HISTORY A CLICK AWAY: Visiting magnificent churches such is this one in Lyon is easy to do if you fire up your internet for a virtual holiday.
A COUPLE of years ago before Covid reared its ugly head there were thousands and thousands of people traveling the world, cruising the open seas, plying the waterways of Europe, and generally seeing what the world had to offer.
Then it came to an abrupt halt and for over two years we were confined to our own countries, stopped in our tracks by a disease we are still trying to come to terms with.
It was amazing how many people were absent from their home country, and it took (for some), an eternity to return.
Many seniors had to curtail their travel plans, money and trips put on hold, cruise liners going nowhere, and plane travel restricted in foreign lands. Many died and millions were and still are hospitalised.
A lot of people are now some-what reluctant to go on that journey to those far away exotic places, not too sure what the future holds, health maybe not quite so good, money spent on other things and now the war in Ukraine.
What do the armchair tourists do? They have plenty of time, have a large “smart” TV with connection to the internet and are able to “surf” the world wide web.
Forget about normal TV, the hundreds of reality shows, the endless repeats.
Forget about Netflix and Stan and the many others that one has to pay for. With an internet connection, “the world is your oyster”.
A nice lounge to put your feet up, maybe a drink by your side and you can go to any part of the world you can think of.
Maybe a trip in a helicopter over Venice or a double deck “open top” London bus tour or maybe a guided street walk in Paris.
Travel by cable car to any of the mountains in Germany, France or Italy. Ride a camel in the Sahara
desert or be the pilot in a Mustang.
Do the cliff walks of Scotland or be a passenger in a helicopter ride around the Matterhorn in Switzerland.
Maybe a safari in Africa, the cultures of India and China and Asia or even a cruise on the Rhine.
Wherever you want to go, you can travel without cost, no insurance, no hotels, no baggage, or flight times, just be in awe of the wonders of our world.
Sure, it may not be the ultimate trip, and some might scoff at the suggestion, but for those who would never be able to afford a trip overseas and particularly for those seniors who would not dare go overseas now, a trip down memory lane with friends is a great way to use your TV.
As well as the shorter trips there are hour long and 5–6-hour world scenic tours highlighting what the world has to offer. All in 4K.
With the war in Ukraine, I wondered, seeing the destruction going on in the cities what the country was like, so we “went” to Ukraine recently, seeing the beautiful countryside and mountains, the breadbasket of Europe, the magnificent centuries old buildings and castles, the forests and the modern highways and cosmopolitan cities.
Why would someone want to destroy this?