The REAL 50ish group...3/22/29

Well, the only vacation I’ve actually taken after 50 was to Disney World with my husband, last January for my 50th birthday. It was a good trip (cold though). Divorce had been on the table for us for quite a while, but during that week we were really able to connect and talk and decided divorce isn’t what we wanted to do.

DW was fun too. It was our first time there and cold, like I mentioned, but we were able to get a lot in. I’m in no hurry to return though. Disneyland is much more my speed .

We were talking about taking an Alaskan cruise sometime in the future, but obviously cruises are a no-go right now and I wouldn’t dare until the industry gets a clean bill of health for a while. My husband is in Afghanistan right now and we also talked about meeting up in Dubai some time, but that will have to wait too.

I did my dream vacation about a year after my divorce, in 2012.  It was a River Cruise (AMA Waterways) from Amsterdam to Budapest, for 16 days.

IT was wonderful - cruising slowly, seeing the countries from the water and visiting so many places without having to unpack.  I was alone on this trip and it gave me space to really evaluate what I was going to do, when I got home.  I do speak German and was able to connect with many locals and the freedom was wonderful.  The trip was in June, so not very busy in the tourist areas.  My favorite day was sitting on the top of the ship, drinking a glass of wine with the wonderful vineyards sailing past me.

I did another trip in 2014, and this was a month in Europe.  2 weeks on a Coach Tour of Eastern Europe and 2 weeks all by myself in Western Europe.  I had a great time, was able to do things on my own pace (last 2 weeks) and felt very comfortable doing "my thing".

I also went to Iceland in 2014.  Saw Minky whales, the waterfalls, the ice-fields, hot spas, the whole deal.

So glad that I traveled when I did.  Europe has changed and I don't know if I would go by myself anymore.  

Well, I'm fairly new to 52, and we haven't been many places since then, LOL. We went with dh's family on a group vacation this summer, and I don't want to talk about that. LOL. A couple of years ago dh and I had spent a few days in the Galena IL/Dubuque IA area, and it was a great getaway, as odd as it sounds. Really loved this time away.

Dh (our family vacation planner-- I just show up) has been thinking about Hawaii for all of us, figuring it might be our last vacation as a foursome as our girls are older now. However, he's reluctant to schedule, not knowing whether the trip will be possible when we are able to go. 

I haven't really traveled after 50. We could travel easily, because we have airline employee benefits due to an immediate family member, but I am not a reliable traveler, due to my health. We did several cruises, because they have infirmaries. We're hoping to do another cruise this year, but we'll have to see. I see a specialist in another state and do go there for treatment every couple of years. Does that count? I hope my boys will use their benefits to travel the world.

I only turned 50 last May and we've had one holiday since then, to Zakynthos, one of the Greek islands. It was really lovely, and when we got home we immediately booked this year's holiday to the same hotel for the first time ever. Now we're waiting to find out how we stand with cancelling/refunds etc. because of course we won't be going.

Our next-door-neighbour had a trip to Europe booked for 2 days ago. They got the money back for the hotel but the airline has told them it is not refunding them. Whether it is waiting for its insurance to kick in or not, we don't know. Scary times.

Well, since there has only been one trip since I turned 50, and that trip was partially for my 50th birthday, I’d have to say our trip to California last fall. Disneyland for 3 days, a day touring Hollywood, and then a week drive up the coastal highway ending in San Francisco.

And we ate our way from Anaheim to San Francisco lol!

I ate my way through Italy and enjoyed it. We have postponed our trip to Portugal twice as of this afternoon so that’s just life.

Probably the 3.5 weeks we spent in England last Oct. We spent a couple of days in London, then headed way up north to the Scottish border for a week, followed by another week Norfolk area and finished with a few more days in London. We hiked and went to loads of castles, monasteries, priories, church ruins, etc. I crossed paths with the Duchess of Cambridge with George and Charlotte in a grocery store parking lot where she had just purchased Halloween costumes for them. We ate loads of venison and duck fat roasted potatoes.

It was our first vacation after Dh retired and Ds went off to school. It was so lovely not having to adjust things to accommodate the boy. He is a great traveller, but it just being Dh and I was wonderful. We are scheduled to go again for 3weeks at the end of September beginning of Oct. We will likely do a similar format in different areas this year. We did have to cancel our trip to Ireland for spring break - We would have returned yesterday. 😕