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Expat Life: You won't BELIEVE where we're going next

Cynthia:  I’m getting excited about where we’re headed next. What a dream trip this is going to be!

Edd:  I’m pumped too. You know what, since our departure is in less than 10 days, it’s time to share the details with our subscribers.

C:  Less than 10 days?? I’ve been so focused on our family visits, I haven’t thought much about it. Time to shift gears and start getting ready to go. Planning to be gone for 2 ½ months doesn’t seem as overwhelming this time around.

E:  Well, it helps that we’ll only be in one climate. Packing for last year’s trip to Mexico was tough with oppressive heat and humidity on the coast and springlike weather in the highlands.

C:  Especially with only a roll-aboard and backpack each. Which is the way we’ll be traveling this time as well.

E:  She says while rolling her eyes.😏 Hats off to you for agreeing to downsize. It’s really made airport logistics easier. And for this upcoming trip, the minimal luggage will be even more appreciated with all the train travel we’ll be doing through four countries.

C:  Which is a clue that reveals we’re going to Europe, folks. First stop—Lisbon, Portugal.

E:  Even though a massive earthquake destroyed the city about 250 years ago, Lisbon looks fantastic in the photos and videos we’ve seen. We’re staying downtown for two weeks—plenty of time to really get to know the place plus take some fun excursions.

C:  Mexico was our first multi-month trip. Overall we enjoyed ourselves, but when it was over we decided our scheduling had been a bit too aggressive. This adventure is designed at a more relaxed pace to enjoy each stop without feeling rushed.

E:  We next take a train to Madrid, Spain for a 2-week stay. The architecture! Museums! Food! That one will be exciting.

C:  Speaking of food—which you often do—we’ve learned the dinner scene doesn't get going until around 10 p.m. We’ll maybe try that once or twice. Otherwise, it’ll be Happy Hour tapas and vino for these two.

E:  Did you know from Madrid we could take a day trip to the original Cuenca that our hometown in Ecuador was named after? Lonely Planet calls it “one of Spain’s most memorable cities.”

C:  I did not. You’re the research specialist in the family.

E:  One place we’ve gotta go is Segovia. The Roman aqueduct there looks mind blowing!

C:  Slow down, dude. Remember the relaxed pace?

E:  I know, I know. We’ve never been to any of the places we’re visiting, and I feel like a kid in a candy store before we even get there. Our third stop is kind of an accident, but it turns out to be the one I’m most curious about.

C:  Right. Barcelona was supposed to be #3, but we couldn’t find accommodations that fit our budget. After studying a map for other possibilities, you stumbled upon…

E:  Bordeaux, France! I mean, c’mon. Beautiful city. Fabulous food and wine. Temperate year-round weather. Beaches (including Europe’s biggest sand dune. Who knew?) an hour away. What’s not to love? I can’t wait to spend a couple of weeks there.

C:  I agree. Great choice. And it’s only a 2-hour ride on the bullet train to our fourth city—Paris!

E:  We were originally going to plan just a few days there until our kids said, “You’ll either be rushing around the whole time or you won’t see everything. Stay longer.”

C:  So we revised the schedule and are now staying in Paris for 2 weeks! That’s a dream trip all by itself.

E:  We’re making the visit to Paris part of our 51st anniversary celebration. Last year we did the 5-day extravaganza in San Miguel for the big 5-0. On our actual wedding day we’ll have moved on to city #5.

C:  London! We’re creating some incredible memories, and definitely making our own magic. I feel so blessed to be able to celebrate our most special day in Paris and then London.

E:  Me too. After exploring London for a week, we’ll travel to England’s southeast coast and spend time with our son-in-law’s parents. They’ve promised to take us sailing to see the White Cliffs of Dover.

C:  Castles, possibly a champagne vineyard day trip, and, of course, an iconic pub meal of fish and chips are on the itinerary. It’ll be a lovely ending to our bucket list adventure.

E:  Lisbon–Madrid–Bordeaux–Paris–London. Plus a junket to the English countryside. Describing this trip makes it sound like we have unlimited financial resources. But we’ll actually be living those 2 ½ months in Europe on our Social Security budget. How?

C:  That’s a topic for a future conversation. We’ll be keeping good notes, posting lots of photos, and sharing our impressions with all of you. Talk to you from Lisbon, amigos!

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