Imagine going on a trip for nearly a year in those days. It was a day before a great many conveniences. You had to carry large sums of money. Communication with folks back home took weeks or months. You lived out of steamer trunks. You had to be wealthy to do it or at least you had to be strong.
Today I am really grateful for the invention of wheeled luggage. Having been born before it came along, I remember struggling through railroad stations carrying my "grip" or suitcase.
The credit card and ATM card have made travel so much easier. You can walk among pickpockets knowing that they cannot get all your money and if they snatch your cards you can call for help.
Besides being able to get to Europe in ten hours rather than ten days (from the West Coast of the United States), you can call home on your smart phone when you land. This makes family members rest easier. They do not have to wait for a letter or cable to arrive.
I am especially thankful for the jacket-in-a-bag. I have carried one with me in any number of long trips and could keep it close at hand without worry. It has kept me warm and dry many, many times.
It would be interesting to hear from others what travel inventions that are most appreciated; those things that make life on a long trip safer and easier. ...and less innocent.
Please note my crushable, foldable Australian travel hat.
I don't leave home these days without it.
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