Culture and Travel!

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When The British go on holiday, they tend to have a set routine.  Lying on the beach and drinking is their priority.  British people are not very cultured, sophisticated or enlightened.  They holiday in English enclaves, drink in British pubs and vacation in resorts that cater for their needs.  Year after year, time after time, this is how they spend their two weeks holiday. This was not always the way it used to be of course, The British used to be very refined, going on Grand Tours of Europe, pioneers of World travel and of course the mother country, for the biggest Empire, the World has ever known.  Somewhere along the line we lost our cultural ways and turned into a Nation of drunken louts.  That saddens me, because although I like having a drink myself, there is a whole World to experience out there.  So many people are missing out!

​Below are a few of my favourite places, I have visited over the years!

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Italy

I like to think of myself as pretty cultured. I am certainly well traveled and I enjoy experiencing new and exciting opportunities.  One of my most favourite Countries, I have traveled to six times now, is Italy.  We first flew to Sorrento in 2001 and spent time enjoying one of the most beautiful regions of the World.

When you see Pompeii up close, you can't help but fall in love with the place.  In fact from Rome, to Venice, Vesuvius and Amalfi, or the Island of Sardinia, we have fallen head over heels with all of it!

Why would anyone not want to experience all that Italy has to offer.  The Country is a wash with treasures from antiquity, the mesmerizing Vatican, Colloseum, fantastic food, scenery and welcoming people.  For me, Italy would always be top of my list of holiday destinations, you really can´t beat it. I have some wonderful memories from spending time there and hope to travel back there, once the season ends here in Spain, this time to Florence, a place I haven´t seen yet!

Malaysia

Another one of my favourites, Malaysia in the far east.  We have flown here twice now.  Kuala Lumpur, never ceases to amaze me.  We first went in 1997 and secondly in 1999.  I was amazed at how much this great City had changed in such a short space of time.  When we went there for a second time, there was a whole new underground network and tram system.  This city is constantly changing and evolving, as these places tend to in the far east.  Old  colonial    buildings   sit

nestled between tall, glass skyscrapers, set in a tropical landscape, surrounded by palm trees and mountains!  Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of cultures and views.  It is a welcoming City.  The people are gracious, polite and attentive.  I will have many fond reminiscencies from this part of the World.  When we return home to Australia, we will certainly be stopping off here for a final farewell!

United States

I was lucky enough to spend some time in New York, after the twin towers came down in 2001.  This is a City full of culture, despite the the old cliche that America has none.

Thus far I have refused to travel to Florida, although I would love to go to Texas.  I prefer the Northern states of America myself and think the architecture and find the people much more discerning

New York was an eye opener for me.  It is the one and only time I have been to The States, and enjoyed it immensely.  I hope to go back there before we travel home to Australia, but if not, New York will be an enduring, everlasting memory, for me to take with me, back home!

Spain

We first traveled to Spain in 2000, when we went to Barcelona, followed by Denia in 2004, when we stayed in a villa in the mountains,  I have to say I fell in love with the country then.

Currently we moved to Spain  in January of this year and am enjoying living and working with the Spanish and English alike.  Spain is probably my Country of choice to live in.  We hope to travel a lot while we are here, exploring the region 

as well as the rest of Spain and Portugal.  The weather is perfect for SAD, something I used to suffer with in the UK.  It is great for arthritis, as well as a variety of other ailments!

The culture in Spain is vast, from Gaudi architecture to Moorish influence in the most southern regions.  From Bull Fighting, flamenco dancing, dramatic coastline and stunning scenery, Spain has now become our home of choice, and we are very happy to be living here!

Hrvatska

We have traveled to Hrvatska many, many times.  Darrell's family come from there and we are always welcomed.  We first went to Pula in the north in 2006 and then went every year thereafter, staying with family in Split and Podgora, along the Dalmation coast.

The north is very different.  It has the best preserved ampi theatre in the world, has rugged rocky terrain and some breathtaking scenery!

The Dalmation Coast is also beautiful and largely untouched, giving it a charm, akin to The Costa's in the 1950s.  We also spent time is Mostar, in Bosnia and drove to the historic city of Dubrovnik, which, although damaged during the Bulkan War, has been rebuilt.  You would never know there was any damage.  Bosnia is very different, with war torn buildings left in situ, as a reminder of mans inhumanity to man.  A stunningly eerie place to go!

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Travel Broadens The Mind

Everybody should travel and do it while you are still young. Darrell and I, have been traveling all over the World, for many years.  We have experienced many different cultures, eaten street food and lived in local communities.  Personally I could spend a life time traveling, if I had the resources, but we all have to work to pay bills.

In The UK, we did seem to work a lot more than the rest of Europe.  Each one of us fighting to keep a career, move up the corporate ladder, buy a home and bring up children.  There seemed to be very little time to spend with family and friends and all our lives were preoccupied with money, how much we could earn and how much we could spend. This isn't the case on the continent.  There is certainly more time to spend with families, as well as longer holidays to explore other places.  There is of course a trade off for this.  In Europe people work longer hours, with a siesta each day, between 2pm and 5pm.  Money is lower and the hours can be unsocial, time goes faster and employment laws can be more restrictive.  When one weighs up the pro's and con's, I would say I am happier here.

Living in continental Europe, you have access to some of the most beautiful places on Earth, right on your door step. One spends very little time at home, in doors.  It is an outdoor life in Spain and I am enjoying it.  In The UK, I rarely spent time outdoors, looked pale and always felt ill.  Here I am well, tanned and always walking or traveling about.

In reality, if we had not had traveled so much, from such an early age, I don´t think we will be living in Spain today.  I come from a family who never left the boundary of Fareham in The UK.  For their whole entire life, they have not left this small town.  They have no experience of life, outside their bubble, do not understand how others live and have seen no other culture, to compare their own lives with.  Small town people, have small, closed minds.  Travel broadens ones mind and opens it up to new experiences, tastes, sights and sounds.  As human beings we all need to be stimulated, in order to enjoy a fulfilled life.  Without 'life experience', we have nothing to live for.  We have nothing to look forward to and nothing to give us hope for our own future

For both Darrell and myself, now, travel and exploration is the most important undertaking.  Of course we do intend to return to Australia one day and we move ever closer to home.  Life is certainly for living, and we intend to live it!

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