The CDC listed Belgium as a “do not travel” country on November 1, 2021, and the graphs of COVID cases suggest a surge has begun in Europe, so my plans to take my son to Brussels in December have been cancelled. I was looking forward to staying at the Hilton Brussels Grand Place and my son wanted to see the Smurf statue near the hotel.
I was last in Belgium in early 2019, and enjoyed the chocolate and beer. Looking forward to when we can return.
Grand Place of Brussels
We may do a domestic road trip in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Vermont. Any recommendations of picturesque destinations in December? P.S. We do not ski…
Just as Taylor Swift has famously released her Red album, again, this weekend. I’ve been thinking of looking back in order to move forward with my life, with my blog.
This weekend I took my 16 year old son to visit University of Maine – Farmington. And although I kept my (mostly positive) comments to myself, I couldn’t help thinking of my undergraduate experience and how that, in many ways, it marked the beginning of my adult life. And now I’m watching him start to envision the start of HIS adult life. Deep sigh filled with lots of love, for him, for life.
So, what does going to college have to do with travel? And why bring it up on a blog? I started this blog to share what I have seen, and I realize that my “ending” of parenting elementary school aged children is someone else’s (HIS) beginning. And when you get on that plane to a new destination, someone else on that same plane is on their way home from their adventure, their work trip, perhaps their goodbye to a loved one.
I’d like to take this blog deeper than hotel rooms and destinations, and reflect on what travel does for us and to us. It makes us grow up and deal and realize that the outside world often doesn’t follow the same rules that you have at home. The language can be different and the views outstandingly different. The journey takes us along paths that others have walked before (perhaps for centuries). We can be the guide or the guided. And in between take off and landing, there are moments of anticipation, excitement, and deep reflection.
Mitchell Road trees
This morning in church, our pastor mention the “inward turn” that people take in worship. Where the prayers are private, unspoken. But you take that journey in community, just as we journey in a row of people on an aircraft. Where we think we are ending a journey, we are taking steps on a new one. Surrounded by others on their own path. Those interactions we do permit, even if it’s a smile behind a mask, reflect our human community.
So, as a parent, I treasure where our family is right now. And even as this blog has been slow to take off, I’ll keep sharing where I’m at with this community, who values travel as much as I. On the way to church, I heard the song, “Closing time” by Semisonic, and the lyrics said “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end”. Yes, be it college, childhood, motherhood, a place or a relationship.
So, today, I’ll enjoy Taylor Swift’s Red Album (TV), the remaking of her past, so wise, so admirable.
Do you have any endings or beginnings you can place in the comments. Even if it’s a word that’s meaningful to you? As the end of the year is upon us and leaves are falling, what are you leaving behind or moving toward?
Our summer vacations are done (to Wisconsin and Washington State).
We seen TWO tropical storms in the past week (Fred and Henri)
I’m enjoying interacting more with everyone on Instagram (@turtleshelltravel)
Continuing to take baby steps forward to create an remote lifestyle for myself and my family. Am concentrating right now on the goal of being a travel influencer. I plan to create partnerships with brands that will add value to your life and create unique, quality experiences for the every day traveler.
In turn, I want to give back and funnel my profits to help people who need it most, to support companies that Do Good. To give that boost to local business who do so much to create the culture and serve where God has planted them.
My vision is becoming clearer. You’ll see more content and opportunities in the coming months. Thanks for joining me on this journey!
Here’s the thing. I love planning travel, whether it’s for myself or for others. I down right enjoy putting together a great flight itinerary, using or earning friends and family valuable mileage points. And I want to start doing this for clients — like you!
I’m starting small…LIVE On my instagram account @turtleshelltravel today is an offer to help Las Vegas foodie travelers find a fun, fantastic restaurant during their stay. This helps a traveler not have to spend valuable time during their vacation asking around about restaurant recommendations. In addition, many of the best restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip are booked in advance, so waiting to plan meals until you arrive can be too late.
This is where I come in. I will interact with you and find out what kind of foodie experience you and your friends enjoy most…romantic dinner for two with fantastic wine….fun girls night out with drinks and small plates…dinner with other couples to catch up? I’ve got you.
I’ve been traveling to Vegas for years and love picking the restaurant. Let me do that for you.
Check out my IG post for details!
More to come.
Thank you for visiting my site. If you’re seeing this – I would love for you to comment – even if it’s to say “hi” so I can make sure comments are working. Blogging is new to me and I’m no expert, so knowing you’re hearing me will help immensely.
COVID19 is fading away for many of us in the US, which means travel restrictions are loosening. Can you feel the freedom? I sure can. I’ve spent over a year wearing a mask 12 hours a day at work (in a hospital) and while walking my dog, grocery shopping, visiting with my parents. Now that I’m vaccinated, I am ready to get back out there, doing the things I love…flying across the country and staying in great hotels.
This summer, I’ve scooped up my motivation to create content. I can’t wait to share my travels with you.
My upcoming plans include a new posh hotel in Portland, Maine, an IHG stay in Wisconsin, and a visit to the Hampton Inn in Woodinville, Washington, followed by a stay with Northwest Island Escapes near Roche Harbor on San Juan Island.
the past few months have been interesting, to say the least. As someone who once aspired to be a travel blogger, even a traveling nomad, I can’t begin to process the impact of COVID19.
Being “safer at home” for 11 weeks now has changed my perspective. I had not planned to travel for the first 6 months of 2020, thanks to two mortgage payments from a recent move to the East Coast, so at first, in the late winter, I welcomed a “cozy” time at home with my kids (and eventually my now “working from home” husband) in our new house in a wooded neighborhood in Maine. We got a puppy in January – of course named her “Pilot” – which was even more reason to stay close to home. But then travel outside the state was “discouraged”. And as of today, we have to quarantine for 14 days if we leave the state for domestic travel.
I suspect the travel quarantine will be lifted in the next 6 weeks, but 1/2 of our summer plans have been canceled. A summer of “normalcy” I was so looking forward to has evaporated and I feel like March 13 has been with us eternally.
So, with this blog, I will “pivot”! To musings about travel while not actually doing it. I may reminisce on past travels. 3 decades of journals stored in my closet are rich with memories and reflections.
I set up this blog over the course of a few months in mid-2019, intending to add affiliate links, grow my following, and share stories.
Shortly after my first blog post – our family decided to move 1300 miles away from our home base – to the Portland, Maine area.
We have successfully relocated. And in the process, have decided not to pursue blogging at this time, mostly because my travel plans are on hold for the next year.
I will update here when I am ready to resume. Thank you for dropping by.
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