As my May trip approaches, I've been thinking about all the things I was "supposed to be" doing.
Today, I was "supposed to be" getting my Russian VISA for my first ever RS tour to St. Petersburg, Tallinn & Helsinki.
And today Rick posted this blog:
Today, I was supposed to be landing in Istanbul — kicking off a weeks-long guidebook research trip through Europe.
What were you "supposed to be" doing today?
Keukenhof gardens enjoying the tulips.
Working today, but heading down to Eugene, Oregon come Wednesday for 3-4 days of old friends, Micro-Brews, Bookstore and antique hunting. Third year in a row I've missed the gathering, last two due because I was in Virginia (2018), and Alaska (2019). It's not April without some kind of a road trip.
Good topic CW. I've been playing this game almost every day since we were "supposed" to have started our trip on March 31. Today, we're supposed to be in Kardamyli, day 13 of 24 on the Greece/Italy trip.
We've re-booked everything (except air) for mid September this year but that's looking less and less likely.
Today? Doing nothing. It’s a long Bank Holiday weekend here, with Friday and Monday off for workers, so we usually hunker down and avoid the busy shops, coast etc and venture out later in the week once the schools have returned and life resumes its normal pace. We don’t travel during school holidays and pay double/triple rates for places that are busier than we like.
Rosemary, I plan to "visit" those places I had planned during each day of my scheduled trip. Since I wouldn't have left yet, and I've never been to Keukenhof, I decided to check out the 2min20sec "Keukenhof Virtual Tour" and enjoy a day from your trip. Wow!
Peter, perhaps I will join you tomorrow in Kardamyli, it looks lovely!
KGC, I upcycled an old garage cabinet and have ordered some new door pulls online. I would much rather have gone antique hunting to find them. Or better yet, find some during my travels!
Today, I am supposed to be at work teaching Algebra to Freshmen students........
Instead, I am at home trying to support students through remote learning on concepts that they struggled with even when they were in the classroom and could easily ask questions. I miss my students and I miss being in the classroom with them.
For now, I am working on improving my online teaching game. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
CW thanks for the video. What a beautiful place. Hopefully we can get there next year.
My wife and I were supposed to be in Austin, Texas to meet our new niece ;-( , and of course to catch Dale Watson somewhere!
Today I was supposed to be ignoring my job while bouncing up and down in anticipation that it's only 48 more days until I flew to Glasgow.
We were supposed to be leaving for Italy today.....am thankful for our good health and that of our family, but still felt a tinge of sadness when I looked at the calendar, with the dates marked off.
Stay healthy, all!
Today I was supposed to be in Paris, part of 6 nights before meeting up with friends in Rome for a few days and then all of us flying down to Palermo for the RS Best of Sicily. (sigh....)
Today I was supposed to be flying back from Kauai.
We should be packing for a 3 week trip to London and Dublin for a wedding. We would have left April 27. I should have already put in my retirement papers, now I will work the rest of the school year and retire July 1. My husband is on unemployment, but will retire as soon as the hotel reopens. But we are thankful we are healthy and our family is well. My son-in-law had the virus but has recovered, he is a firefighter. So, we cannot complain.
On day three of our 26 day trip in China. I think we were scheduled to fly to Xian to see the terra-cotta warriors. My husband and I decided when we were told the tour was cancelled, to sign up for a 33 day trip next year. Hoping we will be headed to China next year at this time.
Today we would have been in Maui (since the end of March).
Packing for my diy trip to Italy - Venice/Florence. Supposed to leave 4/24 return 5/02.
Today when my husband asked "How many days," teasing me, but sweetly, I would have crowed "30!" Thirty days until we head out to the airport for a month in Italy; 4 days in Rome, followed by the 13 day Best of South Italy tour, followed by about 12 days in Naples, Sienna, and Bologna.
Arriving in Rome, spending the night at the Sonya Hotel and resting up for our train journey to Florence in the morning.
SharYn, we could have been meeting up today to go to an art exhibit together. We were supposed to still be in Paris, part of the trip that started March 3rd.
Today, I was supposed to be flying home from Kentucky after an Easter visit with my parents.
This would have been my last 5 days at work before leaving next Monday for 2 weeks in Istanbul and Budapest.
Starting today this week was supposed to be my packing week, and the start of being in that pleasant and happy state of mind looking forward to spending two well planned weeks doing what I love the most in the world.
sigh
Returning to teaching my students after spring break. 😢❤️
Today I was supposed to be flying from Houston to Maui to spend 2 weeks there after enjoying a week and the Easter holiday in Houston with my family.
Instead I watched a lot of videos on You Tube of various people driving around various parts of Hawaii. Enjoyed it but not the same as being there.
