Category: Travel - A Cottage by the Sea

Solitude in Italy--again

8/27/2019

My need for an extensive period of solitude is emerging just at the right time. I make my Italy plans at least four months before I think I’ll be ready for the change of pace, and then as the departure date looms, I always say, “Yes, it is time.”
    Don’t get me wrong. My wonderful life is full of solitude. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: one of the reasons I love getting off for two weeks of solitary travel is that I have good things in place in my life--friends and family, health, and church community. For many, the amount of solitude I have at home would be enough. But for some reason, I love the day after day of truly being alone.
     “You must meet interesting people when you travel,” a friend commented.
      “No, I don’t. Maybe once or twice I chat with someone at the table next to me at a restaurant, and every fall I spend one day either in Rome or Florence with long time friends. That’s about it.
      Off I go on September 11; six nights in Rome, and eight in Florence. Home on the 26th. Very grateful.

Rediscovering travel with Seth Kugel

5/23/2019

The other evening at the library I heard a delightful talk by Seth Kugel, the New York Times’s “Frugal Traveler” from 2010 to 2016 , and author of the recently published Rediscovering Travel: A Guide for the Globally Curious.
Seth writes as he talks, telling engaging stories, offering useful tips, and blurting out an array of valuable insights that whirl around in his hyperactive mind. Whatever our age, and however and wherever we travel, he suggests that we go off the well-beaten track and try something new.
Like me, Seth usually travels solo. Although I am a somewhat adventuress traveler, which of course one has to be when traveling alone, I’m inspired anew to wander off the tourist’s physical and psychological trampled-down path and rediscover the new and curious of Edinburgh (June 12-20). I’m ready and very grateful to be going.

Traveling solo v.v. with others

4/15/2019

IPhoto is back working thanks to the younger generation. I thought the cause of the breakdown was too many pictures, but no, ‘it just happens’. We’ve been on the move with little time for writing. Again, need I say it is very different having traveling companions.
• I go where I want on whim v.v. discussing plans ahead of time.
• I walk fast v.v adjusting to the pace of others.
• I walk with an intentional destination in mind v.v. stopping to window shop.
• I have no one to talk with v.v. chatting and pointing out sights.

Being a solo traveler isn’t better, it’s just different. I prefer solo unless it’s with people I love. That’s the way it is this week.

Vicarious and real joy~

4/4/2019

I’m sitting here in the AR (Angel Room), looking at a painting of the Duomo by my niece Amy Jennings, and anticipating that in 24 hours Jim will be driving me to the Logan Airport bus. I fly Dublin-Rome and take a train to Florence to spend ten days in the shadow of this awesome church.
Yesterday Jim announced how happy he was anticipating my trip, both for me and for him. “I get to travel vicariously when you go, and I know you love it so.”
How lucky am I? I get to give him joy by giving myself joy, and he gets to give me joy by doing the same for himself. This isn’t only about anticipating; it’s about cherishing the moment, which is all we really have, just moment after moment, Now after Now.

Travel vent~

9/21/2018

     The good thing about traveling alone is that you spend less time and energy venting about things that don’t go right. The bad thing about traveling alone is that you have no one to vent to when things don’t go right.
     Here’s my vent, to the computer, and to any of you readers who care to hear it. Of course by the time I post this I’ll be home, dealing in dollars not euros, and my vent will have lost its energy.
     But here it is. I had to pay 50 euro to check my suitcase from Florence to Paris. I assume that somewhere in the fine print on my ticket was the notification of this added expense but I was shocked, because up until now on overseas flights one bag flies for free. Evidently the rule has changed for inexpensive tickets, at least when the first leg of the flight is in Europe. (I wasn’t charge coming over here). I could have upgraded to business class for a mere $350.00 and then I assume my bag would have traveled free.
    Now that I’ve vented, let me confess that I am most fortunate and very grateful that I can afford a trip to Florence. And, let me admit that I’m glad to be home.

Solitude and community in Vermont

8/15/2018

Today I want to talk about solitude (not politics). To do this, however, I also must mention family and friends. You see, I can’t have my solitude unless I have other loving humans in my life. Without them, I would be lonely and loneliness isn’t included in my definition of solitude.
We spent last weekend with family at Lake Dunmore in Vermont—a flow of community was solitude. Take a look.

Life is good--Wheaties, Vermont and books

8/5/2018

      Oh, the lazy days of summer. A slow pace for this blog. Here’s a little catch up.
     Most important is Wheaties. Thank you thank you to the several friends who have bought me a box or two. For now, the shelves have been replenished, although with the old design. I have not idea what to expect when these are consumed. And, how long will that take? Which gets me wondering how long those little wheat flakes sit in a box—months? Years?
     Last week my husband and I spent two night in Vermont, and this weekend we return for a family reunion. Thankfully the three and a half hour drive is primarily along winding roads through idyllic New England towns.
     Some friends just sent me long lists of books they are reading, so tonight, as I listen to the Red Sox beat the Yankees for the fourth time in a row, I will go on line and see what books I can get from inter-library loan.
     Life is good and for that, I am very grateful.

Travel writing~

5/31/2018

Whew, finally I finished a travel article entitled “Free in Florence,” about the free things you can do in Florence for a week. I posted it on Thorn Tree, the travel bloggers section of Lonely Planet, where they have a monthly contest of what they consider the best blogs. Entering gives me impetus to get something written and the chance to see what other bloggers do.
      Very like all of the bloggers are younger than me. Many are young people who hope to write and travel for a living. They post from around the world, many from exotic place. They take physical risks and travel on a shoestring.
      I blog about Europe—Italy and Scotland; and closer to home—Boston. I’m not interested in making a living out of travel writing, nor do I want to visit exotic places or take any kind of physical risks. I don’t travel on a shoestring, but I do keep an eye my budget.
    To read my latest entry, go to “A Solitary Traveler” to this blog.
www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/welcome

Anticipation is half the fun (almost)

3/28/2018

I fly to Italy a week from tonight. The week of getting has begun: delivering brownies, visiting, packing, and filling the freezer with 15 dinners for my husband, one for each night I’ll be away. This getting ready week speaks to the idea that “anticipation is half fun.” Although I don’t put any quantitative value on it, more than usual I find myself living in the moment as I go about these tasks, relishing what I do and why I do it. Brownie making, visiting, packing and cooking have a tad of spiritual practice to them.

A cottage by the sea, wherever you feel peace~

2/28/2018

   I am continually surprised that friends still think I am going to the cottage by the sea. Because I keep the title and picture for this blog, they assume I am still driving up to Maine and sitting on the deck looking out. Those days ended in 2015, but memories remain and as does my longing for silence, solitude and simplicity. Plus, I sometimes like to be alone.
     In place of this weekly cottage time, I have traveled more, and as I am confident to claim, I love traveling alone. This works out well because my husband loves staying home and working in the garden.
     When we went through our recent decision to move to a condo, I had to put off my usual spring trip to Italy. But when we came to our senses and decided to stay young in this old house for at least a few more years, I immediately got on the internet and arranged a trip to Italy with Monastery Stays. Usually I just go to Florence, but my April 4-19 itinerary is different: Rome (4 nights), Assisi (3), Cortona (1), and Florence (6). I’ll be staying at convents—guesthouses run by nuns. They are beautiful spaces, inexpensive, simple, and all ensuite.
     A cottage by the sea is wherever you feel at peace.