The $199.00 is a leather bag and much too heavy for travel. Check out the microfiber one. Mine is a medium size black bag and is $69.00. It is just the best travel bag I have ever seen. My sister bought one also at a store in Baltimore that had travel stuff. Good luck.

For umbrella-carriers (like me): I just replaced what I thought was my incredibly-small Totes umbrella with an UNBELIEVABLY small and light Totes umbrella. It folds flat, not round, and folded measures 7" by 2" by 1"; further, it's about half the weight of my other teeny Totes umbrella. Highly recommended. Cost: about $15. Where: Totes outlet store (mine is from Potomac Mills Mall, Virgnia, but there are many of these around the U.S.)

Lent: Take a look at the bag on page 49 of the clearance section of the online JJill cataloge-www.jjill.com. I just bought it, and, although I haven't used it yet, I think I am going to like it much better than the bigger microfiber bag that I have been carrying. I saw lots of European tourists with these bags, but no Americans. It has a very wide strap that goes over your head and across, and it fits flat to your body, either in front or back. I don't walk around with a lot of things; I usually carry an Eyewitness travel guide (against the better judgment of others!), passport copy, credit card, cash, camera (I use disposables, because I'm not so good with a camera), two bandaides, 5 or 6 little individually packaged wipes, and I just buy along the way whatever else comes up. All of things fit very easily into this bag. Their is a big side pocket on it that exactly fit to my travel guide. It will fit in the suitcase, so I don't have to count it as a carryon piece as I did with my other bag. Best of all it is reduced from $48 to $19.95! Now I can pack a few essentials in my other. I can't wait until November to try it out!

To Marty <BR>I looked at the bag on jjill. It looks like it has lots of room without sticking out two feet. And the price is great! That bag is still more than I am thinking I am willing to have on me all day. I am going to go really small and try to include a lot of the items suggested. I'll be the tourist on the street juggling twenty loose items and wishing for a bigger tote :}

<BR>more on biology & "germs" , to answer some of Cindy's concerns - <BR> <BR>" ..wouldn't all of the bacteria become resistant to the scrubbing-in procedure surgeons use .." <BR> <BR>Actually, some bacteria have! <BR> <BR>Hospitals, because of all the anti-bacterials & antiobiotics used, give rise to some of the most virulent new strains of bacteria. <BR> <BR>the immune system usually does take care of the most bacterias, but it can be accompanied by fevers & infections while the body fights it off (no fun). Many bacteria, happily co-exist with the human, and arguably are essential to normal metabolic function (certain E-coli strains residing in the stomach & intestine, for example). <BR> <BR>On the whole, since the vast majority of bacteria are NOT the "super-bacteria" type, ordinary soap handwashing works well. <BR> <BR>"Antibacterial" is overkill unless you're treating open wounds & such, which do call for applying bactericides into the wound (eg Povidone-Iodine solution). <BR>And everyone is probably aware of Tetanus infections in open wounds, which can be quite serious & even fatal, if you are not immunized every 10 years. <BR> <BR>Anyway, searching on the Scientific American magazine site <BR>( http://www.sciam.com/ ) <BR>will turn up lots of interesting articles on all this, written by experts in the field. <BR>

I think I'll continue my overkill procedures, thank-you-very-much; salmonella infection (for one) isn't my idea of a fun time. Anything I can do to kill it puts my mind at ease. Sorry to all if I'm perpetuating super-germs.

Don't all living things evolve anyway? Isn't that why the AIDS virus is so hard to get a handle on, because it continually mutates? I'm supposed to hope my body can fight off salmonella and E.coli, because heaven forfend I should use an antibacterial wipe when the bathroom has no soap and only cold water??? <BR> <BR>I'm with you, Paul, lying near death in a foreign hospital while being pumped full of antibiotics (oh, wait, I can't have that either) isn't on my list of "things to do while traveling". My apologies to the universe. The antibacterial wipes stay on the list of things-to-bring.

