In 2018 I`m planning to take a three month break from work and travel around Europe.
I have thought about this for some years and the idea has been downsized from the original one of driving around the World !
Reality struck home and I had to reign in my enthusiasm when I thought about the practicalities of driving round the World.
It can be done of course, but I don`t think that one`s for me.
Anyway, I`ll be the big 60 in April, so what better time to do a trip around Europe.
The plan will be to see some of Europe that is so easily overlooked when rushing south for a fortnight of sun, sea and sand.
There will be some culture, chateaus, vineyards, lakes, rivers, forests, plains, mountains and valleys, Bavarian castles, Roman ruins, and hopefully some beautiful scenery. Some fine wine and some lovely beers, oh yes, some sun (hopefully), sea and sand as well !
Nothing is cast in stone but I hope to travel down the East side of France, calling into Belgium, Luxembourg and Moselle / Rhine Valley and Black Forest in Germany.
Crossing the Alps in Switzerland where I hope to see some stunning Alpine scenery.
After crossing the Alps, I`d like to spend a couple of weeks mooching around the Italian Lakes exploring Maggorie, Como, Iseo and Garda together with some of the smaller less well known and hopefully less touristy lakes which I imagine to have amazing scenery.
I`ll cross northern Italy, maybe stop over in Venice and Verona, then travel into Slovenia and then drop into Croatia.
From there I may take a ferry from Zadar, Split or Dubrovnik across to Italy, then back up through Tuscany.
After that I`m not sure, It`ll depend on how much time I have left, but at some point back up through France to Calais and home.
That`s the plan, whether it works out like that remains to be seen, I may not get out of France, there are so many interesting places to visit, I could happily spend three months there, I think ?
Although I am asking for three months off work, I`m not going to be stubborn enough to say I`ll definately be away for that long. I have never done anything like this before so I`m not certain how I will adapt to a life of travel.
But a motorhome provides that flexibility to re-assess things and change plans at a moments notice.
So who knows, watch this space !
- - - OOO - - -
Well, I asked at work about some unpaid leave in 2018 and, guess what, it was approved in principle, WOOPIE. Just a few HR issues to be resolved but no problems are expected.
So I can now begin planning the European trip I have had as a dream.
So much to decide, where to go, when to leave, what to take, Louis Pet Passport and vaccinations to organise.
Ah well, plenty of time to do it all but I`m sure it will go very quickly.
Let the planning commence..................
