Broken Bay pilgrim gift bags

Check out the contents of the Broken Bay pilgrim gift bags.

If you are joining the Diocese of Broken Bay for the Saints and Mystics pilgrimage then you will recieve this gift bag at our Commissioning Mass.  If you are not traveling with the Diocese then have you packed these items for yourself:

1. Water bottle - you will be drinking so much water at WYD that you need a water bottle that you can refill as you need to.
2. Hat - it doesn't have to look cool it just has to keep the sun off you from all different angles.
3. Swap Pins - you might not be into swapping pins back home but it is a great bridge builder at WYD to be able swap pins with someone.  Take a mix of pins with you, kangaroos are a well loved pin.
4. WYD Journal - this is a great way to capture your thoughts as you travel.
5. Bag tags - there are so many occasions where your bag will be one of many so have a bag tag that you can recognise.

Don't "show me the money"

It is a great time to be buying euros, the currency conversion hasn't been this high in months.  So you don't want to loose those valuable euros or have them stolen so invest in a money belt.  These can be bought for $10-15 in any travel shop but look for one that is comfortable for you to wear.  Some of the money belts go around your waste but some can hang around your neck.

The most important detail which some tourists forget is that they are worn under your shirt.  You don't want anyone saying "give me all your money" because you have around your neck for everyone to see.

Another important tip is to place everything in a zip lock plastic bag before you put items into the money belt.  At WYD in Rome, everyone got so hot that the sweat made their money belts wet.  The ink on the passport or the money started to run.  Or people wanted to cool off so they poured water over their head and their passport was soaked too.  So put your passport and your spare cash in a zip lock sandwich bag then put it into your money belts and tuck it under your shirt.

Choosing the right daypack for WYD

 In a previous post we looked at the sleeping bag, this post we explore a different type of bag, the day pack.

What type of day pack could you carry all day?

When you think about a day pack it is just something that holds the essential items you need throughout your day.  Yet if you think about carrying this on your back all day this thing which seemed light in the morning can become a dead weight on your shoulders at the end of the day.  Multiply that by 20 days and you can see why the choice of daypack is crucial.

Here are a few things to think about when selecting the right daypack for your World Youth Pilgrimage:

1. How long is your back?  nothing looks as absurd as a small person with a huge backpack or a huge person with a small packpack.  Find a day pack that is the correct length from your shoulders to your hips.
2. How many compartments do you need?  Are you the type who needs everything to in its own spot or can you handle everything being in one compartment.  My ideal daypack has a compartment for laptop or ipad, a compartment for keys or cameras, a outside pouch for a drink bottle and one large compartment for a jacket or food for the pilgrim walk.
3. How secure is the day pack?  when choosing your day pack for WYD remember that you will be pushing through crowds all week long, can you secure your day pack with a travel safe padlock?  The more compartments you have on the outside of the day pack, the harder it is to secure.
4. Is your drink bottle easy to reach?  Some day packs have straps for your jacket or bike helmet but in the Spanish heat you need your water bottle more than anything.  Can you grab your water bottle without opening your bag?  Perhaps consider a day pack that can take a water bladder so you can drink on the go.
5. Does it match your outfit?  That is a trick question, you go with function not fashion.

There are many day packs available in camping stores but the right one for you is like a good pair of shoes, the perfect fit will make all the difference. Check out the post on shoes here.

Some people are asking about the WYD pilgrim backpack, remember that you still need a day pack for the pre pilgrimage before you arrive in Madrid.

8 uses for one piece of Material

Perhaps one of the most useful items to pack in your bag is a large piece of material.  One piece of material about 2metres by 2 metres; bigger than a towel but smaller than a bed sheet.  This could be the most practical item you in your daypack.  Here are eight uses for this piece of material:

1. Ground sheet:  we know that there will be many venues where seats are not provided.  This piece of material could be a nice ground sheet for you and a friend.
2. Blanket:  this won’t be the warmest blanket but we are not heading into a cold climate.  Most of us will pack for the heat and yet when it turns a bit cooler you can wrap this piece of material around you to be a little bit warmer.
3. Sunshade: the sun will be the hardest thing to handle in the Spanish summer.  You can use this piece of material as a shade cover to reduce the risk of sunburn.
4. Covering up in a church: you might like to wear singlets and short shorts but you won’t get into many churches.  In this situation you can use this piece of material as a dress to cover your knees or as a wrap to cover your shoulders.
5. Cooling off: you might not be able to go for a swim so soak this material in water and damp down your neck, shoulders and forehead.
6. Carrying things: you might visit the supermarket to buy something and they don’t sell bags, wrap the items in your piece of material like a swag.
7. Bandage: you hope that there will be easy access to First aid but perhaps you need to stop some bleeding or bandage up a limb.
8. Marking your turf: in a large crowd every spare centimetre of space will be taken.  Instead of saying that an area is take use your material to mark out your turf, allow room to stretch out.  This will be very helpful at the final sleep out.

