I was sad to be leaving Obidos after only one night. There was something soothing about a village protected by castle walls, which became so quiet and serene at night. We fetched our car from the impossible parking space alongside the old walls and cobbled down a few skinny roads until we were on pavement... Continue Reading →
Traveling Portugal: Stillness in Obidos
We left Lisbon and picked up our rental car to drive to Obidos. Portugal drives on the right side of the road which inevitably eases my “new country driving” anxiety, but once you leave major highways you can see why people hesitate to self-drive. Obidos is a small village surrounded entirely by castle walls, so... Continue Reading →
Traveling Portugal: Finally in Lisbon
Getting to Portugal was a long time coming. For years our family and friends had gushed over it, so we finally mapped out a trip. We were originally going to be there for NYE, ringing in the year in Lisbon’s main square before journeying up and down the coast. But as the Omicron variant spread... Continue Reading →
Voyage South Africa—Apartheid Museum and Johannesburg History
Woke up in our 2-bedroom hotel “apartment” that cost the equivalent of $75 a night. The conversion rate in SA was still blowing my mind. Breakfast by the mall set us back a mere few dollars, with the bonus of mocking “touristy” tourists outside our window as they awaited the arrival of the Big Red... Continue Reading →
Finishing 50 States—Ending with Kansas City
We woke up in the “Little Apple” after my first night in my 50th state. The toasty Kansas air greeted us as we trekked to the truck for our final day of travel. Today’s route didn’t pass through Route 66 or into ghost towns or mountains—it was a relatively benign journey to Kansas City. Before... Continue Reading →
London Bound—Clarity in Winchester
The next day, we chose to take a day trip with my family to a little town called Winchester, which is about an hour from London by train. London is an incredible city, but we craved exploration and a low-key change of scenery. Katie’s uncle lived in Winchester for many years, so the two of... Continue Reading →
Memphis Blues and Heavy History
We rolled into Memphis around dinner time to a hotel called The Exchange, which ended up being half apartment units and half “hotel rooms” (full service apartment-style). For $85 and a downtown location, we were surprised to see a full working kitchen complete with pots and pans and a separate living room area. I wish... Continue Reading →
Hawaiian Haze and History Trips
The very first thing I saw when I opened my eyes in the morning was the ocean, stretching beyond my window curtains. If that doesn’t ground you, I don’t know what will. Today was going to officially be the laziest day of our trip, and possibly of any trips we’d taken before. We decided to... Continue Reading →