Planepack interview with Rebecca Blackburn September 2017 Slobodanka: Hello Planepack readers. Welcome to another episode of Planepack. I'm sitting here with Rebecca. We're in the lovely Equinox Café in Deacon. And, Rebecca, tell me you said, you mentioned that you've been travelling light for almost ten years now. How did that all come about? Rebecca: It probably all started when I moved to the U.K. and became, and started travelling regularly. So, off on the weekend, I'd go for a couple of days. And, it was just convenient. Slobodanka: So about travelling light, do you mean with carry on only? or Rebecca: Yes. Slobodanka: So, no hold luggage/ Rebecca: No, no. Just one wheelie bag and one, one cross body handbag. Slobodanka: Handbag, yes. So, how do you plan for a trip like that? Let's say you were going to fly off tomorrow, how would you plan for your wardrobe? What would you take with you? Rebecca: So, it depends on the season. But, there's a few set, set standard items that I take. I, let's start with the sustainability aspects. I would take my Klean Kanteen, which is a thermos, a drink bottle. You can put your tea or coffee in it. And it saves [00:01:23] and it's your cup as well, so, that's number one. And I also take a folding purse, a little handbag. So, for any shopping, for a beach bag, your laundry bag, it's useful. Slobodanka: Multipurpose. Rebecca: Multipurpose, yes. Clothes wise, I take layers. So, a lightweight jacket, like a Japara, or trench coat that's waterproof and wind proof. So that's your top layer. And underneath I have one or two wool layers. Possible. I just discovered the ultra light weight puffer jackets. 1 Slobodanka: Alright. It's tiny Rebecca: I know, packing it, can't stand to ten centimetre is tiny and it also doubles as a pillow. So it's super warm and wind proof as well, so, that's another warm layer. And, then, other essentials are a pair of leggings cause I always wear those. Their, you can wear them for sleeping. Your warm layer under jeans, if it's really cold. And, also, and if it's ultra cold, I wear a tight pair of thick wool knee high socks. And then a pair of jeans. So, yeah. Slobodanka: Good. An essential wardrobe. What do you, how do you dress it up if you have to go out? So, let's say you go to the theatre or you go to a smart restaurant for dinner, if you do those sorts of things. Is there, is there something else you would take with you to dress up? Rebecca: Yes. So I take a Ponte blazer, a stretch blazer, looks smart and it's comfortable. I would take scarves, scarves are gold. They add colour and can be worn in multiple ways. You can wear them as a sarong. You can them to keep you warm. You can wear them to just add colour. And you might [00:03:27] too is quite useful. I also take, for going out, one, one dressy top. Slobodanka: Wow Rebecca: Lipstick and some flashy earrings. Slobodanka: Absolutely and looks quite stunning those. Rebecca: With that Slobodanka: Yes, you can go anywhere. Rebecca: Yes, and, and I also take one pair of dark coloured trousers or jeans. Slobodanka: Yes Rebecca: So, it doesn't really matter that you might be walking shoes on the bottom. But, because people don't really know, it's just what they notice you. They notice your face. They notice whether, you know, you're wearing a bit of makeup, whether you've got earrings on, whether you, you've got a bit of colour. That's what they notice. Slobodanka: Absolutely. That's the message I like to get across to people as well. Because shoes are heavy. Rebecca: Yes. Slobodanka: So, what shoes do you take with you? Rebecca: Yes. I take a pair of smart walking shoes. And, if it's summer, I would have some, either Birkenstocks or I actually quite like, Echo is a brand. 