Finally, the Mediterranean Awaits!

Well, this year has turned out to be a bit of a challenge for me.  I have had both back and travel issues; however, I am finally ready - or at least as much as I will ever be - to "hit the road" or, more specifically, the air, the sea and the road!  

First off, the reality of getting older is, I think, finally hitting me as I have realized that I need to have to make some adjustments in the way I travel given my chronic back issues.  There will be no more long road trips where I am heaving luggage daily in and out of a vehicle and dragging it up stairs, or even hills, to my accommodation.  I need to opt now for easier ways to see the world such as cruises, staying in one place for longer, or travelling with someone who will assist me a bit.  Regarding the latter, it is like I am turning into my mother who relied on me for years to manage her suitcase whenever we travelled.  I guess what truly goes around does come around!  Hopefully, along with these adjustments, the strategy I developed with my physio and chiropractor to manage my back issue will enable me to keep on carrying on!

The travel "issue" happened in May when the cruise I'd booked was cancelled thereby upending all my travel plans for the spring.  Azamara, like other cruise lines, was unable to get its ships from southeast Asia to the Mediterranean in time to start their 2024 spring schedule.  The reason was that they couldn't traverse the Red Sea to return because of the hostilities in that region; instead, they had to go around the horn of Africa which took a lot longer.  So, that trip was cancelled and I needed a new plan.  I had already booked an apartment in Nice in October so it was a matter of building an itinerary around that.  A good start was the offer  Azamara offered because of the cruise being cancelled.  I received a 130% credit towards a future cruise.  Now, I didn't need to think too long about utilizing that as I know a good deal when I see one!  Gradually, a new plan emerged.  I kept my reservation with Turkish Airlines although changed the destination from Athens to Venice where the newly booked cruise would depart from.  And, the itinerary kept growing until it turned into a nearly 2 month trip involving 5 countries, 2 groups of friends, a reunion with my favourite Turkish guide (well, actually the only one I know) plus a strategy to get me to Mykonos finally, having been denied twice in my attempts to get there.

So, I leave on September 21st and, after a couple of days in Istanbul, I will fly to Venice to meet a friend.  She and I will do a road trip (planned before I sustained the injury to my back) through northern Italy ending with several days in Venice.  After that, comes a cruise along the Croatian coast; then I will spend time with friends in the Cote d'Azur; have 6 days solo in Mykonos; and end up with a 10 day road trip along Turkiye's "Turquoise Coast" before I fly home from Istanbul.  I am hoping in that itinerary I have allowed sufficient "down time" to ensure I am not exhausted or doing more than I can manage.  

If you have enjoyed my blogs before, please follow this one,  I am hoping to be able to make it entertaining as I share my experiences and impressions about discovering new places and learning more about history and other cultures.  Sorry there are no photos for this blog except for the one below from the Internet of Mykonos which I am hoping to take in person.  I promise there will be lots upcoming!


Please follow along and, perhaps vicariously, join me on my adventure.  I am hoping to post something at least every few days!  Thanks.

If something good happens, travel to celebrate.  

If something bad happens, travel to forget.  

If nothing happens, travel to make something happen.  – Jade Phoenix

Comments

  1. Bev16 September 2024 at 12:09

    Dear Maureen
    So happy to travel along with you. And I understand totally what you mean about getting older, frailer, more needy of support. But, at least you are getting out there and have planned in a sensible manner, so that all should work well. I always think it is better to travel more slowly so you can enjoy the towns and areas you are visiting and really get a good feel for the place. Have a great flight and I look forward to reading everything about your trip. Cheers from Bev in Switzerland

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