We woke up the next morning to board our train to Oslo. I dreaded the thought of leaving Flam after only one night. I felt so connected to this rural land, so drawn to it. It’s how I always feel when I’m immersed in the mountains, but once and a while that magnetic pull is... Continue Reading →
Winter in Norway: Bergen for NYE
New Year’s Eve is a tricky holiday for us. Katie absolutely loves it - toss together glitter and fireworks with bubbles and a clean slate, and you've got a literal perfect holiday. No stressing over gifts. Celebrate with 2 people or 200. It's socially acceptable to get champagne drunk and hug strangers. Or kiss them.... Continue Reading →
Traveling Portugal: Mysterious Sintra
We didn’t have nearly enough time in Sintra, a town described to us as a “fairy tale”. After parking in a tiny lot and underestimating the walk to our hotel (steep hills…very steep), we only had a few hours of daytime left to explore. We set off for Palacio da Pena which required a 30-minute... Continue Reading →
Traveling Portugal: Porto Wine & River Sunsets
We arrived in Porto, to the bustle of a “big” city again, a feeling that always hits as a bit of a surprise after traveling through little towns. The vibe though was more relaxed than Lisbon – a little more easy going and cool. We stayed at Guest House Douro because it’s where we were... Continue Reading →
Traveling Portugal: Nazare Sunsets & Dinosaur Footprints
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 →
Switzerland by Train: Waterside Lucerne
Lucerne was the final city of our trip – a busy urban spot that hugs a massive lake. The train station in Lucerne was vast and sweeping, with sky high ceilings and hundreds of people rushing past us. It was a complete change from the tiny town of Grindelwald, and for a minute I forgot... Continue Reading →
Switzerland by Train: Jungfraujoch and Grindelwald
After 2 days in Montreux, we left to catch the train to Grindelwald. As the days went on, the air grew progressively hotter. It was unusual for Switzerland to be this warm in June and I dreaded the thought of spending our upcoming days in the absence of A/C. But Grindelwald would bring us back... Continue Reading →
Switzerland by Train: Magical Montreux
It was a bit jarring at first when we arrived in Montreux, a beautiful but bustling waterside city. We’d just spent several days in tiny mountain towns and on trains that snaked through rural land. For a moment I felt completely overwhelmed. But it took surprisingly little time to get used to Monteux. Also, the... Continue Reading →