keep not traveling

[calimac]

Here's somebody's idea of the 24 Best Islands in the World. I had to go all the way down to no. 24 to find one that I've visited: Kau'ai. I was there on a family vacation cruise when I was 19. We docked at Lihue and took a hired car tour to Waimea Canyon. It was very pretty. Then we went back and sailed away, all in one day. That was it.

During part of their period of frequently shifting abode during their retirement, B.'s parents lived on Kau'ai. B's sister went to visit them, and we were encouraged to go too. But besides the expense, and the time and trouble of getting there, any idea of going was stymied by the question of, what would we do there? Visiting B's parents, but they were often visiting here. Sitting around relaxing we can do at home. Viewing scenery would be nice, but not as the sole necessary reason for a long trip. So we didn't go. Most of the other 23 islands on the list are of no more interest to me.

My idea of the best islands in the world would be quite different. My choice for the best island in the world would be the island of Great Britain. It has lots of things that attract me, starting with some of the people who live there. It has blazes of historic sites and fascinating old buildings, it has bookstores and museums and great concert halls and some interesting food. I've been there nine times, the last six years ago, but what with pandemics and health issues I'm not sure if I'll ever be back.

I'd also put a high ranking on the island of Manhattan. I'm less fond of it as a place, because I found living there for a week to be exhausting in a way London isn't, but it sure measures almost as high as Britain on the scale of interesting things to do.

Now I have an opportunity to go back there. But I'm not taking it. We got an invitation from dear friends to a special anniversary party to be held very near Manhattan in an interesting venue. Once upon a time I'd have been willing to take the trouble to go all the way across the country for such a tempting reason, and would have tacked on other things to do. But loss of physical agility ... the still-high risks of pandemic ... the only partially-consequent decay of my ability at and interest in party socializing ... and the corrosive experience of the time I lost my bag in the airport due to trying to do four things at once ... I'm not up to that any more.

Comments

[oursin]

I've done more of those than I anticipated, though I'd have included A LOT more Greek islands (even if these days everyone goes on about how Mykonos is spoilt)! and maybe Crete rather than Cyprus, but I had a really horrible what was meant to be romantic holiday there c. 1980 which is apt to prejudice one's impressions. But I can and would include the Whitsundays and South Island NZ. I would put Malta much higher. No Sicily - mama mia!

[athenais]

I've been to three on that list. I love island vacations, though. I was thrilled with our trip to Rapa Nui last year. I am still trying to get my trip to Tahiti and Bora Bora rearranged, the one that was planned and paid for in 2020 having been scuppered by the onset of the pandemic. I insisted on an island vacation for my fiftieth birthday and we wound up on Åland, which was so interesting that I have since been back twice. Both of us enjoy vacationing in Hawaii. I thought the Bahamas was overrated, I liked Bermuda for a three night trip but wouldn't go back, I'm looking forward to next year's trip to the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway. But I also love Britain and have now lost count of the number of times I've been there.

On the other hand, I've lived in Manhattan for extended periods of time, working and subletting an apartment or staying with friends, and it's just not for me. It's too much of everything.

[calimac]

Rapa Nui did sound cool, and I liked your trip report. I'd definitely put that on a list of good islands for scenery alone. Bahamas, yeah, I frequently receive shady offers for a free vacation in the Bahamas, and I always wonder, what would I do there? It doesn't even have Kau'ai's level of scenery. Sitting around relaxing I can do at home with comfier chairs and less sand getting in everything. Plus cats.

[kate_schaefer]

Of that list of islands, the only one I've been to is Capri, as part of a Latin club trip during high school. I remember it as being like Mont St. Michel: a small island mountain, with a winding set of roads and stairs leading to a monastery on the top.

My favorite island is Iceland, but I wouldn't argue with how you rank Great Britain and Manhattan.

[calimac]

Iceland! Yes, I think I'd rate that up there as well. I wouldn't make a trip just there, but I wouldn't be averse to stopping over on a flight to Europe, as many have done.

My favorite story about Capri is the tourists who tried to set their car's GPS to direct them to Capri (or, presumably, to the ferry terminal). But they typoed it, and innocently followed the directions to Carpi, which is a town in the Po Valley.