Dreaming of a trip...

Hi, Priscilla:
Italy is always on our radar, and after a wonderful month in France this year, it too is in my dreams.

I recently read "See You In the Piazza," and even recommended it here. It's a good book to fuel your travel dreams.

Hi, Jane!

You’re right, Frances Mayes’ book is a great read!
I think it would be fun to meet her in person, don’t you?

Where did you go in France? I’d love to read about your adventures, please share!

I am a somewhat fickle in my dreams. I may spend my lunch break at my computer looking at pric3s for short let apartments for a month in Bari, Florence or Farrera. I also just read 'See You in the Piazza', and with Ms Mayes' other books about small town or rural Italy, I had my large scale Italy map out plotting routes. Winters are long, dark and cold in Ottawa so dreaming travel is a frequent way of getting through it (if not researching planned travel). Europe is easy to plan theoretical dream trips of 3 weeks which may become reality, but I still have dream trips further afield. I am retiring in about 3 years. A dream is to use a round the world ticket. Head east to a place in Europe for a while. Fly to India. Do a group tour of the Golden Triangle region, then head into the Himilayan foothills and Joe Corbett National Park for birding amd tiger viewings.....as well as those mountain views. Head to Sim Riep for Ankhor Watt andmother similar sites. A week in Bali in a house near the rice fields....more birding involved. Whether I fit in another group tour of China may depend on season, length of trip and whether I can tolerate the human density (India would tell me that). If not Mainland China, then Taiwan instead. There is a cruise of Japan that then heads up to a Russian port, through the Aleutians to end in Vancouver and the flight home. It is certsinly feasible, but it would mean giving up travel for the next three years to budget it all, so probably not achievable as I don't think I can give up travel for that long...by choice. But it is nice to dream and aspire to.

I have soo many trips I dream of. As someone else mentioned, the round the world ticket/trip is especially fun. A one year travel around the world is fun to contemplate. Even though I can’t imagine how it would ever happen, it’s fun to think about how I’d do that trip. And it’s a YouTube rabbit hole that is fun to go down.

I’m always planning and researching three or more trips out. Hopefully, next summer will be Normandy, Paris, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna for three weeks. Also dreaming of an African safari one day and my dream of a Central European blitz trip (Budapest, Bratislava, Prague and Berlin) and then...

Priscilla, we took two RS tours: Paris and the Heart of France, and the Best of Eastern France. In addition, we added time in Paris, Reims, and Aix en Provence before, in between, and after the tours.

I did post tour reports; here are the links:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/tour-report-paris-and-the-heart-of-france
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/tour-report-best-of-eastern-france

In addition, I posted a review of a hotel we particularly liked:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france-reviews/a-pleasant-inexpensive-hotel-in-ais-en-provence-but-it-s-not-for-everyone

We were gone almost 5 weeks, and had a wonderful time. I'm hoping we can squeak in a week or two in France in 2021. It's Italy for us in 2020!

Maria,

A dream is to use a round the world ticket.

That sounds fabulous! Your travel dreams are better than mine!

dmacario,

Your upcoming trips sound amazing, including the African Safari!

Jane,
Thanks for sharing the links to your beautifully written trip reports!

I enjoyed reading both of them; they are so descriptive and full of useful information!

I’ve bookmarked them for future reference. Thanks again!

Malta and Greece!!

I dream all the time: Katmai, Alaska to see the bears, Dolomites pre-Christmas, So, so many places.

I ordered Frances Mayes' book and my local store could only get it in hardback which I do not prefer. I would like paperback because it is such a travel "high" that I want it in paperback so I can slice and dice it for taking on trips. I read some of it from the library - love it.

Oh my. I think travel dreaming is one of the most identifiable traits of my existence.

Now if anyone knows of a good read re Garmisch...???

BTW, Frances Mayes' Women in Sunlight is very inspiring. Love that book - a group of women meet when looking at retirement village options. They decide instead to visit Tuscany and rent a villa - read the book for the outcome.

Debbie, I have Women in Sunlight in my book bag from the library. Finishing current book before starting it. Glad you liked it.

