Tag: Europe
-
3 Month Review
Our grand tour continues to roll on. Lessons have been learned: a month is too long in any one location; the ’Translation App’ only really helps with menus; don’t accept roses from a stranger – they aren’t ‘free’; ALWAYS get the audio add-on at museums/churches, so worth it! and finally, I can’t seem to stop…
-
Altitude too High
Well, the views are fantastic and I hate the altitude. Surprise. So dry. We wake up several times a night due to lack of moisture in our bodies. Midnight water guzzling is a newly acquired survival habit. Our skin is dry. We are constantly applying lotion to little affect. Dry eyes. I feel too close…
-
Quiet in Switzerland
For the first two weeks of November we are in Switzerland. Perched on the side of the mountain in the small village of Vercorin. The views are stunning. The altitude is high and the air is dry like the desert. My long fingernails are breaking one by one. We have been on this grand tour…
-
Taking stock – 2 months abroad
We’ve been abroad a little more than 2 months. It has been everything. “The best of times, the crap, the lessons, the inconvenience and the joy.” We have been married for 24 years and have moved around a lot. Being the ‘go-to’ person for each other is nothing new, but going abroad just as a…
-
Customs, what customs?
Who doesn’t want stamps in their passport? This was a hallmark of travel abroad as long as I can remember, but not any more. At least not in Europe. There are no long lines of customs. A delight, but no stamps. We flew into Copenhagen back in August. No customs. We have ‘plains, trains &…
-
Euphrasian Basilica – Magical Heritage Site
When we arrived in Porec, we were tired of Croatia. We were worn down by the small, hillside village of Labin with four restaurants. We had pizza coming out our ears. (Yes, it is excellent wood fired pizza, but even good pizza grows bland on repeat.) We were tired of the ‘cloak of invisibility’ service…
-
Croatia Musing
I never thought about going to Croatia. Ever. About 3 months ago when life handed us lemons, we decided to make lemonade. We would go on an adventure. Sell the big, old house, downsize and go abroad to Europe for the winter. We would be ‘off-season’ in Europe – thus cheaper and more deals on…
-
No Hiding
There is no hiding from yourself or your partner when you downsize life to a few suitcases. It’s all in plain sight. For quickly into downsizing, one discovers we are all ‘tricky’ by nature. We seek hiding places. Maybe it was a private space in your home, perhaps in your car, at your favorite hangouts…
-
Off to Croatia
After 2 and a half weeks in Copenhagen, we took a 180 degree turn to Croatia. From a pristine and ultra cultured city to a fall back in time medieval village. The contrast could not be greater. Our new home base is an old, hillside town of Labin. Labin dates back to the 4th century…
-
Birkenstock Nation
Wearing a fancy dress? Birkenstocks. Going for a bike ride? Birkenstocks. Going to the store? Birkenstocks with socks. Birkenstocks are the footwear of choice in Denmark. It is a country of industrial fashion and I love it. Why Birkenstocks? It’s a classic. The roots of the shoemaking dynasty can be found in 1774 when Johannes…
Project Empty Nest 