I miss travel. For a while I’d almost stopped thinking about travelling. But lately, Hubby and I both have a very bad case of travel itch.
Chalk the yearning up to cancelled plans. Hubby still won’t look at pictures of Africa. He says it’s too painful. First world problems, I know. So yeah, there was the big Africa trip that wasn’t, plus cancelled canoe trips, and trips down east, and out west. Followed by almost a year of desultory talk of other possible trips, and plans that never made it past the sighing-wouldn’t-it-be-nice-phase. In fact, after a few months even the sighing stopped. We simply hunkered down and decided to just enjoy being at home and stop talking about going anywhere.
But lately the yearning has started up again. I know that’s because the end of lockdown is in sight. Hopefully. And with impending second shots of vaccine possibly maybe being available in a few weeks, and maybe with luck being able to see friends outside for coffee or drinks in the near future, and one day, vaccinations permitting, by the end of summer, maybe even the possibility of getting down east to visit family. That’s a lot of maybes, isn’t it? But with all that possibility in the air, we’ve even begun to hope that we might conceivably begin to think about planning a trip. One day.
Which only makes sitting still and waiting for the lock down to actually end, and all those other possibles to really happen, even more painful. In the meantime I am scratching the travel itch by writing about travel. And reminiscing a bit. Hope you don’t mind.
I should qualify all my moaning by saying that we have travelled short distances a few times since the beginning of 2020. We were able to go on both our June and September camping trips to Bonnechere Provincial Park on Round Lake, near Killaloe. And late last fall between lockdowns and before the snow came, we were lucky enough to rent a cottage up the valley near Barry’s Bay for a few days, and squeeze in some hiking. Not to mention all the miles we have logged at home, on skis, on our bikes, and on foot in the past fourteen months.
And in case you don’t know, I do know how lucky I am. I’m grateful, and sometimes even guilt-ridden, for being able to ride out the pandemic so comfortably in our little house on the river. I’m grateful for the ski trails so close by, and the ability to walk or cycle woodland paths, to watch the otters on the ice in the winter even if we did stress over whether the visiting eagle would catch them, or see the sunrise over the water and hear the morning birdsong. We are both really thankful for all the normalcy that we were allowed during such an abnormal time.
But still. Despite all that. We are itching to go somewhere further afield than Barry’s Bay. Not that we don’t love Barry’s Bay.
So not Barry’s Bay, or Killaloe, or even Carleton Place where I went for lunch last summer. All lovely towns. But too close and too well known to us. We long to go some place new where we might do something we’ve never done before. Like ride a camel at sunset.
Or sit with a monkey on our head. Not that I did sit with a monkey on my head. But I did just about fall out of the boat laughing at Hubby when I took this picture. And then I put my purse on my head so the monkey’s friend wouldn’t begin to fancy my rather more bushy head of hair. Ha.
We long to go some place completely different. I mean completely different from Canada. Where we can hop in a car and drive hundreds of miles of straight road across a virtual desert. Sometimes driving for an hour or two without seeing so much as a tree, or a bend in the asphalt. Lulled into inattention until Hubby swerves to avoid an emu in the middle of the road. A place where we can stop on a beach within sight of the Indian Ocean to add a stone to an aboriginal cairn. Out of respect for their ancestors and to remember my own. Looking back this picture seems ironic and sad. A few days later in April 2008, we received word that my stepfather had died. Whereupon we turned around and headed for home. Many, many miles and several days travel away.
Hubby and I have the travel itch to see places that teach us about the world. Places that we have only read about or heard about on the news. Countries with cultures and histories very different from ours. And people who are different from us in some ways, and yet in other ways, so often, just the same. Like Bosnia-Herzegovina. And in particular Mostar, which Hubby and I will never forget.
Over the years we have had the privilege to visit many places which have taught us about other cultures. Like Peru, where the people we met were enormously hard-working. They didn’t have many of the luxuries that we take for granted. But they were, without fail, obliging and friendly and welcoming. And that, my friends, taught us about ourselves. It taught us, as one fellow traveller said, to be grateful that we had “won the birth lottery.” And to maybe question what it is about our own lives that we value. Peru was a place that really got under our skin, and it changed us. If you want to read more about our trip to Peru, you can do so here and here.
Hubby and I love to plan and organize our own trips. With the exception of Peru, we have, over the years, done all our own bookings. We love to rent a car and see the countryside on our own, with the freedom of stopping when we want, where we want, for as long as we want. We realize that will not always be the case. The time will come when we will be too old to hive off on our own.
