Where will YOU go when you can travel again?
May 30, 2021
We’re starting to see the end of the tunnel. This week we’ll finally be getting our first Covid shot. All going well, we’ll be fully vaccinated – at the latest – by the end of July. Yay!! That means we’ll finally be free to do some things we’ve been holding off on for what seems like forever.
Most readers of this blog are from the US, Canada and the UK. I’m sure many of you are feeling the same way we are: happy but mostly relieved…and wondering where to go from here.
For us it feels particularly weird. Keep in mind that up to March of last year we had been travelling full-time for 6 years. Except for that one year when we settled down in Croatia, we’ve spent all that time travelling through Europe, Asia and Africa. All we did was travel.
Then, like everyone else, we were suddenly locked down.
A lot has changed for us over the last 13 months. We’re no longer “nomads”, we now have a permanent home in Spain.
But it’s more than that. Yesterday I asked Lissette if she was ready to start thinking of travelling again. She said yes, she can’t wait. Funny enough it’s me – the one who’s always pushed to travel – who’s feeling less motivated. I’m not sure why. It’s almost like all this time away from travelling has broken the addiction. Maybe it will be like getting back on a bike after a long absence. But right now I’m just thinking about hordes of people, crowded airports and vaccination certificates…and I’m not looking forward to any of it.
Have I got the post-Covid blues?
I’m wondering if anyone else is feeling the same way?
So where will YOU go when you can travel again?
That was the 2nd question I asked Lissette.
The answer was “Spain”.
That suits me fine. We’ve been back in Spain 7 months now and haven’t ventured outside of our little town except for official purposes. We both look forward to a lot of short trips in the region and a little further into the interior. There’s tons to discover.
One thing Lissette doesn’t want to do anytime soon is get on a plane. I, on the other hand, will most likely be flying to Mexico later in the year to visit my mom (I usually see her at least once a year but that didn’t happen in 2020 because of Covid).
So the plan for us is to start small. Eventually we have some places a bit further away we want to get to. We both want to see France, the Baltic states, and Russia. We want to get back to Germany (one of our favorite countries). Sicily is also on the list. And one day I’d like to get to India. But that won’t happen for at least a few years.
I’m curious about the intentions of readers of this blog. Will you be staying local in 2021? Or will you make up for a lost 2020 by taking a big trip this year? Are you still nervous about travelling and expect to get back to your normal patterns of travel in 2022? And finally, what destinations are at the top of your lists?
I’d be very interested hearing what people’s plans are.
Hello. I am trying to figure out where I can go (fully vaccinated) without being restricted to a room for several hours per day. I am also somewhat hesitant because any nation can change its requirements for entry at any time.
How are things in Spain? I am able to communicate in Spanish on a basic level (depending upon the dialect), and obviously have an interest, as evidenced by my following your blog.
I want to leave the States for an extended period. I am considering Central America, but I would rather be in a less religion dominated community. I am a visual artist and educator, and need the freedom to create. And then there is the issue of the ex-pats (at least in Costa Rica and Panama…particularly those from the U.S. and Canada. Many can be quite nasty, travel with their prejudices and “isms”, and I wish to avoid them like the plague. No pun intended.
It would be nice to rent a small studio and paint for a year or so, maybe attend school. How feasible do you think this is? Financially, I can do it, I think, but I am not sure about the rest.
Anywho…nice to see the two of you are doing well. Peace and health to you both. Thanks for the interesting tidbits your blog provides.
Hi Fp.
Spain has just opened up to vaccinated travellers including Americans. You can read about that here (that’s our other blog which deals only with Spain).
The biggest problem you’ll face coming here are the Schengen restrictions which limit you to visiting Spain (or any Schengen country) for a maximum of 90 days in any 180 day period. What it means is basically you can’t stay more than 6 months of the year inside the Schengen zone unless you get a special Visa (as we did. All about the non-lucrative visa here). I don’t know if you are ready to spend all that time and effort to do that, it’s not too bad a process but you have to be thinking long-term to make it worthwhile…
Don’t be shy if you have any other questions!
