Viaja Anna | Travel Adventures

[viajaanna]

I made my mom join the tidying party and did the same in her backpack as I did to mine. | Fiz minha mãe se juntar na festinha de organização e fiz com a mala dela o que fiz com a minha.

[viajaanna]

SIGHTINGS - Yosemite National Park

Six in the morning sunrise.

[viajaanna]

SIGHTINGS - Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles

Back when I was living in Los Angeles and taking tourist friends there on a monthly basis.

[viajaanna]

(Post em português vindo em breve)

Soooo I like organizing.

I’ve just spent part of my afternoon making sure my next thirty-four days in Europe are well lived not stressing about what should I be wearing each day amid very cold weather—especially when all I have is a backpack to fit it all (and it's not like in backpacks you can really lay in a way to visualize the options). So I did the visualization ahead of schedule. It was the best idea I had to be honest.

I put my options out, took a few shots to make sure I got one that I liked and then headed to photoshop. My skills with the tool are very limited if I'm being honest, and, afterward, I realized I should have spaced the clothes out a bit if I was going to write stuff around. Overall though, this helped me get a pretty clear idea of what I have in store and what is it that I'm still missing (LIKE GLOVES!). My dog ate my gloves last week and I completely blanked on that, so now there's a checklist of stuff to buy when I get there—Brazil is a tropical country, not a strong glove game going on.

Here's what we have in stock!

I got fifteen combinations for thirty-four days, including two of plane travel. After I took the picture I realized three shoes wouldn’t do so I’ve since eliminated the one with heels on the far left and moved it’s combinations to the other black one (yep that one is going to be worn the heck out after a month). I just figured I wouldn’t stand the entire day in heels at museums—plus it’s a platform, so heavy. The combinations will repeat itself twice since it’s thirty days and not fifteen, but I don’t mind that. I’m just reconsidering the three items I only use for one look: numbers 7, 2, 8 (number 6 has to stat cause we’re using it for Christmas, it’s a family tradition and we all have the sweaters. But I’m trying to see what I can replace the other tree items for that I can make more use of.

There’s also another advantage for me that is my mom and I wear the same size everything so I can always steal a thing or two from her backpack.

Packing this wasn’t easy and I’ll confess I’m slightly desperate as I realize I haven’t packed any makeup or toiletries yet and it’s almost at it’s full, I’ll definitely have to look for some travel size packages for my beauty products.

I started packing things that I’ll use less, they’re at the bottom of the backpack as I know I won’t be needing them as much. Then I packed the items I thought were being most used at the top and closed it up with the sneakers I’m taking.

There’s literally a bunch of pockets on this backpack, this bottom one I put the things I’ll be using a lot randomly, like accessories and warming leggings or stockings that go under my pants. Oh and my PJs at the very bottom! It wasn’t on the main picture as I just didn’t really see the point of having it on a picture of my lookbook.

It closed up pretty tightly with little space for my personal items like my cables (no clue where I’m putting my computer as I planned flying light on the main cabin, might just carry it). The clothes and shoes out are my travel clothing: Nike windbreaker jacket, tank top, leggings, shoes and socks, and a heavy coat for when I get there.

Now I’m only missing the eaten gloves and my winter bikini (also not in the main picture cause well, not necessary for the lookbook either) that I’m using at Italy’s hot springs.

We’re 22 days until this trip and I couldn’t be more excited about it!

[viajaanna]

It’s a family tradition to wear Disney ugly sweaters and now we’ll bring them to Disneyland Paris.

[viajaanna]

Sightings: Dumbo at Brooklyn

[viajaanna]

34 Days, 14 Cities, 6 Countries, 1 Continent

Leia em Português abaixo.

In 88 days I'm headed off to do an Europe trip like I've never done before.

Years ago I had the opportunity of visiting Portugal two different times with my family. I was born in Brazil but my grandfather is Portuguese so we've always been connected with those roots. We made plans to head there again so I can get my citizenship in Portugal (which all children and grandchildren of Portuguese borns have the right to have, even if they were born abroad). But we've decided to take on a journey through six different counties as well--by train, car and plane.

