We had talked about another European River Cruise. Assuming the weather is co-operative, you basically experience a hotel on water. Once on board the boat, you unpack. Then you are taken from city to city without ever again having pack or unpack until the end of the cruise. A very comfortable way to see towns on the waterways in Europe.
My husband would love to have once more visited Italy. This would have been to visit a major gliding centre around 100 Kilometres from Rome. And maybe we could once more spend some time exploring ancient parts of Rome itself.
Then there is Scotland. Or more accurately, the Scottish Islands. Although there are still parts of the Scottish mainland we have not visited and would like to see.
Visiting some parts of Australia that we have not previously seen would also be of interest too.
BUT, the bucket list has shrunk.
It is likely that as far as overseas travel is concerned, we may make only one further trip once the world has settled down. This will definitely include the Shetland Islands, so Scotland and the other island clusters would be part of the trip. I thought it would probably be in 2024. And the time of year would be up for discussion. There is a Folk Festival over Easter each year in Shetland. But this is not the best weather for travelling so far north. Can we risk it? Still Scotland seems to be in my blood and I do want to go back, and if it means Easter, then so be it. Perhaps the river cruise will be removed from the bucket list…and maybe Italy as well.
BUT, a further change.
We may decide to go to Cologne in Germany. The Benalla Yarn Bombers have been invited to send an item to the Cologne Yarn Bombers Festival at the end of March 2023. If we do participate, what better opportunity is there to combine a Scottish trip with a visit to Cologne. The timing could not be better. It is around two weeks before Easter, so no debate about time of year for a Scottish trip and the Shetland Folk Festival. Mmmm. Can we do it? Do we want to do it? Much discussion to come with not a lot of time to decide. And should there be a visit to Italy as well? We will not be far away. I don’t know if we could fit a river cruise in the same trip. Then again, a Rhine to Danube cruise would take us around Germany.
Of course, Australian travel will be much easier, with a lot less planning involved. We just need to decide where and when. But will probably have to wait until we sort out the possible European travel in 2023.
Joy Shirley
September 2022