This piece of luggage is called The Ghost Cruiser from REI. It's the luggage I took to Ireland and Scotland last fall (those posts were interrupted on this blog, by me during a blogging lapse). It weighs only 5 pounds empty and is a 27 inch rolling...duffel of sorts.
Trying to show the two openings here. It's main compartment and a smaller top zip compartment. It has a good study handle, and stand which keeps it upright nicely.
Empty insides show you two side pockets that zip that are good for a pair of shoes, or misc under things. I am able to put a sandal and a dress shoe(flats) in each pocket. I find not putting the pair together is helpful. The sandals obviously are smaller and compact better than a dress flat, so one of each works well. I've also been able to put panties, and footies in each of those compartments along with the shoes. Additionally a top flat pocket with zip works well for file folders, rain gear, or jacket you want to have quick access to; as well as a dress you might not want to scrunch.
All of that packed nicely in above suitcase for a recent 2 week trip to Park City, Utah. Notice 4 packing cubes, Zip lock bag of coffee, zip lock bag of yarn, ditty bag (red), zip lock bag of cooking spices (which I don't take on tours like Ireland, but do when we go to a timeshare vacation). A few misc items like a hat, umbrella, and rain coat folded in a zip lock bag, and a Martini shaker (also not something I take on tour, lol).
Please notice the green cube, 2nd from the right. It's the largest of the 4 you see and it contained 2 flare skirts, 2 dresses with flare skirts, 7 sleeves dress tops, 1 t-shirt, 1 bra and a handful of panties and footies.
Now I can't recommend this luggage, because they no longer make it, but they do have some that are similar. REI (an outdoor store with excellent equipment fully guaranteed). We've belonged to the co-op for years. So even though you might blink at the cost of their equipment, it's very high quality that they stand behind....and as a member, you get annual dividends.
I like a suitcase I can lift. It's not possible to worry about weight with this suitcase. You can't put 50 pounds in it. I'm sorry it's no longer made, because both hubby and I have been very pleased with our purchase.
I plan to to use this suitcase again later this year when we go touring again in Europe, this time Italy.
**I highly recommend using packing cubs. Different colors is helpful too. Perhaps I'll go into more detail on that in a different post.
***I should also mention all the above weighted 39 pounds...well beneath the 50 pound limit, which includes several things I purchased while there, including an extra pair of shoes.
Blarney Castle sits on over 60 acres of gorgeous parklands. There are gardens, walk paths and more. Plenty for those who may not be up to the physical task of climbing up and up in The Castle where the narrow circular steps are quite step and one way. A bit of challenge also if you're claustrophobic. I had to keep concentrating to move quickly up where there would be openness. The view from the top is breathtaking. You can look in all directions...even if you don't plan to kiss the stone. This is hubby below.
He wanted to kiss the stone. That also is rather physical, and you're pressed for time, as the long to do so is quite LONG. We did fairly well, as our tour guide got us there at an off time. You lie on your back, bend your neck and head down to kiss the stone which is beneath you. I wasn't keen with the position, as a person with some back issues. Our friend who's pictures are in this post (her's were better than hubby's), wasn't keen on kissing a dirty stone where hundreds of thousands have put their lips. I would guess about 1/3 of our tour group kissed the stone. There were 39 of us. I think about 2/3rd's climbed to see the sites.
This is the estate house. No longer lived in. Beautiful flower gardens all around.
Not a view you see often, or at least we didn't. We do not have on rain coats, and I actually had removed my jacket and pushed up the sleeves. We had a nice lunch outside and it was comfortable. The ONLY meal we were able to do that. This was after the kissing of the stone and walking the grounds.
Another view of Castle, giving you an idea of it's height.
One cool morning we left (optional excursion) our hotel early with about 2/3rds of our party for a Jaunty Car trip through gorgeous park lands. The Killarney National Park is quite large and very pretty. Martin was our driver. A senior citizen who'd been doing this job a very long time. He told us his Father had also been a Jaunty Car Driver.
We were bundled up, but enjoying the ride.
Later in the day we traveled throughout the Ring of Kerry. Lots of pretty landscapes, sheep everywhere. Stone walls everywhere. And Green, Green, Green.
Jane in the foreground, me right behind her in one of the narrow passages; but you can see here we weren't closed in.
