2024 has been another
year of lots of travel. And very nice too, thank you very much, don’t mind if I
do.
It’s another ‘big’
year (any excuse) as it is 45 years since we emigrated to the Netherlands (J in
April, me and the girls in September), and in December, I turn 70. So, plans
have been made!
We decided to avoid as
much of winter as we could and J found us (and convinced me to go for it) a
great wee place in the Algarve, Portugal, for two months - Albufeira
for February and March, plus the 1st week in April.
Well, that was a great success! We were soon researching different accommodation
for 2025 and are now booked for *3* months next year in a lovely little studio
apartment. Great stuff. It was just lovely being out and about every day,
meeting new folks and seeing new places. Never been on so many beaches in my life and we both loved it. Never wore a jacket the whole time. Barely
cooked, we could eat out so cheaply (and travel cheaply too, pensioners that we
are). We visited Faro, Quarteira and Portimao (Plaia da rocha) plus
Olhos d'Agua and spent our last week in Lagos.
One week after we got
home, I was off to see Emma and the boys in Scotland (Larkhall)
for a mid-week. A sorely needed burst of big and little kids.
28th of May
we were off to the Costa Blanca in Spain - Benidorm. The idea had
been to join L&A but it had all been looking too expensive so we had already decided
not to… then he saw a good deal and booked it before realizing it was the wrong
dates to be meeting up with them! We left two days before they got there, haha.
Anyway, it was a fun week and we will definitely be going back (and coordinate
things better next time). We also visited Altea and Font de Algar.
Then it was June,
and I had (just me) another full week in Scotland - Larkhall at T’s
invite so I wouldn’t miss F’s rather good orchestra concert with his
saxophone, oor wee star. Also visited Edinburgh to see family on both
sides, and L&A!
I was only three days
back from there and we zoomed off to Tenerife in Spain again for ten
days, end June to 1st week of July. The north of the island
this time, Puerto de la Cruz. The plan had been to visit the south of
the island on day trip(s) but it turned out to be at least 2 hours there and 2
hours back on 2 different buses, so we didn’t bother. Boat trips also all leave
from the south so those were out too. We had a really lovely hotel though with fabulous gardens and it’s a
very nice town with the best botanics we have ever visited. Also visited La Laguna (ex-capital of the island). Nothing
great, but ok with a very nice house/museum). We had great weather, but more
cloud than we like - still lovely and warm though.
August is next, and we’re all booked 19-26th around our 51st wedding anniversary, for Macedonia - a place called Ohrid, on a huge lake. A totally different part of the world for us, I’m excited to discover it. I will update this page once we’ve been. UPDATE... nice little town on a lovely lake with great little beaches all along the lakeside. Our hotel was 15 minutes in a taxi from town (also on the lakeside but not as nice) so would definitely recommend being IN town), but otherwise a lovely wee place. A week long enough to cover everything including boat trips around. Food wasn't great to be honest, but lots of nice enough bars and restos.
September, me and the girls are all booked for Croatia - Cavtat, for a four-day weekend together. Just we three for once,
hopefully to be repeated. L&E and I all arrived in NL on 28th
September 1979 so it is to celebrate that, plus my 70th, together (although
that’s not until December) as J and I will be away then, and E won’t be in NL
either. We’ve a lovely apartment with hot tub, and tourist cards paid for
already, plus a lovely restaurant booked before we fly home. Should be lovely,
will update.
October we're off to the island of Ischia next to Capri! Will update.
November, I have vague plans to go back to Scotland,
Larkhall, for F’s 13th b’day. We’ll see.
December, we’re off to El Arenal on Mallorca,
Spain for 10 days around my 70th birthday - update to come.
Then it’s a boring and
cold six weeks or so before we head to Albufeira again for 3 months in
2025 (January being skipped for travel entirely). And the circle is round 😊
