Wednesday, 13 January 2021

The Year of Travelling Comfortably



Now don't get me wrong. I love travelling, and my two long train trips through continental Europe (to Switzerland and Germany) rate as among the highlights of my adventurous life so far. 

But still, the sad truth is that too often when Gail goes on holiday, I am consigned to what she euphemistically calls 'camp' and this is a whole lot less satisfactory. 

Well, for reasons familiar to all my readers, all thoughts of holidaying abroad had to be abandoned in 2020, and in place of her planned April trip to Berlin, Prague and Vienna, Gail opted to explore these places, and then many more besides, mostly via their literature, and in some case through history and travel books too. This was all accomplished from the comfort of the sofa, where I was more than happy to join her. 

Over the course of the last year, we've 'visited' the following countries:  

Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Albania, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, India, Soviet Union/Russia, Iran, Nigeria, Korea, Japan, Peru, and the USA.

It's all been very enjoyable and interesting, although I do have a minor quibble that, aside from Ċ vejk's rather disreputable background dealing in stolen dogs, us pups did not figure large in the reading list. 

I wonder what your humans do when they can't travel? (Or maybe they never ever like to leave you, which is most commendable.) 

19 comments:

  1. we agree with you for da svejk, the pup part was not one of his best ideas ;O) but we will read about his adventures again now, thanks for bringing a nice memory back ;O)

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  2. When my humans abandon me one of my Aunty Brienne comes to stay. She is lots of fun! She will practically throw my ball 24/7!

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  3. We are staying at home right now, Bertie, but in the past my human has talked about us going on some nice trips. She says that it isn't the right time for any travel at all.
    She seems to have lots of what she calls "hobbies", but they are not anything I can join in with. We do have lots of cuddles on the sofa though!

    Love,
    Inca xx

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    1. I've never understood why 'cuddles on the sofa' doesn't seem to count as a proper human hobby. Although Gail tells me she once did see a CV, in a job application for a quite senior technical post, where the applicant listed 'walking my girlfriend's dog' as one of his 'hobbies and interests'!

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    2. Bertie, I think we should ask that Sofa Cuddling is made into a proper hobby or even a sport!
      My human reads her Kindle and watches lots of travel documentaries on the TV. She will often say "look Inca, I've been there"! Some of the places seem a long way away, so I'm glad I wasn't here when she went. I'd have ended up in kennels for sure!

      Inca xx

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  4. Hari OM
    My word, that is quite some distance read and shared, Bertie lad. You'll need a wee rest after that - and of course there are many more countries to visit!!! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  5. We love that Gail is reading about travel and not leaving you at camp while she travels, Bertie. My mom loves reading and puzzling most of all.

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  6. Beau says what is travel? does a Sunday am ride for 30 minutes around our town count? Mama likes to visit other places but on her computer.. she pops from the eiffiel tower to London in a split second.. all she read is fiction.

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  7. Oh Bertie my friend I hear you loud and clear. Our 50th anniversary was Feb 14, 2020. We had plans to come across the pond but alas we didn't.
    I traveled to work at a Diamond and Related Materials conference were in Prague in 1999 and Budapest in 2001. Bryan went with me both times he nearly wore out a pair of new shoes walking all over each time. Words cannot describe the beauty.
    Hugs Cecilia

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  8. No travels here either. But at least we still do manage to get out and walk about our neighborhood. It is probably a good thing you didn't get here this year - not exactly the best place to be - our peeps are just embarrassed by the behavior of so many:(

    Hopefully it won't be too much longer before life as we like to call normal will return.

    Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber

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  9. I enjoy traveling in the historical past.... I see at bit of that in Gail's selections.

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  10. Like you Bertie, we enjoy nice local trips...Mama also is doing a bunch of reading to "escape" to far away places. The biggest thing keeping the pawrents from going crazy is looking high and low for a wheelie house so we all can travel together(Covid seems to be getting in the way of that too!).

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  11. We seem to have watched endless Michael Portillo train journeys, interspersed with Chris Tarrant. LOL!

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  12. Lady has lost her wanderlust and loves being at home. She will likely travel again. The Man is on the first plane out. Today is day 303 for us and we are back in lockdown. This time Lady is essential so she can still leave for work.

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  13. I am so glad that you got to snuggle with Gail while she traveled. That is perfect!

    We like to travel the American West. We have our LabMobile van so we never have to be separated from our pups. We missed two trips this year but resumed in October. Odd year.

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  14. The best way for her to travel and spend time with you

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  15. Ma has always liked traveling through books and movies and documentaries. She is a terrible traveler, butts wishes she loved it more, cause she would loves to travel to the Netherlands and Europe!
    I do thinks that snugglin' us puppers IS a hobby! who said it wasn't???
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  16. That's the perfect way to travel, Bertie. Our parents don't travel and have never left us for more than a few hours.

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  17. My mom can't wait to travel again, though I will miss her because we spend ALL of our time together now...it will be a big change for us pups!

    Your friend Rosie

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