#backpacking – Bri Right Back

European Backpacking Essentials

August 18, 2021August 19, 2021 Brirightback

Now that we’re finally starting to be able to get out and travel again or at least start thinking about it, I figured it was time to share my essentials for a European trip. I made the mistake of seriously overpacking for my first time traveling but luckily was able to keep some of the excess stuff at a friend’s place for the majority of my trip. Then I had to buy a suitcase to bring home all my extra things. Sidenote: it is now my favorite suitcase and I often use it for small trips. But, if you don’t want to be like me, juggling bags through the airport and paying extra fees, these are some things I’d suggest bringing and some things you probably won’t need or can always grab later on.

What to Pack:

Combination Lock

This is a must-have for hostels in order to keep your things safe. A lot of places have under-bed storage or cubbies where you can stow anything you need locked away. Only some hostels will provide a lock so it’s best to bring one along. It’s totally not worth paying to rent one. They take up so little space.

Headphones

Headphones are always an essential, but this is especially the case in a hostel. There will be all types of sounds you don’t want to hear (enough said) so you don’t want to be caught without them. I usually kept them under my pillow just in case someone stumbled in at three AM.

Carabiner

I had one of these attached to my water bottle and ended up using it to hold my keys to the hostels. Some use old-school keys instead of keycards like you see in hotels so it really came in handy. I didn’t lose one key the whole four months, which was shocking because I am rarely organized and my bags are usually black holes.

Flip flops

The hostels I stayed at were reasonably clean but I never loved the idea of showering where a ton of other people have recently showered. Flip flops will protect your feet from anything gross and you’ll also be grateful for them if you hit the beach or pool.

Quick-drying microfiber towel (or two)

These are the best! They fold up small and they double as blankets if you’re napping in drafty airports. I’d say bring two if you have the room. That way, you have a backup for when you do laundry or have an extra for the beach or pool.

Small travel umbrella

I know umbrellas are super annoying to carry around but they are worth it when you really need them. They make smaller compact ones for travel now and they fit easily into your bags.

Umbrella privilege: If you hold it, you get to choose the height

Power Adaptor/ Power Bank

I have a super old adaptor that works fine and converts to all different areas but it only has one input. I’d recommend getting one of the newer ones with multiple inputs. Even if you don’t need to charge that many devices, you’ll definitely make friends and save time charging stuff, leading to more adventures.

While we’re on the subject of power, you will run out of battery navigating yourself around, running all your apps, and taking photos. It’s worth it to bring a power bank too. Anker makes great, affordable ones.

Sim Card and tool

I decided to try and get by without a European SIM card during my trip. It is possible since wifi is readily available in major European cities, but it was inconvenient not to be fully connected. I lasted about 3 months until I cracked and decided I was tired of forgetting to download my offline maps and inevitably getting lost in pursuit of everything.

If you fly into the UK, you can get good ones from Vodafone that will work all over Europe. You can also look into getting a sim card delivered before you take off. Simoptions has cards that you can use all over the world.

Carrying a paperclip can also come in handy when you need to switch cards.

Portable razor

I brought a compact razor along on my trip to save some room and have been using them for travel ever since. They take up such a small space and still work great.

Bike shorts / Chub Rub Stuff

Bike shorts are a godsend in the heat! If you have thick thighs and live in dresses and skirts, you need to bring some of these to prevent the dreaded chub rub, or thigh chafe, that you can get while walking miles in them.

And for the times you’re not wearing bike shorts, this balm works wonders.

Basic First Aid

Band-Aids should always be an essential. Bring a few different sizes along with some anti-bacterial cream. I personally always bring an anti-itch cream because I get a lot of bug bites, so if that happens to you too, pack it. Also, if you haven’t tried the bug bite thing yet, check it out.

Advil, or any pain-reliever is great for soreness from hikes you thought you were ready for but of course you weren’t. They’re also good to have on hand for hangovers.

If you’re prone to stomach issues when traveling, pack anything that can help.

Tweezer

Always bring some tweezers along. Apart from getting rid of stray hairs, they can remove splinters. I crossed paths with a few people who refused to wear shoes outside, despite broken glass being all over, so they definitely came in handy.

