ONE MONTH PLUS TWO DAYS
Going back for a visit is always nice.
The lime green suitcase still decorated with a sticker from my first trip to Rwanda is open and waiting for me to load the essentials of life on the road. Small suitcase, almost five weeks, a challenge. There is nothing more detrimental to the journey than a big awkward bag. Granted, I will not be traveling alone, but no need to burden my fellow travelers with Granny’s suitcase! My too-heavy backpack with all the accoutrements of a photographed documented trip is another matter.
Five weeks…really?
I have been thinking about this trip a lot. Thinking of it as the decision-making or breaking trip about whether to keep on with the idea of all of the countries in the world before I die. Scott reminds me I’ve said this before and I know I’ve written blog posts about it before (sorry!) but the idea never really gets killed off so why should this time be different. It might be…each passing year gives me less time to get there.
And then there are the dangerous places. Will Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Honduras, Guatemala, Liberia, Sierra Leone be safe enough before I reach my goal? Most of them I would go to now but with trepidation. Will Russia and Saudi Arabia give me visas? Probably too soon to worry about this since I still have 105 countries to go.
But back to the serious business of travel. The two new pants I bought at Nordstrom’s just for this trip are too wrinkly when washed. How many pants, how many sweaters, three and three, I think. After all they wash clothes all over the world! Only absolute is my big black hoodie sweatshirt that says Washington DC on the front. I’m not that anxious to be spotted as an American but it is the fattest softest warmest sweatshirt I’ve ever had and can double as a blanket or pillow when needed. It’s literally been my security blanket for five or six years. $29.95 Dulles Airport.
Here’s my attitude about travel:
EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD? WHY NOT!
LIFE IS SHORT…AND THE LIST OF COUNTRIES IS LONG. JUST DO IT.
Reblogged this on Today X 365.
Great thinking Marj or as I had read lately at a great black/white photo exhbit by Gary Winogrand at the National Gallery in DC: The world is a place I bought a ticket to”…so enjoy the trip and bons voyages !
Keep on truckin’ your inner voice will tell you to either keep going or stop and use your time some other way. I haven’t been anywhere and I am already an old fart, so too late for me to try such an adventure. I am sticking with my little train adventure for now and see how that goes. It might be fun to see the USA via rail, although there would be challenges since our rail network is not really first class when compared to Europe. I couldn’t be more excited if I were going to Venice…well, yes I would be more excited for Venice.