Laundry While Traveling, A Solution

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Travel Tips From The Intentional Travelers

We often travel with friends or family and they are always amazed at high lightly we travel. At the same time we’re equally amazed at how much luggage they’re hauling around as they travel. Leaving for a thirty day trip we usually travel with two carry-on suitcases and two backpacks*.

Laundry while on the road can be expensive and a real pain, but there are solutions (pun intended) to help with this chore.

Our first tip is to carry the right clothes. Polyester was designed just for this purpose and it isn’t anything like the clingy, static generating fabrics of the past.* A surprising amount of our travel clothes are polyester. From shirts and slacks to socks and underwear it”s mostly either polyester or nylon. All it takes is a quick wash in a sink, ring and shake out and in just a few hours it’s ready to wear again.

BUY ON AMAZON
BUY ON AMAZON

Having enough clean clothes while traveling is always a concern. If you’re on a ship, laundry services can be pretty costly although “frequent cruisers” often get free or reduced pricing on a limited amount of laundry. If you’re traveling on your own, you may be able to get laundry services at your hotel but that also comes at a premium price. The other alternative is to find a laundromat (more common in the US then overseas) and spend a few hours washing, drying and folding your clothes.

A better solution is to travel with clothes that wash and dry quickly. There are any number of brands on the market that are lightweight and can be washed in a sink and then hung to dry in the bathtub/shower. The advantage here is that these clothes take up less room in your suitcase, generally wrinkle less or not at all and, because they can be quickly washed, you can pack fewer items.

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BUY ON AMAZON
BUY ON AMAZON
BUY ON AMAZON

Three great products to help you handle your own laundry are a universal sink stopper, travel size packs of detergent packets or sheets and an inflatable hanger. The sink stopper is necessary when you end up with a sink that doesn’t have a good stopper a nd won’t hold water. The travel size detergent packs take up little space and, because they are single use, they can be disposed of as you use them. The travel hanger takes almost no space and can be blown up when needed and then deflated when it’s time to move on. It also will eliminate those puckers in your tops made by hangers.

Two other essentials we carry that come in handy.

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BUY ON AMAZON

*To be fair Dennis’ backpack that he tries to keep under 40 pounds, is a MilSpec thing with Molle pouches attached. He claims the pack keeps him organized.

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Today’s Images • Along the Banks of the River Liffey

In modern Dublin everything carries you down to the banks of the River Liffey…

The River Liffey is the central feature of Dublin with notable landmarks along the river that include the iconic Ha’penny Bridge, Dublin Castle, and the Custom House, which showcase the city’s rich history and architecture.

The river is also home to numerous other attractions such as the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and the Jeanie Johnston, a replica of a 19th-century famine ship. and the Old Liffey Ferry. The Jeanie Johnston is a museum, and the Old Liffey Ferry offers tours and a glimpse into Dublin’s maritime history.

For those wanting to explore more the area, boat tours are an option, allowing visitors to glide past significant sights like the Guinness Storehouse and the Dublin Docklands.

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Exploring America’s Wild Side • The US National Parks

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America has been a leader in the creation of national parks with the world’s first national park being Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872. It was designated as a national park by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant. This single American park covers an area larger than the state of Delaware. They also range the farthest across the globe with 5,331.6 miles between Denali in Alaska and the national park in Samoa.

As a new day dawns in America the first place the Sun’s rays touch is in a national park. The park is Acadia and the place is Cadillac Mountain

A Dozen U.S. National Parks

Smoky Mountains National Park


Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America’s most visited national park.

A Blue Ridge Parkway


An experience unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.

Virgin Islands National Park


Go beyond Virgin Islands National Park’s stunning white-sand beaches. Hike to historic plantation sites to learn about a challenging past when sugar and enslaved labor dominated life on the island. Visit the Indigenous Taino’s ancient petroglyphs. Snorkel coral reefs to discover hidden marine life. Two-thirds of the island of St. John is national park, making it a unique destination for visitors.

