For a while there, I was sick of travel.
2012 was a year ripe with travel and opportunity, after all. In January I went to Belgium on my own and introduced Liebling to my beloved Paris. While I missed my plane to Berlin in February due to delays on the stupid London tube, I did make it to Dubai at the end of the month (but only just barely as a colossal travel mistake on my part cut my trip to the United Arab Emirates two days short).
In late March Liebling and I headed to Peru. Once we got back in April, we started a huge England tour where we spent weekends in various locales in Britain. In May we spent weekends in Nice and Monaco and Berlin. In June we went to Norway. Then over the summer I had 8 weeks of back to back travel where I went to Spain and Jordan and Israel and Germany and Sweden and Estonia and Lithuania and Latvia and Finland and Slovenia and Switzerland and Liechtenstein (I realized that I haven’t written about half these places on the blog! Posts on them are coming!). Then, at the end of it all, I spent four glorious days soaking up the sunshine and views of the Eiffel Tower before heading back to London.
Once back in London, I was exhausted. But still the travels continued, to the Lake District for work and to Germany to visit Liebling’s ailing Grandma. At the end of October I flew to Canada for a week to catch up with family and friends since it had been more than a year since I had been home.
By the time my plane from Toronto touched down in Heathrow, I was shattered. From January to November I had travelled to NINETEEN COUNTRIES. Somewhere in all that I had even managed to go to France and Germany three times EACH. Remember that I work full time in between my trips. Not an easy feat in the least!
I reached the point where I didn’t want to travel anymore. I told my good friend Fned that I felt like I was numb to discovery, tired of travelling, feeling like I wasn’t getting anything out of it, just bouncing around from city to city and taking a bunch of pictures. Travelling was becoming lacklustre, starting to be a chore.
I WAS BURNT OUT as was Liebling. We agreed that we would put travel plans on hold and get to know London better. A couple quiet weekends in our adopted home went by and life was good.
Then something strange happened. A picture of a beach a friend posted on Facebook caught my eye. Suddenly, I had an epiphany.
I wanted to travel, go somewhere. The hunger was back.
I relayed this feeling to Liebling and he nodded his head in agreement. He had been feeling the same way. Of course. We started planning, scanning fares, booking tickets. Can you guess where I’m off to?
Where I’m going
CANADA- I was just home in October but I’m going back for Christmas, thanks to air miles. I haven’t spent Christmas holidays at home in years so I’m thrilled, as is my mother.
NYC, USA- I’ll be spending New Year’s with my best friends in New York City!!! It’s probably the coolest place to ring in the new year on earth. I was just in NYC a couple of summers ago, and am looking forward to going back!
GERMANY- Liebling is from Berlin so we’re going back for a weekend in February. It’ll be my 9th time there!
INDIA- I loved my time in Nepal and so am interested to see how India measures up. I’ll be spending 10 days visiting Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur in late February. Can’t wait to see the Taj Mahal in person.
HONG KONG- I have a lot of love for the city I called home for two years. I can’t wait to see friends and frequent all my favourite restaurants. I’ll be going for a week in March.
SPAIN- Liebling and I are off to Barcelona! I’ve been before and was not the biggest fan, but willing to give the city another go (everybody RAVES about Barca but I much prefer Madrid). We scored some really cheap plane tickets so we’ll be spending a long weekend there near the end of March.
EGYPT- Liebling and I will be spending just over a week touring the country over Easter. I’m interested to see just how similar it is to the other places I’ve been in the Middle East.
PORTUGAL- We’ll be spending a long weekend in Lisbon in May. I’ve been here twice before but Liebling has never been to Portugal and was desperate to go.
SCOTLAND- At the end of May I’ll be heading to Edinburgh for the second time to run a half marathon! I doubt I’ll see much of the city this time around, but looking forward to a long weekend in Scotland just the same! Liebling is actually signed up to run the full marathon, wish us luck!
For someone who was supposedly sick of travel, I sure have a lot on the travel agenda. Yeesh!
Have you ever been to any of these places? Which of these destinations excites you the most?
79 Comments
No wonder you got sick of travelling after doing so much of it ! Damn you have a cool life…
Totally agree with you on the old Barcelona/Madrid rivalry. Barna is played out, it’s all about Madrid! Nonetheless, it’s still a very interesting city to visit from an architectural pt of view and the food is the sh.
