Monday 16 May 2022

Hassles and hurdles

Jenny and I are back from a week in Liverpool. And what did we conclude after our trip? For one thing, we've lost some of our enthusiasm for travelling - especially long distance travelling.

We're getting less patient with all the hassles and hurdles we have to negotiate just to spend a few days somewhere different. In this case, fiddly journeys to and from ferry terminals, a ferry departing 2½ hours late, noisy guests in nearby hotel rooms, and a biting wind that prevented any proper walks along the waterfront.

Not to mention the tricky ins and outs of booking a holiday in the first place. Which is the best airline? Which is the best hotel? How much are we prepared to pay? What does Trip Advisor say? Will the flights be cancelled or delayed? Will the hotel be in the middle of building work? So many imponderables.

Of course there was plenty to enjoy in Liverpool. We revisited some of the excellent museums and galleries, we met up with a couple of old friends in Chester, and we had some great food and drink. And we had a fabulous view across the Mersey from our ninth floor hotel room. But are the enjoyable bits worth all the annoying bits? We decided that maybe they weren't - unless we were so keen to go somewhere that the annoying bits simply wouldn't matter.

So we're still happy to visit places in the UK or Ireland, but we'd be loath to visit anywhere farther afield unless it was somewhere we really really wanted to go to. Especially when my energy levels at 75 are flagging somewhat.

But watch this space. We may suddenly have a burning desire to visit Costa Rica. Or Jamaica. Or Mexico. Who can predict the odd twists and turns of the human brain?

Pic: Tate Liverpool

26 comments:

  1. Glad you were able to get away, but I do understand the hassles. Between the flight prices and unreliability right now, we are sticking to places we can drive to.

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    1. Bijoux: UK airlines are really pushing up prices dramatically. And there have been huge queues and flight cancellations at some airports because of staff shortages. Driving is probably a better option.

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  2. You were at least able to get out and go to some place outside of where you live. I haven't been able to for the past seven years!

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    1. Anon: I'm very sorry to hear you've been stuck at home for so long. That must be incredibly frustrating. Is that because you have an illness that makes it dangerous to leave home and mix with other people?

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    2. I am sorry that it got posted as Anonymous. Your comment system seems to have changed. Yes, I have physical limitations that prevent me from travelling.

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    3. The new commenting procedure is really annoying. Especially the way it defaults to Anonymous and it's hard to work out how to change it to a name. Why did they have to mess around with it?

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  3. I'm 79, Nick, and leaving all but phone chats with friends up to a younger generation.

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    1. Joanne: Very sensible. Travelling is demanding at any age, but especially for seventy somethings!

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  4. I'd like to revisit Chester and walk round the Roman wall again. I think I went when I was ten, and thought it was miles and miles! It's probably not - I shall look it up.
    I'm not a natural traveller.
    Sx

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    1. Ms Scarlet: The walls are about two miles long. Chester was remarkably smart and tidy compared with scruffy old Liverpool!

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  5. Mary's comment has disappeared. She said "I haven't traveled in years. I don't like it. Too much hassle." Very understandable. Nothing ever goes entirely smoothly!

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  6. Family are pushing me to visit the "Oul Sod" but I am reluctant, for all the reasons you listed and arriving cranky, disheveled and usually angry at whatever squishy plane I've been stuck in for far too many hours since they cancelled direct flights from here (4 hours) to the unimaginable (at my age now) 22 via Toronto or New York (going west for yonks before then going east),
    XO
    WWW

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    1. www: It's a bit much expecting you to endure 22 hours of cramped endurance to visit your family. It was quite an ordeal for me flying to Australia and New Zealand. I can't see myself doing it again. And I hate eating meals in such a constricted space.

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  7. I get that. I think with the forced staying at home with COVID, the idea of the effort required to travel wearies me a little. But I am sure the travel bug will bite again at some pint.

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    1. Agent: You and your husband certainly seem to have the travel bug, so I reckon you'll be off on your travels again soon!

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  8. the chaos and complications of seemingly Everything these days wears me out. I have happily (might as well since it's here now) have decided to enjoy that part of living from my armchair and this computer or tv!
    thanks to wonderful videos and photographers who still have the energy to take it all on... I'm enjoying it!
    I'm glad you got to enjoy Liverpool! but it feels good to be home again doesn't it! xo

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    1. Tammy: You're telling me, the complications of everything. The long-winded procedures to log in to online banking, for instance. And the complexities of getting my vaccine certificate. As the song put it, stop the world, I want to get off!

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  9. I've gone hot and cold about traveling. I love to travel but it is such a hassle and expensive getting care for everyone and my animals. It just is not worth it. I'm hoping to take a few day trips to look at everything near me. But mostly, I enjoy my stroll with my dogs and a few cats every morning and evening.

    My desire is one day take a "huge" trip which can become my slow boat to China extravaganza which is highly unlikely. .With Putin megalomania, my hopes of riding the the Siberian express is definitely on hold.

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    1. Ann: Having to arrange pet care while you're away is another headache. You just hope they're still happy when you get back home.

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  10. I had rather hoped you might make it back to Sydney one day but I understand that travel is draining.
    I find it exhausting to even think about but I enjoy it when I push past the inertia

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  11. Kylie: I'd love to go back to Sydney but I'm finding all the complexities of travelling an increasing burden. Also my physical energies are declining, plus the thought of more 12 hour flights is pretty daunting. Not to mention the astronomical travel insurance now I'm over 75.

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  12. I've just noticed that Bangor, Co. Down is to become a city. When I was young and lived there for a while that seemed like an impossible idea. I imagine it must have changed a lot and perhaps that is now worth a visit without all the hassle!

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    1. Jenny: Making Bangor a city is absurd. The population is only 61,000, a quarter of the population of the London Borough of Islington, which is 240,000. It's just a silly Jubilee gesture. Bangor's worth a quick visit but it's nothing special.

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  13. Traveling does seem to have become less predictable and pleasant than it once was so can appreciate your waning enthusiasm. You may well remember the unpleasantries of your last trip less and less and suddenly plan another trip hoping for something better. Maybe you might even get it.

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    1. Joared: Yes, I'm not entirely ruling out long-distance travel. I might suddenly get the urge again, despite all the hassles.

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  14. Glad that you and Jenny went on a getaway, we did the same last week on a road trip to a beach in NC. You are right that there can be hassles when traveling, but it seems that you did enjoy yourself once you arrived at your destination. We returned home this past weekend and are already looking forward to the next adventure in July.

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