No Travel, Slow Travel

just for now...

2020 was to be my year of travel. 

Since moving to Portugal at the end of 2018 and getting down to the business of acclimating to life as uma estrangeira in a foreign land, I haven't had the time or opportunity to travel. I haven't even toured around Portugal.

Now that I've finally stopped moving from apartment to apartment to apartment (yes, three moves in less than a year and a half), this sad state of affairs was going to come to an end. I decided this would be the year I see more of Portugal and a few select places in Europe. 

But we all know what happened next. 

Not-so-Friendly Skies

Years before the pandemic I realized I wasn't keen on air travel. I've never been all that excited about it; for me, plane travel was just a means to an end.

Every flight left me feeling agitated, achy, and exhausted. And with increased flight security measures that seemed more ridiculous each year, an 8-hour flight could turn into a 24-hour day. Get to the airport three hours ahead of time, fly for a while, wait around for five hours if you have a connecting flight and good luck finding anything palatable to eat in the airport—and don't forget about flight delays! Yeah, flying is not my cup of tea. 

Slowing the Travel

I planned to make use of the extensive European rail network and the bus system to do my 2020 traveling (other than flying back to San Diego to visit my family in May, which did not happen). I wanted to use the overnight sleeper trains, devouring everything of interest on Man in Seat 61's website. If you're interested in train travel, when we are free to travel again, check out Man in Seat 61—it's a fantastic resource—and not just for Europe but worldwide train travel. 

When you think about long bus trips through Europe, don't think Greyhound (remind me to tell you about the time I took a night Greyhound from Eugene, Oregon to San Francisco...on second thought, let's skip that story). 

Many bus networks in Europe are quite comfortable and offer great value for those who want to go overland without driving. Of course, there are operators selling 7-euro seats on buses where you'll be packed in, no-frills, with a bunch of sweaty and drunk tourists getting from point A to Point B on the cheap, but that's not my idea of a good time. 

Yes, planes can get you to your destination in a fraction of the time it would take a bus or train, but that's not my interest, most of the time. If I need to be somewhere far away (say 4-5 air hours) on a particular date, flying it is. But I want to enjoy the journey and factor in the extra time and expense of getting there slowly. When I travel by train, I arrive in a much better state: mood, energy, and overall outlook. Also, because I can work anywhere as long as I have an internet connection, this slow travel doesn't hinder my professional life. 

I also like the idea, especially in Virus times, of having a sleeper car to myself—with a shower and a place to read while I enjoy a coffee and a snack (I like snacks). 

But you can get to <insert destination, here> in just a few hours! Why take days when you could fly? 

For Now, No Travel

For now, my travel plans are on hold.

Even locally, it presents challenges that I'm not up for. If I take the historic train trip along the Douro (see link below), I'll need to have a sitter stay with Milo. Then what? Do I try to sanitize every surface when I return because someone stayed a few days in my apartment? Or do I try to take Milo with me somewhere, knowing that he's anxious around other dogs and too much activity, which makes me nervous, which makes him… well, you get the idea. Not fun for either of us. And honestly, dogs prefer familiar surroundings, so it's not fair to him unless I could ensure his comfort. 

But who knows, maybe we'll try a mini-trip, take the train to Porto and stay in an Airbnb with the Clean & Safe certificate for a few days. I'm not in a rush, that's for sure. 

I'll probably just wait and see like we've all been doing, living our lives in 2-week chunks watching outbreaks rise and fall as we dream of traveling again. 

GOOD LINKS

• My friend Wendy, the Nomadic Vegan, just posted her guide to eating plant-based in Tuscany (travel dreaming…)

• Taking the slow train through Portugal's beautiful Douro Valley (should I?!)

• The Democrats' climate betrayal (more stellar journalism via Emily Atkin’s Heated newsletter)

—> If you enjoy life: examined and want to show appreciation, you can buy me a coffee (yay, coffee). Thank you for your support (and thanks to those who’ve already bought me a cuppa)!