Desperate for a holiday

I wonder how old the people are who suggest it’s frivolous for people to travel abroad. I’m like Lucca and enjoy travelling abroad to experience different cultures. I shall not stop wishing to do this until I’m totally unable to manage the travel, which hopefully will not be for a very long time. I loved visiting Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore. All visited via a cruise ship. European destinations have been visited via flights or cars. Likewise America. And Canada, although Canada was combined with a cruise to Alaska. I have seen things and places I would never have dreamt of in my youth, when holidays were taken in seaside towns in Britain. The better weather is also a pull. We have recently spent a pleasant week in Somerset, but we were lucky in having lovely weather, which cannot be guaranteed in Britain. What if we had booked this week, it would have been rain every day. Not much of a holiday then.
When my parents reached their 80s they stopped travelling anywhere. I know many Gransnetters are older, in some cases much older than I am, and I wonder how much age dictates our opinions about travel. I particularly dislike the often trotted out ‘there’s so many lovely places here in Britain.’ Britain simply doesn’t have the weather, and if you enjoy different cultures, they are not to be found in Britain. And although Britain has some pretty scenery, it doesn’t compare with the beauty of the Alps, the enormity of the Grand Canyon, or the sight of the spectacular fiords in Norway, Montenegro, New Zealand or Alaska.

That's seems fine to me Lucca. You're going to enjoy the difference. To learn, interact and understand other cultures.
Not just sit on a beach or a ship and not interact with local people or contribute much to the local economy. What annoys me is the fact they can get much the same holiday in their own country without contributing nearly as much to global warming.

We've been largely ignorant sticking our heads in the sand about the amount of damage we've been doing to our planet (and how fast things are now changing) and it does scare me when I wonder how our DGC will manage. Europe is close by and relatively easy to get to (when Covid allows) but I for one won't be travelling long distance ever again in the hopes that one day my DC will be able to.

“ It seems many people do not count a holiday in the their own country as a holiday. It has to involve a flight in a plane”

That’s me I’m afraid. Could be a train though that’s fine. I’m a europhile ( I mean geographically) Just love the fact that there are so many different countries so near, different languages, history, scenery.

I realise many people cant leave their own country for many reasons but as a general principle I think it is not one to aim for.

I think the thought of people never leaving their own country is terrifying and would have consequences we cant begin to envisage.

I agree with Grammaretto and had hoped that jetting abroad just to sit on a beach would become a thing of the past.

Last week I listened to the news about the fires and floods and the upcoming meeting of world leaders trying to think of a solution to climate change. An item on how to cut energy use in our homes to save the planet (and humanity). And then, I think it was on You and Yours, how the cruise industry was opening up again, and wasn't it wonderful, and a couple saying they had already been around the UK - but they didn't seem to really count this as a holiday as they hadn't gone abroad - and had four more trips booked as things were opening up. I believe Canada, the Carribean and Australia were on their list? (They were obviously quite well off) A large cruise ship belches pollution and CO2, not to mention the flights to get there. They went for the experiences of the ship - the shows, the 24 hour buffet - not for the places visited. A floating up-market Pontins!

It seems many people do not count a holiday in the their own country as a holiday. It has to involve a flight in a plane. My DD2 considers that, as we are retired, we're on permanent holiday - we just go away and holiday somewhere else sometimes!

This thread is not about dating!

Hi, anyone had an experience with online dating. I'm a widow and am tentatively dipping my toes into this area.....very nervous

Don’t worry just good that someone understands!

Lucca

Callistemon

I agree, Grammaretto; hopping on a plane for a weekend away did become the norm for many.

However, I hope that going overseas to visit family will not become a thing of the past.

You and me both Callistemon ??

It was horrible, Lucca, like a panic, I've never felt quite like that before.

Sorry, don't mean to make you feel dispirited.

I did say I wasn't a killjoy and ofcourse our circumstances are individual. I have a DS & family in NZ whom I haven't seen properly for over 3 years, apart from when he came home when his dad was dying.
But, the lemming mentality, which I hear all the time from the couples in my walking group, gets me riled.

It begins; "we should have been in Rome/ Madeira/ Greece this week....." instead they are on a walk in the beautiful Scottish countryside costing next to nothing but still they moan.

Callistemon

I agree, Grammaretto; hopping on a plane for a weekend away did become the norm for many.

However, I hope that going overseas to visit family will not become a thing of the past.

You and me both Callistemon ??

We are not going abroad at the moment. We have both had two vaccinations but not prepared to have tests as well. we will wait until nest year. Fingers crossed.