We're departing from Brasília, Brazil, on December 5th and returning January 7th. We start off with twelve hours flight to Lisbon where we're staying until the 9th when we depart to the city of Seia, where my grandfather was born, so we can do the not fun paperwork things. Next up is Sintra, still in Portugal. Sintra has one of the best sweet bakes I've tried in my life. It's a thousand layer pastry, or as the French call it, mille-feuille with a creamy and sweet almond and egg yolk filling. It's called travesseiros da piriquita from the Pastelaria Piriquita. Honestly, Sintra is a small city with an enormous cultural baggage and amazing castles, but I've seen it two times and my parents four so we're admittedly only going for the food--which is freaking awesome!

You must know I didn't always use to but as I grew up I've become quite the organized person and that includes when I travel. Packing is a thought through process and my usual for this trip would be to make myself a large suitcase ready for the strong winter we're bound to endure. But given the speed we're going to be going through each country and the fact many trains can't really take the 32 inches suitcases, my family, who's going with me, and I decided that we should go with camping backpacks. 70L is all I get, which I've tested it's plenty, but hell I'm struggling with organizing it.

I got the backpack below in a Brazilian website and it's pretty sturdy. But I'm still looking for the best "Marie Kondo" methods to organize and keep this backpack neat for thirty-two days.

The return from Sintra to Lisbon takes us basically straight to Paris as we're only going there to take the plane. Weighting on the plane versus train felt better for us because we're skipping Spain this time. I never been to Paris and when we laid down the options I said I preferred France better. Although we're not leaving Paris, it's number two on the countries I'm looking forward the most--we'll get to number one soon.

From Paris we head to Dusseldorf in Germany, also by plane. I know by now you must be thinking: why is she taking a backpack if there's only planes involved. We're not taking any cars (except to drive to Sintra/Seia) and no transfers. All the transportation we're doing is by train, metro or walk. So the backpack seemed more fitting.

Dusseldorf we head to Berlim by train, stopping at a few Christmas Fairs that are popular there this time of the year. By now, in our planning, is December 18th. We wanted to spend Christmas in Germany as it's a country none of us had been before and we heard a lot about the fairs happening there. We do a quick stop out of Germany to visit Prague in the Czech Republic. None of use never been there either and we keep hearing how amazing the city is and that we'll want to be there more days. On the 23rd we head to Munique though, for Christmas.

Following stop is, at last but not least, my most expected country to visit: Italy. There's something about the food, the people that is all too familiar to me. I have all my roots in Portugal but I always found myself more connected to Italy. Our flight is to Venice first, then Florence, Colle, Pisa, Rome, then Vatican. The Vatican I was unsure about counting it as a country? I hear all different opinions about it being a city or a country, part of Italy or not. I separated it, country and city wise. What is your opinion?

It's the final destination as after it we head back to Paris and follow to Lisbon for a night so we can go back to Brasília. We've got a lot in hand to get planning--though most of it is done. So if you have any suggestions of places to sight or eat, I'll be happy to hear them out.

Next post, I'll talk more about the sightings we'll be doing in each city, stay tune!

—

Em 88 dias, estou indo fazer uma viagem à Europa como nunca fiz antes.

Anos atrás, tive a oportunidade de visitar Portugal duas vezes diferentes com minha família. Nasci no Brasil, mas meu avô é português, então sempre estivemos conectados com nossas raízes. Planejamos voltar para lá para que eu possa obter minha cidadania em Portugal (que todos os filhos e netos de nascidos portugueses têm o direito de ter, mesmo que tenham nascido no exterior). Mas decidimos fazer uma viagem por seis países diferentes–de trem, carro e avião.