Tights (black opaque)

I didn’t think to bring these but picked them up in the spring to add a little warmth to my summery outfits. I wore them under shorts when it was cool at night.

Thinx Underwear

These are great underwear for travel. They’re perfect for lighter period days and as a backup for long travel days where you might not see a bathroom for a while. The only annoying thing is they have to air dry so you have to pay attention while doing laundry and find places to hang them dry.

A Sunscreen you’ll actually want to wear

Find a sunscreen you like and bring some. I brought the solid Neutrogena stick for my face and bought some spray when I was over there due to the liquid restrictions on planes.

Leggings

Leggings are great for long travel days. I prefer ones with side pockets so I can keep my passport and phone on my person when on planes, buses, and trains. If you’re near a TJ Maxx or Marshall’s, the 90 Degree brand are great quality for the price and machine dry pretty well. After my trip, I finally snagged some Hereafter Earth leggings, which have some antimicrobial tech so they can be worn a few times without being washed. I’d definitely bring them on my next trip.

Good sports bras

These are great for if you don’t want to deal with underwire bras while traveling. They’re good to sleep in and great for hiking and other outdoor adventuring. Plus, they double as a swim top if you’re not up to date on laundry. I love the ones from Aerie.

Pimple Patches

Nothing’s cuter in your travel photos than the open wound you caused from picking at a pimple,right? Wrong. Even if you’ve never met a pimple you wouldn’t pop (guilty), these pimple patches by COSRX do a great job at shrinking blemishes overnight so you’re not tempted to pick.

Ziploc bags

You can never have enough Ziploc bags. They’re good for separating out your toiletries and preventing them from leaking all over your bags.

Curology

I’ve been using Curology for years now and it’s an easy and portable way to keep your skin clear on a trip. It’s one-step so you just have to apply at night and you’re set. I stockpiled a few shipments and put it in a more portable container for my long trip.

Anti-theft Crossbody Bag

A friend got me one of the Travelon anti-theft bags to use while in Europe. I highly recommend these bags. They have RFID-blocking technology along with locking zippers which minimize any risk of pickpocketing. There are lots of cute options. Link to Travelon crossbody bags

Light Sweatshirt/Hoodie

So I made the dumb choice of not packing a sweatshirt since I was traveling in Spring/Summer. I quickly learned the error of my ways, shivering in Scotland, and hit up Primark, always a good shop for cheap basics. I grabbed a pull-over for a few pounds and still wear it.

Definitely needed a sweatshirt for the ice bar

Hand Sanitizer/Wipes

Self-explanatory in these times. When I was traveling, I mostly brought wipes to clean the tray tables that I’ve always heard were super unsanitary.

Snacks!

Another self-explanatory one. You don’t ever want to be stuck alone and hangry on public transport, or worse, a layover or delay. You might end up on the news. Just pack some extra cookies. You’ll never regret it.

What Not to Pack:

Too Much Medicine

For my trip, I spent at least $100 at CVS grabbing anything I thought I might end up needing and I let most of it expire. Leave your medicine cabinet at home, at least when it comes to Europe. Their pharmacies are great and their pharmacists are super helpful so unless it’s something super specific, you can get it if you truly need it.

Shampoo/Conditioner Bars

I know these work for some people but I have long, thick hair and all they did was add build-up. I never felt like my hair or scalp was cleaned in the process of using the bars from Lush. If you want to go this route, I’d encourage you to try some different ones before committing. If you’ve had any luck with any of these, let me know! I’d love to find some great ones to use in the future to be able to pack and waste less.

Too Many Clothes

It’s important to pick what is comfortable. Remember you can always buy new stuff at your destination if you’re lacking something. Prioritize items that can be put in the dryer as sometimes it can be hard to find places to air dry stuff at hostels or the hostel staff does your laundry and you can’t specify what can or can’t be put in the dryer. You’ll always want to bring more clothes than you need but, speaking from experience, you won’t even wear them all.

