where did all my stuff come from?

It's been many years since I thought packing my bag was fun! Although I love planning a trip, the packing part I could easily be without. Given that I've been in Barcelona for six months now, and have only a small suitcase to send back to Norway before going interrailing for a month (already sent a big one with my parents when they were visiting), I must admit that this was not my best plan ever.
Solution; you just have to come back to Barcelona soon to pick up the rest of your stuff. - A plan that suits me very well; after all, I will need some distraction from my thesis writing the upcoming semester.
To let other people out of the stress and furiousness that comes with packing, I will try to come up with some tips.

So, what do you bring in your rucksack for a month of interrailing? Well, I would recommend to take as little as possible, and not do like me. Start the travel from your home, so you can leave all the unnecessary stuff at home. Plan a little bit ahead and try to pack the things you want to bring, then take out half of it.

The size of your rucksack will be a natural limit, so maybe it would be better to have a smaller bag; mine is a Bergans 65 liters rucksack made especially for women, which is great because it fits our narrow shoulders and shorter backs perfect. As well it opens like a bag when you put it on the floor, which make finding things in limited light so much easier.

Off course you have to bring all your documents, and at least one copy of each document. Imagine it wouldn't be that fun getting stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere, without passport nor any cash.

As I've already, even before my trip has started, spent two hours in the train station here in Barcelona to make some ticket reservations, I've learned the importance of a good book. As well it could be a good opportunity to plan ahead, maybe you will find some fellow travelers, and what would then be better than to invite to a friendly game of cards.

For the moment I am reading this book, which is highly recommendable, a book from a Zimbabwean author, with a lot of short stories about the life in Zimbabwe.

When it comes to the practical stuff you should bring an emergency kit, a swiss army knife or something similar (what would you do without a bottle-opener?), a reading lamp for dark hostels or camping sights, earplugs to block out annoying crying children or drunk fellow travelers when you really need your sleep,  a small sleeping bag will be handy in cold night trains and a towel that packs really small. Duck tape and a small sewing kit could come in handy for small reparations along the way. Who wants to get stuck in the train bathroom just to imagine a little to late that you do not have any paper? - Bring toilet paper or some packs of Kleenex.

Regarding the daily things, you should pack clothes that will get you along one week, and after that, just wash it in hostels. For that a universal sink plug (hostels do not have plugs to avoid flooding) and a line to hang your clothes would be practical. For the shoe part I would recommend good walking shoes (although for my part, this will be my Converse all stars, maybe not the best choice but I do not have the heart to leave them here alone in Barcelona), as well as some sandals that also can be used in filthy hostel /camping showers. I would definitely recommend Hawaiianas, which as well are really good to walk in! Sorrily the weather is not always perfect, so a rain jacket is a must if you want to keep dry. But for the good weather; do not forget your swimwear.

Concerning toiletries, try to keep it on a minimum (although I didn't make it, maybe you can). You do not really need two big bottles of shampoo and conditioner and extra treatment for your hair. Lots of hairdressers give out small tests of shampoo, and after the rules of liquid amount allowed in planes a lot of handy-sized toiletry products are available.

A good travel guide is a must. For me it will be Lonely Planet, Europe on a shoestring; aka the bible.

One thing I know I  could not live without on my trip, will be MUSIC. Since my Iphone got stolen and I do not longer have my beloved Spotify list, for me it will be a handy-sized Ipod Shuffle. Though they do not have the greatest memory and thus will not fit the largest amount of music. If you have a larger memory, you should definitely consider audiobooks to avoid the weight of a big book or two.

Song of the day; Vagabond - Wolfmother