BobRingReflections

My last several blogs have been about the history of entire countries (Greenland, China, and Iran), and even a continent (Africa).  That’s pretty heavy stuff and I needed a break for something simpler and lighter.  Pat came to rescue again, suggesting “vacations” as a topic. So, after an introduction to the subject, I will write about the history of vacations from ancient times to today, breaking the historical timeline into appropriate eras.   I will finish with a snapshot of trends for future vacations. As usual, I will list my principal sources at the end.   Introduction A  vacation   is a period of time spent away from work, school, or regular duties for the purpose of rest, travel, or recreation.   The word originates from the Latin  vacatio , meaning "freedom," "exemption," or "leisure.”   It comes from the verb  vacare , which means "to be empty" or "to be free from duty." People often take a vacation during spe...