At 2:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, I’m going on vacation until next Thursday morning at 10 a.m. when I return to work. Initially, I decided to take the time off, just because I don’t like my vacation hours to build up at the end of the year when I have to “use them or lose them.”
AND THEN…
Last month, I got an appointment for my first covid vaccination shot on Saturday in a nearby town (about an hour away), then a couple of weeks ago, another appointment for my first covid vaccination shot last night, which I took because it was in my hometown. My second is scheduled for Thursday, April 1. No fooling 😉.
SO NOW…
I am celebrating that, of course, which just happened also to be on the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring the world was in a pandemic.
AND THIS…
It is almost exactly one year from when the pandemic began for me too as the last day the library where I work was open was Saturday, March 14, and we closed Sunday, March 15, for several months before reopening.
My vacation begins appropriately right around the same time, as on March 14, I’ll already be into my vacation since Saturday afternoon. It will be almost a year to the day of when I went into isolation and have been slowly remerging since, both personally and professionally.
Now that you know the why, what is my plan for those 4 days and 19 hours?
THE ITINERARY
Over the first four nights, we’re going to northern England, Italy, Spain, Greece, Ireland and Boston. First through the lens of The Trip, the British TV/film series with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, that started in 2010 and ended last year. The duo first toured the north of England in the TV series that was then made into a feature film, then went to Italy, Spain, and Greece in subsequent series that also were made into feature films.
So, we’ll be going with them and adding Ireland, but of course, with a concert with Flogging Molly and then Boston with another concert, Dropkick Murphys, on the tail end of our tour. Along the way, we’ll eat meals, drink drinks (well, I will be every day but as Kim has to work Saturday and Sunday nights, she won’t be imbibing on those days) and watch other movies too (at least semi) representative of each country:
- Saturday, March 13, The Trip (northern England),followed by movie to be determined, fish and chips, Pimm’s.
- Sunday, March 14, The Trip to Italy, followed by Godfather: Part 3, Coda, ziti, amaretto, sambuca.
- Monday, March 15: The Trip to Spain, followed by a movie to be determined, paella, Sangria.
- Tuesday, March 16: The Trip to Greece, followed by My Big Fat Greek Wedding – during day sometime, Staged Season 2, spanakopita, ouzo.
- Wednesday, March 17: Two virtual concerts, Flogging Molly at 3 p.m. and Dropkick Murphys at 7 p.m., food to be determined, whiskey.
Oops, I almost forgot that naturally I plan on reading during my vacation, but I’m staying in one country: Italy with Inspector Montalbano and Andrea Camilleri as next up is The Wings of The Sphinx, the 11th in the series.
Sunday morning update: For my second English movie, I watched the first Paddington movie, although the second one is my favorite. I started the second one, but didn’t finish it. Maybe later today. Also I realized last night that I might be painting “this picture” as all sunshine and unicorns (with rainbows coming out of their butts?), and I wanted to add that this vacation is also a time for reflection me personally. Let’s face it, this has been one hell of a year for all of us, but I’m trying to find hope wherever I can and hopefully, can help you find some too, even if it’s just a sliver of sunshine in what can be a dark world.
Still an unfinished person... 
We got our first shots on the same day! It is such a relief that we’re finally moving in the right direction. All week long we’ve been talking about events from a year ago… daughters arriving from NYC, mad dash for supplies and TP, checking out the max number of books before the library closed. What a long year it has been! Your vacation sounds perfect. I need to look into The Trip. Enjoy!
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As I might have mentioned in another comment, a few of my book blogger friends got their firstly shot this week, some on Thursday too. Glad you are among them.
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Sounds like you are having fun so far. Enjoy the vacation.
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So far, so good but only one day in. Hope you are having a good day over at Mom and Dad’s. Will text you later, Sis. 😘❤️
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Not there yet but I’m sure we will.
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That sounds like a great covid friendly holiday, though if your first bit is in northern England then pimms should probably be replaced by some form of dark beer (a bitter).
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Thanks for the suggestion. I’m not a beer drinker, especially dark beer. So I chose to be representative of the country…even though following the movie, yes, I “should have” had dark beer. We also decided not to try to have all of the foods in the movies either. 🙂 A bit too fancy for our tastes.
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Fish and chips works
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They were good. Just right. Tonight (vegan) ziti that the wife is making.
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Nice.
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Congrats on the vaccine, I am eagerly awaiting mine! Great way to travel now & you picked good movies.
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Last night I added in the Paddington movies. Paddington 2 is one of my all-time favorites.
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Congratulations on getting your first vaccine and on your vacation. You travel plans sound wonderful. So many places and all from the comfort of home. 🙂 I hope you enjoy the movies and your reading. My husband and I are taking my daughter’s spring break off. My mom is coming for the first half. It’s been a year since we’ve seen her. She’s fully vaccinated now as am I. We’re thinking of spending a day at the Safari Park, which feels so . . . weird. I would be lying if I said it didn’t make me anxious. But it’s outdoors and open and we’ll be wearing masks. They are limiting the number of people in the park. This will be the first big thing we’ve done in a while in terms of putting ourselves out there since everything shut down a year ago.
Our libraries only recently opened for curbside service–they aren’t open for in-person visits yet. I miss being able to go.
I hope you enjoy your vacation!
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That sounds like a great spring break with your mom and daughter. We opened for curbside last fall, but only last month opened for browsing and only by appointment. Everything is by appointment, although we will assist people as they come up to our porch, especially with tax forms this time of year.
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You and I got our first vaccines on the same day! It really does feel good, doesn’t it. A small vacation through video sounds pretty wonderful; I hope you enjoy your break from work and find it restorative.
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Thanks, Helen, and congrats. From what I’m seeing, a lot of my book blogging friends from across the country are getting them. Glad you are among that group.
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First, I’m delighted that you have been able to get your first shot. My husband and I got our second vaccine on Wednesday, and now we feel the free-est we have felt in a year.
Second, I think your virtual vacation sounds great. Enjoy!
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I’m looking forward to the time you off.
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Sounds fun! My husband and daughter are watching the concerts on the 17th too. Him at home, her at college.
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Cool. They should be fun.
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This sounds like a lot of fun. I am going to check out The Trip. I love that you will be enjoying food from the region too. I love Pimm’s. Enjoy!
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I like the actors so I think I’ll like the movies. I hope they’re good since there are four. 🙂
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I”m so glad you were able to get your first shot! I can’t wait until Jason gets his. And eventually my boys too. Tomorrow will be the one-year anniversary of things descending into madness here. This whole week has been a barrage of memories from a year ago.
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Oh memories here too…
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