I agree. My friend wrote in a journal every day, but I had left mine at home. I didn't buy another one there, and I do regret it now. We went to Verona, Venice, Florence, Lucca, Pisa, the Cinque Terre, and Rome in 15 days. It was all wonderfula and fabulous, but it was also a LOT to take in. I have a ton of pictures to remind me of our trip, but a narrative to accompany it would have been great.
Just going to have to go back and do it again, and this time write it down! :)

I know a lot of people here advise against traveling with a laptop, but taking mine on a 6 week trip 2 years ago was the smartest thing I did. I kept a very detailed extensive blog that I don't think I would've bothered to write even by hand on paper. It's great for me as a memoir of my trip but it was great for my friends and family back home, who all said they enjoyed living vicariously through me. I plan on doing it again this fall!

I learned that updating our journal daily during what is --by American standards-- a leisurely lunch and a glass of vino is an pleasant ritual. I have started to carry a very small roll of scotch tape to secure receipts and business cards in the journal before they get lost in the zip lock bag. Nice for remembering the name and street address of your favorite restaurant or shop.

My husband keeps the Journal - I keep all the ticket stubs and such - use them for bookmarks! Now when ever I'm reading a book - I can always take a side trip! Currently I'm side tripping on the London Eye!

Jim

You are SO right. The journal is a GREAT idea and was recommended to me on this site just before I left. I was also told not to take my laptop, which I never leave home without, and did not, for which I was eternally grateful. 12 days of lugging that thing around would have been a miserable distraction. Also sacrificed my cell phone for Rick's phone card and it was a true blessing.

What I did take with me that was invaluable, ad I highly recommend, was a tiny $99 digital recorder that I carried everywhere. No need to always be looking for a pen and paper when I had a thought. The second intelligent thing I did was to use my AOL account in one the many cyber cafes to send a daily email to my business address about the memories of the day. When we returned there were 16 short essays (some longer than others) that told of the joy of my trip as only the freshest memory could explain. I did a PowerPoint presentation to our church's Men's Club and the journal was the perfect, almost unedited script to go with the photos.

My "memory" is at age 62 climbing the 478 steps to the top of the Doumo in Florence and witnessing the magnificent view of Tuscany. (Guess I should throw in Vernazza as well).

Thanks for your posting Jim. I love reading about other people's successes.

wow jim, 62? i might get back there yet! i was 56 at the time and went *total "backdoor"..hostels,etc...and u reminded me of ANOTHER trick, esp. in florence: getting up 6:00, walking around 7-7:30...NO one around, watching the locals setting up shop..i rememeber getting a free coffee just because i was there and he wasn't ready..and that gold door across the Duomo? NO one around/ in front of you...so IF ever have the great fortune of "doin it again"...get up early, b-4 the tourists do. :]

definitely agree with that, jim. I will forever remember walking around Venice at about 8am, seeing the locals drag the fish to their restaurants, everyone waking up. And it wasn't in Italy but I experienced the same in sleepy Helsingor in Denmark, and it was just as memorable. Same goes for nighttime. Will never forget having Piazza San Marco almost to myself at about 9pm. Simply magical and 100% unforgettable.