Growing up with an adventurous father, my sister and I had seen most of the United States and several other countries when we finished university.
He saw the journey as a key element of our education – we have written books on the places we have visited, made historic visits on foot and struck what looked like all Kentucky museums in Cornwall.
My sister and I have no other brothers and sisters, and our two parents were only children, which did not mean aunts, uncles or cousins. It was just growing upon us. My mom, as a reluctant traveler, sometimes skipped our trips.
When our parents passed, I was married, I had two young children and I worked part -time while being the main dispenser of care.
My sister and I live through each other – she was in California and I was in Connecticut. My sister, who has no children, visited us several times a year.
I had late children at 40 and 41. During my simple years, my sister and I traveled together and met a leopard in our South African Safari Lodge, parasail above Key West, and Pogoed during a concert of Ramones in Brixton.
Over the years, our time together had transformed the tapas mark in Barcelona to take my children in a nearby playground. We have never been able to finish a sentence without interruption of a toddler.
Sister time
For my 50th birthday, I was determined that we should go together in another adventure.
I convinced my husband of the time to watch the children for a week during their spring vacation, while my sister and I finally undertook another adventure. I put pressure on the fact that he would not have to worry about homework, prepare lunches or bring them to school.
Despite the trip at a reasonable price in the Middle East that I had found, my sister took a little convincing – she was not as eager to explore this part of the world.
The travel package that I reserved included eight countries in a single trip: the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah – plus a stop in Oman. I paid $ 1,100 for plane tickets and four nights in Dubai. The others stop, the more a rental car and seven nights of hotels added about $ 1,900 more.
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100 country objectives
After checking the 50 American states by my 30th anniversary, I threw my goal on a new goal: to visit 100 countries.
I am the criteria set by the Traveler’s Century Club, a group that I hope to join one day. The club recognizes 330 “country and territories”, including the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates as well as distinct destinations.
I mapped a course of action that added Oman, which helped me get one more country.
Once I have visited 100 countries, I will be eligible to apply.
The author’s sister floated near the tour of the tour in Oman. Anastasia Mills Healy
Congratulations on children without children
As a traveling professional and a fan of Penguin, two travel experiences stood out as the best: a visit to the extraordinary Burj Al Arab Hotel, with his gold wallpaper and his heliport, and the pure joy to have a little penguin jump on my knees.
The second experience took place in an interior ski area in Dubai, located inside a shopping center. It was complete with a ski lifting and resident penguins.
The other strengths included a visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a walk around the Grande Mosque Sheikh Zayed, and a climb on Burj Khalifa de Dubai, the highest building in the world. This is where we had a quiet cocktail to celebrate my half-century, overlooking the fountains thrown 122 floors below.
The author celebrated his birthday with a cocktail at the top of Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Anastasia Mills Healy
Much of the trip would have been too complicated with my children. For example, the spa day would not have been possible with the children. I also explored the Dubai Design District, bought in souks, traveled the historic district of Al Fahidi and spent a day on a boat in Oman.
Throughout the trip, I knew that if it was a family trip, children would have complained about heat and food.
Freedom has made this trip possible
Put your own oxygen mask before helping others, say the airlines. I agree. Women give so many things, and we need – and deserve – time to breathe and recharge. I took my children on as many trips as possible.
Now, I am 57 years old, divorced, and we – my children, my sister and I – I just explored my 72nd country. In a few years, when my children are adults and stolen, my sister and I will throw in more distant adventures.
My plan is for her to accompany me in my 100th country. It only makes sense – it has been there from all the pivotal moments of my life.
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