I’ve canceled the last trip on my itinerary: Morocco. After my husband’s bout with Mumps, and after reading the comments informing me that, yes, Mumps is back, I started to research. It turns out if you do get Mumps, it can gestate for 15-18 days before you show any symptoms. During this period and for five days after, you are highly contagious. I drank from my husband’s cup before we knew. I could have it, spread it and not know.
So. There it is. Good for travel karma, a little disappointing for my travel agenda. The good news is that Morocco isn’t going anywhere, so I’ll make it there eventually.
So now what? Well, we leave Madrid this Saturday and I’m dutifully trying to catch up on the myriad of emails and obligations that I’ve pushed aside during the last few months. I have some exciting projects coming up, and I can’t wait to see Vermont during the foliage season.
I miss seeing family, especially my mother, and it will be nice to be back in New England for a month. After that we’re spending some time in NC, then heading south– way south, to Mexico and seeing what South America has to offer.
My husband’s face is practically back to normal. Now if I could just get him to stop watching bad movies, we’d be all set.
This week on the web:
Romain interviewed me for his blog
You can win a trip to Africa with this contest
I was meme’d with a little blog love- play along if you’d like
September 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Not that you need the praise, but not going to Morocco is a very good deed. Not like that lawyer a few years ago that flew to Greece for his wedding with a very deadly form of TB. He should be jailed.
Good luck getting to Morocco.
Chad @ Sentient Moneys last blog post..Banks Failing…Good News?
September 17th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Wishing you guys a safe trip back. Its extremely considerate of you to postpone your trip. Hopefully you don’t come down with the mumps!
Lolas last blog post..Postcard: At Your Service
September 17th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I thought everyone but anti-vaccinationist parasitic whackaloons got vaccinated for mumps when they were kids…
September 17th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Fingers crossed and safe journey! I guess that MMR vax doesn’t last forever…
jamies last blog post..Oh No! It’s . . . a Grandcation!
September 17th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Whoa… thats rough. Like other people commented, kudos on looking out not only for yourself and your husband, but for people in Morocco. It isn`t going anywhere like you said and neither is Brazil… return I must and not because the there isn`t a girl left behind…
Anthonys last blog post..I Sound Like a Mexican
September 18th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Hi, I found your blog on this new directory of WordPress Blogs at blackhatbootcamp.com/listofwordpressblogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, i duno. Anyways, I just clicked it and here I am. Your blog looks good. Have a nice day. James.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:11 am
@Spork: We did get vaccinated, but from what I’ve read, there is a booster shot you need to take as an adult, and most people (including my husband and myself) don’t bother to get. I am not sure if this is REALLY true, but we will find out from our GP when we get back to the states. Until then, I didn’t want to chance it, especially since a perfectly good doctor in Spain diagnosed my husband with Mumps and he was definitely vaccinated as a kid.
Christines last blog post..Dublin is Fueled by Guinness
September 18th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Booster, huh? Makes sense. With the anti-vaccinationists rampant in Europe, I’m not surprised that childhood illnesses are coming back.
Good luck to you, and maybe you should get a round of boosters for other nasty little bugs?
September 18th, 2008 at 10:39 am
After 20 years of travel on three continents, our trip to Morocco was the only one we ever cancelled. I can’t even tell you exactly why. A few days before our trip (a pretty short flight from Barcelona), DP and I both started to feel uneasy. It’s not that we were afraid… we lived in Colombia (and loved it)… but we both had a feeling of foreboding. So we skipped Morocco. As you said, it’s not going anywhere.
I’m glad to hear that Drew is on the mend.
September 18th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I love what you wrote: “Morocco isn’t going anywhere…” Yeah, Morocco better not go anywhere yet until I save a ticket to go there!
Sandier Pasturess last blog post..Things that happen when I am not looking
September 19th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Traveling sick is certainly not fun, so better to be cautious, for you and others. It gives you some more time to explore Madrid. Glad your husband is recovering quickly.
I normally don’t do memes, but just included you in one like the one above. I’ve enjoyed following your sight these last few weeks. Enjoy your time at home.
September 20th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Crossing my fingers that you don’t have it! Have you been to Morocco before? It’s too bad you are missing out. Hope he is feeling better now. On a sidenote, what movies is he watching?
September 21st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I still can’t believe your husband got Mumps! Glad to hear he’s on the mend.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I just noticed you are following me on Twitter and checked out your site. I couldn’t believe your recent posts are about Morocco and Canary Islands- we are going there in November!
Just a word of advice - as a world traveler and registered nurse, I can tell you that it’s important to cover yourself in case of medical emergency. If I could only take one thing along when I travel it would be peace of mind. My MedJetAssist membership. Like AAA - but for the body - bringing you home when you are hospitalized. Most insurance (health and travelers) only transports you to “nearest appropriate facility”. NOT best of care. And- do you really think that money doesn’t determine a lot of that decision?
Accidents happen to anyone - and we are more likely to be injured when in unfamiliar environments. Anyway, this is a hot topic for me - and just wanted to let you know what travel gurus like Rick Steves, Peter Greenberg, and Rudy Maxa all travel with - medical evacuation membership.
I invite you to check it out - http://www.medjetassist.com/jetseven
We are traveling to Morocco and Canary Islands with peace of mind that we are one phone call away from home…
Bon Voyage!
Anya Clowers, RN
http://www.JetWithKids.com
November 12th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
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