It’s been fun looking back at the travel I did this year.

Some places I traveled to were repeat trips, but there were also trips to new places, both domestic and foreign.

Not Africa-Walt Disney World

 

Why is travel so important to me?

I feel as if I’ve always been coming from or going somewhere. My family moved several times when I was growing up, and I realized that going to a new place might be scary at first, but became familiar quickly. From a young age I was able to travel solo- when I took the train to see my grandparents in Iowa and when I went to summer camp in Minnesota. I took my first European trip when I was 13, with my best friend’s family. I have to give credit and thanks to my parents, who allowed and encouraged me to have these adventures.

I’ve continued to love travelling to new places and seeing what’s there. I love a good literary tour, going to places I’ve read about.  This year I followed in the footsteps of Venetian detective Commissario Guido Brunetti (books by Donna Leon), and visited the former Cirque D’Hiver, in Paris, described in Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.

In my travel business, I give people advice and recommendations on where to go.

It’s important that I know what I’m talking about!

During all of my overseas trips, I make contacts with hotel managers and tour operators and take property and activity tours. I can feel much more confident talking to clients when I’ve had those experiences personally.

Highlights of the year:

Taking my husband to Italy

 It was his first time and I wanted him to love it as much as I do. In Venice, we had a great bar-hopping tour, as well as a private tour from a terrific local guide. We stayed in a classic Venetian hotel and got lost in the small back streets and didn’t mind.   We took a wonderful Leonardo da Vinci history tour in Milan and got to the top of the Duomo for the views.  The trip ended in style with a stay in the Presidential Suite at the Park Hyatt Milan. The verdict? He liked Italy and even said he would like to return. Definitely a win!

Venice

Southwest Pennsylvania

We went to southwest Pennsylvania for a business conference and I was struck by the rural beauty of the Youghiogheny River Valley. Rolling hills and tall trees made me think of New England, there are even covered bridges!  This would be a great place to do a fall foliage tour. We toured Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Falling Water house, a place on my “Want to See” list.  We also went to the Flight 93 National Memorial Memorial, which was one of the most moving experiences I’ve had.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water

Ireland

 Our daughter’s Irish in-laws certainly rolled out the red carpet for us. We had fun meeting relatives and friends, listening to Irish music in the pub, and seeing the historical sites. While we toured more of Ireland with a motor coach tour, our time with the relatives was the best part of the trip.

Paris

My travel pal and I did a deep dive into Paris-12 days of walking tours, museums, restaurants, markets and the opera. Having the luxury of time in a city helped us slow down and appreciate all things Parisian- Popelini, the afternoon sunlight on the Seine, even those pesky market carts everyone wheels around.

Street Art

Tahiti and Pacific Islands

I was invited to experience the Lindblad National Geographic Orion cruise ship in the South Pacific. I love the coral islands and atolls. The white sand beaches, the green palm trees, and the intensely blue waters make for the most amazing contrasts. Whenever you see pictures of Tahiti and those South Pacific Islands, just know that they look better in real life.

Flint Island

Lessons Learned:

The Mouth of Truth

Advance planning is important!

Tours fill up; concert tickets sell out; good restaurants take some researching;

I believe you can’t do too much advance research and planning for those things you really want to do. If you know you want to do a certain activity, book that in advance. If you want to be sure of where you’re eating dinner the first night of a trip, make a reservation!

It is easy to over schedule yourself!

Yes, I want to see as much as possible in the time I have, and yes, I want to have many experiences.  I find it hard to strike the balance between doing so much and just taking time to be in a place. Next year I plan to have at least one day on every trip without pre-planned activities.

Less is More!

This could relate to the above lesson about not over scheduling, however it’s really about bringing too much stuff. I didn’t check a suitcase for any flights this year, except when the plane was too small and I was forced to gate check.  Even though I took the small suitcase on every trip, I still brought clothes I didn’t wear and accessories I didn’t use. By leaving my laptop at home I lightened my tote bag. I took a portable blue tooth keyboard instead. I will continue to hone my packing skills and will share more tips.

Final 2018 travel tally:

11 States, 5 Countries, 76,500 miles.

New York, Connecticut, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, California, Nevada, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania.

Ireland, France, Italy, French Polynesia, Kiribati

What were your favorite trips of 2018? Where do you want to go next year?