Heels/wedges

At 5’1″, I really wanted to bring some heels for nights out. They just take up too much darn room unfortunately. I would’ve loved to dress up my outfits but if you’re traveling in summer, just bring cute sandals and in colder months, boots will be more comfortable.

Packing Cubes

I wanted so badly to be organized enough to use packing cubes effectively but they didn’t work for me. I think I’d like them for a shorter trip to organize outfits but for a long journey, there’s nothing that could’ve controlled the chaos that was my bags.

I hope this is helpful for travelers, new and old. Let me know if I forgot any essentials! Get out there and adventure safely!

June 12, 2021June 12, 2021 Brirightback

Ciao, Venice!

Ciao means hello and goodbye in Italian. It seems to be a fitting title for my two days in Venice that conclude these travels.

Wow, this has been such a long time coming! Finally, Venice, my last new destination during my four month journey. As the start of my goodbye train, it was finally sinking in that this was the end of my adventure, at least for now. I’d have to leave my travel buddies to the rest of their voyages and return home. Looking back at my admittedly sparse journal, I can’t help but wax nostalgic for this unique time in my life where my only responsibility was to discover and live each day to the fullest. I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Anyways, enough about my dumb journey..

In Venice, we stayed at a hostel called Wombats City Hostel Venice Mestre. It was a short train ride away from the city. I enjoyed my stay here. It had the feel of a hotel room but with a few more beds. The bar downstairs was great too. Upon looking them up, I see they’ve closed permanently due to Covid which is such a shame. Check out their hostels in Vienna, Munich and London- I’m sure they’d have the same vibe and uphold the same standards to be a safe bet for a great stay in those cities.

My first impression of the city was that I’ve never seen a place like it. I loved exploring the canals, bridges, and tiny alleyways. While in Venice, we mostly wandered around aimlessly getting lost amongst the canals between swigs of shared bottles of wine. We saw the Piazza San Marco, home to the Basilica di San Marco. I didn’t get to see the inside of the Basilica since I was dressed for the hot weather. It was gorgeous from the outside though.

Mostly, while in Venice, we drank, scarfed down pizza and gelato, and enjoyed every second of the time we still shared together, at least for this trip.

It was surreal to think of how I embarked on this trip alone and then happened upon such an amazing group to share this experience with. Goodbyes are the hardest but they’re especially tough when you don’t know if or when you’ll see those friends again.

I’m grateful to everyone I crossed paths with throughout my travels. Whether you gave me a ride to the airport, directions somewhere, a place to stay- you are a part of my story and I wouldn’t be the same if I hadn’t met you 🙂

So, if you’re still reading, thanks for taking this journey with me! And Europe, thanks for the memories- hopefully I’ll see you again soon!

Statue of Niccolò Tommaseo, comically known to locals as “Booksh*tter”

Falling In Ljub With Ljubljana, Slovenia

May 3, 2021May 3, 2021 Brirightback

After Croatia, I headed to Ljubljana, Slovenia on a recommendation from friends. I didn’t know much about the country, but they insisted we needed to see Lake Bled. Now I’m here to tell you that you need to see it too! On the other hand, if you just can’t stand natural beauty and delicious desserts, you can go ahead and skip this destination.

My friends and I stayed at Hostel Vrba. This area has limited hostels so it might be one you’d want to book in advance. The rooms were comfortable and the owner was very friendly. It was also in a very nice area. Lake Bled has hostels too that might be worth checking out if you’ll be spending a majority of your time there.

Start off your visit by exploring the city. The city center is full of cute cafes and shops to check out. Ljubljana has several beautiful bridges to see, most notably the dragon bridge.

Take the funicular or the walk up to Ljubljana Castle to get great views of the city. You can get the best photos from up here, especially if you have a really tall friend to get those good angles. Thanks again, Lawrence!

While at the Castle, be sure to take a look at the art exhibitions there. I saw this beautiful textile exhibit when I was there, amongst others.

We were most excited to see Lake Bled in Slovenia and it truly didn’t disappoint. We took a day trip there but if I had a do-over, I would’ve stayed in that area itself so we could’ve spent more time there. It was just so gorgeous.

