Travel Gear

I wanted to include a few of my favorite travel tools for you to check out, if you feel so inclined. 

Panasonic Lumix LX2 Camera: This is the camera that I used on the trip– it takes good low-light pictures with it’s image stabilizer, has 10MP and the battery lasts a long time, though I did bring along an extra battery, for the days when I needed to switch before I got back to the hotel.  I also brought 4 2GB memory cards, but everyone takes a different number of pictures, so I leave that to you!

ProMaster Flexipod Tripod: Really useful for taking pictures of anything in low light, and much steadier than trying to use your knee to get that perfect night-time shot of the Pantheon.  This one was very light & compact, so I just kept it in the bottom of my bag for when I needed it. 

Creative Zen Vision 60GB: My MP3 Player– it has video & pictures on it, as well.  The great thing about bringing this along is that I can plug it directly into my camera and download my pictures, in case I’m running low on space.  I also brought along several movies that were filmed in Italy, to get my psyched up while I was on the plane!

Hide-Away Tote Bag: If you want to buy some souvenirs along the way, be sure to bring one of these so that it’s not so hard to cram it all back into your suitcase– you can even zip it up and check it at the airport on your way back (or use it as an expendable bag for “Liquids” to check on your way over.  That way, if it gets lost, you still have your clothes in your carry-on and jus have to buy new shampoo, etc. 

Civita Shoulder Bag: Great little bag perfect for carrying around as you tour.  My only complaint is that I had the black one, and it attracted lint like a magnet...

Veloce Shoulder Bag: I used this one as a carry-on and as my shoulder bag/ purse when switching hotels, etc.  It fits a lot more than the Civita bag, and can also be worn as a backpack, which is great!

Security Pouch: Incredibly useful, because you can clip it to the bottom of your Rick Steves bag & make it really hard for someone to steal your valuables.

Money Belt: If you plan to use your passport & credit cards later in the trip, be sure to use one of these!  I’ve never been successfully pick-pocketed, but I’ve seen a few attempts, and don't want to make myself an easy target!

Compact Toiletries Kit: I found that our hotels didn’t have much sink space, so being able to hang this up really came in handy.

Electrical Adapters: Be sure you know what you need before you go– some plugs need Adapters, but not converters, while others need both.

Rome: Past and Present Book: Book of overlays showing how the various ruins fit into the bigger structures that used to exist there.  Really useful when you’re touring the Forum & Colosseum!