Creating the perfect airplane outfit

 The perfect airplane outfit changes per trip, but it always has a few things for me:

• Compression socks for international flights
• A scarf
• My heaviest pants
• A light weight jacket

For my trip to Germany in summer 2023, I wore:

• Not pictured: Clarks slide on shoes that I wore pretty much every day to work that are very comfortable
• Purple compression socks that have been with me on every international adventure since 2013
• A lightweight scarf I bought in Spain
• A print t-shirt
• A black exercise jacket with zip up pockets
• Jeans - my only long pants jeans for the whole trip.  These are my heaviest pants and surprisingly comfortable.  I've been able to "rest" in jeans on planes before.  I don't sleep well on international flights anyways.
• Not pictured: my money belt

When I arrive to the airport, there is nothing in my pockets for ease of going through security.  Once I'm at the gate, I move things from my purse to my pockets so I'm not elbowing my neighbor or making a mess to find my essentials.  What I want on hand for my flight are:

• Ear planes - these are a LIFE SAVER for me since my ears will otherwise pop and I'll be in pain for hours to days afterwards.
• Headphones with a 3M jack.  I have a 3M to lightning convertor so I can use one pair the whole trip, whether to my iPhone or the airplane's TV or to a museum's audio guide.
• Hard candy for take off and landing
• Hand wipes
• Entertainment, ie: Kindle

How to pack your 3-1-1 liquids bag

By now, almost everyone is familiar with the 3-1-1 liquids rule.  According to the TSA: Each passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or100 milliliters. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols.

My liquids bag contains:

• Shampoo - even though this is provided at most hotels
• Conditioner - even though this is provided at most hotels
• Dish soap so I can wash my water bottle and my plastic silverware 
• Liquid foundation
• Moisturizer
• Toothpaste
• Sunscreen
• Nasal spray for my allergies - if it were a prescription with my name on it, it could go outside of my liquids bag
• Laundry soap so I can handwash my clothes in the sink
• Two laundry "pods" since I'll be away for a month on this particular trip and will be using washing machines
• Not pictured: the liquid for Covid tests.  I'm still packing my own tests since they are easy to carry and more convenient than finding a pharmacy if I'm unwell.

Other things I've put in my bag over the years:

• Peanut butter
• Hummus
• Over the counter first aid items like Neosporin and Sting Kill 

My favorite hack for keeping my liquids contained is to put a piece of plastic wrap over the mouth of the bottle BEFORE tightly screwing the lid on.

The past two times I've flown from O'Hare, security had us keep our liquids bag inside our carry on.  I still keep it near the top of my bag or in my purse for easy access.

I travel with an extra empty quart bag in case mine gets damaged along the way.  I always use a freezer bag so the bag is stronger and won't break as easily.  The rounded bottles are always no problem, but it's the pointed ends on the toothpaste and sunscreen that are most likely to damage the bag.

What's in your liquids bag?  Do you have any hacks?

Our Chalet Challenge

One of the things I am proudest of during my time at Our Chalet in Adelboden, Switzerland was completing the Our Chalet Challenge.  Since I participated in an official program, the patch was included if I earned it.  As a lifelong Girl Scout and current leader, I was going to earn it!  There were various steps I completed over a week.  As I completed activities, volunteers, staff, or leaders from other groups initialed my progress.  Then my booklet was reviewed and the next morning, right before I departed, I received my patch!  Talk about cutting it close!  

Not everyone who attends Our Chalet completes the challenge and some steps were definitely harder than others.  You can work on the Leadership, Packing, and Fitness elements in advance of the trip.  For the elements completed while at the World Center, there were several options to accommodate a wide ranger of interests and abilities.  Here is what I did to earn it:

Our Culture

Compulsory: Meet a Swiss person, talk to them and find out three facts about living in Switzerland.  I spoke with a Swiss staff member about education and we were comparing our educational systems and standards based grading!  It was a great conversation that ended only because of dinner.

