Travel guides seen through retired eyes
Since I ER'd I've had both the time and money to travel. Took me a while to change my travel habits, including how to read a guidebook.
"Transit hub" or "Transit town". Before that meant a place to change buses on a long jump between destinations. Now it means a place to rest, be one of the few foreigners on the street, see what the locals eat, edit my photos and get bored just enough to wake up the next day looking forward to the next bus ride.
"There's no reason to stay overnight unless you miss the ferry." Before that meant a boring town with some traveler services and a wasted night. Now it means same as 'Transit hub' plus opportunities to shoot waterfront photos in photographer's favorite light, near sunrise and sunset. Also seems the folks who did miss the ferry are more sociable than usual.
"Hilltop guesthouse" Before = 'A view!', Now = "Can my knees handle the climb?"
"Three minute walk to town" Before and Now = 10 minute walk to town.
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ER Oct 2008 at age 54. An expat enjoying a mild 4 season climate after 11 years in the tropics.
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