How the journey started

I typed this when I did not have internet service, just now getting to put into the blog. It's not very user friendly with the copy and paste feature, so sorry for errors......

I also had some notes at the bottom I can't seem to delete of....so oh well.....hey, ya get what ya pay for.....

It's funny how things come about....in December I received a call. "You want to go to Maldives"? "Sure" I replied. For those of you that know me, you know it really doesnt matter what the end of the sentence is...if it starts out "you want to go" I'm in. Near or far, I'm always ready. My dad used to tell me I was born with "wheels on my ass". Maybe he was right. 

Don't get me wrong, I love my home and after being gone there is nothing better then spending time there. Somehow I just can't help myself when someone asks, 'you wanna go' I have to say yes. 

So Maldives. I said yes, as I had so many times before. Most of the times it never happens. The thing about budget travel is it is not set in stone. That's why you can go so cheaply, you never really know until the last minute if it will all fall into place. 

When I went to Germany in 06 I literally went to the airport not knowing if I would be able to get the flight for the 4 day marathon trip. It worked out. I love the challenge.

Early January I got a second call, "are you still in for Maldives"? It's a greatly discounted rate and you will share a villa with people you don't know, but its beautiful there. I was surprised the price was not much different then a Disney vacation. Again,  I replied "Sure, I'm in" Thinking if this really does come about I will figure out some way to get the money. Then a friend suggested I use some retirement and call it my retirement trip, early. After all, with my bad hip by the time I retire I likely will not be able to walk! Perfect....now I wonder where exactly Maldives is located?

So the plan was to fly to London and meet up with some people I had never met then my friend from the states that invited me would join us and then fly onto the Maldives islands in the Indian Ocean for a week. 

For Christmas I bought Kacey a puzzle globe. It's made of hard plastic and as you put it together it forms a round ball globe. One snowy nite in late January we decided to put it together. As we did, he said "hey mom, here is Maldives". I could not believe it, it was 1/2 way around the world. London was only 1/2 way! I was shocked, but by this time I had made my deposit and the wheels of vacation were already in motion. 

January and February came and went in a flash with two trips to Florida to help take care of my mother and ultimately her (and my dad's) return to Ohio for surgery. Spending a week out of town working and getting ready for this trip. 

I arrived at the airport to be greeted with "oh, your flight is 45 minutes late, but that is good because at least it is not canceled". However, we ended up only being about 20 minutes late. This was a big blessing as the international flights are on time. 

For a lot of ppl they enjoy different hobbies, horses, camping, arts, collecting, video games and lots of different things. For me, I love to travel. I drive an older car so I don't have car payments and this allows me to travel. I've worked hard to have a job that will allow me to have a flexible schedule and work a lot of 12 hour days and weekends before and after my trips so I can travel. If it sounds like I'm trying to justify, perhaps I am. I'd rather think I'm just trying to explain the things that many do not see. I'm not complaining. To be able to take this trip I have for the most part worked nonstop for several weeks and sleep has been very limited. The pace has been grueling, but it is my choice. Sometimes when I get really tired and overwhelmed those around me are wise to remind me I do this to myself. (even when I really don't want to hear it) Thank you.

So as I gather my things to land in Washington, I will do the airport dash to my chariot to take me to London Heathrow airport. From there I will take the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station (I have no clue what this means-train, bus, subway, ?) meet a manthat will likely not be wearing a cowboy hat or chaps (as he is in the photo I have of him) He did tell me in an email that he likely be the only one standing, as everyone in London is in a hurry .

The tower of London

Yes, I didn't go into many of the buildings. It was dismal. A lot of stories about torture and death. It was cold, damp and windy the day I was there and I was pooped! One of the "Henry's" chopped off his wife's head was one of the first stories I heard. Then I moved onto the "bloody tower" and I then though ok, enough of this English dismal history-off to see the crown jewels and then I'm out of here. -----this is the plus side of travel alone, I didn't have to confirm or wait for someone else to be finished visiting a specific attraction---

Gelatio

A cross between sherbet and ice cream - it does not have air mixed into it like ice cream. It's very heavy. Too bad you live so far away, you can get great gelato in RIchmond, Ind at Ghesylains. I had mango and milk choc.-yum!!