Callistemon

^Not all lives are the conventional home, family, knitting apple pies type. Some of us through necessity and through personal choice need to be able to travel.^

And some of us are all those things

thank goodness xx

Thank you for your explanation, I was under the impression from earlier poss and threads that she had chosen to stay abroad at the beginning of lockdown.

So, please, before you dismiss a post so rudely please try to ascertain the facts

However, I would question your use of the word rudely.

Mawbee.

Im afraid that you are incorrect. The situation was definitely necessity as my wife was already working and living abroad when we met. Her job entailed one week in the European office. Two weeks international travel and one week with me working from my home in the Uk where I already had a house and was in long term employment.
This situation was not through choice unless one of us, that would have been me, gave up our job and I sold sold my home in the UK. Again not possible because of family commitments.

So, please, before you dismiss a post so rudely please try to ascertain the facts.

I agree, Grammaretto; hopping on a plane for a weekend away did become the norm for many.

However, I hope that going overseas to visit family will not become a thing of the past.

Grammaretto

I hope we never return to "normal" if it means the skies full of planes as people think they are "entitled" to several holidays a year.
I hope the travel industry thins down and we learn to live our lives with more care for our poorly planet.
I hope no one goes to NY for the weekend for a shopping spree or has to have stag weekends in Budapest.

I am not a killjoy, honestly, but what we should have learned from the Lockdowns is that we don't need so much in our lives. Less is more.

BTW The pandemic is not over yet.

Absolutely, Grammaretto, well said.
It is ironic that we are at last coming to terms with the consequences particularly of flying on the environment but once the restrictions are lifted, it seems people will rush to the airports like lemmings.

MissChateline

I for one hope that things get back to “normal” as soon as possible. I can’t wait to be able to hop on a plane and visit new places. I also can’t wait to be able to spend time with my wife in which ever country we chose to be in at the time.

Some of us have different lifestyles which involves travel. My wife and I have for years lived between at least 2 countries and on one occasion recently 3 different countries. In order to be together we need to be able to travel quickly and without hassle.

Not all lives are the conventional home, family, knitting apple pies type. Some of us through necessity and through personal choice need to be able to travel.

I imagine that your lifestyle has arisen through choice so the concept of “necessity” is debatable.
Options always involve consequences.
We as grandparents, if that is the case, had no say and therefore no choice in our adult children’s decision to live or move abroad to work or to emigrate.
Seeing them still leaves a yawning gap in those grandparents’ or parents’ lives - but even then I would hesitate to doubt the concept of necessity. *.

Sorry, didn't mean that to sound snippy but I woke up this morning and panicked because I thought I couldn't remember what some of the family look like and can't remember what it feels like to hug them.

And I'm going to crochet, sorry cook, a blackberry and apple crumble later.

Not all lives are the conventional home, family, knitting apple pies type. Some of us through necessity and through personal choice need to be able to travel.

And some of us are all those things

Me too Lucca. We go to the beach (if we’re near a beach) about twice in a holiday. I get a lounger and read, my husband does his crosswords, and then often takes himself off for a walk whilst I have a snooze. But the rest of the time we drive to local beauty spots, drive up, into the mountains, visit museums, churches, mosques, or synagogues, we eat out in lovely restaurants, and visit places of interest. We often look around monasteries if they are open to the public. Rarely drink sangria as we don’t visit Spain all the time, but if we’re in Spain, I might have one in a cafe.

Watching richard e grant’s marvellous documentaries with travel based on books “write around the world” makes me long to travel again (and please note there’s no lying on a beach drinking sangria involved) wonderful scenery and culture.

I for one hope that things get back to “normal” as soon as possible. I can’t wait to be able to hop on a plane and visit new places. I also can’t wait to be able to spend time with my wife in which ever country we chose to be in at the time.

Some of us have different lifestyles which involves travel. My wife and I have for years lived between at least 2 countries and on one occasion recently 3 different countries. In order to be together we need to be able to travel quickly and without hassle.

Not all lives are the conventional home, family, knitting apple pies type. Some of us through necessity and through personal choice need to be able to travel.

I hope we never return to "normal" if it means the skies full of planes as people think they are "entitled" to several holidays a year.
I hope the travel industry thins down and we learn to live our lives with more care for our poorly planet.
I hope no one goes to NY for the weekend for a shopping spree or has to have stag weekends in Budapest.

I am not a killjoy, honestly, but what we should have learned from the Lockdowns is that we don't need so much in our lives. Less is more.

BTW The pandemic is not over yet.