Last month, after I was told I was inoperable and there was no chance of a cure, I was tempted to max out my credit cards and take dream trips to London, New York and the Greek Islands. I was especially wanting to go to London for Christmas, but now that I have been given the chance of having a future again, I’d rather not spend that future being up to my eyeballs in debt. And so, while London is sadly no longer an option, there are some inexpensive travel possibilities that have come up recently . . .
Two of them are thanks to my friend & student Manolo who has offered Nog & I the use of his apartment in central Málaga for a weekend, which would be a nice relaxing break. And especially nice for Nog who has only been to Málaga once before for a few hours, and never got to see the centre of town, which Manolo says is especially pretty at Christmas time.
Manolo also has a holiday apartment in Marbella (Alvarito Playa) that I help him rent out. He is about to do some renovations and decorating and says once that’s done I can have the use of the apartment for any week I’d like – and I’ll be able to invite friends as there is plenty of space. If we have a car there are lots of places to visit and explore around that area.
Then there is the weekend trip to Morocco with Pablo as travel guide. Apparently there are lots of different package deals like the 65 euro one I found the other day, which includes hotel and ferry costs. We had talked about going this weekend but it would have been a bit crazy coming back on Sunday and going straight into hospital. So now we’re thinking of sometime in January, depending on my chemo schedule.
Meanwhile, one dream trip that might come true is that I could be going to Greece next June to help Beth celebrate her mother’s 75th birthday on the island of Crete. Apparently I’d just have to pay for travel costs and chip in for food & drink while I’m there. So who knows …?
It’s nice to dream, innit?
casa azahar 
Crete sounds divine. My next big trip will probably be to Machu Picchu in Peru. I have always wanted to go there.
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I would love to go to Greece, again. I spent much of my trip there curled up in the bathtub with an intestinal bug being studiously ignored by the teachers in charge of the school trip I was on. They very helpfully told my mother when we got back that I had “refused to come out of my room”. How they would know since not one of them checked up on me despite my being absent (not to mention deathly ill) for almost 4 days…
I missed the trip to Delphi and three other major day trips. I was JUST well enough again to make the trip to the islands…
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Yeah well, we didn’t want to see you anyway…
Looks like we’re having a year off from doing the ‘abroad’ thing next year, as we will be busy with the house. And saving to go to Vegas in 2010 to renew our vows, of course.
Anyways, you may remember many years ago I had a video i wanted to play you but we had a format problem, This clip is part of it – the one and only Pops Staples performing Dylan’s ‘Gotta Serve Somebody’ on Jools Holland;
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=23vU3DbCPH0
Sadly no one appears to have posted Pops with Johnny and June Cash singing ‘Will the Circle Be Unbroken’ from the same show, but I shall be keeping my eyes peeled. Dig that shirt!
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isn’t it wonderful to b able to get away. for now i’ll just travel vicariously through you. hopefully, we’ll be able to travel and experience adventures, too. hopefully, things will turn financially so we could atleast get our passports stamped once.
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Well, Crete is extremely iffy, though as I say, it’s nice to dream.
Sounds like your Greek holiday was more like a nightmare, Anneke.
Yeah sure, you do so want to see me, Blues! 😛 But maybe next year? Great vid!
DKL, it’s amazing how refreshing an overnight, or even a day trip, can be. The last ‘long’ trip (three nights) I took was to Tavira last spring, and it felt like I’d been away forever.
I also love the feeling of coming home and hugging the cats … and being with my STUFF again (Sara knows what I’m talking about).
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I’m totally jealous. I inherited my wanderlust from my Grandmother, and now all I can do is take a ferry to Bainbridge Island once in a while. But keep planning for the future, that’s what you need right now.
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I’ve never been to Greece – It’s on my list of places I must get round to visiting one day. Our big blow out trip next year is to China to see the eclipse, which is extremely exciting! But lots of little weekend mini-breaks ( a la Bridget Jones) gives you lots of things to look forward to. I shall enjoy reading your travel diaries!
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Now I have another person to be a little envious of. I would love to be in the moon’s shadow some time, and combining that with a trip to China sounds about perfect.
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I’m taking a “mini” break tomorrow, and going tp San Francisco. Well, okay, so it’s only 40 miles, but still.
Hopefully, I won’t get nabbed in the demonstrations planned for tomorrow; the place I’m going is awfully close to the City Hall, where the protest against Prop 8 is. Come to think of it, *I* think 8 sucks, too!
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Forgot to say, az, that January sounds like a lovely time to get out of town, however briefly. Preferrably Somewhere lovely and sunny!
I’ll put out the travel and recovery vibes ASAP!
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Sounds like it’s going to be an amazing trip, Beatrice. By the way, do you have photos somewhere of your trip to Venice?
Now you see, “only” going to San Francisco is something I’m quite envious about, SC. It’s another of my dream cities.
“But keep planning for the future, that’s what you need right now.”
Yeah, I think that’s almost as important as actually going somewhere, Silverstar. And although the trips planned are all close to home I suppose they would be considered ‘exotic’ by some. Also, I quite like the beach and the sea in winter … and it’s usually still warm enough to have lunch outside in the sun. 🙂
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I ended up not going; I think I pulled something in my left hip. Walking has been very painful, and if it keeps up, I’m going to the urgent care clinic on Monday (or Sunday, depending how bad it is, in the morning…)
Grump, grump, grump, that’s me.
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Oh, what bad luck, SC. I hope your hip gets better soon. *hug*
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yep, planning the trips is more than half the fun, I think 🙂
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I actually know of someone who did the Max The Credit Cards What The Hell I’m Dying thing, and it turned out his test results were wrong. He narrowly avoided five years in prison for fraud, actually. And he’s spent fifteen years paying those cards back.
Not.
Worth.
It.
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I somehow missed your comment, Rain. Yes, it’s kind of like people who jump in front of subway trains and live, albeit with missing limbs – if they thought they were depressed before…
So far – thanks to the donations – I’ve managed to avoid racking up credit card debt.
Anyhow … an update regarding the possible trip to Málaga. Manolo was here this morning for an English class with Nog and he told us that he is planning to be away the weekend of December 6th (which is a long weekend here) and he thought that would be the perfect time for us to go down and stay at his apartment. All we’d have to pay for is trainfare and maybe a couple of meals out (we can cook at the apt).
That’s about ten days from now. I reckon I should be recovered enough to sit on a train for a couple of hours by then. And I know that Nog could do with a break. He’s had a very busy time of it the past week or so. Ooo, this is quite exciting! 🙂
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