Hello everyone, it’s that time of the month again when I join fellow bloggers from around the world for our monthly writing challenge,Tell Us About, and this month’s topic is Holidays.
As is rather typical of me I thought long and hard about this one. Let me explain – you see I view holidays and travelling as very different concepts. For me a holiday is a time to relax and recuperate usually somewhere warm (although not exclusively ) where as travelling is about exploring , discovering new cultures , hearing different voices and challenging yourself. Maybe its because I live on a small island at the bottom of the world (next stop Antarctica) and that going anywhere requires an arduous and expensive flight.
Another factor is that I really didn’t grow up going on family holidays . The most I remember of early school holidays is spending time with various relatives in different parts of the state. My sister and I also feel that part of this was that our father had been a coach driver / tour guide for many years and really had no desire to repeat this with the family.
I have searched through some old family photo albums and this is the best I can come up with on the family holiday theme. This would have been taken at Port Sorrell on our states coast where an aunt and uncle had a holiday shack . I am the little one , possibly a year old , with my sister , Lyn.
Over the years I went to Melbourne to stay with my mothers cousin and enjoyed a high school camping trip to central Australia and in my teenage years a few interstate trips with friends.
Travel has been an important part of my life since my first overseas trip to the U.K. back in 1975. I can still remember that first British Airways flight and not just because I had a seat that refused to recline ,despite various efforts by airline staff, John and I took turns sitting bolt upright for the flight that back then took thirty hours and had four stops.
On that first trip we spent nearly eight months travelling in our VW camper van , firstly throughout the U.K. , where we spent about six weeks then onto Europe, where we marvelled at the scenery, history and architecture .Looking back now many things were simpler , this was before large tourist numbers so we didn’t ever book campsites or the occasional hotel that we treated ourselves to but on the other hand there was no GPS , so you relied on your map reading skills and we make good use of Frommers Europe on $10 dollars a day guide book.
Apologies for this somewhat blurry shot of me at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage at Stratford on Avon . As was done at the time all of my photos were taken in slide format .
Over those months we visited Belgium, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Andorra, Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. We both have fond memories of Greece and as we have not visited any of the islands that is a trip for the future.
On our return to London we sold the camper van and joined a Penn overland tour travelling through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan , Pakistan and India. I am so very glad we did this back then as today it would be impossible , even though as a young 22 year old it was at times confronting.
The colour of India stays with you forever, will I ever return possibly not but you never know. We finished the trip in Delhi and flew to Hong Kong for a few days before heading home in time for Christmas.
Our next adventure was a few years later in 1983 when we spent several months travelling through the U.S. and Canada . .
After spending time touring California , we went our separate ways, me to Rio to join a Goway tour starting in Rio and finishing in Bogota in Colombia and for John skiing in both Canada and the U.S. and participating in an Outward Bound course in Colorado. He also purchased this campervan in Denver that we used for much of our travels.
There were so many highlights of my trip to South America but one that came about due to an unplanned detour due to flooding was a magical few days on the Galapagos Islands. It was such a unique experience seeing the wildlife up close.
One of my other memories was visiting the Inca site of Machu Pichu and staying in the hotel that was on the site . ( I am not sure it there today). This meant we could explore the site early the next morning and climb Huanyo Pichu (were I am sitting) before the day trippers arrived.
I came across this photo of this gloriously clad lady when searching photos for this post . I am not exactly sure where she was but I feel it was a market near Cusco in Peru.
After our separate adventures we met in Mexico City and did some touring through Mexico before completing our travels through the U.S. and Canada . We finished in New York city then boarded a flight to London where we hired a Citroen 2CV and drove from Lands to John O Groats.
After a journey lasting eleven months and covering many different countries we flew home via Thailand and Singapore , once again arriving home for Christmas.
It was many years until our next overseas trip – life , raising families , etc., intervened but in 2016 we flew to Paris where we spent a month living in a tiny apartment in the 2nd. arrondisiment , this was my dream come true as Paris is my all time favourite city.
This was taken in the Palais Royale near where we stayed . After our time in Paris we caught a train to Barcelona where we collected a little Peugeot and explored more of Spain , then drove into Portugal for the first time but not the last , then back for a time in the French country side before returning the car and flying home.
Our next trip in 2017 was to beautiful Japan in the Spring time . We spent three weeks touring travelling by the highly efficient Japanese railway system mainly travelling by Shinkansen .
We were very fortunate to experience the beauty of cherry blossom season and decided back then that Autumn would also be spectacular . So to that end we are now fully booked to return this year in late October.
We made two further trips back to Europe , in 2018 and again last year but somehow I know I will return again .
Apologies for the length of this post , that’s the thing about when you have visited 40 countries where do you draw the line.
Please join my fellow contributors to read their take on Holidays through Gail at Is This Mutton.
