u/Arglebarglor

Edit: Thanks everyone for comments! I was very ambitious with a 55L backpack! Lesson learned. Will seriously pare down electronics (kindle only, no iPad, smaller headphones, weigh bag). I realized that my toiletries were like 2 lbs. ridiculous! I don’t know what I was thinking bringing the Switch, although I did play for a few hours on the return flight. ALSO: for the return trip, we took a taxi from the train station in Paris to the airport so we were not trekking through the Paris subway during rush hour with giant backpacks, and it was much more relaxing. Also, we (husband and I) each checked our main backpacks for the return trip as we had a ton of Caudalie hand creams to give as gifts (we get 2 free checked bags on Delta due to our SkyMiles + Amex). This was much more relaxing, we were at the airport super early anyway, had a direct flight, and we were headed home so if luggage was lost we 1) speak the language and 2) already live here so no issues with clothes/meds/toiletries. This may become SOP for us in the future.

10 day trip from NYC—>Cap Ferret (beach town)—>Bordeaux—>NYC
Used an Osprey Fairview 55L so I could have a backpack and extra small daypack for “personal item”
NUMBER ONE lesson learned: just because you CAN fit it does NOT mean you should.
Packed in the large and small backpacks:
3 Bombas v-neck t-shirts
3 Quince microfiber tank tops
1 gauze white button up long sleeve shirt
Sun hat, bikini, beach coverup
Birkenstocks, heeled sandals
Quince gauze jumpsuit
Universal Standard Geneva dress
2 pairs shorts (chino and jeans)
1 pair cropped pants
Quince washable silk pjs
Sarong
iPad
Phone
Nintendo Switch
Kindle
Charger
Transformer with 2 outlets (husband and I both use CPAPS, which we carry in separate cases)
Dopp kit with toiletries, makeup, jewelry, toothpaste/toothbrush/moisturizer
Chargers for watch and phone/ipad
Over-ear noise cancelling headphones
Trtl neck support for sleeping on plane
Tissue weight scarf for plane
3 pair socks, 2 bras, 10 undies
Passport, wallet
Small leather clutch

Travel clothes: knit black pants, t-shirt, light cardigan, sneakers

All this stuff fit without any issues and I even had room to bring back souvenirs. I pretty much wore everything.

HOWEVER: good LORD this was heavy. The larger backpack by itself was ok but add on the smaller “personal” backpack (with my iPad and Switch in it) and I was like a turtle—doomed if I fell backwards. Add to this a long trek the first day from the Paris airport to the Paris subway to the train to Bordeaux to the train to Arcachon to a ferry to Cap Ferret and it was a lot, especially on the subways where I was picking up and putting down the backpack frequently. I am also an out of shape 55 year old. (This trip really motivated me to exercise because we had a great time and I need to be in shape to continue to do this kind of thing into my senior years.)

What I would do differently next time? Just the backpack for clothes/supplies and I would use a large hiking fanny pack around my waist for the stuff I need for the plane. This is what my husband did (I used the fanny pack like a purse when we were settled in the hotel). This would distribute the weight better (I hope). There really were no opportunities to do laundry during the trip; neither hotel offered it and I was not going to waste a half a day doing laundry at a laundromat or dropping it off and picking it up. I guess I don’t absolutely need the iPad but I do like it for planning things and journaling etc with a bigger screen than the phone. The Switch I just tossed in there at the last minute and this was not smart, I haven’t used it once.

Anyway, I’m on the train now back to Paris from Bordeaux to catch a plane back to NYC. Ideas for thinning my list for next time are welcome, as are any comments! Thanks for reading!

Got it for cheap on sale and played while recovering from surgery, couldn’t handle anything too intense. This was perfect. Gameplay is engaging, art/graphics are great, and it is definitely not strenuous or difficult.

I had surgery a week ago that requires me to avoid lifting more than 10 pounds. I have two 50-lb doodles! Their last bath was about a month ago and they are getting a little greasy. I usually do all the grooming myself (bath, blow dry, clipping). They don’t love going to the groomer (have only gone once each when I first rescued them, they were a mess from living in a shelter) and frankly it’s so expensive here it isn’t worth it. Does anyone use a waterless shampoo and do you recommend it? I just need to get through the next month until I can lift them again!