Today we were supposed to be in southern France visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and 2 grandchildren. We were supposed to celebrate Easter with them, and then celebrate our granddaughter’s 3rd birthday on the 15th. I am so sad. We haven’t seen them since October, and now I am not sure when we will see them again. They are supposed to come here in August but not sure if that will happen.
This was to be a month long trip to France. After visiting our family, we planned to meet up with friends and travel with them through Provence and the French Riviera. I hope we can reschedule for spring 2021.
This was to be day number 3 on the RS’ Best of
Greece touring Delphi. Hopefully next year.
As you said, Nadine, we were all supposed to be enjoying *that pleasant and happy state of mind" in various stages of our travels and visits with parents and daughters and grandchildren and new nieces, the people and places and activities we "love the most in the world."
Jane, you're not the only one counting! It's 3 weeks and 3 days until I was supposed to leave for Denver, the first leg of my trip, and the "before" visit with my parents.
Over the weekend I was supposed to have had a road trip with friends to the Idaho Falls Zoo for their opening weekend. We would have seen all our favorite friends both animal and people. Seen their new sloth bear cubs born In December. And had the best ice cream that is supplied to the zoo by a local dairy. We probably would have gone to the Dairy too in the evening for a second round and to thank the cows. The zoo did a virtual opening with video from around the zoo in Facebook but it’s not the same.
Today I should be celebrating 40 days until my Germany / Austria trip.
On a positive note, the Utah Shakespeare Festival (which I attend every year) announced today that they are moving forward with their season. They’ve shortened it and cancelled about half the productions. The shows will have minimal sets and costumes but they will go on. This is especially meaningful because the founder died earlier this year end everyone wants to be able to honor him.
CW better than antiquing for door pulls check out the architectural salvage places. I've bought a huge amount of my house remodel from the ones around Seattle. There are some good ones in the Bay Area too. Recycle/reuse are big with me.
Frankly it's the problem of see only the neighbors for weeks on end that's got me acting a bit crazy. Thank God we all get along in this neighborhood.
Julie, that's great about the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Our California Shakespeare Festival has cancelled their entire season, which normally runs through September. The zoo's ice cream sounds visit worthy!
KGC, thank you (I think) for the tip about architectural salvage places. I just found one, not too far from me. With pictures online!
I'm in trouble now!
I was supposed to fly to Amsterdam today to start a tour of Holland & Belgium. I feel sad.
My twin sister and I were supposed to be in Budapest for a birthday trip! Today we'd be in Eger, exploring the town and drinking lots of yummy Hungarian wine. We were supposed to fly to Budapest on the 10th, so for the past few days I've been annoying my husband with 'today we'd be...' :)
Well, we were supposed to be alive and healthy and we still are so no complaints at all. Please...everyone be well!
I was supposed to be going through the 1200 or so pictures that I took on my RS Greece trip that ended April 5th.
In reality, I was chairing my first board meeting using Zoom!
Denny, thanks for the wake-up call.
Yes, we tend to feel sorry for ourselves, but we have much to be thankful for.
In Athens. This would have been the visit-the-Acropolis-Museum day of my cancelled Athens and the Heart of Greece Rick Steves tour. I am sad not to be there today but as others have said, I am grateful for many things: this wouldn't have been the first time I had been to Athens and my friends and family (and I) are all healthy and doing well coping with the stay-at-home orders currently in place in Colorado. I will go back to Europe when it is feasible and feel blessed to be able to do that.
Today I was supposed to be on my way to Paris in advance of meeting up with a Rick Steves tour, then on to Croatia and the Adriatic for a total trip of 4 weeks. Oh well, there's always next spring.... we have our health and in the meantime long-neglected projects are being done and books read. Stay well everyone and watch travel videos to get more ideas for future trips!
Eric, hopefully your Zoom meeting went better than this one:
https://crooksandliars.com/2020/04/snl-home-skit-about-zoom-calls-little-too
Today I was supposed to be in Indian Shores Florida for 2 weeks :(
Today my husband and I would have been packing for our return flight home from Scotland tomorrow. Of course there would also be the farewell dinner too. Not happening. Guess I’ll just go walk the dogs...
"1200 or so pictures" - that sounds like me after my trips, Denny! Perhaps I should collect 1200 pictures of my shelter at home experience. Well, maybe not ….
Andi, that's quite the contrast between Athens and the snow (and cold!) my parents said they got in Colorado yesterday. Stay warm!
