I have done my best to be patient. I have knuckled down and focused on my business and house-type projects I have been putting off for too long, and I have tried to look outside myself to help family and friends with their projects too.
But as hard as I try to distract myself, I just can’t stop myself dreaming of stepping on an aeroplane and jetting off overseas for an exotic adventure.
And sadly, it seems that dreams and dreaming will have to do for years to come…
We have been incredibly lucky in Australia when it comes to the impact of Covid19. Yes, we have tragically lost too many loved ones to the pandemic and many businesses have gone to the wall from lockdowns, work-from-home policies and dramatically reduced trade, but in comparison to some other countries we have survived the worst of the pandemic with a relatively low loss of life.
So with those relatively pleasing results, what does the future of international travel look like?
It is looking pretty bloody ordinary, actually.
After setting a target of all Australians vaccinated by the end of October 2021, those same targets have disappeared into thin air and the Government now refuses to commit to any sort of schedule!
Of course, I wouldn’t want their job for quids – it would be a political, bureaucratic and logistical nightmare. However, their fluid approach to any sort of systematic vaccination programme does make it difficult for antsy travellers like me, and even more importantly, for people desperate to get home to Aus. Our borders remain firmly locked in both directions except to our New Zealand cousins and even then it is a case of Open, Closed, Open, Closed, Open.
On the TV the other night there was a story featuring a grim-faced travel industry executive forecasting no international travel until 2023! That will be completely devastating for families with a global spread, and for our domestic economy, and employment opportunities. Surely we will have everyone vaccinated and have a solid plan of attack to manage any weird and wonderful variants before then?
In the meantime, I must:
- Content myself with my many happy memories of previous international adventures.
- Dream of adventures that await me in Spain, Turkey, France, USA, Nepal and everywhere else I would love to visit.
- Appreciate all the beauty and history that I can access in my own Australian backyard, and
- Be grateful for my health and security, and the fact that I have the simple ability to contemplate future travel adventures.
I have a wonderful life and it is a privilege to live in Australia. Full stop!
Stay safe and healthy everyone and I look forward to our paths crossing one day in the future.
What are your international travel dreams?
#bucketlist #travelinspo #staycation #howtotravel #dreamingoftravel #covidtravel #clippedwings #livemoremagic
Dreaming of Step wells in India 
Dreaming of walking a camino in Spain 
Dreaming of seeing the Eiffel Tower again one day
Life...one big adventure 
I’m sorry to hear the vaccination program has crumbled. That shouldn’t be. Australia is now in the same category as Canada and Europe for me: the “I can’t believe it” category. It shouldn’t be the case that these advanced, first world countries are struggling to vaccinate all their people.
As for international travel, we are trying to get back to the UK this summer to visit the husband’s family. Restrictions need to ease in both directions for this to be possible. We are crossing our fingers that things will ease sometime in May and we can go in June just after school gets out, but it’s all a big maybe. Because of that uncertainty, our domestic summer travel plans haven’t even formed. Ugh. I just hate all this.
Glad to see you’re keeping a positive attitude. Have you ever been to NZ before?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel really ungrateful for complaining about our apparent lack of vaccination strategy, but as you say, a first world country should have this thing nailed!
I feel bad for the people just like yourselves where it is important to travel simply to maintain and support family connections. My travel aspirations are purely frivolous. I have everything crossed that you get to connect with ol’ Blighty later this year.
Have only had one ridiculously short trip to NZ, but one day we will get there for a more thorough explore. Stay safe and keep dreaming.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, believe me, I have many frivolous overseas travel aspirations. You’re in good company.
The funny thing about Australia and NZ is that I always think they’re just a hop, skip, and jump away from each other, but it’s really rather a long trip, isn’t it?
LikeLike
No, our Kiwi brothers and sisters are only a short 2.5 hours (guesstimate) flight across the ditch. Many folks like yourselves from the northern hemisphere often combine a visit to both our countries when they head Down Under. For some reason you think we are a long way away! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is such a crazy time we are going through.. our lives are changed and our world has changed …this is something I have expected to see. Let’s hope we will get back to our travels soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Won’t there be a flurry of activity when the borders open again?
