It shall certainly take more than 80 days

[wayfaringwordhack]

Most of you know that mana_trini  is on contract here in Mayotte, and that contract is supposed[1] to end August 15, 2009. What you may not know is that he has nine months paid vacation coming to him at that time. And what is the thing this wordhack and her loving wubs are most likely to do with 9 months on their hands?

Why, travel the world of course.

Yes, I know it may be too early to talk about this, but I've already spilled my slippery proverbial beans with one or two folks already, so I might as well lay out the whole scheme here.

Of necessity, we will return to mainland France for six weeks. Family to visit; belongings to stow away; a wedding to attend; backpacks, hiking boots, and winter(!) clothes to purchase...

Then come October 1st, or thereabouts, we shall fly to the United States for two months. An obligatory visit will be paid to the family, of course, but we also plan on visiting places neither of us has seen before. On the not-even-close-to-being-official intinerary: New York City[2], possibly Vermont (*waves at rabiagale *), Chicago (if my dear friend C is still there), and then, either by plane or car, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming (Yellowstone, naturally), and Utah. The family States to visit are New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

From the States, we'll fly to Peru[3], possibly visiting Chile and Argentina while we're there. From South America, we'll hop to New Zealand, and then back to the northern hemisphere to hit Vietnam, Cambodia, and India.

We'll have 6 more weeks in France to find a place to settle before J is expected back to work.

Who else thinks this sounds like a totally rockin' experience???



[1] There is a slim chance that we could stay a fourth year, and in that case, this trip will be postponed to 2010-2011
[2] Mostly J's idea. Sorry, New Yorkers, but I could do without it.
[3] I really, really, really got get to work on improving my Spanish.

Comments

[frigg.livejournal.com]

I think it sounds just horrible! :p

*hopes the green comes off in the shower tonight*

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

bwahaha.

You're a pea; the green will never leave you. >:)

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Keep us posted. If you hit Minnesota, or are in Oklahoma visiting family the same time my wife and I are, we can get together for coffee or something.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

We've been thinking about Minnesota, too; that's where my friend Carolyn is originally from. If we go by car, we just might pass through. :D Which city are you in again? Around Minneapolis or St Paul?

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

We're in Hopkins, a west Minneapolis suburb.

[mindseas.livejournal.com]

If you do hit NYC, I could take the train in and meet you. My favorite place in the city is the American Museum of Natural History. My brother likes the Broadway shows. There are lots of other museums. I guess the Met(ropolitan Museum of Art) is okay. It has some Egyptian stuff and Rennaissance paintings. I used to live a couple blocks from it.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I definitely want to go to some museums in NYC, and NYC is a pretty sure bet on our itinerary. It would be terrific to meet up with you!

[clarentine]

You lucky dog, you. Whenever you pull it off, enjoy!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I certainly plan on giving it my best shot! :D

[footlingagain.livejournal.com]

Who else thinks this sounds like a totally rockin' experience???

I do, Miss! I do! ME! Mememememe! I do!

The two of you will have a ball :)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

*lol* There will be a trip to the UK, you know, only later, while we are settled in just across the channel. ;)

[footlingagain.livejournal.com]

Excellent! We'd probably come and meet you somewhere - as much as I'd love to meet you and J in person, I can't bring myself to recommend a visit to my home town *g*

On the other hand, we may have moved by the time the visit happens....

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

You've got a couple of years to get around to it. ;)

[footlingagain.livejournal.com]

That's my kind of time scale *g*

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I believe in being accommodating. :D

[secritcrush.livejournal.com]

Wow - that sounds awesome.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I know. I want to squee (literally) every time I think about it. :P

[pjthompson]

Wow! Sounds like a totally rockin' adventure! But no California. :-(

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

:( Maybe not this time, but someday, I'll have to take J there. :D Why do the States gotta be so big??

[pjthompson]

Mind-bogglingly big, just like space. ;-)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

bwahaha. And my mind boggles and boggles...

[navicat.livejournal.com]

*AHEM*?????

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I know! :P But we still aren't ruling out Oz. We just have to wait until we can buy the tickets to see what we can afford. And remember, NZ would be a holiday for you, too! :P Just think of all the miles we will have crossed to get that close to you. :D

[navicat.livejournal.com]

*waves free accommodation in front of your nose*

:D

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

There we go. That's what I'm talking about. You know how to entice travelers. ;)

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

That sounds awesome!

And New York, you say? Interesting...

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yes, VERRRRRRY close to PA! *wiggles eyebrows suggestively*

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

We (the royal we, that is) will be keeping an eye on your progress. :-)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

We (not so royal) are counting on it. ;)

[hkneale.livejournal.com]

Alas, missing Perth.

But if you swing through here, let me know.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

We haven't completely nixed coming to OZ. It'll be a matter of time and money. For such a big place, it might be better to make it a separate trip sometime down the line when we can really explore rather than just setting down to say we were there, you know?

[rabiagale.livejournal.com]

NYC is *only* 6 hours away by car from here. I would love to have you :D :D :D :D

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

We shall see, we shall see. What else is there to experience in your neck of the woods besides lovely fall colors and your lovely family? :D

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

Wow!

*admires itinerary*

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I hope we get to make it a reality. :D

[melinda-goodin.livejournal.com]

Woo! That is some itinerary!
I love to travel too, but 1 month at a time is my limit. I get homesick (and really appreciate what I come home to.)
I've been to Peru, Argentina (well, Buenos Aires for a day or two) and New Zealand and can speakly highly for all of them. Will you go to Machu Pichu and hike the Inca trail?

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Since living in France, I feel kind of homeless, not really attached to any one place, so I guess that's why it doesn't bother me so much.

And I'm glad to hear you vouch for those places. That's always comforting, and yeah, Machu Pichu is at the top of the list!