New Year, New Optimism

On January 4, 2022January 4, 2022 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Maryland, Travel Tips2 Comments

We can probably all agree that 2021 was only marginally better than 2020, but it was at least a little bit better. Almost everyone that we speak to seems to have taken on the mantra that 2022 is the year where things truly do get better, but let’s not use the term “normal” as that has really become meaningless. We are hopeful to have more trips in the coming year, although we are still starting to plan where we might want to visit. Even with all of the current instability and unknowns, it does seem as though borders have opened up enough that people can get out and explore the world once again. Perhaps not everyplace, but at least enough to expand our horizons and enjoy new adventures.

In addition to looking forward to some meaningful travel that will take us to exciting new places, we are also planning on moving our “galactic headquarters” from Colorado to Baltimore in the coming months (the photographs are from our November trip to Baltimore to explore the area). This will obviously keep us busy for a little while as we plan the change and make the actual move but getting to the east coast will provide us new and exciting opportunities. We are actually coming full circle in a way as we met each other and started our adventures in life in Maryland and coming back there will be a sort of homecoming in ways.

Although we are still taking things day-to-day and month-to-month, we are truly optimistic about what lays ahead in the coming year. Life is an adventure of its own and any travel that we can do in addition is just icing on the cake. We may not have a trip as big as our African safari last year, but hopefully there will be many more trips for us to enjoy this year. Are you feeling optimistic about the coming year?

When and Where Will We Travel Once Again?

On April 6, 2021April 6, 2021 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Blogging, Travel Tips21 Comments

The past year has been one of frustration in terms of our ability to get out and see the world. As vaccinations continue to rapidly increase across the world, the variants and additional waves continue to keep the future of travel in a state of flux. In general, we are optimistic people and we continue to be hopeful that things will change for the better in the near future, but our optimism seems to get dashed lately. Sure, we can travel domestically and there is nothing wrong with that, however what we really want is to get out and see something new. We had plans to go to Turkey last April and we postponed it to November last year instead of our original destination of Africa and then had to cancel the trip entirely. In its place, we planned a trip for this April to visit Portugal only to be notified that the country remains on lockdown and so that trip was canceled. Ever the optimists, we heard that travel to portions of Africa were open to international travel and since we originally wanted to go there last year so we were looking at going there in June, but now things seem to be closing again there as well.

Entrance to Hoa Lu in the Ninh Binh Province of Vietnam

Standing Outside of the Bent Pyramid in Egypt

We aren’t giving up, though. We will travel someplace this June, we’re just not sure where. There are places in Central and South America that are open, but things could change with a minute’s notice. If we can’t get out of the country, we will go someplace in the continental United States. We will be fully vaccinated within a couple of weeks, which seems to be the new requirement for traveling. We’re not sure if everyone is going through the severe sense of “travel withdrawal” that we are, but if we don’t go somewhere soon we might just go stir crazy. Any recommendations of places that are open to travel for us to consider would be greatly appreciated.