Plumeria54 - oh those, "long-neglected projects!" Yesterday I was painting the trim on the front of my house. Which is more fun than the vacuum under the bedroom furniture project that I did when it was raining. Your 4 week trip sounds fabulous!
for the past few days I've been annoying my husband with 'today we'd be...' :)
Rowdo, I plan to play this game for the entire month of May! Hopefully finding online ways to visit the places I would have been so that I'll be that much better prepared when I finally get to take the trip.
At the moment, we would have been having a pub dinner in Edinburgh fighting off our flyover jet-lag. We have been very fortunate to be able to reschedule the trip in toto without any losses for 6 months out from yesterday, and currently looking for best flights since the direct flight from here to Edinburgh on American is a casualty of the crisis. Now whether we can do this in October, that is a question with no answer yet!
Bets -- we'll make that happen another time!
Denny -- yes, our health is the important thing, so thanks for the reminder.
Today I was supposed to be at work, which I am.
Decompressing after a trip to Berlin, Dresden, Auschwitz and Budapest.
The new swimming pool was delivered the day after we were supposed to fly home, and my back yard has mountains of dirt that's got to be moved.
No time to travel (even if we could) as I'm going to be landscaping the next 3 months.
As Google reminded me last night, today we were supposed to be flying to France.
Today, our 19 year old niece and her father (my brother who is an EMT) are suffering with the coronavirus.
My husband & I should be at our respective offices today but we were both furloughed 4 weeks ago.
That I was scheduled to be on a flight tomorrow night to Zürich for a week’s vacation MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in the grand scheme of things.
Today I was supposed to be at an apartment in Haarlem, perhaps n Keukenhof enjoying the tulips, as was Rosemary, or exploring other areas a short train ride away.
Continental, our thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
Continental, wishing good health for your niece and your brother. May they both get well soon, and all your lives soon get back to the way they were supposed to be.
Today I was supposed to be stockpiling animal supplies so that we could leave on Saturday for London, making sure the house sitter had plenty of grain for the horses, bedding, chicken feed, bags of dog food, cat food, tons of kitty litter. So that part is no different from reality.... but boy, the reason for stockpiling is sure not as fun. Just got word that my daughter (an EMT and emergency room worker) is symptomatic and probably positive for Covid. Ugh.
DebVT, I thought flying my dog to Denver for my parents to watch her was complicated! I hope your daughter tests negative, or if positive, gets back to good health soon!
Thanks, CWsocial. She is young and healthy, so should be fine (I am knocking on all the wood around me).
Yes, I am always in need of a vacation by the time we actually get away. The pre-vacation work is exhausting!
As I am writing this, I should have been settling into my seat for my flight to London.
I was able to get one of my two favorite seats. Not easy to do.
It was to be the start of a nearly 3 month long Euroepean train journey that was very well planned.
But it's not to be. Instead I sit in a hotel room looking at the same four walls every day because I am doing my part and not going out. I don't want to get the virus nor give it to anyone else. I practice social distancing. I wear a mask. But it's all starting to get to me.
I want to plan future trips but bookstores and the library are closed.
Enough complaining. Time to keep preparing for the future. There will be a time when things get back to normal or at least close to normal. We just don't know when that will be. No one knows when that will be. I just hope it is sooner than later.
Frank II, whenever I see one of your posts, the music in my head always switches to "Hail, hail Freedonia!"
Hang in there, buddy.
Today I was supposed to return to work after visiting Florida.
Today, I was supposed to be flying to San Francisco to visit friends and family. During our stay, we were supposed to see productions of A Chorus Line and The Pajama Game. I'm guessing that we will end up donating the cost of our tickets to the relatively small groups mounting the productions. At this point, they need the money more than we do.
Alan & CWsocial, thank you so very much. 🌷
Frank II, I can imagine those 4 walls are seeming very constrictive. I spoke to my cousin in Sicily, whose family is also stuck inside their apartment. It makes me realize how fortunate I am to have my back yard and garden, with the Easter lilies and tulips blooming. And my daily dog walks.
My local library has some travel books, including those of Rick Steves, available as ebooks for download. Perhaps your library does as well. Is there a library in Freedonia?
@CWsocial and Jane -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedonia 😁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4OJGdtRx10
Continental and DebVT — thinking of you both during these difficult times and of your family members on the front lines and hit by the virus. May they all heal quickly and fully.
Today would’ve been our second full day in London. We would’ve walked out of our Airbnb by Camden Market and gone out to explore the market and have brunch. Then we would’ve gone to Hampstead Heath for the 2:30 pm London Walks tour. We would’ve ended the evening with dinner and a West End show. Tomorrow we were going to rent a car and drive to Bath to stay for nights and stopped at Highclere Castle on the way. Then Edinburgh, Paris and Loire Valley, returning home on the 29th. Sigh! We had such a great itinerary. Hopefully, we can do this next year.