We know that eventually we won’t be doing things like the two-day back-road loop we drove in Northern Argentina in 2017. From Salta to Cafayate, Angastaco, then Cachi, and back to Salta. What an experience. The roads were amazing, but not for the faint-hearted. Not dangerous per se, just remote, mostly unpaved, narrow at times, twisting sometimes, and bumpy. Ha. You can read about that trip here if you’re interested.
And in a few years we probably won’t be driving roads like this one up into the cloud forest in Costa Rica. Talk about unpaved, bumpy roads. And breathtaking scenery.
But we hope we still have quite a few years of travel left in us. Years we hope to still be able to book into quirky little B&B accommodation. Like this one on a farm outside of Urbino in Italy. Where we had the most amazing truffle risotto for dinner, made with truffles the chef had sourced in the surrounding hills. And where we watched the sun rise over those same hills from our room the next morning.
Not every place we’ve visited has been culturally awakening, or provided breathtaking vistas. Some have just been good fun. Like this pub in Cootamundra, New South Wales in 2008. Apparently that ginormous hamburger was really good. And Hubby didn’t have to eat again for two days. Ha. In some places you get gourmet food. And in others the meal is just tasty and messy and in very generous proportions.
Like at this place in Georgia where our friends took us in 2014. A mostly outdoor restaurant with tables under a covered perimeter, surrounding a central courtyard that held a huge open firepit, and a live band. Ramshackle and quirky and utterly delightful. As I said in a previous post, Captain Stan’s Smokehouse warmed the heart of this downeast girl. And the look on Hubby’s face when he asked if he could have a glass for his beer and the waitress said “no” was priceless. Strictly by the bottle or in a plastic cup at Captain Stan’s. Where the beer was cold and the food was delicious, I might add.
Of course if you’ve been reading this blog since before 2020, you’ll know that half the fun of planning a trip for me is planning what I will pack. That will never change even if the kind of travel we do does change. I love to make lists, cross-referencing our planned activities with the seasonal weather and temperatures. City walking, hiking up mountains, dining out, riding bikes, long days in a car or a plane or train, lounging in rented self-catered apartments or cottages, or breakfasting in a B&B. Footwear and clothes must do double or triple duty in a variety of outfit combinations, be able to be washed, be comfortable, look chic, and make me feel like me. That’s a tall order. But I love it when a travel wardrobe comes together.
Italy 2018 
France 2015 
Slovenia 2019
I don’t know what the future holds for us with respect to travel. We’re not yet comfortable planning an overseas trip. We may decide to plan shorter, closer to home trips, road trips, camping trips, two-week trips with no flying, for a while. We haven’t really discussed any details at all. Beyond Hubby’s fishing trip that has been cancelled, and our upcoming camping trip that may yet be cancelled, and our hoped for trip to Mum’s in August. Beyond that too many things are uncertain. Time enough to plan once things open up and we know more of what we can expect.
But I do desperately want to scratch my travel itch. More than Hubby does, I think. I long to see new places. And meet new people. Or to revisit places we’ve already been, and loved. I think that’s because my normal life has been curtailed by the pandemic more than Hubby’s has.
We have toyed with the idea of returning to Australia to finish the trip we abandoned in 2008. And every time we watch “Escape to the Country” I reiterate that I’d love to go back to the UK. And we absolutely loved the Balkans in 2019. There are always places we could revisit, always new routes we left unexplored because we had to decide on one route over another. No matter how wonderful a trip is, once we return home, we realize how we might have done the trip differently, and what we are sorry to have missed. The road not travelled conundrum, so to speak.
And we all know that a road once glimpsed, but untravelled, leads to a bad case of travel itch. And an unscratched travel itch, well, that can be serious, folks.
How about you, my friends? Do you suffer from unscratched travel itch? And if so, how are YOU coping?
49 thoughts on “The Unscratched Travel Itch”
Some wonderful photos of some wonderful places Sue – no need to tell you how lucky you are . Not just you , our generation really . My Dad would have loved to have seen the far away places we have seen but the world hadn’t opened up to travellers then as it has now & he didn’t have the funds anyway . He scratched his travel itch by wandering around Europe on his motorbike , camping on route . He had some great stories of his adventures in the 30s & 40s including some hairy experiences in pre WW2 Germany . There was a family trip in 1949 but I can remember nothing about it . I found the pics of me paddling in Lake Como etc tantalising & that probably motivated me to travel myself .
