12/30/15
Step Three … what is step three?
I booked my flights almost 5 months in advance. It’s now two months out and I have all my accommodations booked. I also have pretty much all of the travel gear I need (just got a snazzy fold-up Bluetooth keyboard to use with the iPad so I can have an easier time keeping this journal up to date on the go.) I do have a list of things that will need to get accomplished before I leave but most are last minute items; Talk to Verizon to get my plan set for international, call the bank, take pics of my ID’s and print them, sign up for travel insurance (world nomads you sold me) and print my boarding passes.
In the meantime, I guess I will research the sites, restaurants, transportation, and languages of the places I am to visit.
My “J Pillow” arrived today. Look it up. Maybe my mind’s in the gutter, but I instantly thought this is just a plush jimmy, a stuffed Johnson... The pictures on the “package” that demonstrate how to use it are even more convincing. Who cares what it looks like, I’m using it right now and it’s pretty comfy.
1/1/16
Happy New Years. I started feeling sick yesterday, which sucked, because I had to work all day, and then had a New Year’s Eve gig. Sleeping would have been much better for my health, but ce la vie. Now I am ill, so I will be spending the first day of the year bundled up on the couch. Soup, tea, movies, and more sleep.
1/2/16
Still a little sick but better than yesterday. I have been corresponding by email with my folks and few of their friends from Seville. The following is an exchange between me and my step-dad that I think brought up two different views of the “right” way to travel
On Jan 2, 2016, at 12:56 PM, Jxxxxx <jxxx@yyyy.com> wrote:
(your itinerary) Still sounds aggressive to me. it doesn't leave much time to allow you to absorb what you have seen or to sit in a cafe and observe the locals and maybe even get to know them.
I strongly recommend that you carefully plan out what you intend to see in each venue and plot these out on a map. This way you will minimize retracing routes as you go from one end of town to another.
Ronda and Seville have the most historic bull arenas and they debate which, in fact, is older (measured from groundbreaking or first bull fight). You need to see each of them even if without a bull fight.
Córdoba is a very rich city and a short visit may be even less than a tease. There is also quite a bit to see in Granada. Amongst these 3 (with Seville) you will have a good flavor of Andalusia. You may be best served by using your time in Andalusia in these big 3.
Jxxxx.
MY REPLY:
Thanks Jxxxxx,
I appreciate your feedback and experience traveling in these areas of the world.
I think my packed itinerary has some specific influences.
First, I am not accustomed to having the opportunity to take this kind of trip very often. My last one was 5 years ago, and I have no clue when my next may be. Because of that I want to see as much as I can. I have more “longer" stays in this trip than my last, including Seville, Lisbon, and Marrakesh.
Also, I enjoy traveling. I get restless. I wake up early, walk for hours, eat lunch or stop at a cafe <and meet some locals>. I could move on after that. That’s my style. Anything else is icing.
And I am content knowing I will not see everything on this trip. I will basically eat lunch in Ronda. And that’s awesome to me. I’m really interested in the train ride south of Ronda, not so much the bullring, although if the opportunity presents itself I’m there. And I hope that I get the chance to return to southern Spain and see some of the places I enjoy again and again.
I will most definitely heed your advice to plan carefully and as full as possible to ensure I get the best use of my time. My last trip was mostly unplanned, so I spent time in every city booking transport and lodging for the next town, or finding places to eat or whatever. This time I have a full itinerary booked, so I can look at what is where and when with a little more accuracy and plan accordingly. Plus, I have a little better understanding what I’m to expect, so it’s easier to research.
Thanks again, I do appreciate your input, it will all add up to the best trip possible
Russ
