs of socks and underwear
1-2 pairs of shoes (walking shoes only; no flipflops)
shoe care kit
sweater (optional)
jacket
cap or umbrella
pajamas or nightgown (optional)
swim suit or shorts (optional)
washcloth (optional – but don’t expect to find them in hotels and B&Bs)
towel (do not pack your own towel – a Brit Lit towel will be provided to you)
laundry soap in a double plastic bag; 30’ nylon clothesline (these are also provided)
toilet articles: tissues; eye, oral, hair care items (3-ounce Colgate toothpaste provided)
alarm clock or watch
plastic bags for laundry, odds and ends
scriptures, academic needs, writing materials
Women Men
1 dress or skirt/blouse 1 necktie
feminine hygiene needs shaving kit
Note: Adapters are required to use American electrical appliances—simply to fit the English, Irish, or French outlets. European current is 220 volts, which means that without a transformer (in addition to outlet adapters), your American appliances (110 volts) will be destroyed. Some appliances have an internal transformer; some do not. You life will be simpler if you leave your curling iron or electric shaver home.
HOW TO GET THROUGH THE LINE FASTER
EXCERPTED FROM THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (WWW.TSA.GOV)
PACK SMART
Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers – a layer of clothes, then electronic, more clothes, and then any heavier items. This will help transportation security officers see what's in your bag. Innocent items can actually appear to be potential threats in an X-ray image, simply by the way they're packed.
Do not pack oversized electronics (laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes) in your checked baggage when possible. However, please be advised that you will be required to remove these items from your carry-on bag and submit them separately for x-ray screening. Small electronics, such as iPods, can remain in your carry-on.
Prepare your 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag of liquids before arriving at the airport. 3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 oz. container size is a security measure.
Consolidate bottles into one bag and X-ray separately to speed screening.
Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.
3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.
Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.
Pack all your coats and jackets in your checked baggage when possible. All coats and jackets must go through the X-ray machine for inspection.
Do not wrap gifts. If a security officer needs to inspect a package, they may have to unwrap your gift. Please wait until you've reached your final destination to wrap gifts.
Film. Undeveloped film should go in your carry-on bag. You will able to declare film that is faster than 800-speed to a transportation security officer for physical inspection to avoid being X-rayed.
When in doubt, leave it out. If you're not sure about whether you can bring an item through the checkpoint, put it in your checked bag or leave it at home.
DRESS THE PART
Transportation security officers have to identify any metal that is detected at the checkpoint. If the metal detector alarms when you pass through, you will be required to undergo additional screening. This includes a hand-wand and pat-down inspection.
Items that might set off an alarm on the metal detector include:
Keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs)
Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
Belt buckles
Under-wire bras
Body Piercings. Certain metal body piercings may cause you to alarm at the metal detector, which will result in you getting additional screening. If additional screening is required, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to the pat-down search.
Head Coverings. You are permitted to wear head coverings and religious garments during the screening process. You may be directed to additional screening if your headwear or clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items.
Shoes. Travelers are required to remove their shoes before entering the walk-through metal detector at all U.S. airports and put them through the x-ray machine for inspection. This allows officers to see if the shoes have been tampered with in any way.
HAVE THE FOLLOWING READY
The items you'll need to present to a Transportation Security Officer at the checkpoint are:
Boarding pass
Identification (passport)
We encourage each adult traveler to keep his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID available until exiting the security checkpoint.
If you do not have identification (if it is lost, stolen, etc.), you will be required to provide the document checking officer with some information to help verify your identity. This will slow down your screening process and will result in additional screening. Without a passport, you will not be admitted to an international flight.
I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospect of trying to keep all of this straight, especially since I don't want to be one of those travelers that holds up the line and causes more issues than are wanted. I don't want to have to go through a whole body search by the TSA, considering how they have been treating travelers lately.
Brit. Lit. Tour Travel Advice
Monday November 29, 2010
British Literary Pilgrimage: packing list 2010
Rule: GO LIGHT! One carry-on bag and a handbag or small backpack will hold all you need. We don’t want to lose luggage, exhaust ourselves carrying it, or smother under it in a city bus or subway train. At the Dublin airport we get on a bus and drive away to Moher and Galway, never to return to the Dublin Airport. There’s no time for hanging around the lost luggage office.
Currently, American Airlines allows carry-on baggage up to a total weight of 45 pounds, including:
(1) a carry-on bag with combined dimensions of 45” (length + height + width), for example 22” x 14” x 9”;
(2) a briefcase, purse, or camera bag, with combined dimensions up to 36”; and
(3) a jacket or wrap.
Get complete information by searching “carry on baggage” at aa.com.
You have two hands; you should restrict yourself to two items to carry (and keep). For security reasons, this means a total of two items for you to keep track of—even if one of them is “only” a camera. Shoulder straps make things easier to remember, easier to carry, and more secure. Wheeled luggage is not usable everywhere—cobblestones still exist in parts of the world, as do stairways, unpaved stretches, and so on.
