Here on LongLongHoneymoon.com, we focus upon our Airstream / RV travels. Since it’s pretty tough to haul one’s Airstream across the ocean, this means domestic travel throughout the spectacular United States.
But the fundamental goal is to share our enthusiasm for not only camping, but travel itself. Travel is arguably the best form of education. How better to absorb culture and history (and beer) than to experience it first hand? So we occasionally take our walkabout overseas (Argentina or Guatemala, anyone?). This is one of those times. Someday we’ll travel abroad with an Airstream; at the moment, backpacks will suffice.
Backpack? Check. Scarf? Check. Silly hat? Check...
While it’s not the same as camping, there are similarities. It’s certainly consistent with what Airstream founder Wally Byam was doing 50 years ago, when he led group Airstream caravans to faraway destinations around the globe. The philosophy of “less is more” also applies, especially when you’re serving as your own pack mule.
How many women can fit three weeks worth of stuff in one backpack? That's my gal!
How to pack for a journey such as this one? There are many theories. We go as light as possible while retaining DAILY fresh underwear. We also plan to do laundry once or twice during our trip. For me, choosing which photo & video gear to pack is the most difficult part of the process.
Of course we rely on mass transit, which is generally excellent. In London we just bought a one-week “Oyster” pass that grants unlimited usage of the subway (the London Underground), buses, and some boats.
Sometimes there's a 12-inch gap between subway platform and car. Which begs the question -- why not just fix the gap and be done with it?
No exit signs -- instead, "way out" signs!
Kristy on the London Underground (not a political movement!).
It's COLD here. That's 21 degrees, for all you Farenheit fans!
They've set up a temporary ice skating rink on the MOAT outside the Tower of London. Brilliant!
They wouldn't have done this in the old days -- mainly because the moat was full of garbage, sewage, and stagnant water. It's no fun skating on sewage.
This market (Leadenhall) is located near our hotel. During daytime it's full of hustle & bustle. But it's quiet at night: London pubs have last call at 11PM!
In a world of cellphones and wifi, these traditional red booths are mostly useful as temporary shelter from the elements.
The first bottle of brew on this trip! For all I know, this may be the Milwaukee's Best of the UK, but I'll give it a shot. Beer is culture, right?
Traditional pub dinner of beef pie, mashed potatoes, and a few veggies. The little pot contains gravy! British cuisine is often the subject of ridicule, but I go for this sort of old-fashioned comfort food. (Hey, chicken pot pies got me through grad school.)
Ahhhhhh. The pride of London, indeed.
Harrod's is a London shopping institution. It's kind of like Macy's, but more...of everything.
Harrod's is owned by the guy whose son was dating Diana. Here's a memorial to the two.
Since the owner is Egyptian, there's a general Egyptian theme throughout the store.
Harrod's averages 30,000 visitors per day, but that number multiplies during the holiday season. Multiplies, get it?
Sean reconnects with former college roommate Gunnar, a proud Swede living in London! Much merriment ensues...
The obligatory self-portrait. Happy Christmas to you from across the pond!
We will be blogging from the UK and Europe for the next few weeks. We are starting in London before moving on to Germany and Belgium. We have family in Germany, so we’re excited about experiencing Christmas in Deutchland.
I’ll upload photos whenever possible. Bear in mind that I’m dealing with inconsistent wifi and a tiny netbook! But we’ll do the best we can. 🙂
Happy Christmas to all of our online friends!
MORE TO COME
Looks like your having fun! Christmas in Germany is a great time!!!
Just wanted to let you know that your blog is mentioned in the January issue of Good Sam Club Highways pg. 13.
Hi Ginny!
We haven’t seen the Good Sam mention, but of course we are members so we’ll check out our magazine when we get home. Thanks for the update! Maybe we’ll have some new visitors to the ole blog this month. 🙂
Cheers from London!
Sean
Ohhhh… was looking at the background…paper you had in your hand… nice looking pic up in the upper right of it…
Oh you mean you wante us to see the -6deg C… ohhh ok… but, I am still trying to make out the newworthy event in the upper right… ahhhh.. no .. enlarged it and .. well.. guess you could say its a stalking stuffer?? 🙂
Might want to keep the F stop down just a little more… 😀
Looks good… you all having fun. EU is nice in the winter… except for the cold cold cold…
Headed North… snow in the forcast for Christmas up in the northwest…. packed the trailer this morn and now about ready to get on the road… Malbu is nice .. sunny but windy and not that warm either …but the ocean is like a bright blue marble from our view.