Complete any three of the following:

c. Find out how you would travel by public transport from Our Chalet to the Capital City of Switzerland.  This was easy for me since I did it only days before.

e. Carry out a traditional Swiss craft.  We worked on Scherenschnitte, or paper cutting, while watching a movie one leisurely afternoon.

h. Name ten common objects in German.  This was easy since I was working on Germany in DuoLingo!  It was a random assortment of objects since I was just getting started on my language learning journey at the time.

WAGGGS & Five World Centers

Compulsory: Learn five facts about a Guide's / Scout culture that differs from your own member organizations.  One night was International Night so we shared more about our countries as well as local communities and Girl Scout and Girl Guiding cultures and traditions.  And of course, we swapped patches!

Complete any three of the following:

a. Explain to a Staff member why you like being a Guide/Scout and give an example of something you do to be a good world citizen.  

b. Recite your Guide / Scout promise and law and explain what they mean to you.

c. What is the theme of World Thinking Day this year?  This was another fun thing to discuss with other leaders since many of us run the same WAGGGS World Thinking Day badge!

Personal Challenge and Service

Complete your own personal challenge.  This is very personal to you and can be anything you decide - as long as it is a challenge!  Examples could be hiking a mountain, navigating your group using the map, completing the high ropes course, learning some German, being away from home for the first time, and much more!  My personal challenge was the number of hikes we went on!  I did not have time to get into the best shape but I never gave up and overall with the help of my hiking stick, was able to keep up with everyone else.  I only needed a few extra "photo breaks" while going up the Our Chalet hill.

Do a Good Turn for someone else staying at, or working for Our Chalet.  Explain to someone in what way you have done a Good Turn.  It wasn't big, but I helped volunteers clean an area after an activity ended.

Physical Challenge

Compulsory: Complete one of the following hikes: Engstligen Falls, Woodcarver's or Bunderfalls and Magic Tree OR do an activity that is a physical challenge for you.  I solo hiked to the Woodcarver.

Complete any two of the following:

a. Pack your rucksack with all the important items you need to take hiking in the Swiss Alps.  Show a member of staff and explain why you need each of them.  Having a properly packed backpack is essential!

f. Tell someone from another country about a hike or walk you went on back home.  What was different from hiking around Our Chalet?  Was anything the same?  Trying to compare the mountains to walking around your neighborhood in the Midwest...what a comparison! 

Our Chalet Knowledge

Compulsory: Talk a staff member through the history of Our Chalet.

Complete any three of the following:

a. Write a blog post for the Our Chalet blog.  Done!  This was my first time writing a blog post on my phone.

e. Find out what Our Chalet was used for during World War II.

g. There is a special tradition that is held in Baby Chalet.  What is it and why is it special?

Cheating and checking a bag

I know, I know.  I'm Carry On With a Camera.  I LIVE this lifestyle.  I pack as little as possible and do my laundry in the sink.  But then I flew to Switzerland for nearly two weeks over winter break and needed to pack snow pants, snow boots, layers of winter clothing, extra gloves in case they got wet, and hiking poles.  Hiking poles, even the collapsible ones, aren't allowed in carry on bags.  Since my physical fitness levels took a nose dive this school year, I knew the only way I would be climbing every mountain was with hiking poles.  Since I'm so short and have impossibly small feet, buying clothes or shoes while abroad would be an unnecessary stress, not to mention expense.  So I did something I swore I would never do and I did it for the first time in over two decades - I checked a bag both ways.

After reading horror story after horror story about lost bags, I bought an Apple Airtag.  If I had more time, I would have had it engraved, but time was not on my side.  I was risking nothing more if I was already uncomfortably checking a bag.

