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May of 2003 proved to be quite an exhausting and exhilerating month. There was much work, travel, and a decision made to move from my home of nine years.
After three years of employment at this fine mecca for travelers, I took my first Rick Steves tour, the Best of Venice in 7 Days. I had dreamt of visiting this labyrinth for some years, and after a fellow pubs co-worker returned from one of our Rome tours beaming and unscathed, I decided I needed to try this as well.
Groups aren't really my thing. I have a hard time even keeping a rock group going. But I'm very adaptable, and after a few glasses of something fermented, I find myself rising to the occasion of group dynamics. This was Italy, and there would be plenty of glasses. The nature of RS city tours allows for generous free time too, so after poring over the Venice itinerary, I decided this was something I could work with.
Our administration had also recently invaded Iraq, and amidst feelings of political impotence, I felt that travel was one way to possibly shake the malaise I'd been feeling since 9/11.
Added to the end of this itinerary was a brief stint in Drøbak, Norway to celebrate Norwegian Constitution Day, Syttende Mai. This was a suggestion made by my pal Dave Fox, ex-fellow ETBD co-worker, current Scandinavia tour guide, comedic travel writer, and my Ireland/Norway travel partner. We would spend the holiday with the stellar Filtvedts, the family with whom Dave lived as a foreign exchange student in high school. We'd stayed with them three years prior, and I looked forward to seeing the whole family again.
This would require me to leave my Venice tour a couple days early and spend some transit time in Milan, but I wouldn't have missed for the world.
Revised 9/2008. ©1999-2008 R. Pelikan unless otherwise noted.