Today I was supposed to be ... driving around The Netherlands, seeing the Windmills of Kinderdijk, the Delta Works and having seafood for dinner in Vsillingen ... started our trip in London for 3 days over the Easter weekend then took the Eurostar though the chunnel to Amsterdam ... now we're driving around The Netherlands for a few days before going into Belgium (Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent and Bruges), then a little bit of France (Dunkirk), back into Belgium to Ypres for the Last Post ceremony (on our 34th anniversary), down to Bastogne before taking a few days to get back to Amsterdam for tulip fields, Keukenhof and the Flower Parade on our last day before heading back home ... been watching the appropriate RS DVDs on the day we were supposed to be somewhere ... I'm saving this planned trip for the same time next year (hopefully).
Today my husband and I should have been on our way to Israel. I guess I’m a little sad, but there are so many more important things to he concerned about, it really doesn’t register. We are babysitting for our granddaughters while their parents work from home so we have little time and energy to worry about travel! Happy we are able to do it.
Thoughts and prayers for those who have loved ones who are sick.
Today I was supposed to be recovering in hospital from my total knee replacement scheduled for yesterday.
All elective surgeries were cancelled here in BC; we have 4,000+ available hospital beds because of that now, in case of a worsening of the pandemic.
Staying at home, working on the garden....dreaming of Italy.
Lake Como......
Kim, thank you very much for the well wishes.
Carol, the remote teaching sounds so challenging. I have pulled off 1 on 1 tutoring for my ACT/SAT students. I can't imagine doing it for a classroom full!
So much planning that went into so many wonderful trips. Tulips in Holland. Hungarian wine in Eger. A pub dinner in Edinburgh. Museums in Dresden. Camden Market in London. A wedding in Dublin and friends in Rome!
So many memories of my own trips. So many new travel ideas!
Claudette - one of my "silver linings" is that I plan to add a day in London for my "do-over" of my trip. You've given me some good ideas for that extra day!
DQ - I just love the sound of your entire trip. ++ Wish List !!
SJ - shame about your knee surgery. It could have been a good time to be recovering in your garden, while still dreaming of Italy!
Today should have arrived in Rio De Janeiro. Kicking off a 2 week trip in Brazil and Peru. Finishing off the quest to see all 7 New Wonders of the world. Here is wishing better luck for next year for all of us.
Today I should have been approaching San Diego on the last day of a 28 day cruise. My camera should have been full of photos of 12 islands in Hawaii, French Polynesia & the Marquesas, including an overnight in Bora Bora where we had booked an overwater bungalow for our 50th anniversary. One of my biggest regrets — I had organized a collection of school supplies & books & soccer balls for the very poor island of Kiritimati, and of course they will never see any of it. 😣. The cruise was cancelled a few days before we were scheduled to leave, so at least we didn’t get stranded on board. Refunds are still 50-60 days out, if the cruise line has any cash left at that point. We may end up with a voucher for a future cruise but they have doubled the price of this cruise for 2021. So we may have to cross these islands off our bucket list. 🙁
Finishing off the quest to see all 7 New Wonders of the world.
CJ, that's quite an impressive quest. I hope you can still finish it off.
Charlene, what a lovely trip you had planned - a thoughtful combination of your own personal celebration and your collection for Kiritimati. I wonder if you contacted the cruise ship (probably not now) whether they might give you a discount on the cruise in 2021 so that you could bring your donation. Perhaps they could make a PR thing out of it. Perhaps and if they survive.
Regardless, congratulations on your 50th anniversary, in whatever form you were able to celebrate!
... be getting on a plane to fly to NYC then on to Slovenia and begin our RickSteves Tour "Best of the Adriatic". At the end we were flying to Madrid for a few days and the back to the USA to tour Boston and the freedom trail. Damn you Coronavirus!
mattosmak, it sounds as though you had a fabulous trip planned around a great RS tour!
I was supposed to be packing, with 2 weeks to departure. I still plan to virtually visit each of the destinations on my itinerary as the days of my trip approach. A new site that my Dad shared with me shows 360 degree panoramas of a variety of places:
https://www.360cities.net/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=riga
There are more than 1600 panoramas from Slovenia. It's not the same as being there, but I can cover a lot of distance in an hour from my armchair!
...first full day in Sorrento...
Ahhh, what a wonderful day! I spent almost a week in Sorrento. What a great place to just be happy!
I hope you'll get that trip to Sorrento another time, when world conditions improve.
Ditto on Sorrento. We spent about a week there one year after a RS Best of Sicily tour, and loved it. Lots of interesting day trips from there, including Naples, Capri, Ercolano, Pompeii... Even Paestum is doable, although it would make for a long day.
