-
·
🇮🇹 Mamma Mia, It’s Hot in Florence
Sheeeeeee’s BACK!! She’s not 100%, but Anna has turned the corner. Ciao to the ick!! And just in time for us to nearly die of heatstroke in Florence. It was 101 degrees today. There is no deodorant that can get you through that kind of heat. Took a bus from the port of Livorno to…
-
·
🇮🇹 Ciao Roma: Kicking Off Our Mother-Daughter Mediterranean Cruise
Ciao Roma! Annaliese and I are in Rome in advance of a mother-daughter Mediterranean cruise. We’re celebrating Anna finishing her masters degree, and joining the ranks of employed people. Fair warning: It’s going to be HOT on this trip. It’s the Mediterranean in June. And I’m hot flashing. So I will be complaining about the…
-
·
📸 🇱🇹 Photo Essay: Lithuania
I take a lot of pictures when we travel. A LOT of pictures. Probably approaching an annoying amount of pictures. But when I post them, I try to curate. I choose the top 10-15 photos that represent the day and edit them. Because no one wants to see 113 un-edited vacation photos. No one. After our…
-
·
🇱🇹 Life in Lithuania Under Soviet Rule: A Walking Tour
The temperature is above freezing this morning. Happy dance!! Today’s focus: learning about life in Lithuania under Soviet rule. Our guide, Svetlana, was a teenager during the 1980s, so she has strong memories and feelings. The first feeling she shared with us: “We lived here in a prison, and we didn’t know it was a…
-
·
🇱🇹 Lithuanian Food Tour: A Deep Dive into Culture, Cuisine, and Soviet-Era Stories
Again, one of the best ways to learn about a country is through its food and drink. We learned a LOT about Lithuania this afternoon! Incredible Lithuanian food tour this afternoon with our guide, Rasa. Rasa is the same age as Ken and I, so she has vivid memories of Soviet times, or as she…
-
·
📸 🇱🇻 Photo Essay: Latvia
I take a lot of pictures when we travel. A LOT of pictures. Probably approaching an annoying amount of pictures. But when I post them, I try to curate. I choose the top 10-15 photos that represent the day and edit them. Because no one wants to see 113 un-edited vacation photos. No one. After our…
-
·
🇱🇻 🇱🇹 Baltic Road Trip #2: A Castle, a Palace, and a Hill of Crosses
Road trip to Lithuania today. We’re on our way from Riga, Latvia to Vilnius, Latvia. Another new country for all of us! (This brings my country count to 39. Ken is at 34. Not that anyone is keeping track.) Pit Stop First stop – unscheduled – the castle of unknown significance. Our driver said this…
-
·
🇱🇻 Exploring Riga: Art Nouveau & Soviet Architecture
Exploring Riga today – on a walking tour. I am so freaking cold. All of these Baltic women walking around in furs are starting to look pretty smart. You know what would be really handy? If menopausal women could summon a hot flash on demand. Sidebar: Breakfast fish (Baltic herring) is tough to face first…
-
·
🇪🇪 🇱🇻 Baltic Road Trip: Tallinn, Estonia to Riga, Latvia
On the move again today – a Baltic road trip from Tallinn, Estonia to Riga, Latvia. And another new country for all of us! Weather update: A Last Word on Tallinn I was very impressed with Tallinn. 9/10 – would absolutely recommend/revisit. On the Road – Tallinn to Riga Stopped to stretch our legs in…
-
·
📸 🇪🇪 Photo Essay: Estonia
I take a lot of pictures when we travel. A LOT of pictures. Probably approaching an annoying amount of pictures. But when I post them, I try to curate. I choose the top 10-15 photos that represent the day and edit them. Because no one wants to see 113 un-edited vacation photos. No one. After our…
-
·
🇪🇪 A Taste of Tallinn: A Walking Food Tour
Still BRRRR today, but calmer winds. Quick stroll through the flower market to get my blood moving – my Estonian mittens have paid for themselves already on this trip. One of the best ways to learn about a culture is through food and drink. So whenever we visit a new country, we always try to…
-
·
🇪🇪 First Impressions of Tallinn: Cold Temps, Impossible Language & Warm Bread
On the move today. Early morning flight from Munich to Tallinn, Estonia – new country for all of us! First impression of Tallinn: BRRRRR. It’s cold and windy. Was not expecting it to be glove weather. Had to buy an emergency pair of wool mittens. My hands are much happier now. So, the Estonian language.…