You know, it kind of irritates me when individuals lacking basic energy to do even minimal research on a topic will simply disregard an issue as hogwag. <BR> <BR>What is even more frustrating is to watch other equally unenergetic indiviuals jump on that bandwagon with the "yep', makes sense to me" logic. <BR> <BR>Apparently there really is something to this antibacterial soap issue. I am an attorney, not a doctor; therefore, I will not make just blatent conclusions that some medical issue is a sure thing, nor hogwash. Instead, I let the doctors and the scientists, do research and attempt to draw logical conclusions. <BR> <BR>How does a non doctor become aware of such issues? Perhaps, by watching the news. In this past month CNN.com has carried several major stories on the topic. <BR> <BR>First, the AMA--American Medical Association (yes, doctors) recognize that there is a problem, and called for more studies of antibacterial soaps. Boy did this irritate the soap companies. <BR> <BR>http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/06/14...p02/index.html <BR> <BR>And a few days before that, the CDC, as in, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (yes, more doctors and scientists), expanded its campaign to reduce the number of unnecessary antibiotic. This includes household anti-bacterial soaps. <BR> <BR>http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/06/01...use/index.html <BR> <BR>Therefore, apparently, there is something this. I say something, because I am not a scientist or doctor, thus, I will leave the final conclusions to them. <BR> <BR>To see individuals so closed minded to the possibility of things just gets to me. In terms of closed minded travelers--honestly, the world is not flat.

One further point. If you wish to use anti-bacterial products due concerns about health issues, then feel free to do so as that is not my issue. <BR> <BR>My issue is that if you are going to rudely state that another person's concern is simply hogwash, then you should have made come some effort to verify or support your position. <BR> <BR>

Please forgive the typo in the last post.

Dear Lent: <BR> <BR>Last I checked in was about a month ago. Then you were wondering about your feet. Did you ever decide on a shoe? Now I come back to find a whole pack of Fodorites with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) transfixed on bacteria and how to control it. Do you all wash your hands after using the keyboard? My dear lent... and I do love that name (sounds as if you're trying to give up something), the only thing you need for a day trip is a map, a sense of imagination of where to find the back roads, and a knowledge of local signage (where the castles, abbeys and other sites of interest might be located). Develop the sense of locality and find a good resturant for lunch and resting during the hot part of the day. Beyond the map, always carry water and some knowledge of typical weather conditions. Forget the umbrella. It never rains long enough (expect in the rain forest) anywhere where you can't duck in somewhere to keep dry. <BR> <BR>Please keep us apprised of your packing list before you leave. You could be the next Rick Steves. <BR> <BR>God Bless, <BR> <BR>Dr. Fordor

Not to belabor a point, but I went to the Scientific America website, and found only one article, from 1997, about bacteria becoming resistant to conventional antibiotics. I went to the CDC site, and found one mention (under FAQ). Their recommendation was thorough handwashing to prevent infection (no mention what to do if hot water/soap isn't available). They also said that researchers are constantly developing new antibiotics to combat these new strains. <BR> <BR>Does anyone who recommended the information on these sites direct me to other articles on these sites that I missed?

To Chris, <BR>Since I'm the one who initially used the word 'hogwash' in this thread, I'll take it you are addressing me; by the way, my name is Paul. <BR> <BR>If you are calling me rude for stating my opinion, then so are 90% of the respondents on this board; whether a post is about a city, train, hotel or restaurant then people offer opinions. Just because the subject might be about medicine, science or microbes does not exclude people from having opinions. <BR> <BR>When I wrote "...sounds like hogwash to me" it was an opinion; nothing less, nothing more. I didn't write "...anyone not agreeing with me is an idiot!" or <BR>"...I have irrefutable proof you ninnies!" or "...what chumps you are for believing such!". No rudeness at all was intended. <BR> <BR>I won't address your psychic ability which allows you to surmise how well-read a person is or how open or closed-minded someone is simply by reading a paragraph they posted on an internet forum. I also won't address those things you find irritating or frustrating and cause such consternation in your life - other than to say thanks for sharing. <BR> <BR>Now, if you will excuse me, I must scrub my hands before rushing off to my Flat Earth Society meeting. Elvira -- will you be there too?

