LOL I pride myself in the core, cardio and strength training classes I’ve been doing a few times a week since I retired. With a group of women in our 60s and 70s with the shared attitude that we are strong and capable. I just recently flew to Phoenix and back and on the return flight as 5’ 1.5” 62 year old me hefted my carryon up and into the overhead a man below it stood up like a spotter ready to catch it if I didn’t succeed. He smiled and said “just in case” and I smiled smugly and said “strength training works.” But, I agree that it would be nice for OLD (or otherwise unable) people to get some assistance.
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I leave in less than a week for Italy. I’ve been dealing with a relative in the hospital and now staying with me. I’m just beginning to think about starting to make my piles. I’m vowing to pack light. I find it’s hard this time of the year since weather can vary.
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Good luck in your packing! I hope your relative will have a speedy & full recovery!
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1-2 cashmere sweaters and 1-2 cotton sweaters. You’ll be all set in Italy.
Happy Packing!
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tweak accordingly
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Thanks for sharing!
I love the capsule packing wardrobes that are all in 2-3 colors (in my case black, white, grey, lol)
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We went in early May a couple years ago and it was cool and cloudy most of the trip, with several wet days - light sprinkles, no heavy rain. We had one or two hot sunny days towards the end of the trip which surprisingly made us realize the cool, cloudy weather was actually a blessing!
Anyway, it shouldn’t be outright cold. A few light layers like a long sleeve shirt + sweater + light windbreaker should get you through the coolest days. If you’re trying to pack light I’d recommend just one mid (e.g. light/medium sweater) and one outer layer (e.g. soft shell). Go for the variety in your base layers with a mix of light and medium fabrics, and just one short sleeve.
W and I made it through 3 weeks with just small carryon rollaboards and small backpacks.
I have friends in Portugal. Had to deal with the blackout!
I went to Italy (Rome) in mid-April last year and was so hoping for cool days where I could layer cute jackets and wear ankle booties that the travel influencers told me I’d need that time of year, but it was HOT! 80’s bright sun and humid (and I live in the South, so I know humidity). I also did Prague (where my daughter was based for her study abroad) and Barcelona on that trip, and it was sunny & warm in both those places but less humid than Italy (a few hours of cool in the early mornings). A layering wardrobe is the way to go.
When I go next time, I will aim for late fall. I’d rather risk clouds and rain as a tradeoff for cooler temps.
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It’s funny - that was the weather prediction we had before the trip! So I had packed several pairs of shorts and short sleeves and didn’t wear any of them. That was where I realized that I was just fine with only about half the clothing I packed for the entire trip (the “emergency clothes just in case there’s a chilly day”); it got a little repetitive but really not too bad.
We went to Barcelona and Madrid around the same time last year and it was even colder, but that time I’d learned my lesson and was better prepared.
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We just got back from one of those trips sponsored by our alumni association. The group from my university was one of the medium size groups. Dartmouth and UMich had pretty large groups. I was uncertain if we would enjoy it, but we had a great time and would probably do another one. It was a cruise, and there were three lecturers, and plenty of excursions. There were several dinners and receptions specifically for our university group. I searched Alumni in this thread and did not find anything. Has anyone done one of these Alumni trips?
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Thank you for posting this hint. We get mailings about these trips from several colleges. I’m going to have to look more carefully.
I do know some folks who have taken several alumni trips from Vanderbilt, and they raved about them all.
We get almost identical mailings from the two universities from which I graduated. We went on a cruise. Both alum groups were there, along with 15 or so other alum groups and unaffiliated people. The cruise was wonderful, but there was not much value add from being with a university group. A couple cocktail parties, blocked off tables one night in the main restaurant, door decoration for your stateroom door. We were with friends from one university; that was the main perk for us, along with the cruise being one we would select anyway and being great.
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Is there any discount compared to “regular” pricing for going through a college group?
Sometimes. Because the university is effectively doing the marketing, they may be able to negotiate a group rate.
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Sometimes it’s more expensive to book with the group. Have seen this on a cruise - same sailing overall lower cost booked on your own was less expensive, than the college brochure stated. Maybe it’s because of dynamic pricing or due to absorbing costs of university personnel and extra cocktail receptions?
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I consider the alumni trips in every mailing I receive.
I received one for Alaska but the dates conflicted with something else. Another alum and I have chosen a different cruise (and we are sharing a cabin to save $).
If we like it well enough we will probably try one of the alumni trips next.
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We are going on a Mediterranean cruise this fall. Viking, purchased the air through them.
I got my flights a couple of weeks ago. Flying Lufthansa from Detroit to Frankfurt and then onto Athens. I wasn’t wild about connecting in Frankfurt, the other option was Newark which I first thought I wanted but Viking kept switching us back to Lufthansa.
After all the mess in EWR, I’m so happy with our choice. I upgraded to business for the outbound flight. I’ll be hopeful that sticks, upgrading one leg can be dicey especially using Viking.
And try to remember that FRA is a better choice than EWR which is not a sentence I thought I would ever say. 
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Good luck. I was less than thrilled with FRA and Lufthansa. Both the flight into FRA (united) and the Lufthansa flight out of FRA were parked on the tarmac and we had to take a bus in and out of the terminal. The flight out had the gate changed 3 times and we almost missed the bus going out to the plane (where we got to stand on the bus and watch them fuel the plane). Why if you are just loading people onto a bus at the bottom of the ramp do you have to change the gate? Couldn’t you just move the bus?
Flew back changing in Munich. Not much better but we didn’t have to walk on the tarmac.
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We had the same experience connecting in Frankfurt.
I thought I would want to connect through anywhere but there. I guess that Newark went to the bottom of the list.
Detroit is a Delta hub and would have been my first choice. The price is double United and its partners. I guess for half the price I will walk on the tarmac at Frankfurt. And use some of that money to fly business
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