Frank
Hey Frank…. i know, you just want to be close to the TV to watch Les Canadiens continue their march through the NHL playoffs!! Well, perhaps they’ll eventually meet up with my Big Bad Bruins!
Back to your Q. … not sure if i actually stopped travelling. After leaving France in Dec. i was in S. Turkey for 3 mos and then spent 1.5 mos in Sri Lanka. Both locations were brilliant, far exceeded my expectations + bonus: no other tourists around! People talk of hassles, but i didn’t find it such a big deal. I mean OK, 14 days “quarantine” in a lovely low key resort on a beautiful SL beach was oh so difficult to take! Well I’m back in S. France since early May enjoying the weather, good food, helping friends restore their houses. But I’m planning on doing a couple cycle tours soon. First up: down the Moselle and up the Rhine…… remember to keep your stick on the ice!
Hi Don! Yup, been watching lots of hockey and honestly surprised the Canadiens made it past Toronto. Talk about a choke…I don’t know how far they can take it but I’m enjoying it for now. And the Bruins looking good as well. A matchup would certainly be interesting.
You’ve done a lot and I’m envious. I wonder if there will ever be a time where tourists have places to themselves as they do now. Would very much to see Sri Lanka one day.
Great about your cycle trips. It’s something I know little about. How do you research of book that? Are you just doing it solo?
Many years ago I did a 10 day trip of the Gaspe peninsula. It was organized by Velo Quebec and they would drive ahead and supply food, set up tents. Every day we would ride about 100 km. Was lots of fun and would like to do something like that again.
Yeah, the collapse of the Leafs this year is really something. Many thought that with their loaded talent, they’d go deep….. alas it wasn’t to be. My brother-in-law, huge Leaf fan got so PO’d he threw his autographed Leafs jersey on the backyard fire!!
Once you get the hang of it, cycle touring in Europe is fairly straightforward. Get a decent, comfortable touring bike, a couple of paniers, select the route you want to take and plan how much ground you want to cover. I usually go for a month, mostly solo but sometimes with my partner. I usually follow the riverside/canal routes. They’re mostly flat, very scenic, away from traffic, go through interesting historical sites and if you need/want to skip sections, they’re usually close to train routes. These days i stay in airbnb places – I’m past the camping days and hotels in europe are way overpriced. I find the whole experience infinitely relaxing, no windows in the way, 60-80km/day, fresh air, great exercise…. by the end of the cycling day i really look forward to something like a large schnitzel and a long cold beer. …. now that’s living?
We will continue being careful, two weeks ago the news were that 8 or 9 Yankee players tested positive for Covid-19 and all of them were fully vaccinated, my wife and I are vaccinated since March-April but we continue visiting only with our daughter and travel group (3 more people) and my wife does not want to be in a plane for 7 to 9 hours (Miami to Madrid) besides US people are not allowed in Spain and I think in some other EU countries, lets hope next year we will be traveling more normally, we will be locals or semi-locals, in July will spend one week in Key West and in August another week in Cayman Islands and if we are Lucky enough maybe another week in New Orleans in September/October. Spain has a lot to offer, don’t forger my recommendations Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, Puerto de Santa Maria, and towns to the west, Rota, Chipiona, Sanlúcar de barrameda, etc. and Los Pueblos Blancos, don’t miss Arcos de la frontera, Ronda, Setenil de las bodegas and more. Say hello to Lissette, take care and enjoy your future trips.
I haven’t forgotten your recommendations Carlos! They’re on our list.
Yes, I’m getting a sense that most people are going to be cautious and unless they’re 20 year-olds they won’t be jumping on the 1st plane.
By the way, you can expect the EU to announce shortly that it will be open to vaccinated US travellers. So I’d expect that Americans (as long as they’re vaccinated) will be able to come to Spain this summer.
Stay safe Carlos!
Ps. Lissette says hello back. Thank you 🙂
We’re looking forward to an early Fall start. Costa Brava to start and then Istanbul.