Well, Chris, Paul and Elvira, I for one am pledging to toss out all antibacterial soaps and washes and wipes to do my part for germ warfare. Henceforth, when my little children hoist their grubby little hands to their grubby little mouths, I'll smile a gentle smile knowing that those frightful germs don't stand a chance against their robust immune systems. <BR> <BR>Seriously, I appreciated the info everyone provided. But answer this: Should I still be using a weakened bleach solution to carefully clean the countertop after slaughtering a chicken, or is that overkill?

In response to the original question, my husband and I carry a small backpack for a day of touring. I like a backpack because it distributes the weight across both shoulders/arms. Some people prefer a shoulder bag, however. We carry in the pack: <BR> <BR>always at least one water bottle, preferrably two <BR>guide book <BR>small 1st aid kit (3x3" pouch with 2-3 bandaids, sm roll of Rolaids, tiny sunscreen, etc.) <BR>toothpicks (don't seem to have them outside the US) <BR>rain and/or warmth protection of some sort <BR>camera, film <BR>card from the hotel (in case no one speaks English and we're lost...again) <BR>T.P. or Kleenix <BR>metro or driving map <BR>gum <BR>couple of granola bars (or Snickers!) <BR>copies of documents

I understand the idea of carrying "wetnaps" or cleaning tissues with you for when you do not have access to soap and water. But, the current trend of constant hand-sanitization confounds me. Does anyone have any proof that they are getting fewer infections since they came on the market? It sounds like media-induced hysteria to me. The solutions used in those tissues WILL NOT kill many strains of harmful bacteria, just as alcohol and hydrogen peroxide will not. <BR> <BR>Talk about creation of need!

Daypack items, forgive the repetition: I use a lightweight microfiber tote that I bought in some dept store, I love it as opposed to some of the nylon ones that don't hold their shape when not filled to the top. My totebag has two internal zippered compartments (not at the top, nearer the bottom) for safekeeping of wallets, credit cards, passport, tickets. <BR>Bandaids <BR>Map(s), guidebook pages as needed <BR>small bottle of water <BR>very small notebook/pad and a pen <BR>copy of my day's or week's itinerary, including plane, train, hotel, museum, and restaurant reservations <BR>list of names and addresses if I'm planning on sending postcards (time-to-kill sometimes pops up in cafes or in lines) <BR>wash n dries ( I have no idea if they are anti-bacterial or not) <BR>tissues <BR>travel wallet: credit card,; atm card; calling card; passport; airline, train, and museum tickets, passes <BR>very small flashlight and sometimes binoculars, especially useful when visiting dark churches to look at frescoes and ceilings. <BR>very small umbrella, unless there is <BR>zero chance I will need it (that would never be the case in the UK) <BR>camera and extra film <BR>

I forgot to add, small ziplock bag to contain most of the water bottle, to avoid getting interior of bag wet with condensation. <BR>If the weather is bad, I sometimes carry an extra pair of dry socks

Hi Paul, <BR> <BR>I was not indicating that you were rude simply for expressing your opinion and you know that. In addition, I made it perfectly clear that anyone'c choice to use antibacterial products was their choice. and I could care less. <BR> <BR>What I specifically addressed, was that you chose to call another poster's opinion and concern "hogwash". <BR> <BR>YOu could have simply disagreed or expressed your disbelief in the topic in a more respectful manner. Instead, you chose to declare that another person's opinion or concern was without merit. Since her opinion did not match your's then her concern must be hogwash. <BR> <BR>We all post opinions on here. Respectfully disagreeing, or simply voicing an alternate thought is never a problem. In reality, voicing your opinion in any way is not a problem since you have the right to be as rude or professional as you choose. However, to indicate that the lady's concern was hogwash, just struck me the wrong way. <BR> <BR>I told you I was a little irritated when I wrote it. Perhaps, I could have shared my concern in a different way as well. For that I apologize.

Dear lent: <BR> <BR>How is it that you get all these responses to the most innocuous of questions? I must chime in with a word with chris...please step into my office, sit down and relax, breath deeply and know, with all your powers of knowing, that "hogwash" is a simple, sweet term, used to express a humble perspective. Give dear Paul a break. <BR> <BR>God Bless, <BR> <BR>Dr. Fordor (aka Betty)