Longing for travel? 2021 hopes, plans?

[MusicTurner]

Took the plunge & will be in the Czech Republic (Tabor, likely Bechyne & Luznice Valley, Prague) for a week, from the day after tomorrow.
I just hope corona won't interfere & things will go smoothly. First time abroad for 27 months. They say Prague is somewhat influenced by the huge influx of Ukrainian refugees.

[owlice]

Took the plunge & will be in the Czech Republic (Tabor, likely Bechyne & Luznice Valley, Prague) for a week, from the day after tomorrow.

Prague is wonderful!. I envy you your trip!! I was there in 2017 for a conference and hope to return someday. Safe travels to you!!

Earlier in the thread, traveling to see the aurora borealis was mentioned. In 2018, I took an astronomy cruise in Norway to see the aurora and really enjoyed it. I would gladly do it again!!

I've been traveling only domestically since the pandemic started, and only by car. My longest trip was a two-month road trip earlier this year that took me down the east coast of the US and then west through a total of 11 states (not including my own). I spent most of my time in wildlife refuges and national and state parks and saw a lot of wildlife, especially birds. It was great! I also spent a few days in Cape May, NJ (to look at birds), have a short trip to the mountains scheduled, and hope to visit Vancouver later this year for a reunion. I'll be on sabbatical for a few months in the Great Lakes area, too, so though not vacation, it's still traveling, right? Right! 

[vandermolen]

My wife has always wanted to go to Vietnam. This year she has a significant birthday - so that is the plan.

[MusicTurner]

Prague is wonderful!. I envy you your trip!! I was there in 2017 for a conference and hope to return someday. Safe travels to you!!

Earlier in the thread, traveling to see the aurora borealis was mentioned. In 2018, I took an astronomy cruise in Norway to see the aurora and really enjoyed it. I would gladly do it again!!

I've been traveling only domestically since the pandemic started, and only by car. My longest trip was a two-month road trip earlier this year that took me down the east coast of the US and then west through a total of 11 states (not including my own). I spent most of my time in wildlife refuges and national and state parks and saw a lot of wildlife, especially birds. It was great! I also spent a few days in Cape May, NJ (to look at birds), have a short trip to the mountains scheduled, and hope to visit Vancouver later this year for a reunion. I'll be on sabbatical for a few months in the Great Lakes area, too, so though not vacation, it's still traveling, right? Right! 

Thanks, I agree about Prague being one of the highlights of Europe, and combined with some peaceful Czech countryside in Spring, likely a relaxed start for some travels abroad again.

Still haven't experienced the aurora, but hope to some day.

Being interested in birds, you then do some  research for reaching selected birdie destinations? I once met an elderly couple in Scotland, who toured in a converted, passenger car-sized van, they had designed for their birdie trips, including overnight parking, a small  kitchen etc. And do you have an opinion on Messiaen? I guess some prefer natural bird song ...

[Florestan]

Prague is wonderful!.

+ 1.

FWIW, I like it more than Vienna.

[André]

Next month we're flying to southern France for a 15 day stay. We'll tour the Occitanie region, staying in Toulouse, Albi and Carcassonne.

[vandermolen]

+ 1.

FWIW, I like it more than Vienna.

I liked Prague as well - never been to Vienna.

[LKB]

This year I'll be saving for next year. Next year possibly Vienna, unless family intervene.

[vandermolen]

Next month we're flying to southern France for a 15 day stay. We'll tour the Occitanie region, staying in Toulouse, Albi and Carcassonne.

Looks wonderful! Have a great time André.

[André]

Thanks Jeffrey ! We're crossing fingers that we don't catch covid and that there is no lockdown until we leave 

[owlice]

Being interested in birds, you then do some  research for reaching selected birdie destinations? I once met an elderly couple in Scotland, who toured in a converted, passenger car-sized van, they had designed for their birdie trips, including overnight parking, a small  kitchen etc. And do you have an opinion on Messiaen? I guess some prefer natural bird song ...

Yes, I had many birding/wildlife destinations on my list of possibilities, many more than I could actually visit! And I got suggestions from others along the way, so I also adjusted as I traveled. The desire to dodge some bad weather influenced where I went as well. I have an SUV and camp comfortably in it; I had a bed, camp stove, fridge, etc. along, so can be self-sufficient, but I prefer staying at sites with at least loos available. The two-month trip was the longest car-camping trip I've taken, and I could have easily kept going.

I have a bit of Messiaen in my little collection and like it. 

+ 1.

FWIW, I like it more than Vienna.

