Travel Snippets from around the World: "The Travel Bug"

"The Travel Bug"

The Travel Bug?

What is it exactly, this bug that never bites you until you actually alight from your first plane ride, ship cruise or scenic train ride through foreign and far-away places? You will be quietly content at home, perhaps for many years, and then suddenly, BAM, this bug gets into your head and you just cannot stop yourself from starting to plan the next trip or excursion just weeks after your return home?

It is called the "Travel Bug" and it has no cure once it has bitten you - and believe me, it will. As the "bug" is not physically harmful or painful, except to your bank balance, we will allow it to carry on biting us as we enjoy our travels.

My start in life happened in the small town of Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo, South Africa.

My father's accounting practice took him to Mossel Bay, Knysna and George and we loved the times that we could accompany him to the hotel in Knysna. We were also privileged to have a "bungalow" in Mossel bay so all the school holidays saw us packed and ready to drive over the mountains to our holiday retreat. It was all so very basic in those days - no running water, no electricity, and no flush toilet! But it was better than camping as we had 3 bedrooms, a tiny kitchen, dining room and a veranda with magnificent views of the bay. The Union Castle ships used to anchor in the bay every 2 weeks on their way to and from the UK and they were always a stunning and romantic sight. Perhaps my first thoughts of travel crept in during those early years?

The cluster of bungalows in Mossel Bay, all cheek by jowl, was called "De Bakke" and the land was leased from the Mossel Bay Municipality. When the Municipality decided in the early 60's to change all this, our families were told to break down their bungalows and vacate the land. A sad, sad day but it resulted in us moving to a "proper" house on the hill which is still in the family today. The "bungalows" at the "Point" in Mossel Bay were allowed to remain, much to our disgust, and they still stand today, selling at astronomical prices. We have to wonder who bribed the Council all those years ago!!

Life carries on and when my application to become an air-hostess was turned down, I turned to trial balances, income statements and balance sheets!

Boring and predictable?

Perhaps - but it did keep the wolf from the door, the children in varied sports gear and a holiday house at Rooi Els for their holidays.

All thoughts of overseas travel seemed very much on the back burner until the early 90's when I foolishly agreed to be the "Financial MOM" on a soccer tour of the UK. What the heck, I thought - perhaps this is the time to venture out and do a tour of Europe before meeting the soccer club in London. After much research, budgeting and planning, I chose a tour only to be told a few weeks later that this tour would not take place but they could offer an alternative one. I was rather disappointed until I found out that another soccer couple were on the same tour so I would have some South African company!

The tour was great and that horrid little "Travel Bug" bit me in so many places that there was no escape from the pesky blighter.

And that is where my travels began........!

Come and enjoy some of the journeys with me.