We rented some paddleboards by the lake and had a great time learning that we were not as balanced as we thought we were. You can walk up to the castle or take boats across the lake too.

I still can’t believe this place is real

If you have the time, take the trip to the Postojna Caves, a system of four interconnecting caves formed by the Pivka River over millions of years.

It was freezing in the caves but to me it felt like good ‘ol American air conditioning. I’d recommend dressing warm though as the underground train ride gets especially chilly.

We were budgeting pretty hard by this part of the trip, so we mostly ate homemade sandwiches and McDonald’s. However, you’d be missing out if you didn’t savor some of the baked goods Ljubljana has to offer. Štruklji is a pastry-like dish with meat and other fillings and was delicious. You should also try any type of pain au chocolat/ chocolate croissant-like pastries you can get your hands on. I don’t have any pictures of them because I ate them too fast.

I had an amazing time in Ljubljana and I can’t wait to visit again someday and maybe then I can finally learn how to spell it without spell check. Catch me in Venice, Italy soon!

Zagreb and Split, Croatia: Beaches, a Fortress and.. a couple trips to the Hospital

April 8, 2021April 8, 2021 Brirightback

After an amazing time in Budapest, some friends and I made our way to Zagreb, Croatia’s capital. We checked into Chillout Hostel, a cool place with a bar downstairs. Just a warning: Croatia allows smoking inside in bars so if you’re not a smoker or smoking bothers you, I’d recommend not choosing a party hostel when visiting. It wouldn’t normally be an issue for me but I ended up getting very sick my first full day in the country. I had some sort of allergic reaction to bug bites and respiratory problems with a fever. The added smoke killed my lungs when they desperately needed a break. I quickly realized I had to go get myself checked out but, used to the American “healthcare” system and without insurance, I was nervous about the possible cost.

After two hospital visits and a barrage of tests, I was told I had tonsillitis and some sort of allergic reaction. I’ve had both in the past but I think both were exacerbated by my being essentially alone in a foreign place and the lack of home comforts. At the expense of seeming like an ugly American, I seriously missed air conditioning. Taking a cold shower every couple of hours just wasn’t cutting it. All I wanted was to be home but I also didn’t want to cut my trip short. The expense didn’t end up being as bad as I thought it would be and, hey, that’s why a good traveler plans for incidentals. It can’t always go our way. After a few days in a feverish nightmare, I was so grateful to finally explore some of the city.

Apart from walking around the city and having a couple meals (when I wasn’t puking in an alley), I enjoyed visiting the Museum of Broken Relationships. This is the most unique museum I’ve been to, with items that are donated and displayed beside stories of their significance in relationships. The website explains it best: “It is a museum about you, about us, about the ways we love and lose.” Basically, I went here to hurt my own feelings (very on brand), because why not bring down my mental health along with my physical health? All jokes aside, I highly recommend a visit if you’re in Zagreb or LA or wherever else these exhibits pop up. You won’t regret it.

“We go to foreign cities in search of sensuality and possibly love. And vice versa: we get in love in search of making the city in which we reside unfamiliar. All love affairs happen in foreign cities.”
From “Undying Love, Love Dies” by Jalal Toufik

Delicious meal after I got out of the hospital but I couldn’t tell you where or who I was at the time

I didn’t eat much in Zagreb besides crackers and soup, but I had some great falafel at Zrno Bistro. Really nice place.

(Lower left): Me in that alley, brought down by the hubris of thinking I could eat a french fry

As much as I wanted to have more time to experience Zagreb, I’d been there a week, got my nose scoped and a steroid shot in the butt, so I was pretty ready to catch a bus, plane, boat, or windowless van out of there.

I was definitely ready to “Split.” Sorry, not sorry, for the pun.

Something about the ocean air always makes me feel better so arriving in Split was an instant jolt and I felt energized for the first time since Budapest. However, the uptick in my mood may have been due to the lovely air conditioning at the Airbnb.

We checked out Diocletian’s Palace, both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Game of Thrones location. The Cathedral of St. Domnius was a highlight of the trip. Game of Thrones fan or not, the Palace is worth a visit.