Here's what I did to make my journey smoother:

• Made sure I knew how to use the Find My app and Airtag prior to leaving.
• Bought an accessory from Apple to my Airtag was linked to the metal in my luggage so it couldn't be cut out or taken out easily.  I use a special hex key to install it.
• Used a brightly colored and unique luggage.  And take pictures of it in case it goes missing!
• Used TSA approved luggage locks.
• Made sure my name, e-mail address, and phone number(s) are clearly written on both the outside and inside of my luggage.  On my luggage tag, you'll have to do a bit of work (take out the paper) to see my contact information because of security.  I don't want my street address visible to all the strangers on public transit or the airport as I'm getting ready to travel.  SAFETY!
• I regularly checked my luggage for peace of mind.  I was able to do this as well when I left my bags in a luggage locker in a train station or at the hotel as well.

I did have some panic as I saw a sea of luggage come down the conveyor but not mine.  I had to wait around 5 minutes in both Zurich and Chicago for my bag, which is not bad at all.  I was so relieved to be connected with my bag.  Carry on only is the way for me but when required, I can adapt.

Even though my future travels don't have visions of waiting at the luggage carousel again, I do still plan on using the Apple Airtag to make my traveling go smoother.  What are your experiences with this tiny bit of technology?

Boarding the plane

When most people name their favorite place, they often name an exotic location or even a category like beach that evokes the ultimate feelings of relaxation.  For me, my favorite travel place and moments are boarding the airplane.  I swear, I should check my Apple Watch and see if my heart race really does skip a beat like it feels like when I board the plane to take my seat.  It takes everything in me to not skip down the loading bridge and on to the plane.  Once there, I hurriedly place my luggage in the overhead bin (sometimes with the assistance of a taller stranger) and take my seat and buckle in for an adventure.  Whether it is a short domestic flight to Ohio or a red eye to Germany, the excitement is still the same.  I'm about to soar through the air and see the world pass me by and take me to a new location.  Sometimes, I've been lucky and had the whole row to myself.  Other times, I learned to tuck my elbows in an make myself as small as possible as the plane was packed but in all situations, nothing could drown out my enthusiasm.

Some of my favorite plane boarding tips:

• Go to the bathroom before you board.
• Fill your water bottle, too!
• Make sure your essentials are where you think they are: passport, headphones, hard candy/gum, something to do on the plane...  Move some items to your pants pockets, if appropriate. 
• Have a hand wipe or disinfecting wipe for cleaning off your seat rests, seat belt, TV screen, and tray table.  Ew, germs!  I normally bring one in a snack bag so I have an instant garbage bag, too.
• Try not to put anything in the seat back pocket because again, ew germs! and you may lose something there.
• Keep your jacket or sweatshirt handy if you think you will get cold.
• Since I solo travel, I will put a luggage lock on my purse for extra security.  The key is safety pinned inside my money belt.  My money belt contains all my essentials: passport, ID, and credit/debit cards and all of my cash.  I keep my phone on me during the plane ride.
• If you are planning on sleeping, make sure your seat belt is always visible.  Buckle the seatbelt over the blanket so you are not disturbed during a mid-slumber turbulence.
• Settle in and enjoy the ride!

Photography Challenge: Kilbourn Avenue Bridge

One of my favorite photo challenges, especially to a group when at an overly photographed site (I'm looking at you The Bean and Eiffel Tower!), is to take a picture no one has taken before.  Get a different view point.  Try a new angle.

While in Milwaukee, I had fun photographing the S. S. Core by Robert W. Smart on the Kilbourn Avenue Bridge over the Milwaukee River.  It is made of end caps of recycled propane tanks.

Here's your stereotypical picture of the S.S. Core.

And here where my attempts at creative photographs, including some playing with my iPhone's color filters only.

How did I do?  Did I get a never-before-photographed view of this massive sculpture?

Milwaukee - April 2021 with PhotoEnrichment Adventures

With the power of two vaccines running through me, it was time to leave my house in spring 2021 and start traveling again.  I previously had gone on vacations for up weeks at a time in the summer and I wanted to check if staying at home for nearly a year non-stop was ruining my travel vibe and confidence.

