Travels with Jimmy (part 2)

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 1^st 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.

28^th 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 1^st 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 19-26^th around our 51^st 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 28^th September 1979 so it is to celebrate that, plus my 70^th, 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. UPDATE... we had a really fab time! 1st time just us three together and it was terrific, other than poor Em' being relegated to the living room bedsetee instead of sharing a room with me, due to my snoring haha. Cavtat is gorgeous, we loved it and I hope to return with J some day. Dubrovnic is also a definite must see and we celebrated my birthday early there, with a lovely dinner at the best spot, looking over the town. 

October we're off to the island of Ischia next to Capri!  Will update. UPDATE... great hotel with our evening meals included, which was great.Shuttle bus down the hill (thank goodness) but we got weekly bus tickets too and circled the island a few times. Also climbed (me, *almost*) mount something or other which will forever be the last one he ever attempts I'm thinkin' hahaha.

November, I have vague plans to go back to Scotland, Larkhall, for F’s 13^th b’day. We’ll see. UPDATE... soon after, so I finally got to see Finlay in his drama club's panto. He was terrific in it... the Big Bad Wolf... and it was so nice to see him enjoying himself. Hunter will join the club next year.

December, we’re off to El Arenal on Mallorca, Spain for 10 days around my 70th birthday - update to come. UPDATE... Arenal self, proved mostly shut, end of season, and it's otherwise nowt much to see to be honest, but it was nice having the beautiful beach to ourselves and we did find a few decent places still open and could sit in the sun, watching the sea. Palma is only 20 minutes away on the bus and that's a really lovely place, enjoyed that a lot and saw loads - even meeting up with a long-standing FB friend! We had decent weather, 17C mostly, and only rained once. Hotel was great, with fantastic buffets. Arenal will be like Albufeira in the summer... mobbed, I'm sure, so we were happy enough to miss all that. 

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 😊

UPDATE... he's been contemplating three months in Italy, Lucca later in the year, and meanwhile got me booked for a fortnight in Canada, Toronto,  to see P mid-September. He might just then go those two weeks instead. Still to be decided. We also hope to meet up with L&A properly again in Spain, Benidorm in June, also not yet decided. So there will be a proper list made up in the new year :) Plenty of open space to fill in, but July we will mostly be decorating the l'room (hopefully!, it's been needing it for years already) so there are weeks we can't go anywhere.