As for travel now . I’m not getting on a plane anytime soon . My sisters & I are thinking of a trip to an old English city that is new to us later in the year plus Max & I have a few cottages booked here & there , in quiet corners of the UK . This is ‘all being well ‘ of course . We make the booking then keep our fingers crossed . I’ll keep them crossed for you too .
I know… our generation has been lucky. Well, some of us. Not all my friends can afford to travel like we do. Kids and big mortgages many say. But then again we have always had a small modest home, and saved our money for other things. My mum has never travelled anywhere. To a couple of places in Canada for weddings of her children, and to New England with my father on their honeymoon. But otherwise, she couldn’t afford trips. And had no time anyway. I had no idea how to vacation until I met Stu. It was his travel planning that made me realize that we can go pretty much anywhere we want. That was a revelation to me.
I’ve stopped torturing myself with dreams of holidays until things calm down and here in Ireland, the restriction on non-essential travel hasn’t been lifted yet anyway. However, I have re-booked a cancelled holiday to Corvara in the Dolomites for February 2022. I have been there twice with my husband for summer walking holidays but 2022 will be with a girlfriend for winter walking and hopefully, snowshoeing. Being Canadian, I love the snow and we don’t get to see it very often in Ireland. I feel the need to make a snow angel!
Hope you have a wonderful trip, Gail. We aren’t planning that far ahead yet. Still in the dreaming phase.
I really miss travelling abroad ,especially Japan and India ,but I’m not prepared to risk it this year. Like you, I love planning( and sewing)my travel wardrobe and my favourite souvenirs are fabrics. Every time a wear something made with fabric I have bought on my travels it brings back memories of the country and people we visited.
We aren’t comfortable taking the risk either, Sarah. Nor for 2022. Beyond that we still have to talk about things.
The husband and I *always* travel late May/early June – his birthday is May 23, and our anniversary is…today! Last year was awful, with lockdown and no vaccines in sight and Facebook reminding me of every trip we’d posted pictures of over the years, so being here in Portugal, even though we’re only doing everyday stuff and not traveling yet, is much, much better. I promise, as soon as you’re fully vaxxed, you will feel much better about being out and about.
How wonderful to be exploring a new home when travel further afield is curtailed.
Hi Carol,
greetings to Portugal, we recently was very brave and booked our holiday in October in Portugal (Cascais and Porto). We hope so much (fingers crossed) that untill than travelling is carefree possible. We are senior travellers and all full vaccinated.
Susa from Cologne
enjoyed your memories of your travels. When we were first married,in the dark ages,we were stationed in Germany. I was this little Florida girl who had never been anywhere out of the States. Back then,every trip was a three day pass and fifty bucks!and we always seemed to travel off season. read/Paris in August!But when we returned and settled here,I always felt blessed to have seen what we were ale to and it made me content to be here with an emerging family,etc. Now other things have gotten in the way of too much out of the States! So we are trying to see all within the Continental N America. Two years ago when the pandemic arose we had planned on taking the cross Canada train,flying to a see a relative in Alaska. Most of that got cancelled twice. 2 airlines when out of business. So we are settling for a quick flying trip to Alaska. We have been blessed to see a lot of the world,only missing a few countries. As for the rest, National Geo. has video or Viking seems to have some now too. And that will have to suffice. But that’s o.k., we have been fortunate to be able to see a lot and mostly good memories! So until we meet again,happy trails to the rest of you. Everyone has such wonderful stories, I hope your readers will post them to share.
Cindylou, we are in a similar position to yours. Just starting to get ready to think about planning again, albeit cautiously. Not so much because of health concerns per se (though we’re not getting any younger!), but waiting to see which countries will be open to visitors and when the bumps will all be worked out. Our dream trips are not really aligned, either, so compromise will be in order.
Highly recommend Sicily, it’s got a little something for everyone: culture, art, great food and wine, natural beauty, opportunities for hiking and physical treks, as well as laid-back and pampered opportunities. Same with Israel, which also has a bit of spiritual wonder thrown in, no matter your denomination.
Happy planning!
P.S. Dee: bit snarky there.
Sicily is on our list. But we are waiting to see how things go once the world is open.