Keep up the good life.
S.
What an itinerary??? U mentioned that a pic of a beach made you excited to travel again, but your list didn’t include anywhere that is known for its beaches.
lol! I guess the picture of the beach inspired my wanderlust more than anything!
Wow – I have to get my 2013 plans in order soon. Love that you’re able to show the world how regular travel and work can coexist. Enjoy every second of it!
You are such an inspiration. I have vague travel plans for 2013. I am going to go back and look at my travel list and make some concrete plans!!! Thanks for this post!!!!!
I totally feel burnt out from travelling sometimes. It happened to me recently after an accident I had in Bolivia; I just wanted to go home! It took some amazing weeks in Argentina to shake things up again and make me remember how much I love doing this.
I only have two weeks left in Brazil but then back to Canada (where I’ll see you, I hope!), and in the new year I’ll be in India (at the same time as you!) again, Thailand again, and then hopefully moving to London, after which I plan to visit Ireland, Israel, Austria, and who knows where else. I’ve been to the countries you’re headed to next and I think I’m most excited for you to visit India! You will just love it, I’m sure…
We totally need to meet in person! We’ve been reading each other’s blogs for too long!
Wow, sounds like you have a great year ahead of you. I’m curious though — why/how do you plan these short trips out so far in advance? You already know where you’ll be in May of next year — I understand that for big trips, but for so many week-long trips? What’s the reasoning behind having such a detailed itinerary?
I plan everything early far in advance because as a teacher, I mostly get time off during the high season for travel. For me I’ve found that booking early given my inflexible travel dates really cut costs… Plus, if I see a cheap ticket I buy it right away before the price goes up!
I felt dizzy just reading all the places you’ve been in such a short time AND to think you work FT on top of it! WOW! I would love to meet you IRL when you come to NYC. I’m sure your schedule will be hectic but if you do a meet-up for your NYC readers I’d be happy to attend!
I’ve only been to NYC from your list. I go there often to visit family or to take film workshops. My sis and I are going in Jan. for a film festival; June for my cousin wedding; and back again in July for my dad’s family reunion. I’m still a novice traveller internationally. My sis and I were to go to Canada in June to attend a travel blogger conference, but have work conflicts on those dates. We’re looking at Dubai and S. Africa in early 2014. I would love to go to Madrid in 2013 for an extended wknd (Thurs-Mon) as I also work full-time. Still recovering from recent 10 days in Florence and Rome, Italy; and upcoming 11 days to Beijing and Shanghai after Christmas and first week of January.
You have a lot of exciting trips planned ahead! i must say that you are so lucky you get to travel to these places with your sweetheart, i have done a bit of traveling; mostly solo, but i have reached a point where i want to travel with that special someone just so i can have someone else to share these priceless memories with. At the moment am experiencing burn out just from traveling solo too much:( You are a lucky lady.
Well, we simply must meet when you’re home for the holidays! And I’m off to NJ to visit my bff for New Year’s too! Though she’s doing a missions trip until Jan 1st so I’ll be getting there the 1st or 2nd–fun! And India!!! I’m so jealous!
Yes, let’s meet for sure!
Awww turns out I’m going to have a spare weekend in Berlin between work trips, but it’s in March! I’ll have to hit you up for recos – it’s been six years since I’ve been and I was there during World Cup, so it was pretty manic!
Sounds like an awesome (and BALANCED!) few months of travel. It’s great to mix in visits with family and friends, as well as personal time (ie half marathon). Looks like you’re going to have a great time, and I hope we get to catch up over tea or coffee while you’re in town at Christmas.
We definitely must! Dinner date! We can talk Berlin then… 😉
Wow, what an itinerary! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on India and Scotland. And completely agree with Nailah (on the regular travel and work). Love it.
*Squeee!* I love your itinerary! I went to India last year, and I can easily say that the Taj Mahal definitely lives up to the hype. It’s unbelievable. Also, while India is a fabulous experience, I found it pretty exhausting in many ways – can’t hurt to go someplace easy and relaxing right after. You’ll have a ball!
You are my hero! I wish I could travel as much as you do. I got burnt out from a simple(for a traveler like you) 7 day cruise. Stopping at a new island every day had me exhausted and cranky. I decided not to travel for the rest of the year and maybe not even next year. But there’s still so much on my list of places to see-Peru, Paris (I did a day trip and did not like it but I feel compelled to try again), India, New Orleans….
