Travel!!!

Reverendmother’s Friday Five meme at the RevGalBlogPals is all abut getting out of town… So here we go!

1. What is one place you make sure to take out-of-town guests when they visit? (you can be vague to preserve your anonymity if you like)

Here in River City, we have an amazing waterfront. At one time in the city’s history, it was covered with docks, stores, etc. Now it is a miles-long park, with sculpture gardens, playgrounds, topiary, snack bars, fishing spots, fountains, benches, etc. Every year in late June, there is an amazing fireworks display over the river—a joint presentation of River City and Big American City Over There. They’re celebrating JuneTeenth (the celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery in the US) and the Fourth of July—we’re celebrating Canada Day. Everyone in River City, pretty much, goes to the river that afternoon/evening and watches. The best fireworks I have ever seen—and I’ve seen plenty. So I would take (and do take) visitors to see the riverfront, but if they are here at the right time, they see the fireworks, too.

2. When visiting another city or town, do you try to cram as much in as possible, or take it slow and easy?

That would depend on why I’m there. If I’m in town for a conference and have an afternoon when none of the sessions appeals to me, I’ll leave the conference and do some sight-seeing. But if I’m there on vacation, I try not to schedule too much at one time—it is my vacation, after all!

3. When traveling, where are we most likely to find you: strolling through a museum, checking out the local shopping, or _________________?

Probably the museum or historical sites. The other alternative is just wandering the streets, getting a feel for the place, maybe sitting in a sidewalk café reading the local paper (assuming it’s in a language I can read!).

4. Do you like organized tours and/or carefully planned itineraries, or would you rather strike out and just see what happens?
I try to strike a balance between planning—so I get to see what I want to see—and spontaneity, so that I can take advantage of opportunities, or take an afternoon off if I want/need to. That unplanned part of a trip may be the most memorable part!

5. After an extended trip, what do you find yourself craving most about home?

My bed. That and my own dresser/closet. I get very tired of unpacking and repacking. I took a two-week trip through England, Wales and Scotland once, travelling by train. About halfway through I realized I had brought way too many clothes. Now I make a point of packing half of what I think I need—and twice the cash!

The photo is of Salisbury Cathedral in England, and yes, I did take this one myself, from a bridge over a small stream near the cathedral. The light was amazing that day--we went from Salisbury out to Stonehenge, and I got some great photographs there as well.