Be sure to check out the presepio in the Cathedral when you go. I spent a lot of time there, trying to take in all the details.
In Istanbul.
Very cool, Nadine! That is a city I would like to visit, perhaps with a Rick Steves tour.
On a plane with my husband flying to New Zealand & Australia for three weeks.
Unfortunately I have been stuck in Las Vegas d/t a family emergency for the past seven weeks (Mom broke her hip one week after Dad got home from a two month hospital stay).
I cannot go home to my husband in Hawaii d/t the travel restrictions & lack of flights.
I want this whole virus situation to be over!
Oh Debbie, what a challenge you're facing, instead of your wonderful vacation. I'm sure your Mom and Dad are so grateful to have you there to help them. Not what you had hoped for 2020. Not what any of us planned for. Agreed, we'd all like it to be over!
We were supposed to be arriving in Rome for a 4 day stay after a tour of Sicily and Southern Italy. It was to be a breather before heading home.
arriving in Warsaw for 3 week trip around Poland. I may try my hand at making perogies today to restore my mood.
Bob, Sicily was supposed to be next year for me. I'm not sure now if I'll just move everything back one year, or combine this year's plans and next year's into one big travel-fest! We'll see what the future holds for any of it.
Oh Teresa! Poland is my destination for September, beginning in Warsaw. Though that light seems to be dimming. I like your thinking to make pierogi! I may have to find some Polish vodka and have my own private tasting from home!
Getting highlights to look great for upcoming graduation celebration, and then trip to Greece on May 19.
Can’t do any of the 3!
kkmintz, sorry about the graduation and your trip to Greece! My pre-trip hair appointment would have been on Tuesday, with departure on Thursday. I'd be packing and checking lists today, and checking my passport every 20 minutes to make sure it hadn't suddenly expired on me!
Ah but why stop at Pierogi, it's just the tip of the iceberg of Polish cuisine. You could try Bigos the national dish of Poland, a hearty stew of juniper berries and various meats (which takes 3 days to make!) :)
Carlos, I don't know if I'd have the patience to cook Bigos, but I definitely hope to try it - and satisfy my craving for Zurek - when I make it to Poland …. in September or whenever!
Juniper berries! That's what I left out when I made bigos a couple of weeks ago!
My husband loves żurek; I need to dig out my copy of Dobra Kuchnia and get to work.
Today I was supposed to be leaving on my trip to Italy and Croatia. I would have flown overnight to London, Gatwick and spent a few hours sleeping in the Yotel there before boarding my flight to Rome. I would have arrived in Rome tomorrow evening. The next morning, I would have been visiting the Colosseum, including the subterranean and third levels. I would have also been visiting the Forum and Palatine Hill. The next day, I would have been rising early for my pre-opening admission to the Vatican. The following day, Thursday, I would have been visiting other sites in Rome and just enjoying the city. Friday would have been a visit to Pompeii and Sorrento. Saturday: train to Florence. Sunday, I would have been visiting the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery. Monday would be visiting other sites in Florence and enjoying the city. Tuesday morning: train to Venice. Tuesday pm, Wednesday, and Thursday am, visiting sites in Venice and enjoying the city. Thursday pm: flight to Dubrovnik. Friday and Saturday: visiting sites in Dubrovnik and enjoying the city. Sunday: Split. Monday to Thursday: Brac Island, with a side trip to the Blue Grotto. Thursday pm: Zadar. Friday: Plitvice. Saturday and Sunday: Zagreb. Monday: flight to Toronto. Tuesday: visit with daughter in Toronto. Wednesday: home.
:'(
Jane, I can already taste the homecooked Zurek. Wow!
BB, what a fabulous trip you had planned out. It looks like a lot of work went into that itinerary. My own trips start and end with a visit with my parents, so I also know how much that "Tuesday: visit with daughter in Toronto" meant to your overall trip. I hope you'll get a do-over on your plans!
Thank you. Yes. we usually try to fit in a visit with our daughter whenever we are travelling East. Our son is going to be moving to Ottawa when the lockdown is over (was supposed to go April 6), so we'll have to work that into future plans, too. Hope your tour to St. Petersburg, Tallinn and Helsinki comes about soon, too. That's another one that's on our list.
Today, I was supposed to fly to London, have dinner with friends, and then proceed with my trip to Riga, Tallinn and my RS tour to St Petersburg.
As the days of my trip tick by, I am planning a few virtual (self-guided, so far) tours of the places I would have been.
Still, I'll look forward to being there when conditions allow. And adding a day here and there to the new itinerary for a few more adventures!