My husband’s father was in the Canadian air force stationed in France when Hubby was 14-18 years old. What an amazing teenage-hood he had. They did the same as you. Travelled all the time. Took full advantage of their being overseas at a time when a sergeant in the Canadian Air Force would never have been able to afford to travel with his family otherwise. Hope you enjoy Alaska when you finally get to go. We saw a little of it when we drove up to the Yukon. We loved the north.
I forgot to mention that true Southern beer drinkers only drink from the bottle or a plastic to go cup! Bottoms up!
Ha. He didn’t mind drinking from the bottle. He just forgot and asked the question and then felt like a silly snob.
Thank you for the wonderful trips you let us peek into. The travel itch has come and gone and come back again, so I find myself at times looking up some of the places we might still get to. I am not ready to get on a plane when we do finally open up, so that will have to wait for next year. We were discussing travel just last week, and thinking how many people will be eager to get going at the same time, could be stuffed planes and crowded airports to think about. It has been so long since I have been social, I think my small talk and light conversation has suffered and perhaps the extrovert parts have turned inwards. Like you, I have been blessed with an outdoor area that has allowed me to escape the thoughts that being entirely indoors would have allowed to take hold. Bits of good news on the radio this morning about reopening slowly cheers me greatly. Dreams of Ireland and the UK are on the horizon for the next visit.
That is something I had not thought of, Diane. Everyone getting the travel bug at the same time. Eeek.
We’ve already let the genie out of the bottle, Sue. My husband leaves next week for 10 days in Jordan and Istanbul. It’s a trip with his bestie and I was not invited, but I don’t begrudge it as I leave the day he gets back for a week in Florida with my girlfriends. Actually, I am very jealous of where he’s going, but he hasn’t travelled near as much as I have, so I’m happy for him. Like you, I adore the planning for months in advance. I’ve learned he’s even happier with spur-of-the-moment trips. And I’ll take anything I can get now!
I hope your Hubby has a wonderful trip. I’d love to see Istanbul.
Oh, I so miss traveling! I’ve tried to book a couple of trips for 2022 but it is almost impossible. Everybody has had the same idea. We were to have spent the month of January in Maui but it got canceled so I tried booking for next January but condos all seem booked, excepting the most expensive. I wanted to rebook our Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Italy cruise but that particular cruise does not exist for 2022, so I decided to settle for a not so perfect one but rooms are booked and waitlisted. Everyone has the same idea so I think the crowds will be horrible next year.
I’m not giving up though. Travel, I must!
As for this year, we are staying in Canada, visiting kids and hopefully NS will open up so I can see my sisters.
2022 is still in the air though. I’ve now turned my attention to the Scandinavian countries. Hmmm
I hope you find your next adventure, Sue.
I am longing to get down east as well. Thinking about Nova Scotia reminds me of the perfect fish and chips we had in Lunenburg.
I was comfortable just staying home for many many months, but as soon as I got my second vaccination I got the itch (as you said). We live in the middle of the US and generally travel east and west 3 to 4 times a year.
In July we are flying to Northern California and in October to Vermont and Maine (my birthplace and heart). I cannot wait. I was extremely careful about Covid, but am feeling more safe and confident now.
Also, sorry I missed commenting on your Birthday post. I am turning 70 in July and it has been much on my mind. Happy 65th Birthday!! Here’s to traveling soon!! 🎉🎉
The west coast of the US is a place I’d like to visit. Maybe some day. And I understand fully the appeal of Vermont and Maine. Here’s to travelling soon… somewhere. 🙂
Love your travel post. Your last pic with Mr. Donkey totally cracked me up. You look like buddies!!!
Cheers from Sunny (but hot) Arizona.
Come see us in the winter.
Judy
My niece says we have the same smile that donkey and I. Ha.
Quite the travel humble brag.
First world problems indeed.
Ah well, you are right… first world problems, as I believe I said. Of course if you think that talking about places we’ve visited and loved is bragging, you can always choose not to read those posts.
