Launceston - packed and ready to go.

Although we have travelled to the northern hemisphere before, the excitement and anticipation has still been palpable in these few days leading up to our next departure. I guess every trip is different with regards to destination and time frame, but the trip we embark on tomorrow has us feeling somewhat apprehensive. Not because of the occasional havoc that brainless idiots wish to inflict in some European cities lately, nor the lout that is currently President of the United States who seems to be trying his best to make as many enemies as he can. No, while we’re away our thoughts will be with our daughter who is expecting her first child, and our first grandchild.  Her due date is October 9, which was our original return date from this trip until we made a quick adjustment with our Travel Agent to forgo a few days in Budapest and get home on October 6th. Talk about a BIG YEAR.

It was ten years ago when we went to Europe for the first time and celebrated Anne’s 50^th birthday in a little medieval village in the south of France. On that trip we ticked off quite a few places, and also on subsequent trips since, that we’d always wanted to see. This trip will tick off a few more. We’ll celebrate Anne’s 60^th on the Greek Island of Naxos, recommended to us by our friend Stephanie who has stayed there a few times with husband Tim. We didn’t want to stay on the popular trendy Greek islands like Mykonos or Santorini, as beautiful as they no doubt are, because we want to avoid the tourist crowds.

Then there will be an unusual twist for us, something we have never done before – a cruise. Not on the open sea - we will sail our way down several European rivers from Amsterdam to Budapest on board a luxury boat that seems to be a kilometre long, looking at pictures of it. With fifteen days exploring the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Hungary, we can unpack our suitcases while ticking off some more dream destinations.

The warm northern hemisphere will be welcome relief from what’s been a severely cold winter down south of Doununder. Nonetheless our daughter will be constantly in our minds. She’s healthy and happy, so we’re not worried, but the parental urge will have her first and foremost in our thoughts.