How did I survive for two weeks with so little? There are a few tricks that every traveler knows, such as opting for lightweight, easy wash-dry, mix-n-match leggings and tops. These roll up and squish even smaller with a flattened, air tight  ziploc. As for liquids, I packed travel size skin care and very little makeup, swapping out my regular products for dry shampoo and powdered toothpaste. To make sure I had the endurance for the walking tours, I had individual packs of protein powder and vitamin supplements. Not much else, really. The nice thing about these things is that they are consumable, which makes room for adding special keepsakes along the way. By the end of one trip, the things that I used up, the protein bars, vita packs, skin care, etc., opened up space for the five pound statue of St. John Bosco that I bought while in Rome. My backpack for the return flight didn’t weigh anymore than it did when I started out. And neither did I lack anything for the journey. On the way through the airport, because I traveled light, I was able to carry the pack of someone else who needed assistance, and I was thankful for lightening my own burden first.