This morning as I listened to Marketplace Money on my local NPR station, I heard a story about how anticipating a vacation is almost better than the vacation itself.
A study in the Netherlands found that people were happier right before a vacation than right after. The promise of the reprieve might be better than the actual trip! Nothing can go wrong as you are dreaming about it, but in actual travel, many things can go wrong, explained the author of the study who was attacked by a shark in Hawaii.
I don't fear shark attacks on our next trip to France, and I am enjoying the joy that comes with contemplating walking off the plan in Paris and traveling by train down to Aix en Provence.
I Skyped last week with a blog friend in Aix en Provence, Delana (who hasn't been blogging much but who runs Travel Solo Bootcamp, was full of fun ideas for me and Earl.
One of the things she told us was that the Calanques, between Marseille and Cassis are open to cars during March. That means that we can drive our rental car on the calanques, a kind of Mediterranean fjord. Most of the time, people visit them by boat or they have to park and hike in to see them.
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| This photo comes from the Alaric English Speakers website. |
I'm really dreaming of France and looking forward to our adventures.
What are you dreaming about this week?
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10 comments:
This area looks gorgeous. I hope you have time to spend hiking there.
The anticipation of a holiday is certainly delicious, but never as marvellous as the actual holiday itself I fear. That area looks stunning, and will be amazing to visit.
Wow, that's gorgeous! Hope you have nice weather and a great trip!
Looks just gorgeous and I can see why the anticipation would be wonderful! I think that's sort of true about anticipation and happiness being almost greater before than after -- because after you are home and it's over. But I wonder about during. I think if you had measured mine while in France, it would have been off the chart!
I hope you have a wonderful trip you so deserve this!
I just learned the German word for that kind of anticipation - vorfreude - the joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures.
The Calanques look gorgeous, the sea almost as blue as Alain Delon's eyes in Plein Soleil!
Which is what I have for Dreaming of France today. http://goo.gl/wHZUGy
I totally agree that the anticipation of a trip is as much fun as the actual trip. And yours is certainly sounding like a fabulous adventure worthy of great anticipation!
Very nice, I like to have a house near that place!
Gorgeous and fascinating. I agree with the story. I even experience joy and anticipation when a friend is planning a trip.
Hi Paulita , this area looks fantastic.. Oh yes your really ARE dreaming , dreaming about your coming trip. Who can blame you. Going to be wonderful. xo
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