I like to walk around cities; it must be innate, because so does my mother (I rather think the rest of my family can leave or take it). In some cities, like New York or London, it’s not feasible. In small cities, though – Oslo, Reykjavik, Glasgow, Wellington, Portland or Seattle – it’s definitely doable, and I always find that you see more, or at least see things that the folks on the big double decker buses don’t. That being said, I’ve walked from Ortakoy to the old city in Istanbul, and that was fascinating, and entirely possible in a day. If you’re walking, be practical about it. Read on for my tips on how to stay comfortable on a day out in a city.
Comfortable shoes that look presentable are always a good bet. You never know if you might not be admitted into a restaurant that you really want to try, just because you’re wearing ratty shoes. I have a pair of Teva boots that I love, and wore for an entire month in Scotland and Norway, and I also love my Sperry slip ons.
In addition to comfortable shoes, it’s important to be comfortable in your clothes. Jeans are becoming more and more acceptable in places like Europe, but for a long time, it was easy to pick out the Americans solely based on their jeans. (It’s still easy to pick out the Americans, but for other reasons in addition to our clothes.) I wear a good pair of dark jeans, and then it depends on the season. I spent early June in Norway, and it was warm enough to walk around in a t-shirt. I carried a long-sleeved shirt to layer if I got cold. On the flip side, in Italy in December, I wore a fleece and scarf over a sweater (except for a day in Rome – I wore a sweater and I was hot.) I never leave my hotel/hostel without checking the weather and looking at the ten-hour forecast to see if I might need a jacket. I’m a big fan of layering in general, but I also don’t want to carry around extra clothes if I don’t need to.
What do I carry? Camera-wise, it’s either my Nikon d80 camera, or, if I think my iphone can handle my photo needs for the way, just that. My DSLR fits into my cross-body purse from Timbuk2 and my Patagonia backpack, so it’s just a matter of choice as to which one I might take for a day out. If I’m just transiting, and don’t want to unpack my computer, etc from the backpack, I’ll take the purse. It fits my wallet, camera, my long-sleeve shirt or jacket, and a water bottle. My only real requirement for a bag that I take into a city is that it crosses my body. This is a big deterrent for thieves, since they can’t just snatch it off my shoulder.
I mentioned water, above, and if you’ve got kids with you, you might consider stopping at a grocery store and picking up a few snacks. You and your partner might not get hungry, but you don’t want to be hours from lunch – and in the middle of the Sistine Chapel – with a kid that’s “starving.” Granola bars are good and portable, and so are fruit snacks. (Don’t give him food in the Sistine Chapel.)
What else do you need? Make sure you have your wallet, sunglasses, medicines, if you need them, like epi-pens or inhalers. I also make sure to have my chapstick or lip balm.
And lastly, don’t forget your travel list – what you really want to see, potential places to eat. Your little map should be folded up and tucked into a pocket of your purse or backpack. If you’re going to use your smartphone to help you get around, you might consider purchasing a portable travel charger. I have an awesome little one and as long as it’s charged it can fully charge my phone in an hour or so.
Nomads! Do you have any suggestions for things to take while out and about? What’s your must-have item?
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