thetrainfamilyThere are things that are common to pack when you are on a 6-month long trip. And then there are strange things that you don’t immediately think of, could be rare to have with you. There are plenty of blog posts on the former, but few on the latter. That’s why one comes here.
We learned several of these things on our last half-yearly trip. Some on our current journey. And others are some that we have brought with us completely by chance, and now cannot do without.
Number 1 strange stuff: Isolated lunch box and cooling elements
These things have been indispensable to us. We love to have lunch on a beach, a park or on the train. We never buy ready-made lunches, but bring our own bread and cold cuts. For two reasons: It’s cheaper and usually healthier. This summer it was really hot in the Balkans – up to 40 degrees. The isolated lunch box ensured that the food was not destroyed in the heat and it was really nice to be able to get a temperate lunch.
Number 2 strange stuff: A blanket
We always bring a fleece blanket. It can be used both as a beach blanket, to put over the children if they fall asleep on the train and as a supplement to the sheets that are used as duvets in Eastern and Southern Europe.
Number 3 strange stuff: A pair of Scissors
We have yet to be in an apartment on our current trip where there was a pair of scissors! However, a pair of scissors is indispensable when different food products need to be opened. We therefore always have a small pair of scissors with us. In addition, the children can use it for creative projects.
Number 4 strange stuff: Spices
We always cook in our booking.com or Airbnb apartments. It is rare that there are spices in the apartments. That’s why we always bring ourselves.
Number 5 strange stuff: Deodorants and creams
We don’t like perfume. Not because we have allergies, but simply because we don’t like the smell. In many countries it is difficult and perhaps even impossible to find perfume free creams and deodorants. We therefore always bring our own.
Number 6 strange stuff: Cromecast
An absolute indispensable thing is our chromecast. We have access to various streaming services and TV and can use the chrome cast to watch TV just like at home.
Number 7 strange stuff: A Diary
There is nothing better than reliving a trip years after it has ended by reading the travel diary. We therefore write a diary every single day of the journey. Also on the journey itself, we can talk about where we were exactly a month ago.
Number 8 strange stuff: Hand sanitizer
Already many years before the corona pandemic, we were frequent users of hand sanitizer on our travels. When there is no water and soap and when the children have become dirty while playing, hand sanitizer is always indispensable.
Number 9 strange stuff: Toiletpaper
We always bring toilet paper. Especially in Eastern Europe, there is never toilet paper on trains or in public toilets.
Number 10 strange stuff: A knife
We never buy sandwiches or similar lunches, but instead buy bread and cold meats. Sometimes we buy spreadable cheese or tuna and it’s nice to be able to spread it with a knife
Number 11 strange stuff: A potato peeler
Just as there are never scissors in the apartments we go to, there is never a potato peeler either. We often use it for carrots, which we use in our cooking.
Number 12 strange stuff: Home pharmacy
When we travel in countries such as Ukraine, Kosovo and Albania, we always have a home pharmacy with us which, for example, contains disposable syringes and antibiotics.
Number 13 strange stuff: Bathing shoes
We love to swim in the sea and we always wear bathing shoes. In many places there are stones which can be uncomfortable to step on, in other places there can be sea urchins or broken glass.
Number 14 strange stuff: Powerbank
In most trains in Eastern Europe there is no socket. In addition, it can always happen that you forget to charge your phone before leaving your apartment or that the children have seen something and forgotten to charge. This is where the indispensable power bank comes into the picture. We have not previously taken it with us, but after this trip we will never travel without it.
We hope the list of “strange stuff” can provide inspiration for your packing lists. Have a Nice trip!
