Just remembered another trick I use.

When I do get a chance to send emails while on my trip, I always cc: myself. It then becomes kind of a mini journal, that will help me remember more when I get home.

Like the others, I keep a small journal in my purse and write things down as they occur or as soon as I can. When we stop for a coffe or a glass of wine we use that time to talk about things we did or saw since the last time we took a rest. That ususally catches me up. Since my husband is so good with maps and directions I take that time to ask him street names or routes we took in case I wanted to recall a particular scenic or interesting route.

I'd like to add: Sheila, Ger, Ben Haines, for their always INFORMATIVE posts but really, I appreciate everyone's input, that's what makes this site rich.

Yes, mimi, how could I forget! Ben Haines writes wonderful reports! Bridget Jones kept me so entertained and our Sheila is always interesting!
And in cases such as dln, just the itinerary is fun

I carry a small day calendar book--fits into my shirt pocket. Has one page per day. I jot down things of interest as odd moments come available throughout the day. At night just before hitting the hay, I update with any other thoughts, ideas, items of interest, or add addresses of good restaurants, etc.

i travel with a small tape recorder. not only can i record my impressions of a country with verbal notes but i can record other things: birds, the ocean, directions, music, or what ever appeals to me at the time. it is many times faster than handwriting notes.

I don't post trip reports, but my husband and I do write a journal for each trip. I have a keyboard for my Palm that folds up into a carrying case no bigger than the PDA itself. Each evening one of us types up an account of our day and saves it as a separate file.

We edit it when we get home and share the full journal with friends (it can be very long). But we also use excerpts as captions for our album (which also contains postcards, ticket stubs, restaurant receipts, business cards, and other mementos). People always remark on the captions--they give an immediacy and sense of being there that you don't get with placenames and dates.

Hi dln,

Being even wealthier than Thingorjus and unencumbered by thoughts of cost, I have one of my research assitants take notes for me from which they prepare a daily draft of the prior day's events.

I then dictate changes to my secretary who prepares the final account.

Howard: In order to keep track of my photos I write the place and date on a piece of paper and make that my first shot. Learned this from the movies.

Ira, I shall inform the darling husband that there may be a job opening he'd be interested in.

To all--now I have a plethora of ideas; let's see how well I do!

I have the ability to instantly recognize the most telling and pertinent details of everything I see, then I simply mindmeld with my laptop and it pops up on Fodors!

Well dln, with great modesty I will say that my greatness has been thrust upon me. (I hope nobody notices that I was the one who did the thrusting... : - ) ) However, I have an ample supply of 2 cent pieces, so you are welcome to one of them. : - )

At the end of the day, I jot down purely factual details (where we were at any given hour of the day) on a 4 * 7 page in a notebook called a 'Daytimer.' This forces me to review the events of the day in my mind, and helps me to remember them later. The "log" is also useful when I later annotate our photos.

I don't try to write my impressions immediately - my impressions, like the photos in old-fashioned film processing, need time to develop.

It's only when I get back that I cast my mind back and decide what stood out for us about a particular day: sounds, smells, colours, etc. I do this fairly soon after return, but with the caveat that I don't try to be too perfectionist about it. That way it gets done.

And that's the main thing, that you do it. Only you had your particular trip. Your trip, and thus your report, doesn't have to conform to any standard, cuz there ain't one.

Sue--the last paragraph is a winner. One that should be committed to memory for all of us...

Hey dln,

That's a question I've been asked, and I still have no clear idea of how it happens - for me, it just happens! I've been to Southern Italy twice, each time for two weeks, and each time I came home with no notes whatsoever (but lots of photos, of course) and just started writing. I don't think my memory is any better than the next person's, but I do think that the experience of being in Italy is so stunning that it just forces itself out of me.
The first time, there was a good reason - I wanted to share the experience with the balance of my family. The second time, I actually thought I might be able to sell a book! But that passes with time. Nevertheless, the writing effort produced around 100 pages from each trip, and each time it took about six weeks. Now when I go back and read a little, I'm really transported back, and I relive the experience quite nicely. It's just a great way to preserve and share those inevitable indelible memories.
In fairness, I do use the hundreds of photos to help track the itinerary, and I use them liberally throughout the text. Last time I did a trip write-up I used almost 200 photos, which really adds the spice.
Maybe next time I WILL take notes! Nah...I'm always having too much fun on 'live feed' to take a notes break. But to each his own - for me, it's more photos. I just wish there was a larger, more lucrative market for travel writing! Yeah, that's the ticket...

Since I love threads that set me to thinking, this one needs topping!
And I have thought that one of the requirements for a really enjoyable trip report is to have a good sense of humor and to be a good storyteller!
Both of which can be found in abundance on these boards

Well, I reckon everybody said pretty much what I was going to say. I just wanted to say that this year I brought along a very pretty spiral journal that inspired me to fill it up (and I did - over 90 pages full of my musings & pasted receipts, tickets, napkins, menus, name cards, etc.). It has on the cover a Monet print, of Madame Monet with an umbrella, and what better thing to start off writing about than the Musee Marmottan.

I basically did like a lot of posters, I'd just write things down during those down times when I'd stop at a cafe. I'd eat, smoke, people watch & write. Maybe that's why the waiters were so nice to me in Paris, because they seem to respect the writing tradition even if you're just writing in journal!!

I'd also write late at night in my room before going to bed. Unfortunately, sometimes I'd stay up 'til 3am playing catchup. I know, I'm obsessed. But it was my 1st big trip, there was lots to see & I just wanted to make sure I got it all down. For those later readings - like 20 years from now.

I didn't get it all written in Paris or on the plane. When I returned, I spent a couple of hours one night in a local coffeehouse & another couple of hours in a tearoom writing the rest. I chose those places to set the mood & mimic the places I'd spent time in in Paris. Naturally, it was only a meager fix.

Like others, I also used my itinerary to jog my memory as well as the many photos (I shot 18 rolls of film for 9 days - LOL!).

(thanks, Scarlett, for the very nice words)

I'm really looking forward to dln's & others' trip reports!!!!!

I hope all is well to the folks in the blackout right now!!

Ciao,
MaryC

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life"
~Kerouac

This has nothing to do with this thread but I just wanted to take the opportunity to say that JoeyJoJoJr_Shabadoo gets my vote for the funniest name on this board.

No kidding, Capo - he must've wanted to make sure his name was unique!

If I fall in love with Italy (a serious possibility) I might just consider changing my screen name to "venividivici." Maybe.

I like it already dln. Consider it changed 'cause your gonna fall in love with Italia!

Re: "venividivici."

Allright, I just have to relate this because it has got to be one of the clever plays on a phrase I've ever seen. (Those who are easily offended, please don't read any further, OK?)

There's a strip club called The Lusty Lady (owned and run by women) in downtown Seattle. I don't know if they still do this or not but they used to accept suggestions for phrases on their marquee. One of my favorites, when one of the recent Star Wars movies came out was "Obi Wan Disrobi."

But my favorite was...

Veni Vidi (and then a repeat of one of those words)