Monday, September 14, 2009

The Plan?

So exactly what is the plan for this three month sabbatical? Actually the overall plan is pretty broad - to visit the Mediterranean area. From this we have determined certain countries that we would like to visit and places within those countries we would like to see as time and our inclination permit.

First where we start in the Med will be determined in some part by the United States Military. As a retired military person, we are allowed to fly on any military aircraft where there is space available. This is know as Space A travel, which we call Space Adventure. We have requested Spain, Italy, Greece and Sicily as our potential arrival location. There are nine countries we would like to visit - Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, and Italy. So if we land in Spain, we will go counterclockwise around the Med - Spain, Morocco, Egypt, etc. However if we land in Greece, it may be clockwise around the Med. If we land in Italy or Sicily - it could go either way.

We want this to be a "low pressure" trip so we will make reservations and work out the time details as we go. If we find a place we like, we will stay longer. If we don't make it all the way through, we will return next year. The last thing we want this to be is a "marathon" where we return home with a ton of pictures and barely enough energy to get in the door. We plan to move on when we are ready and to sit and relax when we so desire.

Our starting date? We are aiming for October 1st. It may be a day or two earlier depending on possible flights out of Travis AFB.

Our return date? We are going to try to be back before Christmas somewhere in the second week of December or so.

You can now see why we refer to this blog as a "trail of crumbs", because we don't know when and where the next crumb will be dropped.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Cool blog. Really proud of you guys, not just for blogging, but for going for it..."Carpe Diem"! You are our heros. Love you so.

Karon Ruiz said...

Tom and Nancy,

Nancy, thanks for sharing with me your upcoming journey yesterday while I was in your office. I am so excited for you. This is going to write something wonderful on your lives. I read your itinerary and only noticed am absence of "The Sound of Music Tour" in Austria. Being a die-hard Sound of Music fan; it would be first on my list. Since you and I are close in age, thought it might iterest you as well. Here's a link in case you'd like to check it out: http://www.panoramatours.com/salzburg-tour.aspx

Nancy, thanks so much for your love and concern over these past years. I hope and bless you with a beautiful time with your hubby.

Blessings, Karon Ruiz

Unknown said...

Safe travels, dear friend! Go, enjoy, relax, get refreshed, be in love, and above all....bring me a present! Ha ha!
God bless you both...I will miss you. Of course we will have dinner as soon as you return!

Lisa Torres said...

I am so excited and happy for you two. What a wonderful opportunity and thank you so very much for allowing us to come along on your travels with you. Miss you...love you...