i love to hear and share travellers tales sue, and bragging has nothing to do with it. the next best thing to travelling oneself is to her over peoples adventures. i think you have seen more of australia than i have and it was fascinating to hear. your perspective. i have never been to canada but its definitely on my bucket list
We have loved Australia both times we were there, Noreen. Hope you do get to Canada one day. 🙂
I’m with you, ready to travel again. We spent a week in Napa/Sonoma in March after we were fully vaccinated. It felt so good to travel and stay in a hotel and visit wineries. We’ve booked a trip to New Orleans in September, I love visiting that city, this is probably my eighth or ninth time there. I tried to book a trip to Hawaii but everything was already booked. We haven’t been there since 2003 and I used to go on a fairly regular basis for business 30 years ago. I would like to go back to England, we just made it out of London in March 2020 as the pandemic started. I’d like to do a tour of a couple gardens and maybe take a quick trip t9 Scotland. There are parts of Italy that I haven’t seen, like the lake region, the Amalfi coast and Sicily. I’d like to go to Portugal and my husband would like to hike some of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostola. I’m 68 and I’m not sure I can fit it all in. My dream trips are a cruise on the Nile and an African safari, but they’re not tops on my husband’s list. Like you I do all the planning. So far we enjoy traveling on our own without tour groups. I suggested doing one of the adventure/ scholar tours and hubs said no, he liked the way I planned our trips.
I am itching to drive somewhere new, anywhere at this point. To pack a bag and a road trip picnic and just jump in the car.
Yes, we miss travel and cancelled a trip to Ireland and Galapagos. We wanted to head back to Banff, but no go. We drove down to Florida the end of February as not vaccinated and able to be very cautious and ate in Valdosta, GA at a great BBQ spot. One of our favorite parts of travel! We mainly stayed in MN and headed up to the north shore. When we were able to book our 2nd shot, my husband got us airline tickets to Fort Lauderdale. It was weird to not get on a cruise ship and head to the Caribbean, but it was lovely being in hot weather. We, too, are very thankful for what we have had during this time and that we have stayed healthy. We are so thankful to be fully vaccinated and looking forward to celebrating hubby’s 50th in Napa/Sonoma and Sacramento. I am older and probably feel weirder about him being 50 than when I turned 50. I don’t mind being older, I mind looking older! Thankfully he has gone gray. I may in another 30-40 years!!! We loved Australia and New Zealand and always want to go back to places we have been. We are looking at Croatia in the future too. Greece is open and we loved the history, the people and the food, baklava, all day, every day!!!
So many places touched on here, Christa. I can highly recommend Croatia. And all of the Balkan countries which we visited. In fact almost everywhere we’ve ever been Ha.
Sigh…
Like you I have itchy feet and would love to head off but the borders keep opening and closing. We have two daughters in Australia but can’t even make it there as different states go into lockdown at different times.
Like you we have travelled a fair bit but we don’t plan much ahead which has seen us stay in some strange places at times – a palace in Italy, a brothel in Denver, a lean-to shack in France, a youth hostel in Dublin, an outback campsite in Western Australia are some that spring to mind. Might need a bit more comfort now I am a bit older and creakier!
We can but dream – although we are about to take a couple of grandchildren away for a long weekend to a very primitive lodge in in the middle of nowhere to which we have access. It’s a start I guess.
We stayed in a few caravan parks in Australia. Some of them were awesome. They were suggested to us by a German couple we met on our first trip downunder. And we had some wonderful cabins in caravan parks, and met great people at the communal barbeques.
Honestly, this post hits a bit too close to the bone for me. As in, I wouldn’t trust myself to get started. The daughter in Italy just asked if we wanted to try meeting up in Europe in August (they’re heading into the mountains of a nearby country for some cooler temps and good hiking) — because their hopes of coming to us this summer aren’t compatible with the three-days-in-a-hotel-room quarantine that’s currently in effect. . . (they’ll both be vaccinated but the Seven won’t be — and she won’t do well in that hotel room!!). If we get word that a wider range of non-essential travel is allowed, we’ll try hard to do that, despite any qualms (and we should have had both shots by then). . . but I doubt it will happen. As of this month it’s two years since my husband last saw them and 18 months for me.
But I might be allowed over to the island to see my son’s family by the middle of this month, so there is consolation. . . . And I hope you’ll be able to get a mini-road trip, at least, before too long. This Too Shall Pass? I suppose, but it’s taking long enough!
I can imagine you miss that little family in Italy terribly. Safety considerations aside, that meet up in August sounds tempting. It’s hard to know what is best to do.
We had a culinary tour of Porto Portugal cancelled last year which was to be front ended with a week in Spain. A couple of weeks ago we were asked if we would consider rebooking for May of 2022. They did not want a deposit at this time, but wanted to know if there was interest. There are ten in our travel group and four are not comfortable. I’m hoping when it comes time to put down a deposit in September, we know more about the state of international travel. If we’re not comfortable, we will put it off for a while longer. I was so excited when we got that email though and it scratched the itch at least until September. I have this goal of visiting all seven continents and we have one left. We feel very fortunate to have been able to travel as much as we have. You and Hubby have visited some very interesting places Sue. I find travel opens our minds and we learn so much about what makes us different and often times not so different from other cultures. Enjoyed dreaming of travel again Sue, thank you for that!
