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The Travel Thread

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obc said:
As someone wiser than I once said, "Wealth is wasted on the rich."

In our case, we're not wealthy but found The Big Loophole. She's a teacher and after our trips to Europe about a decade ago (which we saved years to afford, mind you), started applying like mad for teaching abroad positions. Lived in Paraguay for 3 years, opening up Brazil and "The Cone" of South America, now live in Bogota.

Which means a 4-night trip to Medellin, flight, lodging, food, beer and daytrips cost less than one ticket from Arizona to Europe. Our airBNB in Quito, a really nice 1br apartment on the 10th floor of a new building was something like $42/night. So we're able to do a hell of a lot more for a heck of a lot less.

I telecommute so "have wifi, can work"... still logged a good amount of hours in the mornings during our trips.

While the travel is great, the lifestyle is not without sacrifices. Everything I own, minus TV, PS4 and washer/dryer fits into two suitcases, a proper hiking backpack and my carry-on luggage. If it doesn't, well, adios to something. Bogota has a lot more going for it as a place than Asuncion, but as a city of 9m or so, after six months I still feel entirely anonymous. About this time in Paraguay I was hitting stride and, thanks to the one remaining adult Blue in country, started making friendships that will last. Any night I wanted to hit The Hop, I knew I had friends there. Here, the closest I have are the guys at the tienda (bodega/minimart) next door warmly greeting with with the "AMERICA!" welcome when I come in for water or Aguila (beer-flavored water.)


And watch the (knees!) comment. After 3.5 years in South America, we finally booked a trip to Machu Picchu for June... and my knee has been acting up. Just an annoying twinge walking about town... but walking about town isn't 10km a day up and down hills at 3,000meters+ altitude.
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Very good/interesting reply. Coincidentally, my wife is a retired teacher (Senco - special needs) and has a very good pension to supplement her state pension. Actually it's not my knees (that was a knee-jerk answer :oops:) but my left leg. I think I might be getting a bit of arthritis - visit to the doc when I get back home - which means I can't walk more than 100 yards before a get a sciatica-like ache in my thigh. Never heard the term "Hit the Hop" before. I like it!

That's the term, and The Hop :cheers:
 

jackyboy said:
Chaps, going to Budapest with the lads next month.

Any shouts for any particularly good bars, I know ruin pubs are meant to be the thing to do there.

Have been once before but was with my girlfriend so a bit of a different vibe.
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We're flying to Budapest in late March, but only to board for a Danube/Rhine cruise. Hopefully we'll get to see a bit of the city before we set sail though
 
My wife's ex-brother-in-law lives in New Zealand. We've got an open invitation to visit any time. The flights would obviously be more than to here in La Palma but there would be no accommodation cost. Considering the weather we're getting here, I wish we'd gone there instead, particularly as they have a beach house.
 

Somebody on here posted about the most amazing holiday destination described as a hidden gem and a secret getaway where the women are amazing and I cannot remember where it was.

Please, will this guy come forward. What was the name of this amazing destination?
 
TyphooToffee said:
We're flying to Budapest in late March, but only to board for a Danube/Rhine cruise. Hopefully we'll get to see a bit of the city before we set sail though
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I would like to hear your opinion of Budapest, Mrs Caolam and I were thinking of going but read some bad reports about the place and gave it a miss. I had a mate who went but he was drunk most of the time he was there and didn't really form an opinion.
 
The Penalty Box Dancer said:
I flew to Hong Kong on my way to Aus with Cathay Pacific. Didn't go out of the airport but the views coming in to land were amazing.

Which part of Aus are you going?
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I went with cathay pacific too mate. Spent 3 weeks in australia and a few days in hong kong. Back now and I'm devastated.

We stayed mostly in Noosa on the sunshine coast as my brother lives there, but also visited melbourne and brisbane :)
 

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