Updated with links to blog posts as they are published!
I have some big plans for 2024. They involve 8 countries, 9 flights, (at least) 6 train rides, and at least a dozen different sleeping accommodations.
I first decided I wanted to spend some time in Oakland to avoid the Connecticut winter, and I am really looking forward to a trip to Italy. I figured, instead of backtracking to fly across the Atlantic, what about a trip around the world? I think it's probably unnecessarily expensive, having all my flights be one-way rather than round-trip, but I've planned a really awesome three months so I think it's worth it.
My 2024 Travel Schedule:
JAN 4: Hartford, CT to Oakland, CA
JAN 4 - APR 11: Oakland, California
APR 21 - JUN 14: Italy*
JUN 14 - JUN 17: Quick weekend layover in London to visit my cousin!
JUN 17 - JUN 23: Road tripping around Ireland with my mom.
JUN 23: Dublin finally back to Connecticut
^ I'm excited to travel with my aunt and cousin to see my uncle. I mean, when your uncle offers you a place to stay in Singapore, how do you say no?
* I'll be flying into Milan and seeing Milan and Turin with my mom and stepdad before they go on a river cruise and I take the train to Genoa. I'll be there for 6 weeks, and I plan to take some day trips by train to Nice, France and (the teeny country of) Monaco.
The Stops
Why Italy?
As you all know, I spent a month in Lisbon and a month in Valencia last year. These weren't totally random. I love studying languages, and I've always wanted to learn Italian. I've been diligently practicing on Duolingo, and I'm probably going to take a course for at least part of my time in Genoa. (I do need to work, too, so we'll see.) I also, obviously, plan to eat all the tiramisu Genoa has to offer.
And why Genoa, specifically? It's very well located for a lot of day trips. The train connects to Milan, Turin, southern France, and the western coast of Italy. I've seen a lot of the country, except the northwest, and Cinque Terre has been on my list for a while. I am hoping I'll like Genoa, too, but my decision was more based on logistics and economy (It's a lot cheaper than Turin, which is a lot cheaper than Milan.).
How big is my suitcase?
Yeah, six months is a long time to live out of a suitcase. I am practicing radical minimalism, just as a fun experiment. I brought a CARRY ON SUITCASE and a backpack. That's it. Maybe I'll make that another post, too, but honestly, it's not as bad as it sounds. I've got the essentials and just do laundry more frequently than most.
Where's the camper?
A storage unit in Connecticut. I think I'll be selling the camper. Hopefully by the end of the year. Maybe I'll write another post about that. It was fun while it lasted, but I never intended to own it the rest of my life, and I may have exhausted my energy (right now) for road tripping. I'd rather not have to worry about it, recoup some cash, and spend more time traveling internationally.