You will be able to pick up a piece of material about 2 metres by 2 metres at your local material shop.  Look for a fabric that can take a bit of water, is durable and not too heavy.  Wash the piece of material before you go and you are ready for a multitude of situations.

Please leave a comment if you have another use for this piece of material.

What is on your WYD pilgrimage packing list?

Here is your opportunity to interact with the blog.  We are currently working on a packing list for WYD pilgrims, what do you recommend?  Here are a few categories to recommend:

1. Clothing - what must a pilgrim pack for their WYD pilgrimage?  What can't you live without?  I don't think you can take everything so what items are essential.
2. Travel gadgets - do you need a torch, a towel, water bottle?  should we pack a sleeping pillow?  there are so many travel gadgets which are worth taking?
3. Brands - What are the brands that you have found to be reliable and worth the cost?  We all know we need a good pair of shoes but get specific - what brands will you be wearing?
4. Luggage - what type of luggage will you be taking?  Are you a backpack or a trolley case person?  Do you have a day pack to recommend?
5. Bible - what type of bible will you be taking?  What style would you recommend to other pilgrims?

The more comments we get the better our packing list can be.

Taking care of your sole and your Soul

What are the best shoes to take on pilgrimage?  When we are at home we can wear whatever shoes we want and change them whenever we want.  However when we are on the other side of the world it is even more important to get your footwear right.  Here are a few simple tips on selecting the footwear to look after your soles:

1. No new shoes - never take a brand new pair of shoes with you on an overseas trip.  A person I know took a brand new pair of walking boots to WYD in Rome and ended up with ingrown toe nails.  The boots seemed fine in the shop but without being worn in the shoes, they started to hurt her feet.  I made the mistake of taking a new pair of shoes overseas and the shoes made my feet sweat.  I went through double the amount of socks that I normally would. TIP 1 - buy your shoes two months before heading overseas.
2. Walk a few miles in your shoes - at home you may wear a pair of shoes all day yet hardly walk anywhere in them.  On any given day of the pilgrimage you will cover a few kilometres at least.  Is the footwear you are taking comfortable enough to walk all day in?  Whilst at home flipflops may be comfortable, they are not suitable for hours of walking.  TIP 2 - buy shoes for comfort not for fashion
3. Protect your toes - whilst it will be hot in Spain, you will also spend a lot of time in crowds.  Sandals may look nice and keep your feet cool, but do they protect your toes in a crowded metro?  People will be in front of you, next to you and pushing from behind, your feet will get stood on.  TIP 3 - cover your toes in a crowd.
4. Casual shoes for nights and showers - one pair of thongs or flipflops will cover the trips to the shower and walking around just before bed.  There are times when a trusted pair of thongs will be just the thing  to relax in. TIP 4 - never walk around bare feet.
5. Don't forget the socks - don't spend hundreds of dollars on shoes and wear a pair of 50cent socks.

Whilst the main aim of the pilgrimage is the care of your Soul, if you don't look after your feet you will find it hard to survive the WYD pilgrimage.

Think you know how to pack a suitcase?

Often times we try to put too much into a suit case.  While the previous post was focused on reducing the number of items that you take, it also helps to look at the way you pack a suit case.

Here are two great video clips on other websites that show you how to pack a suitcase:

"Think you know how to pack a suitcase?"  is a short video clip that shows you how to pack a suitcase using a special folding technique called "bundle wrapping".  I used this on a recent trip and it reduced the amount of creasing in the clothes.

"How to pack your bag for Europe for Girls - Part 1" is a good video for backpacking.  Whilst the folding techniques go out the window, it shows how to get enough items into a 40 litre bag.  This video is especially directed to women but there are many great tips and a link to the male version.