Places you visit over your lifetime can be amazing. Like I started visiting Japan as a child and it’s a different experience to navigate it as an adult over decades, and then different again to show it to someone who’s never been before.
Places also can differ a lot, depending on who you go with and their interests.
One of my funny memories of Japan was in Kyoto. We ended up at a hotel in separate rooms. My brother had drawn blackout shades and wore earplugs. I couldn’t get him up via knocking or phoning, and we were at risk of missing our flight. I knocked so loudly that some poor Japanese man woke, came out of his room and complained. Eventually, I had to ask the hotel folks to come open the door. And yet we still couldn’t get in, because my brother had put the chain on the door. Finally, three of us yelling through the fractionally open door eventually woke him. We were breathless by the time we caught our flight in a rush.
A good friend and I took an overnight ferry between Sweden and Finland and I didn’t realize the time difference. She had to get housekeeping to open my cabin door after calling and calling, knocking and knocking. I had my earbuds on and was merrily puttering around, thinking I had plenty of time.
I went to New Orleans as a 16 year old to see Mardi Gras and visit my mom…she lived on Burbon Street next to Lafayette “blacksmith shop” which was, of course, a bar. I went out one morning with a cup of coffee in hand and came home with it filled with wine after having to kiss my way out of a kissing circle (!) and bringing home young university student who needed a place to crash! So fun! Then, I went back after my year abroad and was horrified by the heat and humidity of summer. Spent the summer embroidering by the air conditioner.
You shouldn’t be so hard on your father.
This is the number one reason people traveling just after midnight miss their flights. In countries where daytime heat makes most flights, especially long-haul ones, depart just after midnight, this is very common. A night flight is naturally thought of as taking place on the night that follows the day in question (regardless of time). Perhaps a 12:00 a.m. departure should be called an early morning flight to avoid mix-ups.
I just returned from visiting Rome and the Amalfi coast. Loved loved loved trastavere area and Ravello. I miss all the sidewalk cafes and the buzz in the quaint streets and just walking somewhere and stumbling upon ruins.
New Orleans is rich with history, culture and flavor. It’s one of our most unique cities in the country. Gorgeous architecture, food and people. Enjoy! Laissez les bons temps rouler!
I’ve visited so often that I’ve lost count. So many memories over decades.
Among the simple things I love there: Wandering around, people-watching, then parking on a bench outdoors, having a muffuletta (or at least part of one, because they’re bigger than your head) from the Central Grocery, listening to someone playing jazz live. Visiting cemeteries and learning about their history there is amazing. Having beignets and chicory coffee at all hours. Taking the street car to various neighborhoods, including the charming Garden District. Having great meals at the city’s terrific restaurants. Driving around outside the city, going on swamp tours and exploring former plantations.
I also enjoy walking around town, including at night, but you need to stay aware, because the city can be more unpredictable than others. Sometimes seedy and dangerous.
Oh, and depending on where you’ll stay, consider bringing ear plugs if you want to sleep.
and of course my adopted home city Edinburgh, unbeatable, growing up in a small highlands village it was just somewhere I had heard of, I never knew I would move and spend over 40 years here as an adult.