Buck Island Reef


Welcome to Buck Island Reef National Monument, called “the finest marine garden in the Caribbean Sea” by President John F. Kennedy. Snorkel the famous underwater trail, explore endangered elkhorn coral reefs. Hike the trails on the 176-acre island to the observation platform for an unparalleled view. Discover a vibrant world above and beneath the waves in this Caribbean paradise.

Yellowstone National Park


On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic features. Within Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres, visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain about half the world’s active geysers, and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

Grand Teton National Park


Discover a landscape rich with wildlife, pristine lakes, and majestic alpine vistas, the Teton Range stands as a testament to generations of stewards. For over 11,000 years, communities have thrived in the valley known as Jackson Hole, turning these mountains into more than just peaks—they embody imagination and a enduring human connection.

Tetons

Grand Canyon National Park


This park encompasses 278 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homelands of 11 present day Tribal Communities, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—a mile deep canyon unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors from both north and south rims.

Yosemite National Park


One of the most impressive valleys on Earth featuring the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, and a vast wilderness.

Denali National Park


Six million acres of wild land, bisected by a single road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America’s tallest peak, 20,310′ Mount McKinley. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands, living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await.

Haleakala National Park


This special place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species, some of which exist nowhere else. Come visit this special place – renew your spirit amid stark volcanic landscapes and sub-tropical rain forest with an unforgettable hike through the backcountry.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Here is some of the most unique geological, biological, and cherished cultural landscapes in the world. Extending from sea level to 13,680 feet, the park encompasses the summits of two of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kīlauea and Mauna Loa – and is a designated International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The National Park of American Samoa
Discover the vibrant culture and stunning landscapes of the South Pacific. Experience a world unlike any other, where natural beauty and cultural heritage are protected for future generations. Join us in exploring these islands of sacred earth!

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Today’s Images • The Lighter Side of Prague

Like many of the former Soviet satellites* the Czech Republic today is a much more relaxed and happy place. Today the people, art and city public spaces reflect this new mood that often displays a sense of whimsey….




While crossing a bridge over the Vltava River we saw just below us a small sailboat with a surprisingly large hot tub! It requires a unique sense of humor to conceive of such an amazing thing…




The “Man Hanging Out” sculpture, created by Czech artist David Černý, is suspended two stories above the street. This striking artwork features a representation of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud suspended by one hand from a pole. There are a number of interpretations, including themes of existentialism and humor.




The “crawling baby statues” are actually found in several locations. These statues, by Czech artist David Černý depict oversized babies crawling with their faces obscured. Černý’s work often carries a satirical edge, and these crawling babies supposed to be interpreted as a commentary on the state of society?



In a city famous for its beer** it was unusual to find this very popular wine bar. It became our favorite place in Prague for happy hour!


The Dancing House, or Ginger and Fred, it’s nickname for the Nationale-Nederlanden building on the Rašínovo nábřeží. It was designed by the Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić for a vacant riverfront plot..



This thirty foot tall sculpture is composed of 42 mobile tiers that independently rotate and align to form the face of Prague’s favorite son, the famous Czech writer Franz Kafka.

A Prague institution it’s a tribute to John Lennon and a symbol of peace and freedom. Originally, the wall was covered with graffiti and lyrics from Beatles songs after Lennon’s assassination in 1980 and reflected the sentiments of the youth against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. Find more on the Wall HERE

*1 I’ve worked with and know a surprising number of people who fled communist countries and usually their stories are very similar. These governments were less about communism and more about total control. While people feared the government the government feared the people even more and that led to the iron fist.

*2 Beer in Prague is actually cheaper than bottled water and probably has less bacteria. It is also the home of the original Budweiser beer …

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Today’s Images • The Wonder of Rome at Night

Nights in some cities become magical and Rome is certainly no exception. From the Forum and Colosseum to Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps the city simply becomes another world…

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Today’s Images • The Lifou Cross

On the small island of Lifou, a commune of France in the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia in the South Pacific, is a cross erected above Sandalwood Bay to mark the arrival of Catholic missionaries to the island in April 1858.

The village of Easo is on Sandalwood Bay on the north coast of Lifou. The bay provides an excellent cruise ship anchorage and with its tender dock it makes the island a popular stop on many cruise itineraries.

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