Partimos de Brasília, Brasil, no dia 5 de dezembro e voltamos no dia 8 de janeiro. Começamos com doze horas de vôo para Lisboa, onde ficaremos até o dia 9, quando partirmos para a cidade de Seia, onde meu avô nasceu, para que possamos finalizar as coisas divertidas de papelada. A próxima é Sintra, ainda em Portugal. Sintra tem um dos melhores doces que eu já experimentei na minha vida. É uma massa folheada, ou, como os franceses chamam, mille-feuille com recheio cremoso e doce de amêndoa e gema de ovo. Chama-se travesseiros da piriquita da Pastelaria Piriquita. Honestamente, Sintra é uma cidade pequena, com uma enorme bagagem cultural e castelos incríveis, mas eu já fui duas vezes e meus pais quatro, por isso vamos admitir que só vamos pra comer mesmo agora–o que é incrível!

Eu tenho que contar que eu nem sempre fui assim, mas quando cresci me tornei uma pessoa bem organizada e isso inclui quando viajo. Fazer mala é um processo de longo e reflexivo e para esta viagem o meu normal seria fazer uma mala grande e pronta para o inverno rigoroso que vamos passar. Mas, dada a velocidade que percorreremos em cada país e o fato de muitos trens não poderem levar as malas de 80 cm, minha família, que vai comigo, e eu decidimos que deveríamos ir com mochilas de acampamento. 70L é tudo que terei, o que testei e é bastante, mas caramba estou lutando para organizar na mochila.

Eu comprei a mochila abaixo no mercado livre e é bem resistente. Mas ainda estou procurando os melhores métodos “Marie Kondo” para organizar e manter essa mochila por trinta e dois dias.

O retorno de Sintra a Lisboa nos leva basicamente direto a Paris, pois só vamos a Lisboa para pegar o avião. Pesando entre o avião e o trem foi melhor para nós, porque desta vez estamos pulando a Espanha. Nunca estive em Paris e, quando definimos as opções, disse que preferia a França. Apesar de que não iremos sair de Paris, é o número dois nos países que mais quero conhecer (chegaremos ao número um em breve).

De Paris, seguimos para Dusseldorf na Alemanha, também de avião. Eu sei que agora você deve estar pensando: por que ela está pegando uma mochila se há apenas aviões envolvidos? Não estamos alugando carros (exceto para dirigir para Sintra/Seia) e sem transfers. Todo o transporte que fazemos é de trem, metrô ou a pé. Então a mochila parecia mais adequada, pelas pesquisas que fizemos online sobre viagens a Europa.

Em Dusseldorf, seguimos de trem para Berlim, parando em algumas feiras de Natal que são populares por lá nesta época do ano. Até agora, no nosso planejamento, já é dia 18 de dezembro. Queríamos passar o Natal na Alemanha, pois é um país que nenhum de nós havia ido antes e ouvimos muito sobre as feiras que acontecem por lá. Fazemos uma rápida parada fora na Alemanha para visitar Praga na República Tcheca. Também não conhecemos e todos amigos que já foram ficaram repetindo o quão incrível é a cidade e que vamos querer ficar lá mais dias. No dia 23, seguimos para Munique, para o Natal.

A parada seguinte é, finalmente, mas não menos importante, o meu país mais esperado para visitar: a Itália. Há algo sobre a comida, as pessoas que são familiares demais para mim. Tenho todas as minhas raízes em Portugal, mas sempre me vi mais conectada à Itália. Nosso vôo é para Veneza primeiro, depois de trem para Florença, Colle, Pisa, Roma e depois o Vaticano. O Vaticano eu não tinha certeza de contá-lo como um país? Eu ouço muitas opiniões diferentes sobre ser uma cidade ou um país, parte da Itália ou não. Separei, país e cidade. Qual é sua opinião?

É o destino final, pois depois voltamos para Paris e seguimos para Lisboa por uma noite para podermos voltar para Brasília. Temos muito em mãos para planejar - embora a maior parte esteja pronta. Portanto, se você tiver alguma sugestão de lugares para ver ou comer, ficarei feliz em ouvi-los.

No próximo post, falarei mais sobre os lugares que vamos visitar em cada cidade, fique de olho!