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Burning With Desire To Travel And A Fried Brain

By Madelyn Miller

I have been getting ultraviolet light treatment for a weird rash I have.

After 6 treatments, it seemed to be gone. You are supposed to go daily for three weeks, but I was invited to Mexico and the doctor said I could take a “vacation” from the light without a problem.

But my last treatment was a problem.

I got a REALLY REALLY BAD burn.

Friday night before I left, I started getting the chills, then felt like I was burning up. I happened to see myself in a mirror and I realized I was beet red.
Since you go into this tanning bed like room standing up, the only part of me that was not burnt was the soles of my feet.

I could not even lay down to sleep.

I called the doctor to get some medicine

I took pain medicine and got some ointments

But I was determined NOT to miss the trip to Oaxaca.

Since I could not even bend down to pick up my shoes, or all the stuff I store on the floor, I called my friend Rochelle. She rushed over, packed my stuff, took me to the pharmacy, and then drove me to the airport because I knew I could not drive.

WHAT I LEARNED
It is not fun to wear a seatbelt with a burnt stomach.

Never get a sunburn the day before an international trip.

AND IT GETS WORSE
I was so exhausted, and hurt so badly that when I rushed through security (after much problems with my airline ticket), I left my computer.
I am not sure which is worse, a peeling burn that hurts everywhere or not having your computer.

Luckily, I was able to determine that they had my computer in security. The tour leader tried to go back to get it, but they would not release it to anyone but me. The pilot announced on the loud speaker…”are you willing to leave without your computer?”
I asked what the options were.
Really, there were none.
I could not hold everyone up because of my stupidity.
So I left, computer-less for the first time in years.

When I arrived in Oaxaca, the fellow travelers wondered why I looked like a raccoon.
It hurt to have anything around my sunburned bellybutton, so I wore a long sleeve black dress with a long skirt and no underwear plus a huge sunhat for the first three days. Luckily, the weather was not too hot.

And when I told the women I was going to my class reunion the following weekend, they must have thought I was getting a face peel.

Actually, by the time I got the reunion, the skin on my face looked great. But my butt is still peeling and I scratch all over from the peeling now.

And would you believe that my next trip is to a spa in Italy where they will give me a…you guessed it…a face peel.

When it rains, it pours.

Or maybe, when it shines, it burns.

After Italy, I plan to stay home in the dark for awhile.

Here are some helpful books on Travel
But I am not sure anyone could anticipate this one.
The best tip I have is…have helpful, wonderful friends like Rochelle Brown.

TRAVEL ADVISORY! How to Avoid Thefts, Cons and Street Scams While Traveling
By Bambi Vincent and Bob Arno
Bonus Books

Fodor's How To Pack
Savvy tips for travel today
www.fodors.com

1001 Smart Travel Tips
Extra insights from Fodor’s well-traveled writers and editors
www.fodors.com

HOW TO TAKE A ROAD TRIP
How to make it fun, eat right, drive smart and don’t get lost

Vagabounding
An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel
By Rolf Potts
Villard Press
www.randomhouse.com

OAG Express
Portable Flight Guide to Top Travel Markets in North America
From Official Airline Guides
www.oag.com

Essential World Atlas
DK Publishing
This new atlas shows political and state borders, population and administrative centers, communications, and airports
www.dk.com

Escapes From Someday Isles
The best of Living Aboard
Edited by Linda Ridihalgh
Articles, tips, letters and from the bible of onboard living
www.livingaboard.com

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