I've stopped thinking about future travel . . . too bleak. So I've decided to look back and consider the good fortune I've had to be able to visit many places, see many things, and meet many people.
A year ago, the glow of my first visit to the French Riviera and a return to Barcelona (and seeing my friends Enric and Boira) was waning in the rush of final preparations for a first-time visit to Portugal which included quality time with Katherine (who introduced me to green wine).
Sarlat, watching the Notre Dame fire on TV . And then seeing the Lascaux museum, enjoying market day in Sarlat, and returning for a final week in Paris to see that lovely lady still standing.
Well around this time I was in milano with my ex-girlfriend. Great city. Saw the duomo, been to museums and checked out the World press photo exposition..
I was just back from a long weekend in London — the last time I have been.
And packing and getting ready to go home to Oklahoma for Easter.
I had just returned from a 10 day visit to Israel with my church group. A wonderful experience. In 2018, I was on a trip to Paris and Amsterdam, on my own with a friend. I made the reservations and bought tickets in advance. Great memories to savor.
Thanks for this topic, it’s nice to reflect on travel dreams fulfilled.
My wife and I were completing our preps to depart for Italy on 4/29/19. We had a wonderful 15 day trip.
On this day 4/17/20, we were supposed to be finishing our time in the Tuscan countryside and returning to Florence. Unfortunately, our 25 day trip like everyone else’s had to be cancelled. Our hearts and prayers are with the Italian people as they are on the road to recovery. It will be some time but we will return for that 25 day trip.
Our last full day in Rome, before coming home. More specifically, a day trip to Ostia Antica. This was the end of a 22 day journey that started in Fort Lauderdale. We cruised to Ponta Delgada, Gibraltar, Valencia and ended in Rome for seven days. It was magical.
We were a month out from our wonderful 5 week visit to Europe - seeing some new places ( Prague ) and several old favourites , London , Paris , and Naxos !
So sorry some folks are missing their trips this year
A year ago at this time we were in Provence visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and 2 little grandchildren. Our grandchildren were baptized on Easter Sunday so we had a wonderful celebration which included our daughter's French in-laws, who we always enjoy seeing. We also celebrated our granddaughter's birthday on April 15. I wasn't able to do a lot of sightseeing on this trip because of issues with arthritis in my hip. But we did spend a half day in St. Remy and also visited Gigondas and Bedoin. I used a walker to get around. I was met with wheelchair assistance at every airport.
We were supposed to then travel to Croatia from Marseille, but I had to cancel that part of the trip because it was physically impossible for me to do any sightseeing. We rescheduled Croatia for last September after I recuperated from hip replacement surgery. Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro are beautiful countries. I am so happy we were able to go last September as that was our last visit to Europe. Who know when we will be able to travel again?
I was in London getting ready to head to Taormina in a couple of days.
End of April 2019 we were on our 3 week adventure in Peru and a trek to Machu Picchu, then a follow on visit to Guayaquil, Ecuador and onward to the Galápagos Islands. Wonderful trip, fantastic people, bittersweet memories when I read about the current situation in those countries.
Portugal, for the first time. Went with my oldest daughter/husband. Loved it so much, took my 2 younger daughters over Thanksgiving. Loved it.
Spouse wasn't able to go on either trip, so hoping to take her this November. I have a points ticket booked for me, just need to see if her work will allow her to go (along with other 'events' that may cancel the trip).
A year ago I was chomping at the bit in anticipation of our 5+ week trip that started April 23 to Alsace, Paris, Wales, and Salisbury. SIGH. Certainly glad we went last Spring.
I was getting ready for my 5th trip to Paris. A friend was recently divorced after a long marriage to a husband who disliked travel and she wanted to spread her travel wings. So I offered to accompany her to Paris. I missed my husband because we're great travel partners, but I had a wonderful time!
A year ago, my husband & I worked in our respective offices. We’ve been furloughed for over a month now.
Come to think of it, I believe that trip to Oklahoma also included my first (and so far only) visit to the Tulsa travel group, where I finally met Jane and Stan and Kim and the others, who then came to France a month or two later!
Well it was two years ago.... on my FB page popped up. We were on our back to back tours RS 7day ireland and 10 day Scotland. My happy place!!! Our Scotland tour had the best tour mates. We were wanting to do another tour next June 2021 with a couple we met to the Hebrides ( our tour guide does have a tour go there). We will have to wait and see if it will be safe.
Love to go and look at my past scrapbooks!
