Holidays abroad - the luxury we don't need this summer
Why my passport will be out of action again this year
I can still remember my first time on a plane. I was nine years old and I was flying to Majorca with my aunt and uncle. I couldn’t believe that I was, at last, a passenger sat behind one of those little oval windows that I’d only ever seen before on TV shows.
I remember the plane bobbing along the runway and the engines whirring loudly while I crunched on my boiled sweet - strawberry flavoured, I think - and then the sudden jolt as the aircraft sped up, pressing me into my seat. Almost like magic, we were up in the sky and gliding over the pillowy white clouds. I was mesmerised, and even now, I’m bemused by the physics behind it all.
Take off is still one of my favourite parts of a holiday. There’s a sense of relief as you leave behind the checkered rooftops and fields, and the criss-cross of roads and rivers - everything about the humdrum of daily life which I see very differently now through my adult eyes. This is the moment when a holiday officially begins and all my cares are briefly put on pause.
After that first trip to Puerto Pollensa, I didn’t go on a summer holiday again for another seven years. I returned to Majorca with my big sis for two weeks of dancing to S Club 7’s Reach, drinking Blue Lagoons, and discovering that my nose and thighs burn easily, but nowhere else on my body ever tans.
Beach life and Apple Sourz were soon replaced by a love for city breaks in my late-20s. It was almost like roulette, picking one of the destinations accessible via Newcastle or Edinburgh airport. Even now, I still love the buzz of a modern European city, with a Zara on (almost) every street corner and the relentless sunshine transforming drab concrete buildings into the neighbourhood of my work-life dreams.
My mum loves city breaks too, but I only went on holiday with her for the first time when I was 29. It’s since become my little treat for her birthday when my finances have allowed. I keep the destination a secret each time to surprise her and we’ve ticked off Paris, Rome, Copenhagen, and Vienna so far. She’s fascinated by history and architecture, and we love wandering through parks, sitting beside fountains, and visiting iconic landmarks, imagining what life would have been like hundreds of years before.
So why am I sharing my holiday scrapbook with you?
Well, as someone who didn’t go on a family holiday with my mum and sister as a kid and who, at various points in my adult life, simply couldn’t afford to go anywhere - I treasure each and every one of these past trips. More importantly, my experiences have taught me that holidays abroad aren’t a necessity. They’re a luxury. Something nice to have, but never to be expected.
That’s why I’m annoyed by people on social media at the moment complaining about their ‘right’ to go on a holiday overseas this summer.
During a pandemic.
While people are still dying.
When not everyone is vaccinated yet.
I mean, when did we become so entitled and lose all perspective?
I get it. Holidays are a chance to escape from day-to-day life. It’s when you can relax, have fun, embark on adventures, meet new people, and experience different cuisines, cultures and activities. It’s our reward for working hard.
Sure, after such a difficult, lonely, and isolating 12 months, I’d love nothing more than to be sitting in a swanky beach bar, draped in my turquoise kaftan while sipping on a pina colada garnished with a tacky paper umbrella, and watching the sun melt behind the horizon in a swirl of blush pink and apricot hues. (Can you tell I’ve been thinking about this a lot?!)
But that kind of normality isn’t quite here yet. And the truth is, even before the pandemic, this wasn't the norm for everybody for lots of different reasons.
Last year, I had zero sympathy for holidaymakers that travelled abroad purely for leisure purposes, only to then get caught up by new restrictions imposed by the government. They knew the risks and how changeable the situation could be, so what else did they expect?
Would I like to jet off to destinations on my bucket list, like the Amalfi Coast, Budapest, or Mykonos? Absolutely.
Is summer 2021 the time to be doing that? I don’t think so.
Some countries are on the brink of a third wave and are way behind the UK with their vaccination roll-out programmes. Just because we appear to be making strides against the spread of the virus, this doesn’t mean we should stop showing compassion for the most vulnerable in societies beyond our own borders.
Even when the government eases restrictions and allows holidays again, I doubt I’d enjoy a trip away. Masks, social distancing, curfews, testing, the prospect of quarantining and, you know, potentially catching the virus - these things don’t make for a memorable holiday in my opinion.
There’s just too much uncertainty.
Yes, I may still be young(ish) but I don’t know how the virus will affect me if I ever catch it. Long covid is also a real concern of mine after hearing first-hand accounts from a few of my 20- and 30-something friends.
Why can’t we be content with a holiday here in the UK to minimise the risks? There are lots of lovely places that we’ll be able to visit, and local businesses need our support now more than ever. The west coast of Scotland and Cornwall are just two locations I’d love to explore.
We all want something to look forward to right now. However, I’d prefer to wait until the time is right to go abroad again, when it’s safer for me and everybody else, and when I’ll enjoy it.
Despite my love for jetting overseas and cruising amidst those fluffy white clouds, it’s not essential when it comes to taking a break and spending time with family and friends.
People make memories, not places.
March 22 mixtape
Quote of the week
This week’s quote comes from Matt Haig, and it features in his soon-to-be-published The Comfort Book. It caught my eye mainly because I love toast and have a thing for Tiger loaves at the moment! 🍞
Podcast of the week
The Solo Collective is a brand new podcast hosted by Rebecca Seal. It’s about working alone, whether that’s as a freelancer or - as many of us can now relate - as an employee now confined to our homes. Guests include Emma Gannon (host of Ctrl-Alt-Delete podcast) and fashion designer Henry Holland. Rebecca has also published a bestselling book which I’ve just ordered today, so no doubt I’ll be sharing my favourite quotes from that in the coming weeks!
Mention of the week
I’d like to say thank you to Tiffany Philippou for listing my post ‘I think I’ve forgotten how to kiss’ in the goss section of her ‘burnout’ newsletter. The Tiff Weekly was the first newsletter I subscribed to last year, and her life writing classes (co-hosted with journalist Nicola Slawson) inspired me to set up The Monday Oops. Go take a read! ☺️
See you in two weeks
Alexis 💕
www.alexisforsyth.com
Catch up on my recent issues…
I think I’ve forgotten how to kiss
5 years single - here’s what I’ve learnt