Inside The Travel

When packing for a trip to Europe you need to consider the weather, as well as the activities you are planning to participate in.

One important thing to keep in mind for all air travel (not only to Europe) is not to over-pack. Most carriers allow only 20 kilo or 45 lb if you’re traveling economy. Furthermore you want to travel as light as possible in case you have to drag your luggage around with you.

I travel for business and private reasons at least 30 times a year and here are my most important recommendations:

1. Don’t pack last minute.

This will give you the chance to buy some things you need before your departure.

2. Start with the things you need for every vacation
Toiletries, underwear, socks, medicine. Always take sunscreen: As a working person you probably spend most of your time indoors and aren’t used to the sun.

3. Chose your main colors
In order to be able to combine all the pieces, try to stick to three main colors. Black and white are always two of my main colors, because they go wit everything. Add your favorite color like red, pink, green or blue.

4. Chose the basic everyday outfits
For short journeys (up to one week) pack one complete outfit for every day. For longer journeys, take one complete outfit for every day of the first week. Afterwards you’ll have to repeat clothes or go to a laundry.

You’ll probably spend most of your time outdoors and walking around, visiting the different sights. Therefore your basic outfit could consist in jeans and T-shirt. Don’t forget to pack a set of underwear and socks for each day.

5. Pack to evening outfits
If you plan to go to a fancy restaurant, the opera or a discotheque, you’ll need an evening outfit. Don’t take more than two or three of them and make them simple yet stunning: black pants/skirts and a glamorous top.

6. Don’t forget bad weather gear
Always take at least two sweaters, if the weather gets cold. An umbrella or rain jacket will be suitable as well.

7. What about sports?
Never go anywhere without a bathing suit! It’s so tiny and you never know when you can use it. Maybe the weather is really hot and you want to go to the beach (at a lake) or the weather is really bad and you want to enjoy tropical feeling in an indoors swimming pool.

8. Chose three pairs of shoes
Take one or two comfortable shoes or sneakers for the everyday activities and one nice pair for the evening and maybe some really glitzy high heels for the occasional night life event.

9. Take as little jewelry as possible
Carrying your fine jewelry all across the world and taking it in and out the hotel safe might make yourself a target for theft. Don’t ruin your vacation! Chose some basic pieces of jewelry and travel with those.

10. Spread out all clothes to consider onto your bed
Once everything is spread out on your bed, start packing your suitcase. Count the number of pieces and ask yourself:

Do I really need 20 T-shirts for a 2 week vacation? Then start putting half of the pieces back into the closet. This way you make sure you pack only what is necessary.

Marion Kummerow is the author of http://www.inside-munich.com and an experienced traveler to destinations all over the world.

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While many tourists visit Bulgaria for the sun and sand on the Black Sea coast there are also many tourists who would love to come in land and see the historical, more traditional aspects of this wonderful country.

Bulgaria has some of the oldest towns and cities in Europe with many beautiful architectural monuments of years past, these vary from cave dwellings and Roman amphitheatres to cathedrals and monasteries.

There are many places to visit throughout Bulgaria but the one city that captures my imagination is Plovdiv. Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria and is a city that is older than Rome or Athens. If you were to visit Plovdiv your first impression would be that Plovdiv is a city that is up to date and full of new buildings, but on closer inspection you would be overcome by the amount of ancient ruins from Thracian and Roman times that are still standing today. If you take the time to walk around the city you can see remnants of Thracian and Roman ruins lying behind newly built buildings everywhere, even the main post office in Plovdiv has ruins lying behind it, almost left to defend itself from the elements.

In total there are 200 archeological sites in Plovdiv and many of these are of national importance, if not internationally. If you wander in to the old town of Plovdiv that is hidden away in the center of the city you will see some of the most impressive archeological finds of the 21st century like the Roman Amphitheatre that was found by a landslide in the 1970’s. The Roman amphitheatre has a seating capacity of almost 7,000 and was built in the second century AD under the rule of the Roman Emperor Trajan. The theatre is still used today for theatrical shows and attractions.

Guy Marlow is a writer who has a passion for the wonderful country Bulgaria. You can view Guy’s blog about Bulgaria at http://bulgarianguide.blogspot.com/

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Garmisch, Germany boasts of many things - the breathtaking Bavarian Alps, perfectly-carved wooden houses with flowerboxes that spill over with color, the delicate edelweiss alpine blossoms, mouth-watering schnitzel, stout German beer, and a myriad of talented local craftsmen. But did you know that at the edge of this quaint, picture-perfect town lies a violent display of Mother Nature? Known in German as the ‘Partnachklamm’, it hides behind the old Olympic Stadium and attracts hundreds of hikers each year.

So what exactly is the Partnachklamm? In a nutshell, it’s a struggle to the death - a knock-down, drag-out brawl between the Partnach River and a limestone gorge. The river peacefully runs through the trees until it hits the 262-foot tall gorge. From there the river’s personality turns to fury as it slams into the rock walls, throwing its temper tantrum for over 2,300 feet before calming down again and continuing to flow through the Bavarian countryside. Visitors follow a carved-out rock path from the entrance to the gorge and up a gradual incline to experience firsthand what nature is capable of. Don’t forget your raincoat, though! You may be able to avoid the mist from the tumbling cascades but the spray from the waterfalls above will most definitely christen you!

There are several ways to experience the Partnachklamm, each holding its own delight for the visitor. Late spring through summer will provide a green backdrop on the limestone rocks while the chilly alpine waters almost deafen its company. In colder months, the gorge becomes an enchanting world of icicles and snow. Check first before showing up during the winter, thoughtoo much snow and ice will force the gorge to close for safety reasons. It’s also possible to visit during the day or the night - daytime offers better views while the warming sunbeams force their way through the foliage. After dark, torch-lit tours are offered, giving the gorge a mystical quality. Regardless of season or time of day, once you’ve made your way through this hidden natural treasure, continue up the mountain for a robust hike and then relax at the Forsthaus Graseck’s restaurant. The food is excellent and the views are breathtaking. While indulging in their cuisine, ponder how you’ll get back down - take the same path through the gorge or a restful two-minute ride down in the cable car. Either way, a trip to the Partnachklamm is well worth it!

See pictures of the Partnachklamm and more of Europe’s hidden treasures in “Europe for the Senses - A Photographic Journal” by Vicki Landes. Available at Amazon.com and other major bookseller sites.

www.EuropeForTheSenses.com

Vicki Landes has been soaking up Europe for the last six and a half years. Although educated in music and holding a day job in the humanitarian assistance field, her free time is spent supporting her travel and photography addictions. With a current list of 45 countries under her belt, Landes strives to find the overlooked details that make each place distinctive and unique. She currently lives in Stuttgart, Germany with her military husband and their son.

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