I’d forgotten what May was like in Wisconsin. The still-cool air mixed with warm sunshine, the lilacs and peonies flowering, and the amazing sunsets make this month one of the best in my home state. The last six or so years I’ve been gone at this time traveling somewhere: Scotland mostly, but also France, Spain, and Switzerland. This year it’s June that gets shipped abroad. Traveling Savage is going on vacation to Spain and Norway!
Over the last ten years Sarah has really turned me on to southern Spain, especially Granada (her favorite city). It’s a multicultural city in a majestic setting with incredible weather and some of the best damn eating and drinking to be had in Europe. This will be my fourth visit to Granada and I can’t wait to indulge in tapas and red wine. We’re also exploring a new pueblo blanco closer to the coast, which satisfies my craving to always see something new.
After a solid ten days in Spain we fly up to Norway for the remainder of the trip. Norway has long been one of my dream vacation spots. The natural splendor is hard to process in photos, so I can barely conceive what it will be like to stand among those mountains and fjords beneath the midnight sun. I’m actually a little concerned. What if Norway captures my heart? Will I have to expand Traveling Savage’s purview? 🙂
We are capping off the Norway trip with a visit to the Lofoten Islands, a Norwegian archipelago within the Arctic Circle. I am over the moon with anticipation!
This trip comes at the perfect time because I finished my novel’s latest draft a couple of weeks ago! This draft took a solid nine months, and now I’m ready to relax, put the project out of mind, and let my beta readers consume the story. When I return from Europe I will initiate the next (some might say most crucial) phase in the process: Pitching the manuscript to agents. After one last tweaking and polishing pass post-vacation, I will have reached the practical extent of my abilities with the story. Sure, there will be plenty more work to be done on it if/when it’s sold to a publishing house, but I believe I have a salable product mostly as is. Now comes the difficult task of learning how to write an amazing query letter. Wish me luck!
My impending vacation means a couple of things for Traveling Savage:
- New articles on Traveling Savage will resume in July, and
- Travel Consultations, Itinerary Reviews, and Custom Itineraries will also resume in July.
Please feel free to continue submitting requests for my trip-planning services — I will get back to you — but if time is of the essence I encourage you to seek help elsewhere.
While I’m away, why not get inspired to visit Scotland? Here you’ll find loads of itinerary ideas, the best of Scotland, and bite-size vignettes of Scotland’s most compelling places. Happy reading and see you in July.
Sláinte!
Oooh Keith
That trips sounds really tempting will look forward to your stories
Have a wonderful time ?
Dear Traveling Savage blogger,
I really enjoy reading the whole newsletter within my email account page, thus not having another webpage active in my browser *:D
I currently live in Scotland and all your updates are added in my trip-to-do-list! But today’s email was a surprise because i have just been in Granada in Easter this year, and it was amazing indeed, no words to describe, especially the fact that you can enjoy splendid breakfasts/dinners/tapas, beers, wines, in really sensible prices sitting out, enjoying a fantastic weather, and a lively atmosphere. I am Greek living in Scotland so i felt like there is still common sense in other countries too, to not have crazy high prices for idolised (or demonised?) products such as gastropub food, wine, oil on the table (not on demand!), fish/sea food (oh yes!) and vegetables/fruits.
Also, the fact that i just came back from Iceland from a 4d trip where i decided to buy only one fridge magnet just for the sake of my collection, must add more to my above statement! Not that one cannot buy local things to bring home, but me personally i would not spend my money on chinese souvenirs (12£ a magnet). We did indeed tried local food specialties there (30£ per person, one course -dish- only, fish). (The above did not lessen, though, at all my excitement of this experience on this island, it was something unbelievable, to feel the energy and the force of that place).
So, it seems interesting to me this combination of countries you will visit one after the other! Make sure you get packed food (chorizos, jamon, machego etc!) to Norway!
Good luck with your book!
Looking forward to the next newsletters!
Hi Yiota. I agree with everything you’ve said about Granada. It’s a wonderful little place that seems somehow to have avoided many of modernity’s ills. I am purposely checking a bag to Norway for just the reason you mention: We need to bring wine and other comestibles to offset the cost of Norway! Thanks for sharing your story, and for reading here!
If you are looking for somewhere nice on the coast not far from Granada, try San Jose–it’s a nice little gem!
Thanks for the tip! We’re checking out Frigiliana this time.
Enjoy your travels man … you deserve them!
Thanks, it was great!