Today I was supposed to be transitioning from Glasgow to Edinburgh on day 6 of our trip. Sigh.
Packing, cleaning out the perishables in the refrigerator, visiting my dad, reminding my DH to please make sure he has his credit and debit card this time...
Today I was supposed to fly to Anchorage, Alaska, and spend 3 weeks going various places throughout the state with the highlight of visiting Barrow just for the fun of it. The weather is wonderfully nice and springlike in Anchorage. Just a little chilly in Barrow (24 blowing snow and wind chill of -30).
Today we would start day 3 of our three weeks in Sicily. We’d be on our way to Isola Lipari. Then on to Taormina, mt. Edna, Ortigia, Argrigento, Trapani, then 10 days on a beach in Castellammare del Grotto. Then Off to the Adriatic side of Italy for a week on the beach, ferry to Croatia (service canceled) for two weeks, Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, Gent, Bruges, Amsterdam, ferry to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Highlands, week in waterfront cottage, 5 day Hadrians wall hike, and QM2 back to US in August.
Everything us cancelled except for the Prague to Amsterdam stretch in July, but not hopeful for that.
But as Italy further releases restrictions on travel for Italian residents, we might have an opportunity to explore parts of Italy with no crowds. We’ve extended our lease through August and still hope you get back to the US in the fall.
I would be in Padova (2 nights) after landing in Rome and taking the train . Then to Torino for 5 days 2, nights in Bergamo, 3 nighs around Lake Iseo and then 2 nights in Bologna where I would have flown back to the US. It would have been an itinerary in Italy's most affected region especially Bergamo. I'm so sorry for the Italians. But if any region of Europe is likely to have herd immunity it would be this region. As soon as possible I am going to recreate this itinerary. If in September (very unlikely) or May 2021 (wait and see) or later I will go.
Today I was supposed to be...sailing out of New York on the Queen Mary 2 with my family and dog, on our way to take up residence in Abruzzo. I’m notably not rocking to sleep in a stateroom on the sea tonight. Or for a long time yet. But we're safe in our familiar environment for now, we’ll wait and dream till borders reopen. We do intend to leave as early as we can, and quarantine as long as necessary once we get there. Quarantine is not as big a deal for a one-way trip as for a 2-week vacation.
Getting off the plane in Rome; Leonardo Express to Termini; walk to the Aberdeen Hotel. After checking in, refreshing, heading out for supplies (wine, corkscrew, cheese, fruit) back to hotel for a rest. Then out to dinner at nearby Ristorante del Giglio, where we're greeted with a glass of prosecco. A lovely, leisurely dinner, followed by a long passeggiata through the neighborhood, then back to the hotel for a class of wine, toasting our upcoming month in Italy and eagerly planning our tomorrow.
No more posts for me on this thread.
All the little details of getting ready for our trips: packing, cleaning, checking the passport for the 100th time. So many wonderful destinations: Scotland, Alaska, Italy; from Sicily in the South. to the Scottish Highlands. A move to Europe and a final grand tour before a move back to the US.
Jane, you describe a day of perfection in Europe. Everyone was supposed to be on their perfect trips, having their perfect days.I would have been having dinner - at this very moment - in Riga with new forum friends. Instead, I'll visit Riga virtually.
We will all have them again. We don't know when that will be. And it's unclear what it will look like. Many of us, as Nelly describes, will "wait and dream" so that eventually we can say "this is the trip I was supposed to take in 2020!"
I look forward to that day for all of us.
Today we were to land at 6:55 am in Paris and stay for a week with friends who had never been. We wanted to enjoy the spring weather and revisit places we had seen and see some new places. It would have been interesting to see Paris through the eyes of new-bees. Maybe next year. C’est la vie..............
Today I was supposed to start my trip to Germany that included RS Best of Germany tour. Instead I had a Zoom book club meeting. Sorry friends, just no comparison.
Yep, today my wife and kids were going to be in Venice on a RS My Way tour of Italy. So sad so I've turned off my calendar reminders of where we were going to be day by day. Instead I am keeping active chasing down United trying to get a flight refunds. Well, the Italians have it much worse than we do so I hate to complain.
I've turned off my calendar reminders of where we were going to be day by day.
I don't blame you, sschickler!
I'm doing the opposite, taking my trip virtually every day. Today I took a virtual walking tour of Old Town Tallinn. (Phew, glad I have good virtual walking shoes!) Tomorrow I'm (virtually) headed to Lahemaa National Park, for the day trip we would have taken. I'm discovering a few new ideas, and reprioritizing a few things, for the eventual do-over!
