Happy New Travels

 

As we quickly draw to a close on this trip, just a few final thoughts.  Third time consecutively away for New Year and first time woken up after a decent sleep and with no ill effects (illness or drink related) Travelling on New Years Day home I think is the way forward, keeps you honest on New Years Eve and compresses the trip time into a perfect package. Already developing a shortlist for next year, to put to the family vote, east europe, west europe, south europe destinations all under consideration. Long Haul for 3 days, maybe ten years ago, not anymore.

The briefest of final walks for fresh air on a crisp Romanian morning. How lovely for the first stroll of the new year to be new, fresh, exciting and different. Hopefully sets the tone for the year ahead, exploration and travel to the fore. No time for running today, which will be to the fore, but a token 16 minutes in the gym on the bike just to get something on strava!

Not much open but a quick coffee and muffin, sit around in the hotel reception, and then onto the airport, less than 30 mins in an Uber with very light traffic. We'd noted the weather at home not very friendly but saw the flight out here had taken off (just a little late) so not expecting to be too delayed.  We wondered if there may be a few less flights on New Years Day, this rapidly becoming the day to travel!

And back at Bucharest airport, we were fortunate to be back in the executive mode, fast track checkin and the local lounge. Hot food and drinks, perhaps today is our New Years 'Eve' party, although will we have Carys to drive us home every year? 

 She a little circumspect about her travel plans for next year, and also not been too keen to write a blog. I have asked ..... wait a minute ,,, here is her summary ...

I really enjoy these fleeting city breaks, especially over New Year as they give me a lovely festive snippet of wherever it is we're going, at my favourite time of year. Though I don't feel I have the same energy to put into a daily update via these blogs anymore (and I'm sorry for that), I still experience these trips the same way I always have, by trying to enjoy what's around us at all times. With possessing - admittedly - very minimal knowledge of Romania prior to this trip. It's always lovely to come home feeling comfortable in and used to the surrounding area of where we were staying, now being able to successfully navigate the grid-style streets, but knowing it's unlikely I'll ever need to again. Though Bucharest, particularly the Old Town has been lovely and I'd be happy to return. The ambling around is always my favourite aspect, admiring the pretty architecture and making the most of the good weather we were treated with, though the trip to Therme was much more appreciated by me than some - the busyness wasn't ideal of course but it was good fun to do something we would never really do at home. I also just want to add that I really appreciated the company of all the cats roaming the street. Food hasn't been a major disaster as it sometimes has been on these trips, the highlights for me being the traditional dessert Papanasi, and my new-found addiction for the little packets of Milka star biscuits. Overall, it's been busy enough to keep us in check but a relaxing way to start the new year. I'm sorry again for my limited commentary and am wishing everyone a great 2025.

And so we leave a modern westernish city that appears to be dragged back into Putins sphere, but perhaps a warning sign as to how he will encourage the rise of nationalism to serve his own cause. Trust the lovely progressive city we visited will continue to develop in that way.

The flight home was fab and fun, sharing a few glasses of wine and worldly (and welsh) tales with a fellow passenger, travelling at its best!

As to our own plans, before New Year next year would hope to have a trip to Prague, southern europe, scandinavia,  Philadelphia/Chicago/Dallas all under our belts, and with some aspirations already for 2026 should the gods allow.  Better start a new blogger ....or, try something else?!!

And as a final footnote to 2024, 5 haircuts, 5 cities, some blogged about some not:

5. Cambridge - miserable bugger, thinking of leaving the business, locks were shaggy, got the job done

4. Athens - expected more, conversation zero, technique mildly artisan

3. Belfast - amusing conversation, Latvian Norn Irish, good character

2. Wimbledon - in an old space I used to frequent, sport on the telly to watch, good lads experience

1. New York - after disappointing chinese, backstreet barber, proper new yorker, tales and chat high, cut pretty sharp for the basketball

Lets see what 2025 brings on that score ...