A year ago, my wife and I had just arrived in Dublin to take the 14 day Rick Steves tour of Ireland. We had spent the past week and a half touring through Amsterdam, Keukenhof Gardens, Delft and then Antwerp, Bruges and Brussels. How the world has changed in a year. We look forward to the time when we can resume our traveling around the world. Stay safe and healthy everyone.
We were just getting ready to fly to Milan for my birthday trip. We went to Bellagio, Stresa, Monforte dAlba, Santa Margherita Liguria and Milan. It was a lovely trip and I cherish those memories. ❤️🇮🇹
We were in exactly the same places we planned to be in this week -- Starting our trip to France in Cremieu in the Isere, then visiting a friend in Burgundy.
I was in this strange world where people travelled, shared meals, hugs, laughter. Went to Greece, sat beside fellow travellers, shook their hands in greeting and in farewells.
Honestly, I'm not making this up.
Exactly one year ago we arriving at Boston-Logan to catch a flight to Paris, with a continuing flight to Venice for the RS Village Italy tour.
I also feel fortunate that we were able to travel to Europe in each of the last five years.
Today ... saying goodbye to our daughter as she boarded her flight to London to visit a friend for a week (with a side trip to Edinburgh) ... two days later, wife and I were boarding our flight to Rapid City SD to see Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower for the 3-day Easter weekend ... they had unseasonably mild weather that entire weekend ... sunny and low 70's ... absolutely perfect.
I was planning a trip to Newfoundland.
We live on Canada's West coast, so for us: it takes longer to get to Newfoundland than it does to get to Europe, due to flight changes!
I went in July with two friends from my choir, and we had the best holiday ever.
The people there are n absolute delight, it's super clean and has the freshest air, and we didn't want to come home!
I'd go back tomorrow if I could.
My wife and I were in flight from Seattle to CDG. The next day, we walked by Notre Dame on Quai de Montibello on the left bank. It was filled with tourists and locals, all very quiet and looking sad.
We were home having returned from Australia and New Zealand three weeks before. We were looking forward to a trip to DisneyWorld with our granddaughters and sons and daughter-in-law in another week. It was the best travel spring we’ve ever had.
One year ago, Venice;
two years ago, Vienna.
So thankful for those adventures.
Working! 🙂
I was on spring break (I’m a teacher) with my mom in Scotland! ❤️
My wife and I were visiting our daughter, 4 grandsons, and son-in-law in Meisenbach Germany. We took some side trips to small towns on the romantic road (Dinkelsbuhl, Nordlingen and Donausworth) and climbed the tower in Ulm, plus some time in Cochem on the Mosel river valley. It's nice to have these sweet memories! We had another big trip planned for next month but you know how that one went.
I was getting ready to pack for my splendid late April trip to the Baltic states and a few days in Budapest. This week I had to white-out my desk calendar on Monday—“order cash” just made me sad every time I saw it, would’ve been off to Romania on May 2.
A year ago, I was still reliving memories of Iceland in my head after a momentous trip. We agreed that we wanted to go back, and were looking of going back by maybe July or August this year, explore more with more roads open and slightly better weather as sites would suggest (like this https://www.allworld.com/iceland/icelandic-weather-by-month/). Unfortunately, we'll have to wait longer. I want to spin this around and say that it gives us more time to do a better research when we don't have the end in sight yet with the corona. Feels nice to have something to look forward to, even in the absence of concrete plans.
Fun to read what everyone was doing, although sad at the same time!
I'd just returned on April 16 from a wonderful trip to Paris plus Rick's Belgium and Holland tour. I'd spent a lot of time in Notre Dame and managed to attend one of the services for the Veneration for the Crown of Thorns earlier in April. Who would have imagined that fire? I also visited Keukenhof which was even more beautiful than I'd imagined.
In previous years I've sometimes been in Yellowstone on the 3rd Friday of April plus the following weekend. It's traditionally the opening date for the West entrance and access to the interior from the North.
Here is a link to some fun videos of the Montana Transportation Department snow plow crews who have started clearing Beartooth Highway which is out the NE entrance of Yellowstone from Cooke City to Red Lodge. This is the Montana crew which goes in from the Red Lodge side. Those snow plow drivers are amazing. It would scare the stew out of me!
This time last year my husband and I were almost to the Seattle area for his annual racing summer. We'd left Tucson on April 12th and gone our typical route, stopping to see friends, family and favorite eateries along the way.
