Faraway Places

Its an unusual feeling simply jumping on a plane and finding oneself, only hours later, in another country. Coming from the antipodes, it is no mean feat fitting a two or three day overseas excursion into life, but here I am, with quite a number under my belt, and more booked for the year. I am blessed to have an international airport so close, and a job that has the flexibility to allow for long weekends here and there.

Travel is exciting. It’s beautiful museums. It’s meeting people in hostels. It’s delicious food and drink. But it’s also long waits in airports. It’s sore feet from walking for hours. It’s lonely meals surrounded by couples and groups. It’s early nights in noisy bunk rooms. It’s sad selfies to prove to yourself you were once adventurous.

I’ve read many blogs by solo travellers who seem to thrive on their own, but I just never feel as free and enlightened as they appear. I love being able to do what I want, when I want. but it doesn’t always make up for the fact that I simply have no one to turn to when I see something beautiful, no one to ask what they want to eat, and no one to explore with after dark when the city is still alive. There is certainly something to say for organised tours.

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I was lucky enough to spend a few days in Amsterdam at the beginning of the month, catching up with an old school friend and her partner. The weather was atrocious, but we walked a lot, ate a lot of cheese and meats, and caught up on years apart, exactly the kind of holiday that I need and love. I would like to go back in the spring to view the sea of poppies and experience some of the culture.

This was quickly followed by a solo trip to Malaga, an Andalusian port city on the southern coast of Spain, renowned for its Moorish remnants of the Castle of Gibralfaro, and the fortress of Alcazaba. Beautiful, hot, and touristy, it was a whirl wind of walking mountains and exploring castles. Again, with the excitement comes loneliness, but I took the opportunity to join a walking tour to see the sights and have an injection of socialisation with fellow visitors.

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Back home, today heralds the first day of half term, a week of report writing and catching my breath, before a huge push towards Christmas. Ideally it would be a moment for rest and rejuvenation, but instead it is freezing cold, stressful and unpleasant. I have some more trips planned between now and Christmas, and I am relying on those to get me through. I hear the Christmas markets are a must see, and look forward to wrapping my hands around some hot mulled wine.