Our family would spend a fortnight either with my mum's parents at Southend, Essex, or with my father's mother at Perranporth, Cornwall. My sister and I would pass the days on the beach, building sandcastles, eating ice lollies, collecting sea shells and going to the amusement arcades. We were perfectly happy because it never occurred to us in those days that holidays could be far more ambitious.
Other families did the same. It was taken for granted that you took your holidays in Britain and kept the local seaside resorts thriving.
Gradually things changed. Flying became cheaper and more routine and people started heading for sunnier and more scenic countries. Having travelled all over Europe, their wanderlust then took them to the rest of the world.
Now people think nothing of travelling across the globe not just for holidays but for weddings, birthday parties or even to see their grandchildren.
Jenny and I were no exception. After a few British holidays, we thought, why are we being so unadventurous? Why are we pottering round Cornish villages when we could be taking a train through the Rockies, walking over Sydney Harbour Bridge, saying hello to a kangaroo or a koala, standing on top of the Empire State Building or riding the L train in Chicago?
So we joined the footloose masses, signed up for all those shameful long-haul flights with their shocking levels of carbon emissions and had a look at the USA, Canada and Australia. Which I have to say, despite the environmental misconduct have been some of the most amazing experiences of my life (in my defence, I've done my bit for the environment by being a vegetarian for some 43 years).
Perranporth has well-and-truly lost its magic.
Fortunately, I've lost my ability, and even desire, to see the world. But I've expended my share of hydrocarbons driving around this country, border to border to border to border and a lot between. Don't denigrate Britain. It's not much larger than the state I live in. Probably all of us who set out to see use us the same amount of fuel. Except Trump, who drives the presidential motorcade across the street.
ReplyDeleteFunny, as most people I know tend to go to the same beaches every year in either South Carolina or Florida and have vacations like you described as a kid. My parents took me all over the US and we tried to do the same with our kids. Never had the money to travel to other countries when younger and now, my husband can't take that kind of time off from work.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: There are certainly plenty of tourists from other countries keen to see Britain. And there are plenty of Brits who have second homes in our seaside resorts. So there are still people who appreciate Britain just as it is, dreadful weather and all. But I think the majority of Brits would rather travel somewhere a bit more exotic or exciting - or just a lot warmer.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: Really? Many Americans like Brit-style seaside holidays? Well, the temperature in those states in the summer months is a lot more inviting than the temperature in Britain. South Carolina - up to 93F in July. Florida - up to 92F in July. As opposed to Cornwall, which reaches 66F in July, if you're lucky.
ReplyDeleteI've spent my life wondering if there's truth in the idea that there is one place where we're MEANT to be. I mean where our soul is touched by it and it's the ONE place we connect to it all. I have felt that on just a few occasions.
ReplyDeleteI think it might be true.
I still take the bulk of my holidays in the UK, mostly Scotland, and love just pottering around in rockpools. I've been ridiculously lucky with the weather, even the isle of Lewis this year was warm and dry, and just breezy enough to keep the midges away. But, if I had the money I'd spend much more time in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, if only for the food. I wonder if that will still be possible after next March?
ReplyDeleteTammy: I think you're right, there is one place where we would (or do) truly feel at home. I'm happy enough in Belfast, I feel comfortable here, but I don't think it's my true spiritual home. Goodness knows where that might be.
ReplyDeleteEryl: Scotland is certainly worth visiting. When I was young, me and some school friends drove all the way round the Scottish coast. The scenery was amazing. Jenny and I visit a friend in Edinburgh from time to time.
I was like that too and then I became a travel writer and went all over the place. Recently, I've been focusing much more on home, (with a few exceptions.). In fact, I find I'm just as happy in the British Isles, so long as the weather cooperates, and even, occasionally, when it doesn't!
ReplyDeleteJenny: This is the thing, will the weather cooperate? We've been pretty lucky with the weather on our British holidays, with the one exception of a long-ago holiday in Omagh when it rained virtually non-stop for two weeks!
ReplyDeleteI'm not weather fixated at all and have always been adverse to scorching humid days so I've been an easy traveler.
ReplyDeleteI did find my spiritual home here in Newfoundland. From the moment I came here. Visceral. I've been able to share the experience with others (not enough) who have had the same indescribable feeling (coming home, finding yourself finally).
So that knocks the travel bug sideways. I would like to go to Iceland though.
XO
WWW
www: Yes, it's great that you've found your spiritual home on Newfoundland. I can see that you get so much joy simply from travelling around the island that you have no great desire to head off anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteI'm not keen on scorching humid days either, but a bit more warmth and sunshine would be appreciated. British winters are pretty miserable.
I did a lot of traveling when I was a young adult and am glad I did it before the world became so crowded. I love my home and everyday life and have no desire to traipse around elsewhere.
ReplyDeletePS The koalas we saw in Australia were a disappointment --- they were sleeping. Apparently they sleep up to 20 hours a day, presumably because of their diet.
ReplyDeleteJean: At that time all the tourist spots must have been a lot quieter and more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteKoalas spend all their time either eating or sleeping. The sort of life I quite fancy myself. Luckily we came across some that were fully awake (or the nearest they ever get to being fully awake).
When I was a child our annual holiday was in a caravan at the seaside. The beach, amusement arcades, a fair and fish ‘n’ chips, I loved it. I still like caravans but I love travelling abroad and regularly visit my daughter in Australia.
ReplyDeletePolly: We never had a caravan. Jenny would like to have a campervan but we would never use it enough to justify the cost. I daresay we had plenty of fish and chips, though oddly enough I don't remember anything we ate except for huge piles of mashed potato at one B&B.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that you were a vegetarian. Welcome to the club.
ReplyDeleteMy vacation days were over after the long real one during the late nineties. After that, my preoccupation with caregiving to my late wife and her illness, subsequent death, caregiving dutied for my father and subsequent death, all lasting a little over 12 years saw me tied down to a sedate life. But before that, we had been on many holidays to many locations and I can remember them all with satisfaction.
After my father died, I did venture out but more for social and family reasons than any holidaying. Since the last two years, my health, particularly my COPD prevents me from any adventures.
Ramana: Indeed, you were on caregiving duties for many years. Good to know that you did plenty of holidaying while you had the chance. A shame that your COPD now puts a brake on things.
ReplyDeleteI need to spend one in your neck of the woods as I have been told the family name comes from around Belfast. although when the enquirer found I am an adopted McConvey they quick;y ;ost interest. However, Ancestry DNA labels me as primarily a WASP from Ireland - LOL
ReplyDeleteChuck: Google says the name McConvey (or O Conbhuidhe or O Connmhachain) was first found in County Donegal and County Connacht. But who knows if that's reliable information, as the name goes back a few centuries?
ReplyDeleteI grew up with a mix of camping, houseboating at the lake, beach vacations and occasional travel (Panama, Hawaii, England, Saudi Arabia). When my kids were at home we went to the beach every summer and also did some international travel (West Indies, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Nova Scotia). Now, I travel whenever I can, and have been on 6 of the 7 continents. I have a serious wanderlust.
ReplyDeleteAgent: Yes, I've been aware of your wanderlust for quite a while! You've certainly been to some interesting places. I hope you'll soon be travelling again, once you've dealt with your medical crises.
ReplyDeleteWe always avoided travel on holidays, preferring to do so at other less harried time of the year. Christmas, especially when we had children we wanted to be home and visit any relatives a surrounding day. I never travelled as much as I had envisioned I would or wanted to do. In addition to my other travels we saw a lot of U.S. with some private flying, but mostly auto trips. Much to be seen and experienced everywhere.
ReplyDelete