I was anticipating getting him settled in to a friend's house that he would share for the summer and his first race of the season at Pacific Raceways near Seattle.
And anticipating my flight back home to Tucson to finish local preparations for my back-to-back RS Portugal and Spain tours. One highlight of that trip was to be meeting Enric in Barcelona, so we were doing lots of emailing.
What a difference a year can make!
I'm going back 2 years, trying to get out of des Moines in a blizzard on a plane bound for Hawaii.(made it)... stood and watched coverage of Barbara Bush 's death.
Galveston.
Saw the Notre Dame fire on a TV at a Dairy Queen we stopped at on our way from Dallas.
At the time thought sitting in a DQ watching Notre Dame burn was weird.
This year is even stranger
On Danube river cruise between Budapest and Bucharest.
One year ago today, I was sitting on the terrace of my sea front room in Taormina (Sicily) taking videos of the scenery. (Facebook reminded me that was one year ago today.)
SIL and I were reminiscing yesterday. A year ago we we were two weeks away from our trip to Italy, starting in Rome, three weeks away from our first RS tour, South of Italy, and five weeks away from visiting the Calabria village her grandparents were from. What a great time we had and memories we will always cherish.
We were in Maui. It was Easter and we were returning the day after. Upon our return we began planning our Central Europe itinerary for the end of August. Coincidently, I sent an email to our Budapest Tour Guide Timea Tarjani last evening. Heard back this am. She is trying to stay positive despite that her tours have been cancelled up to September. She is also a teacher and has switched to online education. She remarked "the children are brilliant in adapting the new situation, they are flexible." "Let's all hope that not too long and all the plans we had to postpone will be realized sometime later." We were relieved to hear that everyone was well.
My husband and I usually are traveling this time of year - last year we were in Wroclaw, Poland eating delicious pazcki (Polish filled donuts)! The previous year we were in Metsovo, Greece on this date - I'm remembering the gyro with french fries we enjoyed at a small kiosk on the main street. We were scheduled to be exploring Romania and Bulgaria soon - we'll save that itinerary for another time. We are grateful for many wonderful travel experiences.
Just returned from an early April trip to Bern and the Lauterbrunnen Valley having driven from England, then a great few days getting sunburnt on Lake Maggiore and The Borromean Islands, and then I back via friends in Zug near Zürich, and home.
First time in a few years to skip the Netherlands in mid April.
Came home to see the fire in Paris.
One year ago today, I had just arrived in Quito, Ecuador, where I spent a few days before heading to the Galapagos Islands, followed by Peru: the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Lima.
It was such a wonderful trip--in my top 2, I'd say.
Sigh.
I miss travelling.
This time last year I was between trips. We'd just returned from about 10 days in San Francisco and our next trip was to Italy in mid-May. Rome. Sorrento & Pompeii. San Gimignano, Florence & Siena.
My suitcase misses me. I promised to pack it & take it out onto the porch for an adventure if it behaves itself.
Have a wonderful time in Cairo and other parts of Egypt.
Ah, the good old days :-)
A M Steph, if the bag is very, very good you could buy it a gelato, though you might have to help it finish
A year ago we were at home getting ready for two European trips, one to Italy and Paris and the other to Germany, that took place in July/August and September, respectively.
Two years ago on this date we were in the Netherlands as part of a trip that lasted 24 days, 19 of them in Holland. The highlights of the trip were related to the tulips that were just so impressive. Our day at Keukenhof (where the temps were in the 90’s) and the flower parade and floats, were two of the top new experiences for the trip. We also met up with several RS forum members in Haarlem on different dates. You can find out more about our trip in Mona’s trip report written in May 2018.
I know there are many who had to cancel their Holland trips this year, and our hearts go out to them. We are so thankful that we got to be there when we did.
Due to some health problems, I haven't traveled in years but this year, in March, I was going to Costa Rica and, in May, going to Ireland. Now all I can go is look at pictures of trips made in the past but I've already looked at them as I got ready for these trips so I'm just sad.
Valdez, Alaska. First of three trips up there last year. Still cool, we had some snow, but one of the prettiest places I've seen.
A M Steph, if the bag is very, very good you could buy it a gelato, though you might have to help it finish
Doric8 - What an excellent suggestion! Thanks!!!
We had just returned to our home in Italy from a 7 day trip to Switzerland. And in 6 days would leave for a Safari in South Africa.