Well..... today we were to be on a flight now from Chicago to Heathrow for our RS villages of so England- tour may 25th. Husband said we could go the tulsa airport at the crack of dawn to catch our pretend flight to Chicago. Lol. He even looked up our flight which no longer exist. We would have to go to tulsa to Houston- Chicago-Newark-Heathrow to get there. Then he said we could stay up for over 30 hours, like did last year.
Oh I miss my planned trip for 2020
Kim
Across the country exploring the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
It is already Sunday in Amsterdam as I compose this. It would be just a few hours from beginning the 21 day Best of Europe tour.
Time to go get a martini and look forward to better times. Hopefully that means 2021 and not having to wait until 2022.
joe32F, oh what a wonderful 21 days that would have been. I hope you have enough for 21 days of Martinis!
Kent, now that seems like it might still be doable in 2020. Maybe?
Kim, that gave me a good laugh to finish off the day. A day when I was supposed to be in St Petersburg. My Mom has been following along on my would-have-been itinerary. I told her that on what would have been the day of my return flight, we had to find an uncomfortable chair and sit in it for 15 hours. Straight. I won't miss that part of the trip!
Today I was supposed to be in Ortigia, enjoying the first day of a two week trip in Sicily with my husband, two daughters, and son-in-law. I have ached to return to Italy since we came back from our 2016 trip.
Instead, I am enjoying la dolce vita in our backyard, which I will be referring to as il giardino sul retro for the next two weeks. It is a beautiful, sunny day and we have a large fountain smack in the middle of our stone patio. I am imagining being in a (very small) Italian piazza right now. I’ve already eaten un cannolo and sipped an espresso. Later I will enjoy a glass of nero d’avola and dream of our 2021 trip.
Fran, "il tuo giardino" sounds like a pretty great spot to shelter in place. I'll be right over, with Sangria!
Taking the Fräulein Maria’s Sound of Music Bike Tour in Salzburg... and starting my Alps My Way tour tomorrow. But I am at home recovering from COVID-19, contemplating my next RS adventures.
Today I was supposed to be doing last minute packing for my 2-month visit to the US, flying early tomorrow via Istanbul to Chicago. I am terribly disappointed at not seeing family and friends. The good news is that I had no trouble getting a full refund from Turkish Air after they cancelled my flights. I did have to call their Istanbul office (the one here is closed for the time being) but after 5 minutes on the phone they agreed to a refund with no argument. They said it would take 60 days from tomorrow, but the credit came through on my credit card after 3 or 4 days.
Instead I am on the 3rd and last night of my stay on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, now that Israel is opening up again. The hotel opened last Friday, and many sights are open as well . . . nearly all the national parks in the area (masks are mandatory, body temps are checked at the entrance), the beaches on the lake (the "sea" is a fresh water lake), retaurants are open for take-out (bad timing - they open tomorrow for in-house dining), but I did get to a couple of my favorite wineries whose tasting rooms were open - 6 feet distance between customers. It's been wonderful to be out and about after 2-1/2 months of being home alone.
Chani, thanks for the upbeat report. Glad you're having a good time.
claremicrobe, good to hear that you've recovered sufficiently to start thinking about the next adventures!
douglas, that sounds like it would have been some great memories with your Dad. Hopefully you're still finding ways to connect at home.
Chani, kudos for getting out, even if it's nearer to home than you had hoped for. You've inspired me.
My grandfather was a font of wisdom, and he often said, "Wherever you go, there you are."
If you think about that it's pretty deep.
BigMikeWestByGodVirginia, I'll bet your grandfather would have some words of wisdom for us all today!
sunnywilsonstore, Maui sounds lovely, but I'll be the time with your family is the biggest loss.
Today I was supposed to be in Moscow, after our RS tour ended in St Petersburg. I would have been at the Bolshoi ballet. Instead, I watched Giselle at the Mariinsky, not a bad consolation prize!
Today's the last day of school and my final attendance has been taken. So, while I wouldn't have been on a vacation just yet, I find myself (at this moment) cancelling a trip to Greece (since Americans are not allowed). Am I disappointed? Yes, especially since I spent the last three months teaching from my guest room. I need a break! Will I get over it? Yes, and I'm giving myself time to grieve for all that hasn't gone as it should have, and for that which will be different in the future. I find it very difficult to be "up" and positive 100% of the time. Forgive me my diatribe....
Here's to a better future for all of us!
JS, I agree that this is a rollercoaster, impossible to be "up" all the time. With your school year ending, you'll have more time to experience the ups and downs of emotions and outlooks, and grief for things we've lost and a future that is uncertain.
I received the refund for the 3rd (and final) flight of my trip, which would have ended in a couple of days. With just a few loose ends left to wrap up, it's fitting timing. I feel the same sense of sadness of this "trip-that-wasn't" coming to an end, as if I had actually taken it.