Should be a great Christmas … from me and mine to you and yours…
LOL GMAs, with regard to the newspaper photo, at first I thought maybe that is Penelope Cruz? But upon further examination, it appears to simply be a “Christmas Lingerie” special – the Brits know how to sell papers!
Yes, we have been cold, but have had remarkably good fortune with our travels so far. Snow has disrupted much rail and air travel in Europe this year, but we’ve made it so far without delays. (I’m knocking on wood.)
Safe travels and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you!
Seasons Greetings. Great pics. Looks like you guys are having a blast. We are getting ready to head to Pasadena to watch our Ducks. We’ll warm up the Rose Bowl for your Crimson Tide.
-Scott
Thanks Scott! Coming from you that means a lot. I’ve tried to improve my still photography this year and I’m making progress.
Yes, please warm up the Rose Bowl for Bama! Best of luck to the Ducks. By the way, one of the Oregon team physicians follows our blog! I hope someday we can tailgate at a Ducks game.
Happy New Year to you!
What a fabulous blog…as usual! It’s been a few weeks since I have been here…last one I saw was the “Just add Buddah” blog – but missed the Dyson one, so have now officially caught up!
I don’t think I ever replied to your reply (ok…yes, I am a dork!) about my post about Boston Terriers. NO, I did not know you grew up with them! How wonderful! So you do know how wondefully special they are – and for self-proclaimed “neat freaks”, I have no doubt they will do quite well for you! And mine never have a problem with my wiping their paws…so that will be good too 🙂 As you can tell, I am trying for the “hard sell”. LOL!!
I just can’t IMAGINE my excitement and joy at watching the two of you…as I already do…on your adventures – and then to have a beautiful and very photogenic Boston popping up here and there…well, I would squeal with joy!
Yes…their “ready made formal wear” – Tuxedo built in – is something that comes across on film and video very well! Black and white always does of course.
Anyway, back to this blog…
As others have mentioned, you look to be having a BLAST! And your pictures are beautiful indeed. Of course, the subjects (the two of you!) make that a given. Adding in England – which seems to be a somewhat dreary place to me (but maybe only because I have never been there?) – at Christmastime is spectacular!
GMA – you crack me up! I MUST find your blog one of these days. Sean…maybe you could let me know what it is? Or if you see this, GMA…maybe Sean won’t mind if you post it for me? Your “up in the corner” had me literally LOL’ing!!
Before I close…I must say…KRISTY?!?! How in the heck did you do that?!?!?! Packing for 3 weeks…in WINTER no less…in a backpack? That is truly a feat to be proud of…as Sean mentioned, you are quite the “gal” 😉 I guess it helps that you have done extensive travelling already, and are used to “packing light” as a rule in the Space Capsule. Still…mighty impressive, Kristy…mighty impressive indeed!
Happy New Year to all…hope this next decade is a happy and healthy one for each of you!
PS…Hey, Sean…when you get back. Maybe you could post that Good Sam mention? Since I don’t have access to it? Would love to see it 🙂
Brenda, just posted the Good Sam mention!
With regard to packing for three weeks with a backpack, here’s the deal. It’s actually an interesting subject because we RVers often talk about the benefits of a “less is more” approach, and pare down many of our material possessions for travel. It gets really extreme with a backpack. Every ounce matters!
Here’s what I brought:
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of khaki slacks
1 pair of fleece pants (for lounging!)
2 “nice” not-so-warm shirts
3 warm casual fleece or cotton shirts
2 scarves
1 pair long underwear (best decision of all!)
7 pairs of socks, underwear, and undershirts
One the equipment side:
1 Canon camcorder
1 Rode microphone
1 Panasonic point-and-shoot cam
1 Nikon DSLR
3 Nikon lenses
1 netbook PC
assorted peripherals (chargers and batteries for all of the above)
As you can see, the equipment is an issue for me. In hindsight, I could’ve gotten by without the Canon camcorder because I didn’t use it much.
With regard to the clothing, we did laundry a couple of times during our 20-day excursion. While in Germany, we stayed at my brother’s home, so doing laundry was pretty easy. I’ve also used European laundrymats before; it just becomes part of your trip.
Some travel guys (ie. Rick Steves) recommend bringing just two pair of washable underwear, etc. but I’ve never gone that far in the quest to travel light. I respect their objectives, but I’m not sure if my wife would go for it. 😉