The Klis Fortress was also used in the filming of Game of Thrones, as the city of Meereen. The views from the fortress are gorgeous. There’s also a room with excellent acoustics to practice your rendition of the theme song, not that we would have ever done that of course.

We took a ferry to Šolta to find a cool secret spot our friend knew about. It was a longer hike than we’d planned for but if you look at the picture below, you’ll see it was more than worth it to swim in this clear blue water.

My friend Jay/ How I felt after hiking in Šolta

Bonus points if you time your daytrip to Šolta to catch the sunset from the ferry ride home.

Croatia was full of ups and downs for me personally, but I’m so glad I was able to see just a portion of what it has to offer. I’d love to return and see Dubrovnik one day and more of the islands off of Split.

Next stop, Ljubljana, Slovenia!

The Girl who went to Paris… and Lyon

April 20, 2020April 20, 2020 Brirightback

Paris! The city of love! In a super fun turn of events, Paris was my first stop after a breakup. What could go wrong, right?

This was not my first time in Paris. I had visited for a few days once before and it coincided with a terrible loss in my life. Feeling like I missed out on experiencing the beauty of this city previously, I was determined to redeem this place in my mind. Thanks to the amazing people I met while visiting Paris, I ended up having the best time.

I stayed at St. Christopher’s Paris Canal Hostel. It wasn’t exactly central, but the location near the canal was really nice. It had a bar and club, along with different events each night so it had a very social feel to it. There was a mojito making class and a big beer pong competition while I was staying there. Those are the only ones I remember because I’m pretty sure I left quite a few critical brain cells in Paris. One tip that I learned is to book directly through their website, rather than through the HostelWorld app, to receive free breakfasts during your stay. That’s something that can be good to check up on no matter where you’re planning to stay.

Paris seemed like it would be the perfect place to be boujee and book a photo shoot with AirBnb Experiences. I was nervous but Julia, the photographer, put me completely at ease and got some great shots while showing me some parts of Paris I might not have seen on my own. A majority of my sightseeing was while taking these photos so the experience was very quick but we covered a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

While in town, I saw the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, and the Trocadero (an excellent spot to get photos in front of the Eiffel Tower.) I found Paris to be very walkable but a lot of points of interest are a bit of a hike away from each other. The metro was pretty easy to navigate. Just don’t make my mistake and buy a metro pass that works for all the zones when you only need the central ones. I was rushing because I didn’t want to look like a clueless tourist and ended up overspending (like a clueless, albeit polite tourist). Before you buy the pass, do some research on where you plan to go and that will help you choose the right one for you.

During this trip, I was able to see the Eiffel Tour during the day for the first time. I’d recommend seeing it during day and night. The tower has a light show every hour from sunset until two in the morning during summer. Bring some wine and a blanket and watch the show. If you forget drinks, there will be people selling them (rather aggressively at times), so make sure you have some cash. One of my favorite memories in Paris is sitting with all my new friends mesmerized by the lights and haggling with wine vendors.

Everyone always says my mind’s in the gutter

Paris was exactly what I needed and while it’s not on the top of my list of favorite places, I would definitely return there. If and when I go back, I promise to be a better food blogger and eat something besides drunken kebab meals in the early hours of the morning. As you can see, there is photographic evidence of me eating a croissant. Very French. I tried.

I was very glad I chose Lyon as my next destination. I arrived there on an insanely delayed bus and, thanks to the kindness of a fellow traveler, was able to get to my hostel without much hassle despite getting to town around three in the morning. It was chill enough in Lyon that in just a couple days, I was able to recuperate from my partying in Paris. I can’t say I accomplished very much but the food was delicious. The burritos at So Food were fantastic- they had melted cheese on top and fries inside. What more could you ask for?

Fries in the burrito and on the side? Sold.

I’d love to return to Lyon one day and see more of what this beautiful city has in store when it isn’t just a quick stop. Next up will be Naples, Italy! I have a feeling the pizza will be worth the eighteen-hour bus journey.