Dreaming is fine. While I should have travelled when I was in my 20s, I didn’t. I had to live vicariously though watching Rick’s show and checking travel books from the library. At least the political campaign I worked on had a lot of people who had studied abroad so we were kinda European. Picnics in the park with wine, bread and cheese and that sort of stuff.

Just ordered Women in Sunlight from the library. Thanks, Debbie.

Count me in the dreaming category for now. Two geriatric dogs & one of them diagnosed with heart failure. They need me to stay home with them right now & I need to enjoy the remaining time. Italy, Africa, Norway, Ireland etc aren't going anywhere. I do dream of Italy though. Got to visit this year & fell head over heels. He got his diagnosis within a month of my return home.

In the meantime I'll study up, dream & enjoy reading the forums!

Would love to have a ladies age 50+ (or any age, really) to discuss life choices that involve travel. I have never been to the RS January meeting, but would that be fun?

PS, I would like to hear about men's thoughts and experiences as well. Women came to mind re the Frances Mayes novel, but there were men in it too!

Debbie, if you want a connection physical group, but my area has 2 or 3 travel MeetUp groups, some female-centric, some not. Some are more independent, another is hosted by an agent who tends to sell tours....a more hand holding bunch. So check MeetUp websites, your local library or community education catalogue. You might attend a series on plannj g trsvel, butnif the dynamics and afafge works, maybe makenyour own group. Of course, you can do that on MeetUp too. We have an upstairs of a restaurant on a Tuesday night. We get the rent free but most folks order dinner or drinks, so restaurant comes out ahead. Small $2 fee for presenter gifts and ahy overhead. Libraries often have meeting rooms to consider.
Online, I recently joined a Facebook group, Solo Women Travelers. It is a global group but most are from US. Age and experiences vary.

Debbie, there may well be a RS travel group in your area. Post on the "Travel Groups" section of the Forum; I bet you'll get a response.

Debbie,

BTW, Frances Mayes' Women in Sunlight is very inspiring. Love that book - a group of women meet when looking at retirement village options. They decide instead to visit Tuscany and rent a villa - read the book for the outcome.

Thanks for the book recommendation, I just placed it on hold at my local library!

Deborah,

So sorry to hear about your doggies... I'm sure they have brought you much love and joy over the years...
Our family has lost two loving dogs to cancer :(

Dale,

Picnics in the park with wine, bread and cheese and that sort of stuff.

So true! Dreaming is nice, but traveling to those dreamy destinations is always better!

Priscilla — I am so sorry for the loss of two (!) dogs. It is hard enough losing one pet, I can’t imagine losing two close together.

Debbie thinking of you as you stay home to care for your dog.

I am on a week solo trip but my husband is home with the kitties! I am missing them all three (hubby and kitties) but am thinking one of the cats would be easier to deal with in this tiny house I have rented than he would!!! It’s a very charming place but “twee” — he and I would be in each other’s way every moment were he here!!

My book club is reading "See you in the Piazza" this month. Most don't like it because it's a travel book with no story line, but I envision the scenery and practically taste the food and wine. We're doing a meal at the end of the book and every one is making a recipe from the book.
I dream about travel, but sometimes it's too depressing when I can't go because of finances/job commitments. I dream of any place that is remotely interesting, so any place other than where I am right now!

My book club is reading "See you in the Piazza" this month. Most don't like it because it's a travel book with no story line, but I envision the scenery and practically taste the food and wine. We're doing a meal at the end of the book and every one is making a recipe from the book.

I can understand how that book may not be interesting to some.

The meal idea sounds great!
I’m sure you’ll have a delightfully delicious meal!

May I come over if I bring dessert?

Debbie,

BTW, Frances Mayes' Women in Sunlight is very inspiring. Love that book - a group of women meet when looking at retirement village options. They decide instead to visit Tuscany and rent a villa - read the book for the outcome.

Thanks for recommending this book!
I’m almost done reading it and have enjoyed it throughly!

I wish there were a sequel!