And yet, I still get to look forward to taking it!
We should have been a flight from Dulles to Zurich now. Planned to take the train to Lucerne for two days then train to the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Probably the prettiest place in the world. Been there three times and would go back tomorrow. Train to Austria for rental car for a week tour of the area and the Dolomites. Was so excited and had been working on the plans for three months. Would have wound up in either Salzburg or Vienna.
We’re planning to have some rachlette tomorrow and Swiss steak and think of where we would have been.
.
Tomorrow we were going to be driving down the Shenandoah Parkway from Maryland to Charlottesville VA. We live on the West Coast so this was a domestic trip we were really looking forward to: Monticello, Jamestown, Williamsburg, the North Carolina Outerbanks (including Kitty Hawk and Cape Hatteras), then back to Baltimore via east coast of Maryland/Delaware, to Annapolis, then back home.
Oh well, I got 99% refunds on everything we'd pre-paid, including airfare, so I guess I can't complain).
Bill, sounds like you had a great trip planned. The consolation dinner sounds pretty good, too!
Kent, glad to hear you got refunds, and hopefully you can recreate that domestic trip before too long.
Today, I was supposed to be flying back from Moscow to stay with my parents for 10 days, before returning home. I have refunds on almost everything and I'm looking forward to the do-over!
I would have landed in Glasgow about 2 hours ago and would have been on a train right about now for Edinburgh for the start of a 2 week trip that included several bucket list items. For my wife the bucket list included several Outlander sites and for me, an overnight stay at a haunted castle and a visit to Calgary Beach on Mull which my hometown was named after.
Landing in Rome, taking the train to Florence. Then a few days of touring before the new RS Best of Tuscany tour. After the tour, a week in Emilia-Romagna visiting Bologna, Parma, a cooking class, wine tastings. Then back to Rome for a few days and home. Hope we get to plan it all again some day.
Today we were supposed to be visiting Lake Garda for 3 nights.
For the past 5 years in a row, I've always been in Europe in June :(
All this week we were supposed to be in Yachats, OR, with our whole family, celebrating our daughters graduation from UO. Had a great cottage by the river reserved, kayaks there so we could paddle to town for coffee and everything. If you ever get the chance, don't miss Yachats!
It's yuh-hots, not yakkats....
... our last day in London, finishing a 29 day trip.
Would have been on BA flt 001 Friday. ( No, not rich, Alaska FF miles) Doubt that will resume in my traveling lifetime ( or it may become the prototype for covid seating?)
jj1859has been reported (all 3)
Coming home from the beach in our own state, but we cancelled a month ago because of July 4 crowds
I was supposed to be flying to Munich from Dubrovnik. Here is the good news about all the cancellations for me: I am home and available to support family as my father-in-law is experiencing some tough diagnoses, and rapidly declining health. Munich is great and it will still be there another time. I’m glad my trip had to cancelled and I am home at this time
Carol, it's great that what may have originally seemed like a disappointment, has turned out for the better with you being home to support your father-in-law and family. Best wishes for his health.
Today, I was supposed to begin booking trains for my September trip to Poland. Now, I'm in waiting mode, with so many others, wondering ...voucher or cancel with refund. Fortunately, none of my hotels had any upfront payments. Nearly all of my refunds from my May trip are complete.
After spending four days in Paris, today I was supposed to take the train to Bayonne, France to start the RS Basque tour on July 8th. Instead, I will be watching the RS videos on the Basque region and hoping that I will be able to be there in person next year.
Today I was supposed to be in the Czech Republic, volunteering at an English camp for a week. Then spending a couple days in Prague before coming home. Hoping to do this next summer.
Also, in a holding pattern for a trip I planned pre-Covid for Europe in November. Airfare is bought and accommodations for one city are booked. Not knowing if US will be allowed in, I have not worked on the rest of the trip.
At an enormous Medieval Studies conference in Leeds, England - preceded by a few days of research at Oxford. Hoping for next year!
Today we would have flown into Porto, Portugal for our first visit to that lovely country. After a start on May 24th would have finished a TA cruise via Iceland, time with family in Greece and a first visit to Provence. Instead- I have been having fun rearranging a similar (hope filled) itinerary for next year (minus the cruise). Thanks to all the previous forum posters for their great tips.
With 2 year's travel budget I figure we can go "first class".
Finishing packing for our first trip to Croatia.
Today I was supposed to be booking trains in Poland.
Instead, last night I received the email from my airline that the date of my flight had been changed. Of course this makes me eligible for a refund. It will be so much easier, when the time comes, to rebook this trip - a lot less research the 2nd time around!
