Exotic destination? Virtual vacation?
Ever feel like you need to get away from it all – somehow?
I suspect I could send my own postcard from the edge right now. Perhaps from a gorgeous beach on an exotic isle.
From a small cabin shaded by old trees. (But not so remote that I’m deprived of an Internet connection.)
Bora Bora sounds enticing. Then again, so does Miami with a Mai Tai. In fact, I could easily alternate between rowdy and restful resorts (in my mind), complete with geographically appropriate mixers and music… Salsa and Margueritas, Reggae and Rum Punch.
And if money and time were no object, I’d be hard pressed to choose between my tried-and-true favorite destinations – Paris and the South of France.
Home Sweet Home
Then again, I think about seven days and nights in my own home doing absolutely nothing – or more specifically, nothing I don’t want to do, which means a great deal of what I would love to do: walk through my neighborhood, swim a few laps at a friend’s pool, take in old movies on the tube, disappear into a delicious novel…
I’d like to detox, to genuinely unwind, to find a little pocket of contemporary life that would enable me to slow down which is, admittedly, difficult for me by nature, and more so because I work from a home office, which means I’m never away from the office.
Dream Vacations
These days, my dream vacation would be somewhere – anywhere – I could get away from myself. And that lets “home” out of the picture, so a change of scenery is a must.
I’ve written of the Top 10 Places I Want to Go , and I find that with each year I tend to add to the list, though I cling to my French fantasies. (Do I get points for consistency?) But by the time I have the time (and bucks?), will I still have any energy left to travel knowing that some of us travel better than others – traveling light, and packing right?
I can still imagine myself at the Hotel la Pérouse – and no, this is not a commercial announcement – one day I let my fingers do the walking through the web, and stumbled into it. Hélas, even at summer special prices, I fear the nightly expense is a tad beyond this maman’s means. But who wouldn’t love a stroll along the Riviera, reading beneath a brilliant sky, and dining on divine cuisine?
I could chat in French to my heart’s content, and carry a little notebook and jot down whatever catches my fancy.
I would observe my surroundings, and I would answer to no one – at least, for a few days.
- Any summer travel plans?
- Rowdy or restful?
- Do you travel well?
- If you could vacation anywhere right now, where would it be, and with whom?
I just got back from Oahu. Absolutely beautiful. Never had been before. It was pricey but I planned for it and it was definitely worth every penny. I hope you get to escape at some point and relax. I know it’s hard!
I was just thinking of vacations in the multifaceted way you describe in your post. I
am heading to my country house with daughter in tow but I would not call that
a vacation. I am longing for ocean water, hot sun and cold drinks, something more
foreign. Maybe Hydra, Greece. I’d like to go alone but stay with the friend I know
who has a house there. No cars, internet only in cafes, the Herald Tribune with the
morning’s first coffee. Diving in the water from the rocks, topless even. Late
dinners of grilled fish and chilled wine, dancing later into the night and following
the moon light home. How does that sound? Well, I’m starting a cleanse Monday.
Does that count?
@Cathy – Oahu! I hope you’ll post pictures!
@Carrie – Hydra, Greece sounds sooooo exotic. And a cleanse? (Smiling…) That doesn’t sound too bad! (I guess it depends on the sort of cleanse.)
Pics up on my last post!
BLW, I have realized that I have to compartmentalize my home office, because otherwise I either can not walk by it without working, or I view it with guilt. I’ve tucked it into the most secluded corner of my house, and that means I don’t “see” it all the time, and that helps. But a home office is a tricky thing, I agree. I do much better work from my “real” office, as sad as that makes me, because losing the commute would be good.
Vacations? Well, money being what it is, this is not the year for a big vacation with me, though I’m thinking of a road trip to the Redwood Forest with Katherine. If money were no object, I’d find myself in France, Italy, England, and perhaps on an African animal safari (no hunting, just viewing). And India calls, too. And oh wouldn’t Bali be amazing? Or Borneo? And I’ve always wanted to see Prague. And to swim in the Aegean Mamma Mia fashion, next to some Greek island. We took Katherine to Maui once, and it was wonderful, and now she could snorkel with me….
Filled with travel dreams here. Contenting myself to be at home, but my longing for travel is strong.
Yes, I travel well. Somebody send me a check and I’ll prove it to you. 🙂
Getting away is always good for refueling, but sometimes a staycation can be just as good…as long as one resists the temptation to do those obligatory tasks! I hope you get to your beloved France one of theses days. Us? No plans for the summer. The grandkidlettes are here for the entire month of July! YAY!!!! 🙂
We managed to take a vacation to Paris last summer. The Sheepfarmer’s first vacation ever, he is 58. But last year we went w/o an income and this year built a milkbarn. In other words, money is exceptionally tight. But I have been giving English lessons/coaching (and some translations) to business people to create a stash. I hope to surprise him with a readymade plan somewhere close by. Maybe above Arcachon or the Spanish Basque Coast or Dordogne…
If I get REALLY lucky it would definitely be Corsica 🙂
I ran across this quote the other day and just had to share:
“I like nothing more in the world than sitting on my ass doing nothing. And it’s not my fault I have this attitude, because I happen to have an amazingly comfortable ass. It may not look like much, but if you could sit on this baby for two minutes, you’d realize that getting off this ass would be a crime against nature.”
Lori Chapman
Any travel plans? Yes – we’ve been traveling all summer slowly making our way up the Pacific Coast. It’s been spectacular and long enough to be restful. The rowdiest part has been riding bikes, riding bikes, riding bikes. I love my bike. Do I travel well? Yes. I love travel. I’m curious and interested in so very many places and because I had my children in my young 20’s I wasn’t able to travel according to my whims so relish being able to do so now.
Right now where would I go and with whom? To the tour de France route – it’s so beautiful -and with my daughter. We make a great traveling duo.
Tour de France! Wow!
laughed out loud at Lori’s quote! we’ve had lots of great company for the past month, so her quote sums up my next “vacation” plans!
we keep talking about going to places everyone else has been but us- Vegas, new Orleans, etc. – may try some weekend get aways to such exotic spots. Our next BIG adventure will be Italy, but that ‘s still in the dreaming stage.
Italy! (That would be fun fun fun… )
A vacation somewhere – anywhere – I could get away from myself. A dream come true! You are reading my mind. I could use a break!
A beautiful beach or a lovely art museum in the city – sheer bliss. I will probably do both of those, but just day trips this summer (moving was all of the excitement I can handle for a few months). My favorite vacations are always in the off-season, when I can relax without the crowds. My favorite places are coastal and big cities – just in case beach and art museum didn’t give that away 🙂
Beach and art museums. (May I join you, Robin?)