What trip would you like to take this summer if you had a bit of time to get away? This is the topic that consumes my friend Joy and me over two slices of chocolate cake last night. She’s back in New York. Before last night, we hadn’t seen each other since we randomly met up in London a couple of months ago. “Have you lost weight?” she asks. I tell her that it’s possible; I’ve been stressed out lately. She seems worried. “You need to get away,” she says. “You need some time to decompress. When’s the last time you took a vacation?” I pause to think about it and I’m shocked by my own response.
“The last time that I took a vacation that didn’t involve business travel or visiting a family member was … I don’t know … I guess it was that trip to Hawaii in summer 2003.” Joy frowns. “That was 3 years ago.” I tell her that I have an open ticket to anywhere that Aeromexico flies. I have to use it before October / November of this year. She tells me that I should go sooner rather than later, for my own sanity. The conversation evolves and we begin to talk about dream trips for this summer.
I’ll probably go to Mexico. I’d hate to throw away the free ticket, so I should probably look into getting that arranged. Besides, because I could stay with my friend, it’s actually cheaper to spend a week in Mexico than it is to remain in New York for a week. Hmmm … Do you have a summer vacation planned? Where would you go if you had a bit of time to get away?
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Unfortuneately with the attempt to move out, I won’t be taking any sort of summer vacation this year. I’ve got a few weekends away in Seattle planned, but nothing special.
But if I had to pick somewhere, I’d have to say that I’d go to New York, visit you, and well, see what all of the fuss is about…
Yeah, I know what you mean. I’m only considering the Mexico thing because I have a free plane ticket and a free place to stay. (Without either, there’s no way that I could go.)
Oh, and, by the way, you should DEFINITELY make a trip to New York. Trust me, the fuss is worth it. ;)
How ’bout this … once we’re both financially able, you visit me in New York and I’ll visit you in Vancouver? Deal? :)
You know I would love to come to NYC and I might before the end of the year.
This weekend I am headed to Atlanta for the Braves/Boston games.
At the end of the month I am heading to Orlando and Long Beach Key.
In August I am going back to Folly Beach, SC.
With two jobs and an improv troupe, I would really like to go somewhere secluded, maybe a lonely beach front hut with just music and a pile of books to read.
Oh, and a laptop with satellite Internet so I could blog about it and make you envious. :)
Oh fantasy trips! If I had the time and especially the $, I’d love to go to Italy. I’ve never left the US and would love to see the Vatican.
Sigh. One day.
Hey Stolie
Glad to know I’m not the only one not getting a summer vacation this year. Though I’m forced to take a day or two off for my cousin’s wedding.
While there may be no summer vacation, I’m hoping to go to a conference in Montreal in November/December.
I might try and make the trip down to NY from there, but we’ll see. It’s in the long range plan at the moment…
No summer vacation for us this year because we’re saving, I mean, trying to save for Hawaii in January. I guess that kind of counts. I’ve been going back and forth between, “Yeah, only 7 more months” to “OMG, only 7 more months”!
I don’t have anything planned for the summer cuz I hate to travel when the weather is hot, hot, hot!
But…if I had free airfare and had the wee bit time I’d go to almost anywhere that’s got cool temps. But I’d also endure the heat in NYC so that I can shop till I drop for beads, beads, beads (and NOT the a*@l kind!!!).
Hawaii in January is good! Nice cooler weather, not like now…I hate it! If there’s no tradewinds, it’s torture…agggh!
AWE: Everyone should come to New York!! :) That’s great that you’re getting a lot of traveling in. I’ve been to Atlanta and Orlando, but I’ve never been to the two beach cities you mentioned. Sounds like you’re going to have a busy, and fun, summer!
Howard: And, you’re right … I would be envious. :)
EL: Did you know that it’s cheaper to fly from the US to Italy than it is to fly from NYC to LA.? Italy is worth the visit and totally within reach—just don’t go during the summer. I think the easiest and cheapest way to get there is to fly from NYC to London during off season (about $250 – 300) and then buy a Ryan air or Easyjet flight from London to Rome ($60). Voila! Round trip visit to Italy for less than $400.
Mitch: I’ve never been to Montreal, but I’m dying to go. The drive is only a day-trip from New York City; the flight is even shorter.
Mel Chickk: Ooooh, Hawaii!!! I’m sure you’re looking forward to that.
faeriedust48: During the summer, it’s not the heat that kills you in New York, it’s the smells. Big city + dirt + heat = horrible stench. :(
No big vacation trip this summer, but we’ve got several weekends away planned: Louisville, KY, Minneapolis, MN, Greensburg, IN and perhaps Milwaukee, WI.
Faeriedust48:
If you’re looking to travel where it’s not too hot, I highly recommend Maine.
No planned breaks, but if i were to get away, I’d probably go hide in Vegas.
Vegas, baby, Vegas!
I’d like to go to the US, but then I’d have to fill out like, a million forms just to get a visa.
So… no thanks.
Thought I’d anit-lurk again :)
I’ve got nothing planned for this summer – I keep hoping I’ll find work, haha – but we’ve got a family reuinion planned for late december – in Australia! Definitely something to look forward to.
Eventually I’ll do New York, England, France and…well, most of Europe, really!
And I do have a blog now. So I’m not really anonymous. Feel free to check it out if you want :)
http://www.kristalgrace.com/blog
..and by “anit-lurk” I really do mean “anTI-lurk.” These things should have edit buttons.
Pegs: Sounds like fun! :) Weekend trips are great.
Carlos: I like Vegas. :) Whoever came up with that tagline “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” is a genius.
Jay: That’s soooo not true! What makes you think it’s difficult to come here?!?! All you have to do is get fingerprinted, scanned, anally probed, and fill out 58 forms — not a million. [sarcasm] … You know, I could write an entire post about how asinine our immigration policy has become, but I won’t.
K: YAY!!!! You’ve gone public again. :) Ohhhh, a family reunion in Australia?!?! THAT would be great. I’ve never been to Australia, but it’s on my list of places to see before I die … BTW, I checked out your blog. Nice. :)
stateside: Chicago, for the taste. I might hop out there at the end of the month.
Abroad: UK. One of my coworkers just got back from Scotland with a bloody tan, and was just singing it’s praises to high heaven. I was so jealous. And, I reallyreally need to get back to London, damnit!
“its,” damnit, “its” praises. Not “it’s.” I hate when I do that.
A nice sunny beach where you could lounge about and sip tasty cocktails all day and oogle hot guys.
Sid: Oooooh, I’ve never been to Scotland, but I’ve heard that it’s absolutely B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!
Darwin: That sounds FABULOUS. :) I miss warm weather. I can’t till it heats up in New York.
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