What a wonderful selection of holidays from different parts of the world, you have certainly had some adventures. Although the beach holidays have a place it’s a big world to see. I think road trips are our favourite.
Author
Thanks Susan , I am fortunate to have travelled so extensively over the years. I agree with you on road trips as you can see so much.
Wow, you are such an intrepid traveller! Hats off, as you’ve been to so many places! It’s quite inspirational as In am rather untravelled, although I have done a fair number of countries and lived in one for nearly two years – now that is different even to travelling as you really get into and under the skin of the culture.
Actually now I would like to travel a bit further than I have done, but for me it will always be via a cruise. They really suit me.
That was a great theme indeed as it’s been fascinating reading your blog as well as the others.
Author
It was another interesting one on everyones interpretation. I guess living where I do , it only seemed natural to want to see as much of the world as possible. I will be interested to see where your cruises take you . I’m afraid organised travel of any sort does not appeal to me.
Wow, you have really traveled the world! I have not been to even a quarter of the places you have. My then-boyfriend (now husband) and I did Scotland with NO reservations back in ’96 – that seems such a different time.
Author
Yes, things certainly have changed over the years . The thought of not booking anything now seems so out of the question.
What a treat of a post, Jill.
You are definitely well-travelled (chuffed to see Belgium among your travel destinations) and much more adventurous than me.
My family didn’t go on any proper foreign holidays until I was 14, when my parents considered my much younger sibling old enough. Before that, holidays were weekends and weeks spent at the static caravan my grandparents had about one hour up the road in the countryside, which felt like a totally different world! xxx
Author
Thanks so very much Ann , glad you enjoyed the post. We visited Belgium on the first trip and hopefully will do so again one day. I am always rather envious of Europeans and the ease of simply crossing the border. xx
Thanks for sharing, Jill. Did you work your way around at various odd jobs to finance your many months on the road? You were indeed very fortunate to visit Iran etc. because as you say, the Middle East is not easy now.
I love the red car. I feel an autobiographical travel book is a possibility here – so many wonderful stories; I love reading about people’s travels.
Love,
Elizabeth.
Author
It was my pleasure Elizabeth , sharing the long ago trips certainly brings back many memories. We didn’t ever work while we travelled , perhaps something I regret for the experience. Instead I worked two jobs and saved hard beforehand. xx
Author
It was my pleasure Elizabeth , sharing the long ago trips certainly brings back many memories. We didn’t ever work while we travelled , perhaps something I regret for the experience. Instead I worked two jobs and saved hard beforehand. xx
What a group of globe trotters I have had the good fortune to get in with. Cannot imagine 40 countries? Wow!! And such extended trips and stays in various places. I feel like we are always rushing on our vacations, running from one thing to the next trying to see it all. Most times I would rather just get a feel for the place we are visiting. Not necessarily go to the touristy places but just wander the streets, eat at the mom-n-pop establishments, stay in quaint bed and breakfasts. Cannot imagine traveling for months on end. You should write a post about packing for an 11-month adventure!! My husband almost always practically insists that we pack carry-ons and never check baggage. So I am becoming pretty good at packing for 10 days or so. I guess after that you just wash and rewear??
Author
Yes, we are a pretty well travelled bunch aren’t we Leslie.I will admit a fair bit of my travel was in my younger years and most of our travel was casual. On my last European trip I did take a tad too much and I was out of practice with my packing. On the trip back to Japan later this year as we are travelling by train mostly I will need to pack lightly.
Most of the time we travel the same spending at least several days in each location .
This was a fabulous post Jill, what adventures you’ve had over the years! I get the difference to holidays and travel. Being so far away we tend to make our trips last longer don’t we?
Another great Tell UsAbout post!
Author
Thanks so much Debbie, I had a feeling you would get the difference . I think it is an Aussie thing .
What a fascinating post, Jill! I get the difference between travel and holidays although I try and combine both, it seems such a waste to visit somewhere and not explore every nook and cranny!
Anne Hathaway’s house is 45 miles from our front door yet I don’t think I’ve been since I was at school. xxx
Author
Thanks so much Vix. You do so brilliantly combining beach time as well as exploring everywhere you visit. I agree there is always so much of interest to see and experience. I guess for you there are so many National Trust properties near to you it must be hard to choose .
I am completely without words, Jill! And, that is a rarity for me! Eleven months of traveling…I am one of those who is homesick after about three or four. You are lucky in finding a partner who has the same wanderlust as you! You have visited many places I’ve only dreamt about. But, as you’ve mentioned, life was so different back then. I’m so glad this was our prompt this month…it has been eye-opening, envy-making, and joyous!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Author
Thanks so very much Marsha . Times were different in many ways back then , the first time we were single with no real ties and even though the second time we were married and had bought our house there were no children involved. I know i am lucky that John also enjoys travelling . I will look forward to hearing about your recent trip.