Exploring Porto: Peacocks and obviously more Pasteis de Nata

April 9, 2020April 10, 2020 Brirightback

I knew only seeing Lisbon would not be nearly enough Portugal for me, so I headed to Porto. I didn’t know it at the time but there was a big football game during my stay. It made for a loud couple of nights near the hostel. Luckily the fans weren’t getting as crazy as the ones I encountered in Madrid.

One of my first stops was Manteigaria for pasteis de nata since I’d exhausted my supply on the three hour journey over. They were just as delicious as in Lisbon.

I set out kind of aimlessly to check out the sights in Porto and was fortunate to stumble upon the Miradouro da Vitória. This was a nice viewpoint that overlooks the Dom Luís I Bridge. It was a little hidden but there’s a small sign. The best part: it’s free unlike other viewpoints in the city!

You’ll find beautiful blue and white tile work on the Igreja de Carmo and lots of other buildings you’ll encounter in Porto.

I’d recommend checking out the baroque architecture of Clérigos Church and really paying attention to the amazing amount of detail that went into this structure.

Visiting the Jardins do Palacio de Cristal was easily one of my favorite parts of my trip. The reason for that is almost entirely peacock-related. While the gardens were very nice, I really just followed peacocks around for a couple hours (which will now be made very obvious since they’re basically in all the following photos). No regrets.

Seeing the gardens was well worth the very long walk from the center of town.

One place I didn’t get the chance to see was the Livraria Lello, a bookstore that was inspiration for J.K. Rowling. So if you’re a Potter fan, definitely reserve a spot early if that’s on your list!

I really enjoyed seeing what Porto had to offer, and feeling ten pounds heavier from the delicious desserts, I continued on and caught my flight to Paris!

Madrid: Exploring Spain’s Capital

November 19, 2019November 19, 2019 Brirightback

One of the best ways to explore a new city is to experience it with a local, so I was lucky to become friends with one while in Galway. Not only did she graciously offer me a place to stay, but she also showed me her favorite spots in Madrid. We got around mostly by metro, which was easy to navigate and tourist-friendly as it offered passes for one to seven day stays.

Madrid has a few rooftop bars that allow you to see and photograph gorgeous panoramic views of the whole city. The one we visited was the Círculo de Bellas Artes. There’s lots of seating there so it’s a nice spot to spend a little time taking in your surroundings and enjoying a drink. Bear in mind that there’s a ton of direct sunlight and not much shade on the rooftop so pack some sunscreen.

Another cool rooftop bar we went to was called The Hat, a hostel bar that served food and drinks. The drinks were pricey but novel, being served in plastic bags. Definitely not an eco-friendly choice, but they were lovely and paired perfectly with the scorching Madrid summer.

We spent some time relaxing in Retiro Park, a nice place to wander and get a break from the city’s crowds. It’s a great place to read, go for a boat ride, or have a picnic. Be sure to check out the Crystal Palace, a building made almost entirely of glass and situated next to a lake.

The Royal Palace is a must-see when you visit Madrid. The palace and grounds are impressive and you can spend a lot of time exploring the area.

Royal Palace and me, completely unaware of what to do with my limbs

During my time in Madrid, I ate a lot of tacos and burritos. When you visit, Takos al Pastor are a requirement. Don’t be discouraged by the queues that stretch down the street. They move fast and once you get up front to order, your food arrives almost instantly. The tacos are by far the best I’ve had, available with chicken, al pastor (grilled pork), potatoes, chorizo, and more. Pro tip: Go early to try the al pastor tacos- they seemed to sell out the quickest so I unfortunately wasn’t able to try them. Overall, I can’t think of a better late-night meal.

Another awesome place I tried was Tierra Burrito Bar. With three locations throughout Madrid, it’s super convenient to grab a bite there. I’m always on the lookout for the best burrito and the ones they make here were definitely contenders.

One last thing you should try in Madrid: the Tinto de Verano. This drink, comprised of red wine and citrus soda, is a refreshing and delicious summer beverage. If you’re a fan of sangria, you will love it!

That’s all for Madrid. My next stop will be Portugal!