We’ve been vaccinated and aren’t particularly nervous by nature, but given the evolving conditions it seems we’re going to continue to practice being flexible. I don’t expect travel to be normal. We’re simply preparing to lean into the weird. This will hopefully be our only “opportunity” to travel under these circumstances.
Thanks TJ. Nice to hear you’ll be doing some international travelling this year. Haven’t been to the Costa Brava in 30 years but I remember Tossa del Mar being a highlight for me. Pretty town.
I’m crossing my fingers that it will be “post-Covid” and that there’s no resurgence brought about by strains.
just when we thought things were improving, well, in Melbourne we are locked down again! They called a 7 day snapped lockdown last week but it looks like it’s going to be a few weeks at least. We’d been covid-free for two months. numbers arent huge, just over fifty in a week but it looks like there will be more. Huge testing numbers. no-one was getting the vaccine, now plenty are. so still its hard to see much movement on open borders for 12 months here in Australia, so it will be local. Was looking to book something for October, now feeling a bit reticent to do so because if lockdown comes at the wrong time, there goes my leave, money paid and everything. of course, you can pay a bit extra to book knowing youll get something back. so once international travel is back I would think i would wait at least 6 months before going anywhere to check that things will be stable enough to travel with confidence. I have a BIG plan at this stage for 2023. So i might be tempted late next year to go somewhere just to remember what international travel is like!
Wow, I’m sorry to hear Andy. Australia has closed itself off to the world which I guess it can do being an island – but I’m sure you (being a big traveller) must be going crazy. 2023 seems a long way away….
I’m a bit surprised hearing what you say about people there not getting the vaccine, did they figure just insulating the country would stop Covid?
yes i think that has a lot to do with it. Because we’ve also had so little Covid here, especially since November last year, people believe we’re on top of it so what’s the rush? and then a smallish outbreak as we’ve had here in the last week or so and suddenly the vaccine sites are inundated with people wanting the vaccine. so that these snap lockdowns stop, so once it impacts people directly, thats when attitudes change.
I’m with you Frank and don’t feel ready to globe trot or venture too far from home. We travelled the world for eight years and I’m in the process of immigrating to the UK from the USA. We’ve been anchored near Norwich for two years this month (June ‘21). The thought of the unknown hassles while everyone muddles through many unknown new procedures does not endear me to being a guinea pig while these new practices become perfected.
I’m glad the bulk of our worldly travels has ended under the new world environment of coping with covid. We will eventually venture back to our favorite locations—San Sebastian and Rovinj for a one month stay in each location but nothing planned. We have booked an Oceana cruise for Jan./Feb., 2023, for 32 days which goes to all new places we haven’t been before. Hopefully, the world will be more normal by then.
Take care and enjoy your new location and home.
Thank you very much for sharing Jann. And nice to know I’m not the only one feeling not quite ready. I imagine younger people must be feeling much more ready to just bust out…
You mention favorite places – we ourselves have been nostalgic for Prague. It’s our favorite city and the place we’ve gone back to the most. I almost wish we could see it before all the tourists come back. There’s too many other places to see…but one day we’ll be back.
Thanks again Jann.
I am with Lissette. No plane, but I had to. Unfortunately, my elderly mother became suddenly ill (no covid, just failing health) and subsequently passed away. The flight out of Amsterdam was delayed and we were re-routed to Atlanta instead of Minneapolis. All in all, it was a 36 hr journey. So, here I am back in Kansas City until June 11th when I head back to the EU. (This is the one time when dual citizenship really benefited me,
btw. Anyone not a US citizen or holding a US residence permit cannot enter the US from the EU and a few other countries. One lady heading for North Carolina was turned back at the airport in Sweden.)
Aside from that, I think Italy will be next but I don’t really have plans. Or, maybe back to Spain.
Hi Edith,
I’m sorry for your loss as well as having to do that trip. Jeez, re-routed to Atlanta instead of Minneapolis? How does that happen?
We say the same when we flew back to Canada last year, a few Europeans without a valid reason were turned away at the gate.
Italy or Spain. Good to hear Edith!