Why Friday’s Post Didn’t Publish and a Trip Update

I usually publish a blog post on Fridays. Last week, the schedule got interrupted because I’m having some work done on my website. Some folks wrote and inquired about where I’d gone. Thank you for caring!

After Friday’s morning radio duties, I scooted to London in the snow for a late breakfast with a friend. It was late in the day by the time I realized it hadn’t published. I decided to just let it go this time.

Some wondered whether I’d already left for Poland. Maybe I just sneaked out the back door like leaving a party without saying goodbye. (Something I also do!)  No, the trip doesn’t start for almost three more weeks. And the itinerary has changed.

Politics Gets in the Way

We realized that we’d be landing in Warsaw, Poland on Easter Monday. Most everything will be shut down as Poland is a devoutly Catholic country. (I’ll be hoarding free snacks on the plane!) But my cousin/travel buddy found we’d be in Budapest the day after a general election.

That doesn’t have to be a big deal but it was something we kept an eye on. I think we’ve all had our view of politics shaken, stirred, and shattered in recent years. We can take nothing for granted.

So, lo and behold, Hungary’s leader is threatening to cancel the election. There have been protests and growing discontent, to say the least. Whether or not the election goes ahead we decided to skip Hungary on this trip. I hope our Hungarian friends understand. This is also why we pay a few bucks more for the ability to cancel a reservation without a penalty.

So, Now What?

The question was where to go instead? We explored the map, looked at research, and decided that Prague, Czechia, was the best substitute.

Unlike Warsaw, and Berlin for that matter, Prague’s core was largely untouched during World War II. The country wasn’t unharmed overall. It was bombed several times and suffered thousands of casualties. The Old Town Hall was destroyed by fire and some historic buildings were lost. But Prague’s historic centre was left mostly intact.

Warsaw has done an incredible job of rebuilding after 90% of the city was devastated by 1945. We are excited to see it. Next, we go on to Krakow to explore that city as well as a day-trip to Auschwitz. After that it’s Prague, where the Prague castle dates back to the 9^th century. I’m in awe just thinking about standing before something that ancient and resilient.

Then we travel to Zagreb, Croatia. That country’s coast is supposed to offer some of the most stunning views in the world.

Doing the Best We Can

Safety while you travel is never assured. But when there’s an obvious, potential trip disruption, we felt it was best to avoid it. We don’t want to be dodging protests in a place where we don’t speak the language. One never knows what direction these things can take.

With regard to the website, some things might appear and then disappear in the next little while. If you’ve bookmarked the blog, you probably won’t even notice. It’s just a refresh to attract more visitors who are looking to hire voice actors. One must stay competitive in an ever-changing marketplace, mustn’t one?