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Light at the end of the tunnel...

Sarah Mayberry's picture
Submitted by Sarah Mayberry on Wed, 2007-06-13 10:41.

I am thrilled to report I have just 3 weeks left on my in-house stint back in TV soap land. Big sigh of relief. It has been a stressful, exhausting, emotional time, with lots of pressure, some tears, plenty of laughter, and more than my fair share of chocolate and wine. Through all the long days and the long meetings and the nights of staring at the ceiling worrying, the one thing that has kept me sane is the thought of my upcoming holiday.

First, let me explain that my partner and I don't have kids - yet. We're still debating the issue every now and then. In the meantime, we have realised that we need to start living the double-income-no-kids lifestyle that all our married-with-kids friends keep envying us for. Typically, in the past whenever anyone has made a comment about our "great" lifestyle, my partner and I just eye each other and think of the long, long hours of writing we've both put in over the past weeks, months, years. We never take vacations. We always seem to have fifty projects on the go. There's nothing in our lives to envy, frankly, unless you like lots of work.

Well, we decided to change all that last year by making an active decision to start taking advantage of our relative freedom. The upshot of that decision was a two month visit to Paris. Which was, need I say, a-freakin'-mazing.

This year, we are about to jet off again - Paris for a month, then Florence for two. We've found cute little apartments on the internet, Chris is practising his French, me my Italian, and I'm already fantasising about all the Italian shoes I plan to bring home with me.

I'm sure all of you have had great travel experiences. Care to share with the rest of our Cigar members your dream spot to visit, and why you love it? Paris is definitely at the top of my list right now, but I am prepared to fall in love with Italy just as deeply. I'm kind of a slut like that... Over to you guys...

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Envy

Submitted by Debbie on Wed, 2007-06-13 13:54.
My dh and I and those pesky kids are not much into traveling. I traveled alot as a child all 50 states, etc... The kids are now at the age they enjoy car trips and we drive to Arkansas once or twice a year to see my mommy that left me. I will admit a love affair with different historical sites, we have visited. And pre-kids my dh and I went to San Francisco and loved it. I also went alone a few years ago and it was heaven to explore on my own. The most culturally enlightening travel I ever had was at the ripe ol age of 17 and I went on a trip to then Russia. It was wonderful. I just wish I would have been less homesick and a little more appreciative of the opportunity that I had. This year especially we are living pay day to pay day and they are far in between and we could not even take the munchins to Disney which we usually do at least once per year. As a matter of fact our trip to see mom will be stressful and on a shoestring since we just found out we lost our scholarship to their school and need to come up with over 10 grand. ick. Since, I went from daughter to wife to mother....I have never done much alone and dh does not like to try new things. (He has never even taken me to a movie or a show and we live in Vegas!) So, I am especially envious of you....I have never been blessed to travel abroad although it is on my great wish list of things to do. Have a wonderful time and let us know how it is from time to time. Debbie
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Fingers crossed...

Submitted by Sarah Mayberry on Thu, 2007-06-14 12:25.

...that things get better for you and yours soon, Debbie. Sounds like you're having a tough run of luck. Dare I be contentious and mention my mother in law equivalent (my partner and I are not married) - her husband is only interested in visiting very Western places like the US and London etc. So a few years ago she took off to India with her sister - trekked, rode camels, etc. She's also gone to China, and will be visiting with us in Italy on her own for a few weeks, too. So, if you can't drag dh along, maybe, one day, you go with a friend. Never say never, eh?

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Thanks

Submitted by Debbie on Thu, 2007-06-14 13:54.
Thanks for the good wishes. I was at a retirement dinner last night for our pricipal, and was chatting with a teacher who is plannig the big Euro Tour this summer. He is leaving Friday and will be gone for 7 weeks. He is starting in Germany onto London, to the French Riviera and finishing with three weeks in Italy. He has a brother living there. I never had thought about the whole Euro travel, but he made it sound so fun. He is traveling with a group of buddies and his brother. I bet they have a blast. Anyway, kinda made me think of your trip. So, if you run into a cute short bald blue-eyed American having a blast it's probably my little fella. :) Debbie
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Oh, Travel

Submitted by Samantha Hunter on Wed, 2007-06-13 15:23.

