52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Travel

Lately, life has been moving at a strange pace. In some ways, time seems slower because I am not running from activity to activity or event to event day after day. When the workday is done, I either work outside, go for a walk, grab some take-out, run to the grocery store, read a book, or blog. That’s about it.

At the same time, days and weeks have sped up into one big blur. With no more outside excursions to define my moments, hours, days, weeks, and months are blending together. So much so, that even though it is only week nine of my work-at-home, shelter-in-place stint, it could be week 99 for all I know… it is easy to lose track.

The one thing keeping me “on schedule” in my spare time is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. According to my calendar, this week is Week 20. Wow! We are nearly halfway through the 2020 challenge! Where has the time gone?

While for most of these challenges I have focused on our predecessors’ lives, for this one will focus on my life. Why? Well, this week’s writing prompt, Travel, is a topic often in my thoughts these days. Questions swirl and whirl in my mind.

• With this global pandemic continuing unabated, will I be able to go on vacation this year?
• Will international travel be permitted or even advised?
• Will airlines and/or hotels be back to business-as-usual by the end of the summer?
• There are so many places that I want to visit, but, because of COVID-19, will I have to take a year-long travel hiatus? Perhaps longer?

Although I would like to hope that all goes back to the way it was, the pragmatist in me is pretty sure that this “new normal” is here to stay, at least for a little while. So, I must resign myself to no overseas travel in the near future. Sigh.

I suppose I will have to console myself with memories of the many destinations, cities, and countries to which I have traveled prior to the pandemic. Some of my favorite trips were to Egypt, France, and Italy. Then, of course, there was Spain, Québec, London, Yucatán Peninsula, Grand Canyon… (another sigh)… I sure do miss globetrotting.

So, before I sink into a non-travel funk, it is your turn. What are some of your favorite countries/cities/destinations and why? I can’t wait to hear all about them. Maybe I will add these places to my list of must-sees (for when this strain of coronavirus dies down).