2 Slobodanka: For walking shoes? Rebecca: For sandals and walking Slobodanka: For sandals and walking shoes Rebecca: So, I have, for sandals, I have a pair of black patent leather Echo sandals. So, the patent leather dresses them up but they have a cushion sole. Because if you're walking for ten hours a day, you do not want a flat pair of sandals. Slobodanka: That's right. You need comforts, don't you? Rebecca: Yes. And so with shoes, Echo also do leather lace ups. Some of them are daggy. You do have to sort through them and fins some of them are a bit more fashionable. Slobodanka: Yes. Rebecca: But, there's lots of other brands too. Slobodanka: Yes. I like that idea of being able to combine day shoes with your evening gear as well. So you don't have to take an extra pair of shoes for dressing up. And as you said earlier, no one ever notices what you've got on your feet. In fact, nobody ever notices what you're wearing when you're travelling. Rebecca: Absolutely. I mean the main import is to be comfortable, to feel that you're protected from the elements, and there, there the most important things. It is nice to not look too touristy. Slobodanka: That's right. Rebecca: That's had, that's what I Slobodanka: Yes, that's the criterion. What about the bag that you use? Because you'll be travelling with a carry on bag. What is your carry on bag? Rebecca: Actually, I can't remember the brand, but it's just a hard case wheelie bag. But it fits, I checked before I bought it, that it Slobodanka: Yes. Rebecca: Fits the airlines about, I think it technically doesn't fit Ryan, Ryanair, which is the cheapest Slobodanka: The cheapest, yes. Rebecca: Airline in Europe. And I have an extra small size. But they never, ever questioned it, I might add. But, yet. I like that it is a hard case because it's robust and it has wheels, and I can lock it. 3 Slobodanka: Yes. And the carry on allowance is seven kilos. Have you ever turned back from your line and told oh, your weight is too heavy, you've got yo put it in the hold? Or do they generally accept it? Rebecca: No, I haven't been turned back. You do have to be careful because even with a bag that size you can go over weight. Don't take books. So, I, yeah, take a tablet, an ereader. Slobodanka: Yes. Rebecca: Don't take books. Slobodanka: Yes. And what about cosmetics or toiletries, because they weigh quite a lot. So, how do you manage those? Rebecca: I did take a miniature set with makeup. It's just lipstick, foundation, mascara and eyeliner. Really, really basic. Oh, and I have a lip gloss as well. Yeah Slobodanka: Easy. So, what's the longest period that you've managed to travel with this constrained wardrobe? Rebecca: Three months. Slobodanka: Three months? Rebecca: Yep. Slobodanka: That's brilliant. Rebecca: I travelled all over Europe and it was four seasons. So, I started in Portugal and then went to Morocco in September, which is really hot. And, so, I had swimmers and summer dress. But then, by the time I finished, it was December and it was in Paris and it was crazy. Literally close to zero degrees. Slobodanka: And you managed with the wardrobe? Rebecca: Yes. Slobodanka:There's a lot of people ask me that question, the very same question, how to manage travelling through seasons. Rebecca: Yes. Slobodanka: And you did it with your layered wardrobe. So you just added layers as it got colder? Rebecca: Yes. So, so your bottom layer is like tshirts and your cotton leggings. And a summer dress. And then you add, fine wool is fantastic cause it's warm. 4 Slobodanka: Merino, it's nice. Rebecca: Yes. Slobodanka: [00:08:15] Rebecca: Yes, yes. It's fantastic. Slobodanka: It's fabulous. Rebecca: Yes, and then, and then, and then, if it's really cold, the puffer. And then, and then, and then your Japara or trench coat that you wear over the top. You do need hat, gloves, Slobodanka: For the cold, for the cold Rebecca: Yeah. And, as I said before, on your legs, you wear jeans or Slobodanka: Leggings under the jeans if it is cold. Rebecca: Yes. Plus knee high socks, which I discovered in London where the fantastic knee high wool socks really make a difference because they just because your jacket will often come down to your knees. But it really, so then you need something from your shoes up. Slobodanka: Shoes, yes. So if you're wearing a coat like the one you mentioned. Not the puffer jacket. Would you take that with you on the aeroplane, so that's it's not packed into your carry on bag? Or is it part of your carry on pack? Rebecca: Yeah, often, often I would carry that, just carry it on the plane. Slobodanka: Yes. Rebecca: Yeah. Slobodanka: Yeah. So we've covered wardrobe, we've covered toiletries. We've covered the duration. What would you say are the benefits of travelling light? Rebecca: I would never, ever go back.