What a year of travel you had indeed?! No wonder you were tired. Visiting India would be pretty cool plus Egypt would be ace with The Pyramids and the River Nile. Love to hear what you thought of the Lake District and I hope you can fit Liverpool into that hectic schedule next year (I won’t be available as a guide unfortunately). Happy travels!
I need to write about the Lake District still! I have some gorgeous photos.
Your travel itinerary looks absolutely divine! I too will be doing a little traveling in 2013…most importantly I’m looking forward to getting back to Africa as soon as possible! I’ll be in NYC for the Holidays as well to see my family, it would be awesome to grab some coffee if you have the free time!
Would be lovely to meet you! Keep in touch!
Wow! Sounds like 2013 will be fun with all the travel you have booked!
I’m loving your travel plans. I have only been to Scotland and Germany….I made the mistake of going to Germany in January when it was covered in snow and beyond freezing but I loved Berlin. My husband is dying to go to NYC but I’m wanting to do a Seattle/Vancouver trip for our next vacation. I’m looking forward to hearing about all of the travels 🙂
OMG, so
1. I am in lab reading your blog and I’m like “how does she do it?” 19 countries in one year?
2. I am spending new year with family in NYC and if I see you on the subway, I swear I will squeal with delight like a little girl on a sugar rush. 🙂
3. I said it before and I will say it again now, YOU are an inspiration.
Thanks!
Wow what an impressive travel schedule!!! I got really sick of travel this past year and vowed to stop, but didn’t either. Guess that means it’s literally in our blood?
Must be!
I work full time too on top of our blog being another full time job and we have now been to 22 countries for the year. It is exhausting but oh-so-rewarding too. Sounds like you have a great itinerary for 2013 lined up so far. Egypt and India are high up on my list too.
Good lord!! Wow!!
Wow. You’ve had an amazing year. Congrats. Travel always comes with its ups and downs. I can’t wait follow your upcoming adventures. It looks like you’ve got some great ones planned (especially NYC! woot woot! I’m a New Yorker can’t help it 🙂 )
Looks like we will be in a lot of the same places this year and you know once you make it to NY, the NY Tribe will be here with open arms! Are you going to meet us in Jaipur in March? Also,are you running with the bulls in July?
No, I’ll be there the week before you guys I think! I ran with the bulls last July, don’t think I’ll make it back next year.
You have been to some really cool places. I love discovery as well. I need to reread your post on travel to Isreal as I want to take a trip there but concerned about the passport stamp.
I have an Israel stamp in my passport, but you can request that they not stamp it!
Sounds like you will have a busy 2013. I never thought about visiting India but changed my mind after recently watching a documentary about the Taj Mahal. It looks like an amazing place to visit.
Wow! You are a traveling queen! I love it! I remember reading your blog YEARS ago and it really inspired me to apply to the TAPIF program in France and spend some time abroad. To be honest, I love living vicariously through your posts and I’m just so impressed! I can’t wait to hear some more of your thoughts about the places you haven’t updated us about and your travel plans just sound so exciting and fantastic.
Once I’m not a broke grad student, I definitely want to put a lot of my income towards planning trips and seeing new things. Yeah, I’ve found that there just is no cure to the travel itch — it always comes back. 😉
Holy heck. No wonder you were burnt out from all that travel. I was burnt out just reading about it. Your 2013 plans sound great though. Portugal in particular appeals to me.
I loved India, sadly I never got to see the Taj Mahal…I am so jealous of your itinery, this is so detailed…have fun.
An amazing itinerary indeed.
“From January to November I had travelled to NINETEEN COUNTRIES” – That’s a fantastic achievement, I’m so envious. Can’t wait to hear about your Barcelona trip. I’ve only been to Madrid, and I loved it which is why I’m heading back next year.
I admire your ability to fit travelling around your full-time job. You’re a huge inspiration 🙂
You are living my dream. Keep the good work up!
Wow. You’ve made a LOT of travel plans. Enjoy!
It sounds like you’ve have a great year and have wonderful plans for 2013. Wishing you safe and happy journeys!
Aww thanks! I’m really looking forward to it!
I want to invite you Jaipur the “Pink City” in India. Here you feel good and relax with accommodation travel services.
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