I liked Prague as well - never been to Vienna.

I've been to Vienna a couple of times, most recently in 2018 (a good travel year for me) for a couple of weeks, and it's fabulous, too, though if I could pick only one to go back to, I'd pick Prague. That said, I hope to return to both! There's still a lot in each I haven't seen.

Next month we're flying to southern France for a 15 day stay. We'll tour the Occitanie region, staying in Toulouse, Albi and Carcassonne.

That looks wonderful; I've never stayed in that part of France, and look forward to reading your impressions.

So many places to go...

[MusicTurner]

Yes, I had many birding/wildlife destinations on my list of possibilities, many more than I could actually visit! And I got suggestions from others along the way, so I also adjusted as I traveled. The desire to dodge some bad weather influenced where I went as well. I have an SUV and camp comfortably in it; I had a bed, camp stove, fridge, etc. along, so can be self-sufficient, but I prefer staying at sites with at least loos available. The two-month trip was the longest car-camping trip I've taken, and I could have easily kept going.

I have a bit of Messiaen in my little collection and like it. 

(...)

Great to hear about this interesting 'sub-culture'. I'm sure there must have been a lot of unforgettable experiences on those trips closer to nature etc. I like camping too, I tend to do it with a bicycle, combining it with trains/airplanes, to overcome longer distances. I tend to mix camp sites with a bit of wild camping, but I also avoid the too 'developed' & big camp sites, preferring calmness and scenery.

[Rosalba]

I have to admit that I've never been abroad. Fear of flying, lack of money, and lack of companions caused it in the first place, but sloth setting in as I get older doesn't help.

[owlice]

Great to hear about this interesting 'sub-culture'. I'm sure there must have been a lot of unforgettable experiences on those trips closer to nature etc. I like camping too, I tend to do it with a bicycle, combining it with trains/airplanes, to overcome longer distances. I tend to mix camp sites with a bit of wild camping, but I also avoid the too 'developed' & big camp sites, preferring calmness and scenery.

There were a few experiences that perhaps I'd have been happier not having, though of course now they are (mostly) funny stories! And yes, some unforgettable experiences! And photos... a lot of photos.

I've taken a few bike trips, though not recently, but for those, I stayed in B&Bs or hotels along the way. I definitely wanted a hot shower and a bed each night!

I have to admit that I've never been abroad. Fear of flying, lack of money, and lack of companions caused it in the first place, but sloth setting in as I get older doesn't help.

I traveled when I could afford to when I was young, did not travel very much while married and raising a child, but now? As often as I can. Camping can be done pretty inexpensively, as I'm learning, especially as a senior. Between my retirement from my day job in 2017 and the start of the pandemic, I was traveling somewhere almost every month. (Some of my travel is related to my work in astronomy.) This year, finally, I think will be the same, though all in North America, and next year, I hope to resume traveling overseas. (I've been planning!) I basically retired to do astro stuff and to travel.

I have wanderlust. My siblings were/are not similarly afflicted.

[owlice]

Sooooooo, anyone been anywhere? 

[LKB]

Sooooooo, anyone been anywhere? 

Since 2021? No.

But I'm fortunate in that my little town has much to offer...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menlo_Park,_California

Next year one of my nephews is getting married. I'm planning on flying out to Kansas for the wedding, which will be fun as my brother's family is quite awesome. The Midwest of the United States is an adventure in itself ( l lived in Kansas from 2000 to 2008 ). Warm, generous people are in proximity with ignorant Trumpkins, so you have to expect pretty much anything around any given corner.

The cost of living is still relatively low in Overland Park. When l retire in 2025, l may well resume my residence there. Menlo is awesome, but far from inexpensive.

[Irons]

Never visited Rome and hopefully this is the year we do so.

[greg]

Sooooooo, anyone been anywhere? 

Haha, yes, got back from Japan a few weeks ago. A very eventful vacation. Was on local TV, made a friend from Chile while visiting anime tourism locations, saw many new areas since a little more than half of it was spent in cities that I hadn't been to before.

This feels like some sort of redemption seeing the state of this thread earlier lol

[Florestan]

Never visited Rome and hopefully this is the year we do so.

In for a treat. Enjoy!

[Florestan]

Haha, yes, got back from Japan a few weeks ago. A very eventful vacation. Was on local TV, made a friend from Chile while visiting anime tourism locations, saw many new areas since a little more than half of it was spent in cities that I hadn't been to before.

This feels like some sort of redemption seeing the state of this thread earlier lol

Sounds like you had the time of your life.