Right before lockdown in February 2020, I went to the Chicago Travel & Adventure Show in Rosemont.  I attended several lectures throughout the day and talked to vendors.  One who impressed me was Ralph Velacso.  I took notes as he talked about travel photography, especially on an iPhone.  I was embarrassed that I did not know how to use my phone to its full potential.  After leaving his talk with a link to his eBook in my hand (literally on my phone), I read through his tips and instantly began improving my photography.  I took photos of airplanes as they left O'Hare as I was waiting to go home.  I created a video with music from a series of photos.  I tried slow motion and time lapse.  Who knew that in only a month I would need all these tips and more as I became "a teacher on YouTube" for my students and also "someone who is trying to not lose her mind as she walks the same two mile route every day."  I enjoyed my photography and wanted to learn more.

In spring of 2021, an opportunity popped up to travel to Milwaukee with Ralph and his company PhotoEnrichment Adventures.  I needed motivation to leave my home so I went for my longest car trip in over a year and drove to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the overnight photography course.  Normally his adventures are in far flung distances with every itinerary making me want to scream "take all my money!" but as the world was slowly opening up, an overnight in Milwaukee was perfect.  Plus, as a teacher, my availability normally doesn't align with tour dates.

The Classes

I use Ralph's tips all the time.  It was great to get instant feedback and advice from someone who not only knows their way around an iPhone but also interesting photographs!  I remember he asked about the difference between when you should take a landscape versus a vertical photograph - and Ralph recommended that you take both!  I have definitely used and passed along this advice.  It saves a lot of bad cropping and disappointment when reviewing photos later.

Was it worth it to sign up for a photography class?  Yes.  It pushed me to try new things.  I could also see the world through the eyes of other people in the group.  When one of us wandered to photograph something, the rest of us were curious and sometimes tried to take a similar photo.  I explored new areas.  I felt more confident in taking pictures at different angles.  I realized that I tended to look down a lot and thanks to Ralph pointing out sewer caps and photographing those, I now have several in different cities sitting in my Google Photos.  Since then, I have also been on the hunt for "blue light" in the evening when traveling.  Those magical moments photograph extremely well and I can't believe in all my thousands of photographs from prior travels, I missed them!

Would I do it again?  If the dates line up, yes!  As much as I love solo travel, small group travel with a common bound (photography) is exciting for me.

It's fantastic to have someone guide you around the city.  We walked along the river, through the historic ward, photographed the outside of an art museum, and even visited a light house near Lake Michigan.  According to my Apple Watch, I walked 6.6 miles on Saturday and 6.3 miles on Sunday.

The Hotel

I stayed at The Plaza Hotel Milwaukee.  It was a bit pricier than I would have liked, but the room was great!  It was full of amenities that I would have loved to use like a stocked kitchen, but with a one night trip, there was no need to cook.  Parking was around the corner from the front door in a pay lot from the hotel.  I had to double park to check in before moving my car to the lot and entering from the back.  The hotel is a vintage building so you need to pay attention which stairwell your room is in so you head up the right stairs.

The Food

Lunch on Saturday was at Aloha Poke Bros.  If you haven't had poke before, you're in for a treat!  It's as if Chipotle and Sushi came together for a dream meal.  According to their allergen site, about half the sauces have gluten and only a tiny amount of other ingredients.  Their menu clearly lists which items contain gluten.  It's a very low risk place to dine at in terms of cross contamination!  I took my delicious salmon bowl to a bench near the Milwaukee River and enjoyed my meal al fresco on the sunny day.

Dinner on Saturday was Onesto Italian resturant.  I ordered a mouthwatering scallop dish.  This is something I never made at home!  They did an excellent job catering to a gluten free diet and label which dishes are gluten-friendly on their menu.

Breakfast on Sunday was an underwhelming gluten free granola bar.  Not everything is fancy when traveling!

The Luggage

I packed everything for an overnight in a compact Euro Flight Bag from Rick Steves' online shop.  This was one of my few car-travel trips but there was no need to pack any more than I needed to!

The Photographs

Here are some of my favorite photographs from the weekend.  All #nofilter