Erika Alc | : Writer & Traveler

Travel Outfitting: My Wishlisted Necessities

I’m not materialistic. Although, I will admit, I was as a child. Somehow, I grew out of wanting the latest and greatest things. I should even mention that I’m working from an obsolete model of MacBook (even though you might assume a person in my field should have the latest edition) and taking photos from an iPhone 4S, which are somethings I’m not ashamed to admit. Nowadays, I find myself saving and spending money on travel. It’s far better. Memories never go out of style, after all.

But to get back to the point, there are still some moments I find myself mentally constructing a “wish list” of items I’d like to have. Most of the time, this occurs right before a trip.

If you follow me via Instagram or Facebook, you might be aware of my upcoming adventures starting this spring. And if you don’t, well, maybe you’ll consider adding me? I won’t disappoint your daily feed, I promise.

To name a few places from the list would include the Dolomites, Rome, Yosemite, Death Valley, Yellow Stone and Machu Picchu. As per usual, with my first departure approaching, I can’t help but spend my free time perusing online retailers and REI.

Here are some of my favorite finds that are on the more useful end of the spectrum:

Kuhl Flight Jacket ($105): For early spring in the pre-Alps.
Altra Olympus Trail Running Shoes ($65): For hikes and trail running in the Rockies.
Better Together Pouch ($29): To keep my Livescribe pen and Moleskine notebook in one convenient carry-on.

And some that are just fun:

Pikai Hipu’u top ($55) + Knotted bottom ($55): For any time, any day. And because this is just an excuse to add to my bikini collection.
Sweet Pete’s Strawberry Gummy Bears ($19): For the long haul across the Atlantic and in betweens.
All Things Mochi Dress ($190): For sun soaking and riposi in the Eternal City.

Anyone else traveling this spring?

Selfies on the Lake

We rented a boat and celebrated my studious achievements the weekend of my graduation. Or as I like to think of it, mourned the end of my undergrad career.

It turned out to be an ideal day for boating, and the calm waters created a serene atmosphere for some self-reflections.

I wasn’t ready to graduate. I’m still unsure that I have. These weeks immediately following graduation day feel ordinary—nothing profound. My life hasn’t magically rearranged itself with every piece in place like a finished puzzle. As a child, I imagined graduating to bear more finality. I thought life would make more sense after earning that piece of important paper. Instead, it feels the opposite. There are countless directions my life can go. I can feel every last one of them. They’re tugging at me from all different angles into dangerous and promising possibilities. I can’t make out any clarity.

But the mystery is kind of dazzling.

Fragmentary Musings: Lunch on the Lake

Fragmentary Musings are clipped from my personal journal, raw and unedited. Enjoy.

We ate at a little place on the lake called Villas Mombacho, on a covered patio with a thatched roof. The breeze came in small bursts that kissed our skin delicately enough for us to feel the cool weather. We sat on wooden, brown lacquer chairs and classic American songs played over the audio system. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” was in the background when the gentleman came back to our table and set down a small wooden boat the size of a 2 liter soda bottle. The top flipped open and revealed a stack of 1-ply napkins.