VACATIONS FROM HOME: SAECULUM VILITER

A DECADE OF TRAVELING

A saeculum is an ancient Roman measurement of time meant to chronicle major events like a war or the foundation of a city and spanning anywhere from 90 to 110 years, effectively a lifetime. Everything that happened after an event would be considered a part of that saecula.

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Vacations From Home is entering just its second decade of bringing you rewarding and entertaining tales of traveling on the cheap and extravagantly, both near and far, but according to a recent report from Team VFH central command we have already experienced an entire saecula of global jet-setting and mooching. In effect your dedicated chroniclers of escapades have exceeded its allotment of fun and travel that most people would never approach in their lives.

You don’t think we’re going to stop do you? Remember it’s a big world out there and someone has to see it.

CHASING THE SUN

This year has been especially adventurous for this vivacious and charismatic traveling tag team (and might I modestly add devilishly handsome scribe). We have been blessed with the opportunity to travel quite a bit and hopefully dear and noble reader you have followed our attempts to chase the sun in 2019.

If not, here’s a quick recap:

January

Janet was off to England to visit her daughter and the grandchildren. I still work occasionally; I am freelance and decided to stay home.

SUNSET MALLORY SQUARE KW

February

Escaping a snow storm in the northeast, we spent nearly 3 weeks in the Florida Keys. We flew into Miami and worked our way down the string of islands. We stayed on Big Pine Key on the way down at the Looe Key Dive Resort, had a week in Key West and stayed a few days at Amoray Dive Resort on Key Largo. We never got to dive though although we did hit a number of dive bars in Key West.

March

While I worked the NCAA tournament for CBS Janet flitted off to visit her other daughter in Austin Texas with a couple of her friends from college. I may be somewhat retired, but the money is too good to pass up. I got to stay in New York City for two weeks.

April

We did not travel, but I did get to Newark NJ (where I was born) to enjoy the Cherry Blossoms in Branch Brook Park. In full bloom in April there are more Japanese Cherry Blossoms planted in Newark than in Washington, D.C.

LAKE WINDERMERE, ENGLAND

May

We spent 2 weeks in England. We had gotten very inexpensive airfare.

This was Janet’s second of three visits to her daughter and grandsons this year. We spent most of the time in Nantwich but also took a three- day side trip via train to Lancaster to stay at the Sun Hotel and to walk along the picturesque canal. We spent a day in the Lake District a 45-minute train north from Lancaster and took a boat ride on Lake Windermere, the longest lake in the District. It was quite beautiful in the Lake Districts. The more we travel to England the more I think of returning.

June

Janet was in Austin, Texas yet again for a week and when she returned, we began to prepare for our major trip the next month.

ZELJKO AND HIS TOYS

July

We traveled three weeks in Croatia. We traveled like tourists AND as Croatians.

After a couple of days in the walled city of Dubrovnik we cruised through the Dalmatian Islands aboard a luxury yacht. Then we rented a car to hike in the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park. Then, we stayed with old friends at their summer home in Trpanj on the Peljesac Peninsula. It had been 35 years since I had last visited with my friends. It was a very special trip. (Not saying staying with the in-laws is any less special)…….

August

We rested, gardened and grew our peppers. We invited ourselves to friend’s pools and bbq’s and these friends were so happy to be regaled with tales of our travels.

I made hot sauces and pineapple/habanero jelly.

September

As a working stiff in the television industry for decades there was never a chance to visit the Jersey Shore after Labor Day. Kids were in school and tennis tournaments and football was gearing up. Janet as a teacher also had to work. Even though it was still summer life got in the way.

WILDWOOD NJ

Free now from such burdens we decided to go to Wildwood NJ the week after Labor Day and it was glorious. Though many of the attractions of the seaside resort (where Janet spent much of her youth) were closed, we still got to eat pizza at her favorite place and walk the length of the boardwalk and trudge out onto the quarter mile wide beach to frolic in the still warm water. It was a beautiful relaxing time.

October

AGAIN, Janet travels to England for a third time this year. The kids grow quickly after all. She took them out trick or treating on Halloween.

GETTYSBURG

I took a day trip to Gettysburg. We had been there several times before. It was a warm early autumn day and a pleasant day for me. On the way out I treated myself to a breakfast at the all you can stuff down your throat Shady Maple Smorgasbord. On the way back home I had to buy new shocks for the car because of weight gain.

SHADY MAPLE SMORGASBORD

November

Thankfully a quiet month of just hanging around the home. We did not cook a Thanksgiving meal but instead ate at the Black Lab Bistro in Phoenixville and then saw The Irishman at the Colonial Theater. Both places were busy.

THE BLACK LAB BISTRO, PHOENIXVILLE

December

We wrapped up this exceptional year with another trip to a Sandals resort. This time we stayed at the Royal Bahamian. I truthfully would never have considered an all-inclusive, adults only, couples only resort, because of cost, but in the long run, especially when the scuba diving is free it makes for a great trip. I passed my PADI Open Water certification.