Help, I'm getting old! When it comes to vacation destinations, it can never be warm enough for me. My motto: When the temperature reaches 25 degrees Celsius, I slowly wake up from my winter stupor, and even temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius and above don't bother me. So it's no wonder that my travel destinations generally had one thing in common: tropical temperatures. My favorite destinations were the Caribbean or Asia, especially Thailand. And that's exactly where I finally wanted to go after a four-year break. When I was checking possible flights a few days ago, I began to seriously doubt whether this was really (still) the right choice for me, especially in light of the tropical heat currently prevailing in northern Germany. Especially since, unlike before, I've recently been preferring to spend the hot days in the cool house rather than in the sun. So, mountain hiking instead of beach life?
Well, my change of heart isn't quite that drastic, but it doesn't necessarily have to be 35 degrees or more. So, am I now one of those people who moan about the bad weather for two-thirds of the year, only to complain about the heat the first time the sun appears? I don't think so! However, I can't help but notice that, thanks to climate change, "hot" in this country is really becoming increasingly tropical, and therefore not just stressful for older people. Apart from that, my personal circumstances have changed dramatically in recent years. While I used to spend the whole day in my shop and only had a much-needed vacation break for 10 days every two years, I now work from home in a relaxed manner and without time pressure. So, to be honest, I don't really need relaxation, but simply a "change of scenery" every now and then. While I used to enjoy spending my vacation 24/7 in the pool, literally, I now seek new experiences and a change from everyday life. And sightseeing, shopping, or strolling is simply exhausting when it's 40 degrees in the shade.
Unlike in the past, it is no longer the be-all and end-all to proudly show off your hard-earned holiday tan at home. These days, it comes naturally from a tube and is much healthier. It is not chic to fly halfway around the world for a coffee in New York, it is irresponsible. It is not cool to steal vegetables from farmers' fields as a backpacker or to haggle goods at local markets so low that you practically get the loot for free. And I'm not even talking about canceled or delayed flights, overcrowded planes, or screaming babies on long-haul flights who, according to their parents, absolutely have to experience Bangkok at the age of 6. In the last few years, not only my personal circumstances have changed, but the whole world, and with it the way I look at many things.
I'm not buying hiking boots for my next vacation, but I'm also not booking a 12-hour flight to the tropics. You'll probably find me relaxing, eating ice cream on a well-kept beach promenade somewhere in Europe, where the salty smell of the sea mingles with a fresh breeze and the sweet aroma of cotton candy, popcorn, and sunscreen fills the air. Just like the perfumes I've chosen this time. In my mind, I can already picture the warm evening sand of the beach under my feet and the delicate floral scent of oleander and hibiscus mingling with the tangy, earthy scent of pine needles and dry grasses. That sounds much better than two weeks in a tropical coma, doesn't it?
Mountain hiking or tropical coma?