LikeLike
That’s what I thought ..everyone will be in a rush.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully, a healthy rush. The key will be for us all not to choose the same destinations! 🏝🏄♂️✈
LikeLike
Now that I am settled in Europe, I dream/plan to visit five European capitals by the end of the year, not including Paris of course. I believe that once vaccinated, it will be possible to meet other people without fearing for one’s life each time and that therefore travelling, with protection, will become possible again. Dream or reality?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the most wonderful dream and I so hope it becomes a reality for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hoping for Via Francigena August 22. Dreaming spiked today with arrival from Cicerone Press Sandy Brown’s guidebook Lucca to Rome l
LikeLiked by 1 person
Woo hoo! That is so exciting! Did you watch the BBC Pilgrimage to Rome series? It captured al l of the beauty, but little of the blood, sweat and tears! 😁
LikeLike
Honestly, Mel- reading stuff like this is so depressing because I’m trying to think in positive terms about seeing my family (thank God they’re not in Oz!) Or just not think about it! In a very cynical way, I wonder who’s benefiting from all this, because you can be sure someone is growing rich on it. And I hate having been put ‘in a box’, and I hate even more having accepted it. Rant over! 🙂 🙂 I just watched a Timelapse on Rome which made me wonder why I hadn’t been. But you know my priority is the UK!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m hearin’ you! I am hoping that it’s a sign that we live in a civilized and caring society when we are willing to pause our own desires for the greater good. Fingers crossed that with a bit more patience, our turn will come. Hang in there. X
LikeLike
🤗💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I miss travel a lot for its own sake, but I’m also one of those itching to see family members abroad: a daughter and a new grandchild. I do accept the need not to spread the virus, but fully vaccinated, and able to stay relatively isolated in a family home, it would be nice to be allowed some leeway. One day …
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel for you. All those happy, and some sad, times that have been missed due to Covid19 must be heartbreaking. I can’t help but think back to olden, days when there was no telephone, email, Skype or Zoom. I try to imagine the days when international travel meant months on a leaky boat and mail was posted, but may never arrive. It helps keep my own selfish desires in check. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly. There IS a lot to be grateful for, and as well, almost all of us have travelled far more than our parents, and especially our grandparents could ever have imagined was possible. But it’s hard to stay positive after a whole year of this malarkey, isn’t it? Still, we have to be grateful to Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom, Facetime … and all those other means of staying in touch we love to hate!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we are all allowed a little wallow when our travel plans go pear-shaped. Being stuck in the wallow is a completely different story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally agree, “ScoMo” and crew have stuffed this up royally. 😦 Although the politicians have managed to get their jabs, I notice. It would be interesting to see the outcome if a federal election were held today!
As for travel … I want to go to Canada and see my parents. In July 2021, I turn 60, my mother turns 80 and my father turns 87, all within 18 days. We had planned a joint bash. And there is absolutely no way that will happen. It may not even happen in 2022. Another example of families divided by this thing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
There has been some chatter about an early election, but I doubt they would be game to do that at the moment. The Covid19 debacle is only one thing in a long stream of embarrassing and shameful incidents.
They say you get the politicians you deserve, but I am not sure we signed up for this behaviour.
Wishing you a happy and healthy celebration in July – whatever that looks like. 🎂
LikeLike
A bit of an ‘own goal’ to call an election now! I might even have to figure out how the numbering works this time, in case it actually makes a difference.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Mel, we really have to dig deep to find some positives during this time, that’s for sure!
But like you’ve said, we’re grateful for our own health and the fact that we can travel freely in our own country … so, that’s what we currently doing, enjoying our own beautiful and diverse country that offers amazing sea views to spectacular mountains 💌.
