Seriously gutted.
Readers of my blog know that every 2-4 years Andy and I take our children on an 'intrepid trip'. The goal being we want them to experience the world. We want them to see new and different cultures. We want them to grow up having open eyes. Because we are really very priviledged here in NZ and we want to show them its not always like this, and also how cool other ideas are (plus I'm a travelaholic and this is my way of getting to see the world, grin).
You may have known that we were meant to be going to Mexico in Feb. I desperately want to see the monarch butterfly sanctuary in the middle of Mexico plus it was also good for kids with all the stunning beaches, and of course Disneyland in USA so close. Plus it has amazing cultural significance with the Mayan heritage.
Unfortunately, due to the drug warfare going on there and numerous murders and kidnapping occuring, we decided it just wasn't safe enough to venture where we wanted, and we set our sights on something else.
Egypt.
I spent hour upon hour upon hour working it all out. It was going to be a 5 week trip (give or take a few days) and we were going to see so much. Experience so much. Be part of something so incredible.
Then in the last few days we've watched that beautiful country rip apart with violence and protests. Now I can't comment on what they are protesting about - I don't know enough about it. But all I can say is that I'm very selfishly gutted as we are 90% sure our trip in March/April is now not going to happen.
And where does that leave us? Up in the air, desperately hoping things will settle back down and we can just carry on. But knowing that realistically we need to rethink this trip.
The next couple of trips are already under planning - Lappland in 3 Xmas's time - reindeer sled rides, fishing over the ice, meeting Santa at his village, a white Xmas. So for obvious reasons we can't bring that forward.
Another idea is Africa. Both Andy and I are desperate to go there, but for the kids to go on safaris they need to be a bit older. Bumma. Can't bring that forward.
So, we're left wondering, hoping, dreaming of a trip that was meant to be and we're just not sure now.
As you can see I'm writing this from a purely selfish point of view. I really hope the problems in Egypt get sorted out! And I think now I will go and find out a bit more about what is actually going on, why they are protesting and get some more knowledge. Then maybe I won't feel so selfish. Grin.