I agree that travel does open our minds so much. And not all travel costs the earth, either.
Here’s hoping that the stars will align for that trip in 2022. Sounds wonderful.
Your photos are like travel-bug mosquito bites and now I want to scratch that itch, too.
I want to hug my brothers. It’s been six years. Financial and health difficulties, followed by the Trump years (a constant fear that he’d start a war and I wouldn’t be able to get back to Europe), and then pandemic.
At least, as domestic trips go, we have Paris.
Great Post Sue. I always love reading about your trips and the fun you have along the way!
I’m feeling surprisingly content at home at the moment but I’m sure that when travel seems realistic again, I’ll be super excited!
Like you mentioned, just the thought of setting off, bags in the car, driving down to the tunnel and a picnic to have en route.
We had planned to reschedule 2020’s trips to the US , Canada and Japan for 2022 but I honestly don’t know at the moment … to be honest I’ll be particularly happy when we can drive to Switzerland!
Rosie xxx
I hope you are able to drive to Switzerland sometime this year, Rosie. I know how much those trips mean to you. 🙂
The travel itch has been driving me crazy too! Hubby and I just got back from three days of camping at a provincial park less than two hours from home that we hadn’t visited since the early 80s. Did a bit of kayaking, some hiking, and enjoyed sitting by a campfire sipping wine at night. It wasn’t much, but it helped, and we’re hoping to do more of this kind of travel over the next little while until things maybe, hopefully, open up enough to venture further afield.
We’re scheduled to go camping in a little over a week. We booked the site months ago because the provincial parks began to book up early. We’re allowed to book on-line five months in advance. Fingers are crossed that the park will open in time.
My friends find my travel wardrobe planning amusing because I plan every detail. I like to comfortable and stylish but take only the bare minimum so I don’t have to think about what to wear each day while we are away.
Our travel in recent years has been to choose a two or three week organised tour to somewhere we want to see, generally focusing on history, then to spend a few weeks mooching about on our own. Our last trip overseas was in 2018 to Southern Italy, mostly in Puglia and Campania which we both loved. For 2020 we planned other trip to Italy, this time a ten day design tour in Milan, followed by a week or so in Rome, then a few weeks catching up with family and friends in Malta where my husband grew up. It wasn’t to be, but it’s sad just thinking of it as some of those people are longer with us.
It seems that Australia’s borders will not reopen until the second half of 2022 so we’ll have plenty of time to think and dream about another big trip.
I’m so sorry you didn’t get to see your husband’s family in Malta. But I hope you get to do that Italy trip eventually, Lilibet.
What a gracious response to a snarky comment, Suz! I guess I’ll never understand why someone would voluntarily read through a blog post only to complain about the topic to the author. Seems a bit weird to me.
Contrary to that reader, though, I loved this post because you and Stu have a travel philosophy which seems very similar to my husband and me. Like you, our traveling has been mostly independent trips to locations where tourists can be a bit of a rarity. Packaged vacations, resorts, and cruises have never held much interest because we both love the uncertainty of not quite knowing what each day will bring.
I’ll admit I’m conflicted, though, about the future of our travels. I waver between wanting to start up again once I’ve received my second jab—and wondering if I have the right to go into another community where the vaccination programs may still be a long way off for many parts of the population. Since I live in a location which eagerly welcomed Canadian and international tourists pre-COVID, I do understand the economic value of opening venues and borders, but, living in a popular vacation area, I’m also aware of how leery many of my neighbors are to see the crowds descend once again. This perspective makes me wonder how my vaccinated self would be viewed by others in countries still waiting for vaccines to arrive. The sobering truth is that too much of the world is still struggling with the pandemic even though their politicians and business leaders want the revenue from the tourist streams. Until the world is vaccinated, do those of us in first world countries have the right to travel outside of our borders? I’m struggling with my conscience even as I’m longing to scratch that travel itch.
That is a great question, Marily. Such a conundrum for places that rely on tourist dollars, but which will, if they have not vaccinated their own population, will run the risk of their own people being infected. Definitely something to be considered before we travel, I think.
Comments are closed.