Travel and Other Things

Travelling overseas is not for the faint-hearted … at least not these days.

Travelling was an experience that my father believed should be a part of our education (for his three children) and I definitely agree. Even recently, my husband and I had the opportunity of travelling to Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. I still learnt a few things and thoroughly enjoyed, as I always do, immersing myself in diverse cultures and experiencing the buzz and hubbub that necessarily accompanies travelling when you go on flights and trains. These nearly all turned out to be double digit journeys as my husband wryly informed me (at the end of this trip). Of course, the distance from Australia to anywhere (!) is long, but we actually had a few delays and detours that were not of our own making.

In fact, it was a busy voyage and probably a bit ambitious as we hopped around. It was rather like a degustation menu where we sampled tempting delights but couldn’t have the satisfaction of a hearty meal. Sometimes, indigestion was par for the course at the speed of moving on!

Nevertheless, we were able to do other things, important things, like catch up with family and friends. These days, for the most part, extended families are spread all over the world. Despite, as Shakespeare opines, “parting is such sweet sorrow,” travelling in these bite-sized sojourns has made for some wonderful memories that I will treasure forever.

Digital travel (surfing online) or speaking ‘digitally’ is just not the same. One cannot submerge oneself in all of the five senses. I feel that it is a half-hearted experience although, of course, it is sometimes all we have. Certainly, it is better than the old-fashioned phone calls that sometimes had to be booked, especially if calling overseas!

Sadly though, the quantity of people that are now travelling has resulted in ‘glutting’. Time and again, whilst making our way around Europe, we were caught up in plane and train delays. This resulted in being ‘bunched up’ in queues and waiting areas during hot summer temperatures and tired people. Those situations were unpleasant and frustrating and diminished the excitement of travelling onto the next place. 

My biggest takeaways, due to the changed international environment, would be to purchase what is called an eSIM for communication and to book buses, taxis, trains, and Ubers, in advance. At one boutique hotel (in Italy), the promised internet connection was non-existent, and we were met by a shrug of the shoulders! Another time, we had to walk two kilometres with our suitcases from our hotel to the train station as all the taxis were booked the next day for a festival. Granted, both occasions were in Italy in regional areas, but still, we do come to expect such conveniences and can get caught out.

Back to my father, though. He loved experiencing new things, although he would certainly have been caught out badly nowadays, as he was always doing things at the last minute. For instance, we were always the last ones to board a plane. As a child, I recall being highly embarrassed as, on several occasions, other passengers jeered or clapped as we stumbled breathlessly on board as they slammed the plane doors behind us!

Below is an extract from ‘Ciao! We’re in Africa’ where my parents took an impromptu trip to the world-renowned Victoria Falls. As a last-minute escapade, accommodation had not been booked. As always though, my father came up with a plan … #travelling #international # Italy #Victoria Falls #Africa

We stop at the information centre to look at times for viewing Victoria Falls. Then we drive up to the impressive Victoria Falls hotel. Everyone sighs in relief. We pile out of the car and stretch gratefully. I leave Bambi with Esther and follow Eugenio into reception, as I need to go to the bathroom.

“Two rooms for two nights please,” I hear him ask confidently. “And can you tell me where the restrooms are?”

The receptionist looks at me and then points to a sign in the corner. I head in that direction and hear her ask for the name in which a room booking has been made. By the time I return, a discussion has obviously ensued. But somehow, Eugenio seems to have the upper hand.

“Well alright, just for one night then,” is the receptionist’s frustrated tone. “You can use the smoking room, but only after nine o’clock tonight. It’s one big room. You can close the doors and there are comfortable sofas. But you need to be out of there by eight o’clock tomorrow morning.” Her tone brooks no argument.

“Grazie signora. Thank you, madam. We are indebted to you,” Eugenio humbly responds.

“Indebted?” Cirillo’s voice queries. “Is that a word?” Cirillo’s come inside to find out what’s taking us so long.

Eugenio calls him un buffone [a buffoon]. “You can barely speak English, so don’t question mine.” He playfully throws a mock punch as they make their way outside to alert the others to the slight delay in check-in.

“Well, it’s just as well we only arrived here late afternoon,” comments Esther drily. “Otherwise, we’d have to wait more than a couple of hours in this hot and humid climate.”

“Ah, Esther,” Eugenio pats her cheek. “You’re incorrigible. I found us a place to stay, didn’t I?”

Two hours later, after a leisurely dinner, we’re re-arranging the smoking room.

“Let’s move the sofas backwards to make a space in the middle,” Eugenio instructs with military precision. “We’ll take off the cushions. If we put all of them on the floor, there’s a nice comfy bed for us.”

“Si, capitano.” Cirillo gives a mock salute.

“Eugenio, please go and get Bambi from the car before she starts barking. And you can do the explaining if we get found with a dog.”

“I’ll walk out with you Eugenio, I need to go to the bathroom,” says Cirillo with a small bag under his arm.

Bambi is excited to be amongst humans again, and we make a fuss of her. But as soon as Cirillo walks into the room, we all stop and stare. Even Bambi senses our disbelief and trotting up to Cirillo, she sniffs at his trouser leg suspiciously.

“Sul serio? Seriously? You walked through the corridor dressed like that?” Eugenio exclaims.

Cirillo defensively brushes down the front of his blue and white striped pyjamas. “I’m dressed for bed. I can’t sleep unless I’m wearing my pyjamas.”