I had little desire to travel when I was young. It wasn't a big thing in those days anyway. Staycations were normal and families up and down the land would spend a fortnight at Southend or Torquay or Eastbourne and not even contemplate going "abroad" or going "to the continent". That was strictly for the nobs, the celebrities, the political bigwigs. Not for the likes of us.
Even well into middle age I had no great yearning to travel the world. I was happy enough sampling the cultural delights of London, or having a day out at "the seaside". Why would I want to go down under or visit the yanks or look at sacred temples? It seemed like an awful lot of effort for some nebulous benefit.
It was only after I met Jenny and she wanted our holidays to be a bit more adventurous that we went all over northern Italy and then farther afield to the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. And enjoyed it all immensely.
Now of course, just as half the world is getting itchy feet and jumping merrily onto long-haul flights, the spectre of climate pollution is stopping us in our tracks and forcing us to rethink our holiday plans.
Should we give Eastbourne another try? A quick trip to the Shetland Isles perhaps? Should we dial back to the nineteen fifties and decide we've done enough "abroad" for the time being?
The problem is, those casual mentions of "our trip to the Maldives" or "our little break in the Bahamas" are now so common that we'd have trouble convincing anyone that we really really enjoyed our rain-swept week in the Lake District.
I might even have trouble convincing myself.
I'm sure the Internet has played a large role in travel, especially for the younger crowd. Places that were merely a spot on the globe look a lot more enticing when you can look at a website. And then there's the era you grew up. I mean, who would have thought Vietnam or Cambodia would be tourist destinations?
ReplyDeleteBijoux: The internet has a lot to answer for when it comes to glamorising obscure places and attracting floods of tourists. Places that would seem to be a complete non-starter for tourism.
DeleteI wanted to see the world when I was younger, and I was fortunate enough to do it. Now we take a trip to see Kaitlin, Torben, and the pups every other year, and my mini vacations are picnics up on the land from time to time. No crowds there!
ReplyDeleteJean: Open-air picnics are just as much fun as lying on a foreign beach somewhere.
DeletePerhaps it's like a mid life crisis
ReplyDeleteYou have a sense of your age and of things not done x
John: Other people may feel that. For me it was more a case of Jenny persuading me that a bit of foreign travel would do me good!
DeleteI used to think 'age is a state of mind' was a true and wonderful quote. but now I realize when you have enough wrong with you... your happiness has more to do with a sense of contentment than anything else. so... I'm content now to be a happy armchair traveler.
ReplyDeletethanks to the internet I have seen some amazing and remarkable places in this world! I feel very well traveled. LOL!
Tammy: True, "age is a state of mind" is a bit of nonsense really. As you say, if you have some serious medical condition, you can't pretend you're 50 years younger. But yes, we can cruise the internet for an hour and feel very well travelled!
DeleteScrew it. If you can still get on the plane, go. Wait till it's banned. It will be.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I like your attitude!
DeleteI always wanted to travel but it didn't work out for various reasons.
ReplyDeleteA holiday close to home can be good, just different to something exotic
Kylie: Indeed. If I hadn't travelled to all those other places, would I have regretted it? I don't think so.
DeleteSuch questions do not bother me anymore as I simply cannot travel any more.
ReplyDeleteRamana: You're helping to prevent climate breakdown in a big way!
DeleteBut there are so many beautiful/interesting places in this country and you can't have visited them all! I think it's mostly the weather that causes us to travel abroad in search of sunshine. There's no denying a dose of whatever it is you get from the sun can lift one tremendously.
ReplyDeleteLiz: You're right, there are lots of beautiful spots in the UK we've never visited. We've been to parts of Wales and Scotland and northern England, and we've been to the Orkneys, but that's about it. Maybe now's the time to make amends!
DeleteI do not travel well - I am impatient and dislike being delayed, and I dislike check-ins, and outs. I do, however, like a bit of nice weather.
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Ms Scarlet: I know, all the red tape and security stuff is a pain in the arse, but I think it's all worth it once I get to my destination.
DeleteWhile I've never traveled out of the US, I have traveled around the US when I was younger. I never liked going on trips with the family. I don't like traveling at all. I would much rather just stay here and read a book.
ReplyDeleteMary: We've done quite a lot of travelling, but we also read loads of books. I agree that staying at home and getting stuck into a good book is one of life's great pleasures.
DeleteStaycations are where I'm at. I don't enjoy air travel anymore but will drive/ferry anywhere still once there are enough breaks. I haven't seen even half of this glorious island yet so my plans for this summer include more exploration. And I threw out the bucket list a few years back. Mostly islands on that bucket list, interestingly enough. I guess I adore islands.
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www: I hope you manage to see a lot more of Newfoundland before you're stopped by physical limitations. I'm used to all the air travel fuss and bother but I must admit taking a ferry is a lot simpler.
DeleteIt doesn't matter what people think about your rain-swept week in the Lake District; it's what you think about it that's important. Eastbourne's nice at this time of year...so they say.
ReplyDeleteMike: Oh, I don't really care about other people's reactions. If I enjoyed myself, that's all that matters. I went to Eastbourne lots of times when I was younger, it was a great day out.
DeleteI know there will come a time when far-flung travel isn't an option for me, whether for reasons of health or finances or it just no longer holding appeal for me. I'm not there yet, though, so I'll keep planning trips.
ReplyDeleteAgent: Yes, travel while you have the chance. If I get too decrepit to travel, I'll be happy to know I went to some wonderful places while I was fit enough to do so.
DeleteI'm so glad that I have had the chance to travel to so many places. I think staying at home is very narrowing for the mind. I also find I really appreciate the more positive outgoing culture of many countries: Britain can be so grumpy and claustrophobic at times and I think perhaps the weather is partly to blame, keeping people indoors instead of outdoors and talking to each other. Having said that, Britain is actually a very good place for a holiday. Many travel writers I know say that they find more interesting things per square mile here than almost anywhere else, due to our mixture of cultures and different geology in such a small area. I guess what it comes down to is that a good holiday is the sort that suits you! :)
ReplyDeleteJenny: I don't think the weather explains the Brits' grumpiness. Other countries like Iceland and Canada can be much colder but also more hospitable. We're thinking of taking a holiday in Britain this year, to compensate for all our long-haul trips last year!
DeleteNow that my husband has his electric wheelchair we will be off again while he is still able to travel.... Next trip Mexico with a good friend of similar age. Not quite the naughty nineties but we all want a fling while we can.
ReplyDeleteFly: Absolutely, do a bit more travelling while you still have the opportunity. Never mind the naughty nineties, I'm still enjoying the swinging seventies!
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