April 25, 2007

I’m just back from vacation. Note that I didn’t say I’m just back from a well deserved vacation.

Whatever, the vacation involved a car to get to the airplanes to get to the cruise ship. The traveling part was uneventful except for the airplane window that cracked in flight causing us to quickly land at an airport I hadn’t intended on being at.

Some thoughts about vacation:

• Whether the vacation is well deserved or not, I usually need to rest after taking one. Being on vacation can be tiring.

• It is quite easy to strike up conversations with fellow travelers, sometimes too easy. Many travelers tell you personal things about themselves, things you might be better off not knowing.

• A vacation week passes more quickly than a week at work, which reminds me of a bumper sticker. “A Bad Day of Vacation is Better Than a Good Day at Work.”

• The worst day of vacation is not the day you leave for home. The worst day is the day before that when you start thinking about leaving for home.

• Many people send postcards and buy souvenirs. I stopped doing that long
ago, which might explain why I never get a postcard or souvenir.

• They still have pay phones but I don’t know why. Everybody has a cell and they are using them.

• Walking barefoot looks appealing in vacation brochures but it hurts my feet.

• bought clothing during this vacation on which was printed the names of places visited. Why I advertise these places for free is beyond me.

• I spend money on vacation that I’d never part with at home. This includes $5 cans of beer.

• Why do I always feel uneasy going through customs? Speaking of which, my biggest fear when I’m out of the country is losing my passport.

• Even if you don’t do a lot on vacation it costs a lot.

• I always pack things I never use, but I feel good to have them.

• People who smoke are having a tougher and tougher time finding a place to do that.

• No matter what anyone says, the rooms on cruise ships are small.

• Everybody wants to go to the same places. I wish tourists would go to places I didn’t want to visit. Those places are already too crowded.

• I miss being able to bring my Swiss Army knife with me when I travel.

• Some people feel sad on the way home from a great vacation. I never do because I’ve already set the date and place for my next one.
 

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Joe Kelly is the editor and publisher of The Boonville Herald & Adirondack Tourist and THE GRIFF.