I love to travel, and plan to do more of it, kids or no kids -- in fact, I wish I'd been able to travel more with my son when he was growing up, I think travel opens the world for kids. My inlaws and some friends of ours (who have three small girls) travel all the time, and so while kids aren't out of the possibility for us (adopting), we're planning to travel either way. Just pack 'em up, take 'em along. They're small and portable. ;) Our friends are doing the home exchange thing now for Europe, and it will be cool to see how that works out. I might be interested in trying that even here in the US, maybe exchange with someone in a very different state or climate.

I would love to go to Italy, but my main European interest is Germany, since I am part German and it's the country my Dad talked about most from when he was in the war. I've heard so much about it, I just really want to go there.

Also have cousins in England and family in Ireland, so we're hoping to do a very long sweep of the isles one of these years soon. Other than that, Spain and Portugal interest me, as well. Exploring the middle east would be a treat, if it weren't so dangerous, but Egypt or Turkey might be possibilities one day.

Other than that, I love beachy places, and would also love to explore the PNW, Vancouver, etc.

Mike and I like some of the touristy stuff, but generally we like to get off the beaten path, explore, and really experience places, meet people, etc.

I always feel refreshed and renewed from travel -- I always imagine when we're older and retired, I'd like to spend time doing some kind of service in places like Africa where you help villages and towns, education, etc. Just really keep the adventure going.

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So adventurous!

Submitted by Sarah Mayberry on Thu, 2007-06-14 12:20.

I should probably confess at this point that until recently I was a dedicated home body. While all my fellow university graduates were donning their backpacks and heading out into the world at 22, I went straight into a job and have worked ever since. I have never been much interested in travel, to be honest, but work and circumstances and Chris have kind of forced me to open my eyes. Bali was my first experience of a non-English speaking holiday, and we had a wonderful time. And it made Paris seem less daunting. And now we are going to Italy. Who knows where next... Chris is quite keen on Germany, too. And I suppose we should see more of Asia... But, unlike you and Mike, we are comfort travellers - big cases, lots of shopping, no virtuous thoughts whatsoever! Utterly shameless, really...

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the Grand Tour

Submitted by euripides on Wed, 2007-06-13 23:34.
I always dreamed of doing the Grand Tour, the Loggia (A Room with a View) and all the wonderful art of Rome, Florence and Venice, to walk in the footsteps of Cicero and Lorenzo di' Medici, and then on to Greece to read Byron and Homer on the wine-dark sea. Sun-bleached white walls and stray cats and gorgeous greek boys, Retsina and dolmathes. These days I'm probably more attracted to the North - the Vikings and elegant Scandinavian design, axe-weilding mustachioed gods with flowing golden locks... (well DH has the muscles and the mustache.... wonder if I could get him to learn Old Norse....) I used to want to go to Scotland and live in a croft for six months, but unless crofts come with central heating and triple glazing, I don't think I'd stand the cold. That's what you get for being born in Queensland. (Go the maroons!) cheers Euri
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Warm blooded

Submitted by Sarah Mayberry on Thu, 2007-06-14 12:15.

Euri, I'm from down south, and I still want the central heating and triple glazing. When we were in Paris last year it was soooo cold - don't even think of going outside without your gloves and hat and scarf kind of cold.My partner wore his thermal long johns under his jeans every single day, he felt it so badly. I hope you get your Nordic adventure soon. I hear Helsinki is a very cool place to visit...

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ski gear

Submitted by euripides on Thu, 2007-06-14 23:30.
guess we wouldn't look so trendy hanging out on the Left Bank wearing our old cross-country ski gear huh? Army woolen pants with braces... very retro! I hope the weather is kinder to you this time. I hear it is very expensive over there - you need to tap into local knowledge to find non-touristy places to eat. Maybe that's the real reason "French Women Don't Get Fat". They can't afford to! All that wonderful bread, wine and cheese.... I've always fancied going to the south and visiting the places that Cezanne painted, that sort of thing - will you get to tour about a bit or are you going to stay in one spot? (There's a lot to be said for that, too, I think - part of the reason we haven't travelled is that I don't want to do the 12-countries-in-12-days thing. I want to get a home base and get to live like a local for a bit.) cheers Euri
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Paris...

Submitted by Sarah Mayberry on Fri, 2007-06-15 03:59.

Last time we were in Paris, the only "out of town" trip we made was to Versaille. Wouldn't mind checking out the Loire Valley or something else this time around. Although we just love being in Paris - it's a very livable city. And since we are staying in the same area we lived in last time, we have a couple of under 10 euro eateries up our sleeves. Plus we also cooked at home a bit - we are staying in a full-sized apartment - since we didn't exactly go ga-ga over French food... We will take the night train from Paris to Florence, otherwise we could probably check out a few of the rural centres on the way through. Once in Italy, however, we definitely plan to do a couple off nights in Rome, a couple in Venice, and then day trips to Sienna, Bologna, Pisa etc. Definitely encourage the "stay in one place for a while and live like a local thing" - so much nicer than packing up your kit every few minutes and lugging it around everywhere.