From time to time we will have access to a laundromat. More frequently, you can wash out light things in the sink in your room. There is no need to pack lots of outfits. You will notice that the natives, too, dress simply and in plain colors.
A good rule of thumb: If you won’t use it repeatedly, leave it home. Travelers always comment, at the end of the trip, that they brought too much stuff.
General items:
1. Your warm, bare body (attire it from the list below)
2. Passport and passport bag (the bag will be provided to you)
3. Money for incidentals (separate handout and instruction are forthcoming on money and shopping)
4. Camera (film and/or batteries are cheaper here than there, and more convenient to find)
Anticipate temperatures from 50° - 70°. Anticipate rain and shine. Anticipate standing still in cool churches and hiking or biking in sun or rain or wind – or all three.
Clothing and equipment:
Women and Men
2-3 pairs of slacks or trousers
6 lightweight shirts or tops
6 pairs of socks and underwear
1-2 pairs of shoes (walking shoes only; no flipflops)
shoe care kit
sweater (optional)
jacket
cap or umbrella
pajamas or nightgown (optional)
swim suit or shorts (optional)
washcloth (optional – but don’t expect to find them in hotels and B&Bs)
towel (do not pack your own towel – a Brit Lit towel will be provided to you)
laundry soap in a double plastic bag; 30’ nylon clothesline (these are also provided)
toilet articles: tissues; eye, oral, hair care items (3-ounce Colgate toothpaste provided)
alarm clock or watch
plastic bags for laundry, odds and ends
scriptures, academic needs, writing materials
Women Men
1 dress or skirt/blouse 1 necktie
feminine hygiene needs shaving kit
Note: Adapters are required to use American electrical appliances—simply to fit the English, Irish, or French outlets. European current is 220 volts, which means that without a transformer (in addition to outlet adapters), your American appliances (110 volts) will be destroyed. Some appliances have an internal transformer; some do not. You life will be simpler if you leave your curling iron or electric shaver home.
HOW TO GET THROUGH THE LINE FASTER
EXCERPTED FROM THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (WWW.TSA.GOV)
PACK SMART
Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers – a layer of clothes, then electronic, more clothes, and then any heavier items. This will help transportation security officers see what's in your bag. Innocent items can actually appear to be potential threats in an X-ray image, simply by the way they're packed.
Do not pack oversized electronics (laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes) in your checked baggage when possible. However, please be advised that you will be required to remove these items from your carry-on bag and submit them separately for x-ray screening. Small electronics, such as iPods, can remain in your carry-on.
Prepare your 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag of liquids before arriving at the airport. 3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 oz. container size is a security measure.
Consolidate bottles into one bag and X-ray separately to speed screening.
Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.
3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.
Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.
Pack all your coats and jackets in your checked baggage when possible. All coats and jackets must go through the X-ray machine for inspection.
Do not wrap gifts. If a security officer needs to inspect a package, they may have to unwrap your gift. Please wait until you've reached your final destination to wrap gifts.
Film. Undeveloped film should go in your carry-on bag. You will able to declare film that is faster than 800-speed to a transportation security officer for physical inspection to avoid being X-rayed.
When in doubt, leave it out. If you're not sure about whether you can bring an item through the checkpoint, put it in your checked bag or leave it at home.
DRESS THE PART
Transportation security officers have to identify any metal that is detected at the checkpoint. If the metal detector alarms when you pass through, you will be required to undergo additional screening. This includes a hand-wand and pat-down inspection.
Items that might set off an alarm on the metal detector include:
Keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs)
Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
Belt buckles
Under-wire bras
Body Piercings. Certain metal body piercings may cause you to alarm at the metal detector, which will result in you getting additional screening. If additional screening is required, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to the pat-down search.
Head Coverings. You are permitted to wear head coverings and religious garments during the screening process. You may be directed to additional screening if your headwear or clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items.
Shoes. Travelers are required to remove their shoes before entering the walk-through metal detector at all U.S. airports and put them through the x-ray machine for inspection. This allows officers to see if the shoes have been tampered with in any way.
HAVE THE FOLLOWING READY
The items you'll need to present to a Transportation Security Officer at the checkpoint are:
Boarding pass
Identification (passport)
We encourage each adult traveler to keep his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID available until exiting the security checkpoint.
If you do not have identification (if it is lost, stolen, etc.), you will be required to provide the document checking officer with some information to help verify your identity. This will slow down your screening process and will result in additional screening. Without a passport, you will not be admitted to an international flight.
I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospect of trying to keep all of this straight, especially since I don't want to be one of those travelers that holds up the line and causes more issues than are wanted. I don't want to have to go through a whole body search by the TSA, considering how they have been treating travelers lately.