LikeLiked by 2 people
…. AND you are working on perfecting the art of BBQing! An art in itself!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reminding me 😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
🥩🍗🍖
LikeLike
We’re with you Mel, we’re dreaming of the day too. Canada’s vaccine rollout has been quite slow which is frustrating, but Australia’s seems to be even worse. At least your country is not in its third wave so you will be able travel with in it. Remember, Australia’s a destination for many. Maggie
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, we are a bit like Canada – BIG with a lot of variety. There should be enough here to keep me amused for centuries!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure that I’ll ever get back to Australia, long haul travel in a mask is not appealing. Hopefully my Aussie family will not mind coming this way. I still have not seen a new grandson in this country! We can’t meet indoors yet. I’m resigned more or less to exploring more of the British Isles for the foreseeable future. And you have an amazing country with so much diversity, from temperate Tasmania to tropical Darwin, plus beautiful New Zealand. I’d be planning a road trip to visit some of the wineries 😉😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Agreed, the thought of being masked up for almost 24 hours is not attractive at all. Perhaps it will be a small price to pay if we get desperate enough. You also could spend years traveling your country and still not see everything. I just need to send you a bucket load of sunshine to do it all in!🌞☀️🌈
LikeLike
I’ve seen a lot of the UK, it’s not very big! Sunshine would be very helpful though, especially if going to Scotland or Ireland 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let me know when you are set to travel and I will see if I can call in a few favours! 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you ❤ ❤ It's been a struggle for the globe trotters! Like you, I've tried to keep myself busy but those exotic places are beckoning hard, and it's extremely difficult having no idea when I'll get to step on other shores. In the meantime, I feel lucky to be healthy and have my many photos from old trips to keep me company. Here's hoping we can jet set again very soon – hopefully sooner than 2023!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love your optimism! There is always plenty to do, places to go and beauty to see while we wait for the World to right itself. Hang in there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too!! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think a lot of us travel bloggers are all on the same page. Waiting for our next shots and being grateful. Cheers!
LikeLiked by 2 people
If nothing else, this whole kerfuffle has made us realise what brings us joy and staying home is not it!😆
LikeLike
I feel very much the same. Itching for a good international vacation. And in much the same, if not worse position than you. Canada’s vaccine plan is almost non-existent. We a G7 country is standing with our bowl looking for handouts of redundant vaccines that other countries are rejecting. I could go on, but I won’t.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It sounds like we are all giving our politicians and bureaucrats a big FAIL grade when it comes to this pandemic. Can do better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. Politicians shouldn’t be handling pandemics. Their motives are political. Science should be leading us out of the storm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vote 1 Girl in Niagara! 😃 They should be listening to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my gosh, I feel all your words and concerns and frustrations, but I refuse to accept the situation any longer. We have waited, stayed home, foregone family and social lives for such a long time. I have stared at the same four walls since August, and before that I stared at a different set of walls for 5 months.
I think this summer I will have the opportunity to travel and I am going to take it. I saw two days ago that Greece has reopened. I know that Croatia has reopened as well. I will do my best to see my mother for the first time in 11 months come July in Ukraine for a short visit. I’m going to take the jump to go to Croatia for a week and travel around Turkey (my present location).
I will stay hopeful for your travels!!! We all deserve some kind of rejuvination if we are expected to continue in this life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Go you! That all sounds amazing and if you mask up, sanitize and social distance, hopefully that will keep all the nasty viruses at bay. Travel safely and take care. And enjoy every second.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks you! Of course, all precautions will be taken to keep myself and others safe! 🙂 I hope you get a chance to travel about this summer too!
LikeLike
We have a little while to wait for our Summer, but I will do my best to enjoy a couple of mini-adventures through Autumn and Winter.
LikeLike
I feel for you all, for everyone! At times it still seems so unreal and that a whole global travel industry just halted. Keep making lots of plans and there will come a time when they are possible. Personally, I long to visit my extended family in Sweden and stay in the summer houses my mother owns there. Usually, we’re there for a couple of months each year. big sigh …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that,must be heartbreaking for you- not to be able to connect with your family and family memories. Perhaps when you are all vaccinated Europe may open up a bit?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everyone hopes so! Thank you for your care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m totally with you. In the UK our vaccination programme is going well, but still international adventures seem a long way off. Even if we are allowed to travel, other countries are still struggling so just the state of travel is so poor. We’ve decided to stay in England this year and like you, remind ourselves we are grateful to have so much to see here, and that we are safe and secure in these awful times. I hope you get to go on some adventures soon – we all need it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Adventure is so good for the soul. Just back from an AMAZING adventure in Western Australia swimming with whale sharks and rock climbing through gorgeous gorges…so my soul is feeling very full and happy at the moment. 🙂 Enjoy your own backyard and happy travels. Mel
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds AMAZING! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was! I feel like my travel itch has been scratched for a little while…
LikeLiked by 1 person
i feel your pain! We’re just coming out of lockdown in the UK. Even though every day has been like groundhog day, it is important to remind ourselves how privileged we are.
