I'm glad you girls have kissed and made up. Wouldn't want any hostility on this board. :-D (I hate these smiley face icons BUT...they are good for getting across the fact that you are joking.)

And Marilyn look at all those clean gleaming teeth! That was me on Tuesday of my trip.

Ohblondie! Ira will be very pleased if you write a trip report (check out Ira postings, since you are new). And keep on writing here. You won't find a more generous bunch of people in their willingness to share their travel stories, nor a more willing audience!

I agree with Rick - although it would be spare ATM/checking debit card b/c I only pay with money I've made, not that I will make.

and I have to say, ohblondie has put forth a compelling argument for taking extra toothbrushes. nothing nastier than sweaters on your teeth in the morning. I would most definitely not pick up and use a toothbrush which fell on the floor. comb either for that matter.

Thanks dln, I will put one together tonight. I know we all like the kindness of strangers when we travel, but kindness begins at home, so I hope my report will help someone, you never know.

I'll probrobly get reamed for this one but....
It sound to me like a lot of you need to minimalize your belongings and I'm not just talking about when your traveling. Keep in mind you can't take everything with you when you go.
Allright go ahead rip me apart now I'm done.

"Keep in mind you can't take everything with you when you go."
Ah, but you can TRY.

My daughter bought a curling iron in London that operates on some sort of gas cylinder so it doesn't need electricity. She loves it.

I heard somewhere a long time ago that the ultimate test when you are considering getting married is to ask yourself, "If I had to, could I use his toothbrush?"

Carolyn, that is excellent. I didn't even think of using his! oh oh

This is interesting, it sort of shows how people who may or may not travel often approach packing. Back-ups are fine, but which ones, that's the key. I'd say eyes and meds, and the rest, well, go shopping. Overpacking, well, that's kind of yahoo, like too many socks, bras, belts - what am I leaving out? Nonetheless, the image of a toothbrush on a bathroom floor, ugh! Or chewing gum instead of brushing - moss city! Yuk. Thanks for the ideas, though. When I pack tonight, I'll think of this thread.

LstFltOut: Don't dismiss the gum out of hand. It is not "regualar" chewing gum. It is special "dental care" gum meant for exactly these types of situations. Chewing the gum both cleans the teeth and freshens breath. Most brands include baking soda, plaque removing properties, etc. I find it REALLY convenient and refreshing. Your teeth actually feel as clean as after brushing.

I have to take extras when traveling with my adult children. I know, it never fails, even after I call them and say: we're leaving tomorrow, have you packed everything? do you need my list? And of course the moment they get to their rooms there is a phone call or a knock on the door: mom, do you have a spare ______ ? (feel free to fill in almost anything :)

OK I can understand the toothbrush thing, although I don't necessarily agree... but we don't even pick up a COMB that falls on the floor? Now that's incredible!

Hey, I just posted back and forth with "fussy traveler" on the Other Topics board -- she brings her own sheets even though she stays at 5-star hotels. I wonder if she brings "extras"?

Who dropped a comb? What did I miss?

I wouldn't pick up a toothbrush from an airport toilet floor either. I can't even imagine what it would taste like even after rinsing, yuck.

I think there was a Seinfeld episode where he wanted to change his shoe laces after they untied in a bathroom and touched the floor.

If 'Flygirl' dropped her comb she wouldn't use it again (few posts above this).

Oh dear, guess I better keep myself off the Other Topics because 'fussy traveler' might push me over the edge LOL!

My point which I am not so successfully making is that if travel was just like home... well it wouldn't be an adventure! Learning to 'roll with the punches' is to my mind part of the beauty of traveling.

We're edging over to the land of Monk.

I still don't get it...blondie was in the airport when the toothbrush became caked with urine, (hah hah). What better place to buy a replacement, right there at the AIRPORT! Now, I've never been to Rome but I can't imagine that an airport in a major city wouldn't have a toothbrush for sale at a newsstand!

No, Suze, really you should read the thread. Not only would I not want to carry sheets, but one of the great perks of hotels to me is that I don't have to make the bed. The idea of paying $300-400/night and then making the bed myself...

This is getting too funny, who would believe that I am sitting here justifying myself for not using a urine soaked nor buying a new toothbrush in the Rome airport.
It was late, I was in a hurry, alone, exhausted, jet lagged, hungry, tired, sleepy, nervous, excited, minutes away from rekindling a romance in a country where I dont speak the language, not even sure if he would be there to meet me on time, mulling over a plan B if he wasn't.....
and I dont think there was anything open, the shops close early I think, I know they werent open when I flew out weeks later....

but don't stop questioning me, it is sort of fun and I'm bored at work right now....