So different than this year. Our daily highlight is going to the local bakery for croissants, panini bread, and pastries. We are crossing our fingers that the lockdown decree through May 3rd will ease up and will allow for walks more than 200 meters from our apartment. Poor Barley (our lab) is getting a bit chubby with limited walks and exercise. (Not to mention my husband and I).
I was deep into the planning phase of the trip I was gifting my two high school graduating granddaughters....10 days in Paris that July. They were so excited (as was I) and everything went so smoothly. We had a wonderfully memorable trip together and I'm looking forward to taking the next granddaughter when she graduates. She has chosen London at Christmas time for 2022. She (like her grandma) has already begun the planning process but still plenty of time for her to change her mind!
Met my sister in Prague for the Eastern Europe RS tour. It was a first trip with Sue and first RS tour. Both were a resounding success. Had a fun group of fellow travelers and super tour guide, George Farcus. Repeated a self guided trip through nine countries in central and Eastern Europe a month later with my husband. This ex-communist part of Europe is an adventurous expansion to Western European travel. We were planning on a relaxing month of May 2020 in Spain by wisely put off planning in late January with the c-virus news. We are remodeling our guest bathroom in lieu of traveling right now.
At just about this moment my wife and I would be on the airporter in route to San Francisco airport ( SFO) to catch our Virgin Atlantic flight to London (LHR).
3 nights in London (to get over jet lag, indulge in scones and clotted cream and tea (cream tea),have dinner with London area friends, pop into museums as we wish,, eat Indian food, Lebanese food, grab some Pret and walk around various neighborhoods and parks. (This has become our typical routine for Europe trips. We have seen most of the sights on initial trips so now there is no pressure. Just time to enjoy.Sometimes a musical as well)
Then off to Palermo to start a 3 week driving tour of Sicily. (Agrigento, Piazza Armerina, Ragusa, Siracusa, Mt. Etna area)
Fly back to London from Catania.
Train from London Euston to Penrith, local bus to Keswick.
One week in apartment to chill and walk in the Lake Country.(no car)
Reverse transport back to London for 2 nights.
Back home on June 6th after a wonderful trip !
We were packing for our trip to Scotland and Iceland. I have been looking at those pictures for a few weeks. So glad we went and so happy that we are healthy and safe this year.
This is not where I was a year ago today but I would have gotten my RS tour mate list for so England villages yesterday or today. Hmmm how many would be on our tour, families, couples, singles? Where are they all from? Would by chance would they be any fellow past tour mates? Would we meet future friends that we would love to travel with again? Would we mesh as fellow tour mates? Biggest question is who would have been our tour guides?
We were enjoying Cherry Blossom season in Japan, a fabulous trip!
We were in Bergen Norway....wonderful trip! Wonder when it will be safe to travel again? I finally put my backpack away 😷😢
I was packing for my 5/12 departure to London and then on to Greece. It was a great trip visiting family in London then on to Greece with girlfriends. The men stayed home.
Skiing at Winter Park in Colorado, which kept the Mary Jane runs open late, due to a heavy snow 2019. This year, after the resort closed in March, people are literally tearing up wet trails, which aren’t yet ready for hikers or bikers. Staying at home, and safety necessitating changes in behavior for everyone’s sake, has made some people impatient and careless. Selfishness isn’t limited to people cramming oversized luggage into overhead bins. Pickpockets aren’t the only evildoers.
Paris Kim, you're right! You dropped in on our travel group meeting, and we had a lovely time. When Stan and I, and Kim and David and Eileen and Gary were in France a few weeks later, we returned the visit!
The 6 of us from the Tulsa area were on the Paris and Heart of France tour. After that, Stan and I headed off the Reims and joined the next Best of Eastern France tour. What a wonderful trip that was.
I've been reliving my trip to Scotland, Italy, and France through FB Memories. I did a post almost every day of my seven week trip and the photos come up on FB on the anniversary of the day they were posted. A year ago, I visited the Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como, which was my favorite stop on Lake Como.
At this moment a year ago I was in the air on my way to a cherished adventure through Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Let the daily reminiscing begin ... for it will need to replace this year’s improbable August trip and tie me over until travel is once again possible. And it will be all the sweeter, I’ll not take travel for granted again.
mln, Amen. We (Stan and I) seem to have gotten blasé about our yearly trip to Europe. Not that we weren't excited about it, but we had gotten to the point where we didn't see it as something extraordinary. Now we will.
Waiting for my 21 May departure to Switzerland (Murren & Luzern) and ending in Paris for 6 nights.