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Hi Sarah

Submitted by Mads on Thu, 2007-06-14 09:06.
I've been all over the USA and quite a few parts of Canada but, I've always wanted to visit Ireland. I have cousins in Italy and one even lives in a Villa in Florence, Italy. I'd love to visit my Italian cousins someday but, Ireland will always remain my dream vacation site. There are still a few US states that I haven't seen but, I'll probably get to visit them within the next few years so Ireland is still #1 on my list. If I ever get there, I want to see all the places that I've read about. The real Irish Pubs, complete with all the traditional music and dancing and of course the beer. The old castle ruins and the beautiful countryside. I'd love to look for a 4 leaf clover, even if they don't exsist, it would be fun to look for one anyway. What I'd refuse to do is kiss the blarney stone. No way, No how, will you ever get me to hang upside down over a cliff just to kiss a stupid stone. Here's hoping that everyone of the bloggers here gets to spend some time on their dream vacation soon. Mads:)
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Irish eyes...

Submitted by Sarah Mayberry on Thu, 2007-06-14 12:13.

I hope you get to Ireland soon, Mads. I guess the great thing about living in the States is that you have lots of your own country to explore. Of course, Australia has some cool stuff to check out, too, but nowhere near as much as the US. And, if you choose to go to Ireland, the plane flight won't be the 28 odd hours it takes us Antipodeans to get there. That's why we're going for three months - makes the flight worth it!

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One of the reasons

Submitted by Mads on Fri, 2007-06-15 05:04.
Hi Sarah, One of the reasons that I haven't visited your beautiful country is not only the long flight but the several plane changes that I'd have to make in order to get there. One of my oldest friends went there several years ago and told me that it took several days to get over the jet lag. She also told me that she loved your country and the people there so much that she didn't want to come home. Lots of good looking men in your country according to her. Since I'm definitely a male watcher, I might never come back home. Enjoy your vacation and please make sure to tell us all about it when you get back. Have a great time. Mads:)
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Ditto

Submitted by Debbie on Thu, 2007-06-14 13:58.
Mads, I see we have similiar travel experiences and dreams. Small world. I have longed to go to Ireland for years now. I was adopted so I do not have a "family history" but they say if you feel the call of the homeland you must have some Irish blood in your veins. :) Hopefully, one day when things work out we might share a pint in a pub. Debbie
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Oh Yes Definitely

Submitted by Mads on Fri, 2007-06-15 04:52.
Debbie, Someday we will definitely have to go to our dream country. It would be great to do it together, when we both can manage to save enough money. I'll promise to share a pint or two with you if you promise not to laugh when I start doing an Irish Jig on the tables. Mads:)
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Smile

Submitted by Debbie on Fri, 2007-06-15 13:51.
Mads-- That's it I am starting a dream vacation fund when I start back ot work after the summer. With the lure of you doing an Irish jig how can I not? :) Debbie
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Have fun!!

Submitted by goddessani on Thu, 2007-06-14 18:07.
I've been lucky enough to visit parts of each coast of the US, parts of Canada and Mexico. I lived in England for many years and visited Scotland, Ireland and Wales. I've also lived in Greece and Morocco. In addition, I've visited many countries in between: Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Swizterland, just to name a few. My goal is to return to England (home) with my DH one day. His is to visit Japan. Hopefully, we'll manage both. ani
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Wow!

Submitted by Sarah Mayberry on Fri, 2007-06-15 03:54.

I'm feeling very pedestrian now - you're way ahead on air miles as well as exotic locales. Am very keen to check out Greece, also - maybe that will be the next trip, in fact... A nice little white washed village on the coast somewhere...

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NZ and Oz

Submitted by goddessani on Fri, 2007-06-15 22:25.
I would love to check out your side of the world, Sarah. Years and years ago, there was a Harlequin author named Essie Summers. More pedantic speech you've never found but she wrote about NZ in such detail (especially the Christchurch area) that I've always wanted to visit. And, of course, if I'm in NZ, I have to "skip over" to Australia! When I was lucky enough to win your book and goodies, I was so thrilled to see they'd been posted from NZ! ani
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