Season’s greetings my dear myWanderlusters. Please forgive me if I’m a little more incoherent than usual this week. We had our Christmas party here at the Towers on Tuesday, and just between you, me and the festivally-festooned lamp post, I’m still a little under the weather.
Things started going downhill almost immediately when a seasonal goon box was cracked open and its toxic contents shared around for all to consume. (For those of you not aware of the wonders –and dangers – of the goon box, feel free to consult our online guide.)
Having said that, the fact that we came in on Wednesday to find an untouched glass of the stuff had turned green overnight tells you everything you need to know about goon boxes. To quote Monty Python: "goon is not a wine for drinking, it is a wine for laying down and avoiding."
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course. It is now crystal clear to me why our intern, Penny, suggested we buy the goon box in the first place. It was part of her cunning plan to rob me of my rightful victory in the annual Christmas party musical chairs competition. I shan’t go into details other than to say that I was pushed to the floor by the said intern and Australia’s annus horribilis in sport continues.
I'm wondering if this is a scene that has been playing out all across the world of myWanderlust because things have been a bit quiet this week online. Over at the Forum, keithruffles did his best to liven things up by admitting that he wears every piece of clothing he takes travelling in an attempt to save money. He asks what you do to save a penny or two, partially, I suspect, so he doesn’t have to spend every flight he goes on bouncing down the aisle like the Michelin Man.
Elsewhere on the Forum, Liz Cleere wants to know if you seek out art in your travels. And Sarah Hall is looking for advice on desert tours in Ouarzazate and Zagora.
Over at Experiences, David Higham recounts an extraordinary Mexican wedding celebration, sadly without any tequila-fuelled regret. Deborah Cater reminisces about a train trip from Sofia to Istanbul with two friends and explains how to successfully navigate the small lanes of Italy. And JohnA tells all about a close encounter with a rhino in Uganda.
While you’re visiting Experiences, don’t forget to check out Arlandria83’s top three travel experiences. A terrific read.
Arlandria83 also pops up over at Just Back From, with advice on visiting Mull and checking out the basking sharks. Sam J Young has provided detailed instructions on how to get the most out of your visit to Marrakech. And Penny22 has returned from a rail journey visiting the Christmas markets of Germany.
Danny2798 is back from just about everywhere.
It’s all about light over at Photography this week. Mattyboy876 has posted a wonderful set of photos from the Amsterdam Light Festival. Wandering Welshman has captured extraordinary light conditions in Loch Tay. And Jamie Furlong has been terrorising the folk of Cochin with a strobe light. It’s all part of Jamie’s plunge into the world of street photography and the results are confronting and compelling.
A bit like the photos they just showed me from Tuesday night.
Have a great Christmas guys. I’ll speak to you in the new year.
