Things I Carry In My Day Bag When Traveling

“You have to travel to see new light, find new hope, renew the mind and revitalize the soul.” Lailah Gifty Akita

Chances are good that if you need something, you will find it in my purse. It is a bit of a black hole. You would not believe the things I find. There is always food (not always fresh), usually chocolate, loose cosmetics, foreign coins from countries I haven’t been to in a long time, loose credit cards that have fallen out of my wallet, old car tickets that I couldn’t find when I needed them, foreign bills from my last trip, more than one coffee card, business cards from people I do not remember,  receipts, loose tic tacs, eye drops, theatre tickets, a toothbrush without a case, keys to I don’t know what, rubber bands and band aids.

I’m not good with a purse. i do love them and have many. I believe that each new one will be different.This will be the one where I become neat and organized. Within in a week I have enough stuff in it to flee the country. The only time I am reasonably organized is when I travel. I always start with a clean purse.

I usually leave in the morning for a whole day with a purse and light tote. I can’t fit everything I need into a purse and the tote is good for shopping.

Lip gloss – Terry clear gloss. if its sunny something with a sunscreen as well.

Cover stick – works for everything

Eye drops –  because I need them,

Clear glasses –  because I need them also.

Tiny umbrella hooked onto something if rain is a possibility

Small or large camera

iPhone

Sometimes sneakers or extra shoes

Pen and moleskin notebook or paper if I misplace the notebook.

Candy

Floss for after the candy

Water

Paper map. Technology doesn’t always work.

Business cards

Change for street performers and rest rooms. I give to every musician and every restroom. Trust me, in some countries you will want to pay.

Tissues – for those same countries.

Hand crème and hand sanitizer, because I have hands.

Allergy pills and Tylenol.

Ipod and noise cancelling headphones

Protein bars, almonds, cheese or something wrapped in a napkin from breakfast which always involves crumbs .

When I get home I clean out my travel purse. There are always cookie crumbs, loose cosmetics usually without the tops, loose pills that have fallen out of the bottles, loose coins, foreign bills, loose credit cards that have fallen out of my wallet, business cards from people I do not remember, loose tic tacs, eye drops -some are empty, a toothbrush without a case, stones and shells I picked up from somewhere, airline and hotel “giveaways”, loose jelly bellies and m and ms, loose crinkled tissues, gum wrappers, hotel keys, boarding passes, and papers from museums, galleries and stores.

Yes my purse usually ends up as a reflection of my disorganized brain. I’m not ashamed of it. Who has time to organize a purse when there are so many exciting things to do in the world? I carry my baggage with me.

Fly safe,

JAZ