Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

[plumtreeblossom]

With the Vegas trip taking place in sunny May, I'm going to need a parasol of some sort if we're going to spend any appreciable time outdoors, which I think we will. That's because Mare + Desert Sun = OH NOES.

I have plenty of parasols and could bring any of them, but I was looking online to see if I could find a compact collapsible parasol that isn't as bulky as my Chinese parasols. I had to use half a dozen search word combinations before unearthing a mere two, one of which is contoured for attaching to a baby's stroller. The other is an ugly bone-color and indistinguishable from a rain umbrella. For $42, no way. I could just use a rain umbrella, but that is beyond dorky. I might just have to resign to bringing one of the Chinese 'sols.

I'm surprised, though, that there isn't more of a market for this kind of thing. Someone appears to have a patent on a collapsible travel parasol, but apparently isn't doing anything with it. Not everyone needs full sun protection like me, but I've seen many people with skin much lighter than mine, and I know from experience that sunscreen alone isn't always enough. Maybe they only come out at night.

I suppose there is also the possibility of a big sun hat instead of the 'sol. There's a serious dork factor to be considered with that option, too, so I'd have to hunt widely and choose carefully.

Comments

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Yes, I admit I like the idiosyncratic feel of the parasol. :-) I get compliments on it, mostly from elderly ladies who think it's pretty. Carrying it around indoor attractions gets cumbersome, though, so I think you're right about the hat being more practical. :-)