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🇺🇸 What to Drink for America’s 250th Birthday (Hint: It’s Not What You Think)
We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special bonus post . . . America turns 250 on Saturday. A quarter of a millennium. By European standards, 250 years is practically yesterday. But here in America? A pretty big birthday. And cause for a pretty big celebration. There will be fireworks, parades, and…
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🇯🇵 🇰🇷 🇨🇳 Four is Death & Other Advice I’ve Received on Japan, South Korea, and China
I travel a lot, and I feel like I’ve accumulated enough passport stamps and stressful experiences to be reasonably competent at it. That said, in a few days, Ken and I are heading to Asia on an ocean cruise with Regent Seven Seas. Why a cruise? Honestly, I figured it would be a good way…
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🇷🇸 Belgrade: Three Weddings and a lot of Gray
We are docked in Belgrade, Serbia today. And we can walk into town from the port – no herd bus. Huzzah! If nothing else, I’ve learned a lot more about Eastern European / Balkan geography on this trip. Belgrade is located at the meeting point of the Danube and Sava Rivers. The Danube connects Belgrade…
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🇭🇷 Osijek & Vukovar: Homemade Brandy and the Scars of War
Good morning, Croatia. Woke up to more fog, but prettier fog. Celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary today. I got Ken a very special anniversary gift this morning – Diet Coke for breakfast. We are docked in eastern Croatia along the Serbian border, in the town of Vukovar, which saw intense combat during the Croatian War…
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🍷 🇭🇺 What to Drink in Hungary: A Guide to Hungarian Drinks
We spent four days in Budapest before our Danube River cruise, which gave me plenty of time to investigate Hungary’s drinks culture. And Hungary gave me plenty to investigate. So, what do Hungarians drink? Start with pálinka, the country’s famously potent fruit brandy, Unicum, the bitter herbal liqueur Hungarians inexplicably keep drinking on purpose, and some…
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🇭🇺 Did You Know . . . ? A Day Exploring Budapest with Hungary’s Own Sheldon Cooper
Walking orientation tour of Budapest this morning, led by Ádám – affectionately known (by me) as Hungarian Sheldon Cooper. This man has an encyclopedic knowledge of Hungary, which he shared with us – in its entirety. Ádám delivered facts in a rapid-fire cadence that was both impressive and overwhelming all at once. Did you know… Hungary…
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🍺 🇱🇹 What to Drink in Vilnius: A Sip-by-Sip Guide to Lithuanian Drinks Culture
I’ve been studying wine and spirits for over two decades. One of the things I’m most interested in when we travel is what I call drinks culture – what can you learn about a country through their cultural drinking habits and traditions. I’ve been known to order several drinks off a menu – just so…
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✈️ Vacation Re-Entry: Time to Pay the Travel Tax
We’ve been traveling for the past couple of weeks. A trip to Munich (always a homecoming of sorts for us) and the Baltic States with my dad, my brother, and my brother’s husband. And now it’s time for the dreaded vacation re-entry. Why the Baltic states? To say my father has traveled extensively is an…
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Whew! I’m All Caught Up (for now)
I’ve finally caught up to myself with old travel posts. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them. Stay tuned for new posts from Portugal and Spain! 🇵🇹 🇪🇸 Saúde & Salud!
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🎄 Happy Holidays 🎄
Just a quick note to wish all of you the happiest of holidays – and to thank you for taking the time to stop by, open that email, and read my blog. We didn’t put up a Christmas tree this year. We have a 7 month old Labrador retriever puppy (Jack), and an 8 month…
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The Snow Hotel, Kirkenes, Norway 🇳🇴
Bonus Post: The Snowhotel. Arrived late last night, which was totally fine with me – minimized my time in the ice room. The experience started with a stop at the ice bar for shots of Rudolph’s Revenge – vodka and reindeer blood (cloudberry juice), served in shot glasses made out of ice. I made sure…
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Tromsø & Kirkenes, Norway 🇳🇴
Had a free day in Tromsø today. Walked around town, did some shopping, and searched out the grocery and liquor stores, two places I always try to visit when we travel. I could browse them for hours. Ken is … less enthusiastic. At the market, there was an entire row dedicated to canned fish/fishy things.…