We bought an army truck to overland to Mongolia just before coronavirus hit. It’s been a good lockdown project, but I’m not sure we’re going to get any further than the south coast of the UK this year!
I’m dreaming of different vistas, cultures, food and adventure…
LikeLiked by 1 person
We just have to stay positive and keep focuses on Plan B, C, D, etc. Your Mongolian adventure sounds AMAZING!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It will be fun if it comes off! 🙂
Sending you travel love. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
It will be wonderful and even more special because you have had to wait! 😉
LikeLike
I just started my first travel blog and then this happened I hope things will get better for us
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck on your blogging journey. I trust it will be an enjoyable and interesting one. We certainly have to be dedicated and a bit more creative these days, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know just how you feel, as do so many of us! Here in the UK we’re doing well on the vaccination programme and are looking good to hit our government’s target of all adults to have had one dose by end of July and all the more vulnerable (50+, underlying conditions) should have had both by then. I’ve already had both myself 🙂 It’s about the first (only?) thing they’ve done well! But international travel looks some way off as, having been far too casual about our borders in the early stages of the pandemic they’re now, imho, being over-cautious. We hope to be able to manage Paris in September and further afield next year, but who knows?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, you guys had a wobbly start, but you have hit your straps now. I suspect, as horrible as it sounds, that Covid19 is something we are going to have to learn to live with in some form or other. It is hard to think that a few deaths from Covid19 are going to be the new norm, but we can’t keep ourselves locked away from each other forever. Enjoy Paris. One of my favorite cities in the World. Au revoir.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree – we have to find a balance between caution over the health impact and some sort of resumption of normal life, and quite soon I feel
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m am not sure any country has the perfect answer. Melbourne is going into lockdown again for 7 days from midnight tonight… two steps forward, one back…
LikeLike
😟 Take care!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh same here! I’ve been literally dreaming and not just daydreaming of going abroad and pursuing my failed travel plans last year! Hopefully this year, I’ll be able to pursue one of them and be able to do at last my first ever Europe visit! Would love to hear your thoughts on my latest post as well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dreaming of travel and planning for travel is half the fun! Lucky we have time to do both at the moment. 😉
LikeLike
My girlfriend and I were lucky because we had moved back to Thailand after being home (US) for a year. We “slid just under the gate” of COVID lockdown here.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not ready to jet off and visit unexplored places. So I can relate to you on that one.
Stay patient and we’ll all be happy soon 😀
I saw you wanted to visit the US, any places in particular? Always interested in what people want to see when they visit the US (outside of the usual NY, LA, etc.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, nothing much has changed since I wrote this post and we are still unable to leave Aus without permission. Perhaps 2022 will be the year? My other half and I have our heart set on riding the Mississippi River Trail. There is a bike trail from the top to bottom. Wouldn’t that be an amazing way to experience the US?? Yes, a bit of a commitment, but a fabulous way to kick start international travel again. Take care, Mel
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it. Most people either say NYC or LA. It’s nice to hear people checking out the “lesser known” areas.
I hope you get to make the trip soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am not a ‘big city’ person and am most happy out in the back blocks and small communities. I like to think that is where the ‘real’ people live. Have a good day, Mel
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the follow, Mel 🌹❤️🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
This post reflects a sentiment I’m sure any traveller/adventurer can appreciate. The point on exploring your own back yard really resonates. I’ve been very fortunate that my back yard is the Canadian Rockies. I have also found that spending time reflecting on past adventures has been helpful. But still dreaming of that next adventure vacation. Africa or New Zealand is on our list, restrictions dependent. All the best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
WOW! What a stunning backyard you must have!? Half your luck.
LikeLike
It is very hard times for everyone to be trapped by a virus … I hope it will be ok so soon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, your business must be suffering so much. This virus has really turned the travel industry on its head! Hang in there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course, we are affected not only by the virus but also the governmental measurements towards the tourism community
LikeLiked by 1 person
That must make life doubly difficult. Fingers crossed we get this virus under control soon and that will solve half your problem. Take care
LikeLiked by 1 person
Im feeling the same exact way!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are learning patience! 🙂
LikeLike