When women travel, they carry luggage. So much luggage. On a trip to Italy a few years ago, my group of five women (only one of which did I know) traveling together for two weeks brought eight huge suitcases and numerous carry-ons, which did not include shopping bags or purses. Oh my gosh. I have never seen so many bags all together in one place.
On arrival, we went to pick up our rental car. My friend had reserved a Land Rover, big enough to seat all five of us. It was not, however, big enough to hold our luggage, too. The attendant gave us a van – still not big enough. We ended up with the most American looking SUV they had on the lot.
Major props to my friend who was the driver of that SUV. It is nigh impossible to drive a large vehicle in Italy. The roads are narrow and traffic laws are merely suggestions. Most drivers there are in compacts and minis. We looked so very out of place in our 5-door, 8-seat gas guzzler. We and our baggage barely fit into it. Loading it was like a game of Tetris.
My goal is to travel light: One carryon, no matter where I go, no matter for how long. I pack just enough clothes, made from wrinkle-free fabrics that roll up tight, and one pair of very cute but practical shoes. I pack light, so I can remain flexible and fancy-free.
These women brought snacks, jewelry, shoes, cameras, pillows, I don’t even know what else. So many things! Problem is, it is really hard to carry so many bags everywhere you go, and you’re liable to start losing things because it’s hard to keep track of them.
Our villa was on the third floor, and we arrived late at night in the dark. I can lift my suitcase easily, so carrying it up the stairs was no problem. Not so much the other girls. It took them many trips to carry their bags one at a time up the stairs, stopping on each stair. It struck me, not for the first time, how easy life can be when you just don’t carry much around. My heart went out to these weary travelers – but not quite enough to offer to carry their bags for them.
Our stay in the villa was beautiful, sleeping with the windows and shudders wide open. I had a room to myself, which was glorious. Only my things to look after – no clutter, no commingling of other travelers’ dirty socks or facial products. The peacefulness was sweet and exhilarating.
Our trip was magical! We visited Rome, toured castle ruins, rode Vespas to a private vineyard tour, soaked in a sulphury spring-fed pool, made pizzas and limoncello at a lemon farm, tasted wine and olive oils, and watched cheesemakers twist and pull mozzarella into perfect, glossy, white wreaths. We lay on the beach, took a private boat ride to Capri, toured the Amalfi coast, and were serenaded and entertained by a troubadour. I pocketed a few small rocks and seashells from the Mediterranean shore as mementos.
We ended our trip in Naples, where my travel companions – I kid you not – bought additional luggage to carry back all the items they purchased along the way. They had bought wine, oil, leather goods, clothes, jewelry, knick-knacks, and lots and lots of things. On our way to the airport, we had to get two taxis, one for the luggage and one for us. And then the kicker – my friends ended up paying an additional $600 in fines for the airline luggage transfer.
Why so much stuff?
Seriously, you are cute enough as it is without having to have three outfits per day, plus shoes, plus jewelry and accessories, including scarves, bags, and belts.
The problem with baggage, is it is just that. Stuff you carry around that weighs you down. Constantly looking after your things, being held back at the airport, at the hotel, in the cab, not being able to go where you want when you want.
Then when you get home you have to find a place for it all. You have to unpack it, wash it, and put it away. Is it worth it to carry all that baggage? It may sound like I’m being judgmental but hear me out.
Carrying too many bags full of unnecessary things that we think we need is a living metaphor for how we carry around our very own fears, anxieties, emotional turmoil, and self-inflicted stress. That kind of baggage weighs us down and keeps us from enjoying life as it is happening. And apparently, the more we have of it, the more we accumulate.
Pare down, fellow sojourners. Travel light, figuratively and literally. Be ready to go, ready to see, ready to do. You definitely already look cute enough.