Boatgirl #1: Why I'm Traveling

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Sometimes a simple two-week holiday spirals out of control, and before you know it you're on an epic voyage of unexpected duration.

Mine started with a friend and I talking wistfully about going to Italy. I work freelance, so I usually put off travelling until a job ends, then I'm too insecure about when the next one might come along that I don't go anywhere or spend any money. This time I decided to let go of the feeling I might miss something if I left. We had been daydreaming for years, and finally made up our minds to go in the spring of this year.

As soon as we settled on spring, my mind started calculating which Formula One races I might be able to catch – Monaco, Imola, Monza... We soon collected a large group of family and friends who wanted to come along. Amazingly enough, 12 people have committed to going in May (which means Monaco, perfect!). More about Italy and my fascination with motor racing later.

I was born in England, and most of my family is still there, but I live in Los Angeles. So, I can't really take a trip to Europe without visiting them (I have the coolest grandparents in the world). When I mentioned the possibility of coming to stay with them, they invited me to come on a cruise with them. A long one. That would start in England, cross the Atlantic, and wind up in... Italy! It all started to come together. Now, I've never been on a cruise. I may get bored and jump ship at a stop along the way, but if I don't, I'll be on a boat for more than two months. We'll see. I think my grandparents will get bored first, actually.

I was going to England 10 days early to catch up with friends, but I started thinking about a pilgrimage I've always wanted to make. There is a Cafe Kalkhoven in Amsterdam that opened in the 1600s, and I would love to go. It's not a very common last name, and must once have been owned by a distant relative. So, I may end up doing that. Or, I might try to find the ruins of the castle in Scotland that once belonged to my mother's clan. Could be more constructive than drinking myself silly in pubs, which is where I'll end up if I stay in London for 10 days. Or, maybe it'll end up with a slightly more international pub crawl, I'm not sure. Then I'll get on the ship, and our first stops are Hamburg and Lisbon. I am particularly looking forward to the Erotic Art Museum and port-tasting, respectively.

I can't wait to get started, but I have a lot to prepare before I leave. I need to finish my taxes, hopefully trade in my clunky old Nikon for a lighter model, get a good pair of walking shoes. And get lots of little stuff, like sun lotion and sea sickness patches. I need to pack light, but cover London in February, Belize in April and Italy in May. Better get started! I'll send the next installment from England.


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