Travel and Time, Time Travel and Packing for Oaxaca

This is my travel to Oaxaca day!

It’s 6:45 a.m. in Pittsboro, North Carolina, and I have the luxury of an 11:15 a.m. flight from RDU to IAH, then a 5 hour layover until a 6 p.m. flight that will deposit me in my beloved Oaxaca at 8:22 p.m. tonight. During the layover, I have my appointment with the federal government to complete the process for my Global Entry application to streamline reentry to the U.S. for international travel.  I’ll write more about that after the fact.

Packing Tip: Use a rigid basket for protection

It is said that time was invented by the Mayans.  Their “cousins” the Zapotecs have their own observatory on the top of Monte Alban — now an archeological site — dedicated to the calculation of time.  I have had a discussion this week with our B&B hosts in Teotitlan del Valle about whether our workshop schedule will be in “Oaxaca time” or “puebla time.”  Oaxaca city, 30 minutes away, goes on verano (daylight savings time).  Time in the village never changes. Thus, one hour separates the village from the city, and we enter into a constant zone of confusion during the summer months — what time is it?  And if one is late, this becomes a perfect reason.

As I travel through time and space today, I have packed in preparation for my return trip.  I have taken photos of my packing method so you can see for yourself.  This is the perfect way to keep fragile items from breaking.

1.   I bought the BIG suitcase in 1994 for my trip to China.  I use it as my personal shipping container!

The REALLY BIG suitcase

2.  Inside is a large, rigid bamboo basket and a bag of packing materials that I will use to protect anything fragile that I may buy and bring home.

3.  I’ve got my big sun hat — you’ll see that I have stuff packing material into the crown so it won’t get squished.

4.  Shoes, gifts, and special orders from friends make-up most of the rest of what’s in here along with materials for our upcoming photo workshop.

5.  I’m in at just under 50 lbs.  — 49.4 to be exact!

Suitcase as packing crate!

The big deal is that when I pack this way and have the rigid basket, I don’t have to worry about buying shipping materials or paying $100+ for shipping costs.  I’ve only had one broken item in all the years I’ve been going back and forth!

Buen viaje a todos!

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