A Princess preps and packs!

As I write this blog I’m slowly awakening to the fact that soon I will be boarding a plane to Buenos Aires. With my departure a day and a half away, I’m realising how long my to-do list actually is. I have friends to see, work to finish, bags to pack, phone calls to make, invoices to send, in short I am smothered. Where to start? When I booked my plane ticket three weeks ago, the date seemed miles away. Whilst wolfing down my last bit of nails and cuticles (a crutch I deeply resent) I resort to one of my most helpful self-help tools, blogging. Somehow getting my thoughts down on paper, or rather into cyberspace, gives me some perspective.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining about my pre-departure chores. I am feeling incredibly lucky to be trading the cold and rain for a late summer in Latin America. However, packing for a weekend trip requires some thought, so going away for a month is a logistical minefield. My packing needs to include a basic summer wardrobe, plus sports gear (i.e. riding clothes, running shoes, bikinis) and then of course the “what ifs”. The “what ifs” are an important part of the packing business. Every person who favours spontaneity over meticulous planning will have experienced what a slippery slope the “what ifs” can be. What I mean is that every sensible suitcase must include items of clothing, toiletterie, bags, gadgets, even food, for the unforeseeable events. In my case I might get invited to a wedding whilst out there or I might decide to hike up Machu Picchu. I therefore need to bring something for both circumstances. Without getting too carried away, I try and incorporate a couple of ”what ifs” into every suitcase I pack. A good pair of heels, a smart but low-maintenance frock, a bikini, a dictaphone, some rice cakes are just some of my usuals. They tend to come in handy somewhere down the line. Luckily I have had much practice in the art of schizophrenic packing. Travelling with my mother has taught me to always be prepared. After all you never really know where you might end up. She would take us on a trip, say to New York, when two days into the trip I would fine myself in need of a ball gown, after which we would be enroute to windsurfing in Tobago. Who would have thought? Of course there have been times when my suitcase was so full of “what ifs” that I barely brought any essentials at all. Having several cocktail dresses but not one pair of shorts on a beach holiday is a bit of nuisance. You get the picture: it’s all in the mix.

Another hurdle to overcome when travelling from winter to summer is of course the physical prepping. A full body renovation - i.e. deforestation, manicure, pedicure, possibly even a facial - takes up a hell of a lot of time. One tends to forget this during the endless European winter. You might think my prepping to be frivolous froth rather than a bare necessity. I beg to differ. Arriving somewhere sunny with callus as rough as sandpaper and chippie nails is a punch in my self-esteem’s face. And who needs that in the land of the gorgeous? I must admit I have a bit of a foot-phobia so scrumptiously polished feet make me happy. Some people might also hit the sun-bed trying to rid themselves of that frightful winter pastiness. Of course no one admits to these visits, pretending that the sudden orange tint is a residue of last holiday. I am proud to say I have honestly never gone for a fake tan, neither spray, nor ray nor any other bizarre carrot-ification on offer these days. To me a fake tan always, surprise surprise, looks fake. Since I’m neither a WAG nor from Essex, I prefer to be pale for a day or two, instead.

Lastly I always make sure to pack my key summer essentials; a Panama hat and a good pair of shades. A Panama hat is the perfect summer accessory because it is so very versatile. It looks great worn in the city, it protects you on the beach and (the “what-if”) you could even wear one on a hike. Plus because of its stylishness, you can wear it out at night (in case you are having a bad hair day for example).

My sunglasses of choice are a pair of small, circular John Lennon-esque Cutler and Gross glasses matching my current 70’s obsession. Mark my word, it’s all about small rounded frames this summer.

Phew. I feel a little less anxious now that I’ve spelt it all out. I am left with a sense of excitement and very much looking forward to blogging live from my adventures in Argentina so stay tuned for more.

xx

• Vintage at Goodwood
• The Power of the Invisible Sun
• Still all about Argentina!
• Stick and Ball in Argentina

Tags: Argentina, sunglasses, Travel

This entry was posted on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 7:20 pm and is filed under Princess Diaries. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.