Coffee Break [22/6/20]

It can be a struggle to get through the rest of the day.

One of my favorite things to do during work was dream about not working. With many of us telecommuting, and Covid still making travel difficult is there any point in wasting company time planning a trip that most likely will not happen? Of course! It’s fantasy vacation time – money is no object, you have unlimited paid leave, there is no political unrest, and you’re flying first class.

I have always wanted to visit Turkey. It has gorgeous beaches, including Kelebekler Vadisi a wildlife protection zone with over 80 species of butterflies. There are the beautiful mosques, museums, and bazaars of Istanbul. A Turkish Bath is a must. And Cappadocia, I’m fascinated by the landscape, and yes, I would stay in a cave hotel and take a touristy hot air balloon ride.

While on my Turkish holiday I’ll eat so much delicious food, drink all the Turkish coffee I want, and buy several kaftans which I’ll bring home and wear everyplace, much to the embarrassment of my family.

Where are you going?

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20 Comments

  1. I’ll meet you there because my dream trip is the Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul (not Constantinople).
    I think not having ‘stuff’ to really look forward to is messing with me. When all you see is endless days of work on your calendar, with no real breaks to look forward to, to get you through, it stinks! And for me like 50% of the fun is planning a trip. I make legendary itineraries for girls’ trips, in little booklets with all sorts of jokes and plans. The current sitch is No Fun.

    • I bet you get stuck doing all the planning because your itineraries are so fun. I really enjoy the planning too though. I like going north in the summer, Maine or Vermont, and further south in the winter to the beach. But here I sit, far from the cool mountains and probably the beaches will be closed in the winter and spring. *sigh*

      • Next time you’re in VT, I strongly suggest the SW corner of the state, particularly the Manchester/Dorset area. Beautiful country there as well as Emerald Lake State Park. For ME, if you are in Portland, I recommend DeMillo’s restaurant for lunch.

        • I never spent any time in that part. I have friends in the Lake Placid area of NY so when we try to see them then spend some time in Burlington. If we can ever travel again I’ll try to check it out

          • Mrs. Butcher used to live in Burlington and would buy ice cream from Ben and Jerry. I don’t mean “Ben and Jerry’s”. I mean Ben and Jerry. Their first store was an old gas station, and they had ice cream churns all over the floor that people would have to walk around (and avoid tripping on the extension cords) to get to the counter to place their order. She specifically remembers the screen door with the spring that would SLAM every time someone walked in or out.

            • That’s really cool. I love Burlington, I’d love to live there

  2. I was in Istanbul a long while ago and it is absolutely fantastic. It’s a lot like NYC in that there are major tourist attractions, but the city overall is very much locals going about their daily lives. Like NYC the cental core is also a walking city despite all the traffic. The food is fantastic. The Ottoman and Byzantine imperial buildings and archaelogical sites are as impressive as Rome. I went to Ephesus too, and it is really great. Wear comfortable shoes.

    • My niece went on her honeymoon and loved it. I’ts definitely on my bucket list.

  3. when we were in greece we popped over to turkey for a day
    mostly coz the missus wanted a picture of me trying to not look like im about to be murdered whilst getting a turkish shave..
    she had fun

    • I didn’t know a Turkish shave was a thing. I’m going to have to look that up.

      • first they threathen you with a scalpel….then they attack you with a boiling hot towel…
        think sweeney todd…minus the songs

  4. Hmmm…I’ve got two trips in mind. The first is the Italian countryside, in the area of Assisi. Stay there for maybe a month and eat all the Italian food. I mean All. The. Food.
    Second is driving through Canada up to Denali National Park, AK. I drove twice before, but had to blow through as fast as possible. This time, I’d like to take a month or two driving up, and camping in places like Banff and Jasper National Parks. Then getting a backcountry pass for Denali and spending another couple of weeks in the bush. For this trip, there would have to be one other, major, suspension of reality: Mrs. Butcher’s aversion to camping.

    • An older relative set up a family package tour of the Canadian Rockies — no camping, just hotels. Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise are really beautiful and there are all kinds of great hikes. I don’t know if they’re more beautiful than the US Rockies, but certainly not less.

      Someday if the time/money/virus factors all come together, I’d love to go to Patagonia.

      • I used to live in the American Rockies and I have to say that the Banff/Jasper/Lake Louise portion of the drive was always my favorite. I think it’s only second to Denali National Park in terms of sheer breathtaking beauty.

      • Oooh, that would be a good trip. I’d also love a photo safari in Botswana.

    • My daughter has spent some time in Italy and loves the area around Assisi. They only part of Canada I’ve ever been to is Niagara Falls. I’d love to drive around but I share Ames. Butcher’s aversion to camping. I did enough of it when I was younger. But I’d do the glamping thing in a big fancy tent with an actual bed. 😁

      • Any suggestions from your daughter regarding Italy and Assisi?

        Mrs. Butcher used to live in Buffalo, too:) She said the Canadian side of the falls was so much better. She’s lived in almost as many places as I have.

        God help me, she thinks a fully equipped RV is “camping”. One of these days, I’ll get her to see the light.

        • I’ll ask my daughter next time we talk. I think a fully equipped RV is roughing it! But better than sleeping on the ground.

    • Spain is on my list too.

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