Now I'm intrigued about the rekindling of an old love...hope all went well despite the bad teeth, perhaps if he was British he wouldn't have even noticed!

oh YES ohBlondie... why didn't you SAY THAT in the first place?*?*?

Rekindling romance in a foreign country is EVER so much more exciting than your dropped & nasty ole toothbrush!

ohblondie!!! Did you know roma means amor backwards?

Did you find ((L)) or ((u)) ?

Well, you gals will have to wait for the movie! No, really, last night I started looking at my journal, trying to find restaurants, etc. for a trip report, and I got started reading it and forgot about the report!
My journal is short on restaurants and long on impressions.
I do have some reservations about writing though, you all seem like a tough audience! (I am smiling...and don't know how to make those little faces)

Suggestion: Game, Place coins or paper money near commode. Observe behavior of people. How valuable does money have to be in order to have someone retrieve it?
This is like the million dollar story and two dollar one.

I couldn't care less about the toothbrush -- I want to know about the ROMANCE.

GSteed, I never never pass money by. I've held up traffic reaching for pennies on the ground. But then again I am probably one of the world's biggest tightwads. I take a lot of teasing about it, not that it has broken the habit! I'd pick up money near a toilet and just wash it off. Believe me, after you've raised two kids as I have, your tolerance for dirt goes sky high. I'm not bothered by it, which bodes well for someone who likes to travel. Most of the world is not as germ-obsessed as we are! However, I would have done as blondie did and tossed the toothbrush. Aesthetically speaking, my stomach would have turned over, even if I were able to have autoclaved it! Money doesn't go into my mouth so it would have been fair game. (Now you know that like Blondie, I am bored with work.)

Blondie, just type in emoticons in the text search box and you'll come up with the threads telling you how to make faces and more. We can't let such a small stumbling block like that come between us and romance.

What a fun thread!

:D

Carolyn said:

<i>I heard somewhere a long time ago that the ultimate test when you are considering getting married is to ask yourself, &quot;If I had to, could I use his toothbrush?&quot;</i>

I have often used my husband's toothbrush if I forgot to pack mine, or vice versa. (We nearly always forget something when we pack as, even though I make a packing list, we're not very thorough, we figure we can buy stuff when we arrive if we've forgotten it). Anyway, if I'm snogging the man and exchanging other bodily fluids I am sure as heck not going to get weird about using his toothbrush which is rinsed after use anyway!

:D

ohblondie, The Time has come..Time to tell the Romance part of this story!!
Was he there at the airport?
Did he bring you flowers, gifts, kisses?
Did you ever leave your room?
Were the two of you ever away from each other long enough to stop and brush those toothies???
Do tell, do tell :)

but, but, I've often shared my toothbrush with my boyfriend. am I back on the A-list again? ;-)

ohblondie, yes do tell all.

ok, I'll tell, but tomorrow, if I have time tonight to go over the journal again, just don't be too hard on me.

In the meantime, yes he was there, he didn't seem to mind kissing my unbrushed teeth and we took off immediately for his family's vacation home in Southern Italy.

You know, blondie, you could stretch this thing out from here to Christmas just by doing installments (such as you've done just above). You could keep us hanging by threads, because we are all suckers for foreign romance...

If you just read the header on this thread you would never know it had taken SUCH an interesting turn...

Can't wait for the next installment, blondie! We're all living vicariously.

going to Switzerland in Dec for my first trip ever.have been reading about some things to take with you etc..washcloth ,soap,toilet paper..anything else anyone can suggest
naturally i will take my medication,and personal things like deordant etc..mary

They are very civilized in switzerland...you don't need TP or soap..you'll be supplied..take a washcloth..that may or may not be supplied! You can buy anything you want if it is not , don't over-burden yoursel with stuff!

ohblondie, we are still waiting for the details.

Rita

Hi, I just got back from another sojourn to Naples. I took two toothbrushes one in my purse and one in my luggage. My pearly whites were as clean as whistles and attracted whistles (not really, but it sounds good).

If you aren't too hard on me I will write a cooking/restaurant report.

Oh, Blondeeeeeee, we want to hear about the GUY, not the restaurants!

Oh, in that case, ok. I'll do both,let me get my list and my romantic/lustful thoughts all together then I'll write it. I'll clean it up though for family Fodor viewing.

Ohblondie, don't clean it up TOO much, please~