Travel in the Time of Coronavirus

This time last summer, we were 30 days away from, and I was so excited about, a month-long trip to Italy.

I honestly think the planning part was JUST as exciting as the actual trip ... which may seem weird to some, but to us, it was a LOT of fun as we envisioned our long-awaited first sojourn to the land of art and wine and food and new friends and oh-that-scenery.

All that planning paid off – it was an amazing, wonderful, photo-opp-at-every-turn, adventure-filled trip.

Which brings me to today. Today we should be several months into the planning of our next trip. We'd not quite decided in late 2019 whether it would be Provence, or Ireland | Scotland | Wales.

The land of wine and lavendar and sunflowers and villas?

Or pints and green hills and castles?

By March of this year it was clear we weren’t going anywhere soon – and that was a hard (very hard!) reality for these two inspired travelers.

So ... what do you do when your heart is yearning for the next adventure, but science and the medical experts are saying you need to WAIT? When your feet are ready for days of walking but your mind knows the only safe walking is around the neighborhood – with a mask on?

You get online and let your imagination take your heart and feet where they long to go. You explore delightful travel blogs, fun fiction (thank you Peter Mayle and John Banville!), virtual museum and castle tours ... oh my goodness ... there are LOTS of ways to travel, even if you’re doing it via computer screen and books.

Here’s a list of some of my fun travel favorites that I'm perusing while I wait (hopefully ... patiently) for a successful global COVID-19 vaccine. While virtual travel is not the same as being there in person, it’s a GREAT way to whet my appetite for when I CAN travel again.

And this traveler? She’s Oh. So. Ready. (When the time is right and we’re all safe and healthy!)

Great Travel Websites:

Rick Steves Travel

Fodors Travel

Provence, France: FindUsLost

The Provence Post

Nomadic Matt The Good Life France

Ireland | Scotland | Wales: Ireland.com

Travels with a Kilt

The Irish Roadtrip

Travel TV: Rick Steves Travels