Traveling cross country is always a bit of an adventure and moving cross country adds many layers of complexity, but what about doing that during a pandemic? A bit crazy perhaps, but that is what we did in July 2020.
Carnaval in Madeira is a colorful combination of dance, humor, and fun, usually with an edge of the taboo. You never know if around the next corner you will run into women in feathered costumes or men in drag dancing with a pig. The festivities were spread out across a couple weeks with a live dance show every night and most of the events were free to the public.
This trek combined agrarian culture and rugged wild beauty with the comfort of a bed and a hot meal at every stop. It is one of those places where you never know when you might find a chicken under the dining room table, have a child eat off your plate, or see a man carrying a grown woman in a basket supported by his forehead.
Unlike nearly every other country we have visited, Nepali food is not something we see often in restaurants. Other than reading about some common dishes, we had very little idea of what the flavors would actually be like or what to expect. This was fun because it was completely uncharted territory, but unlike trying a new restaurant we didn’t necessarily have the option of just not eating on the trek if we didn’t like it. Our worries were completely unfounded, as we loved the food.
Kathmandu has vibrant culture and countless beautiful temples, but brittle infrastructure and hazy air. It is a hard place to describe since it is so multi-faceted. Each neighborhood had a personality and specialty of its own. The city was hit hard by the 2015 earthquake and parts of the city are still struggling to rebuild, while others have luxury accommodations.
When you look at a map these two cities may not seem very far apart, but depending upon your mode of transportation, the weather, and your luck, this journey could take you anywhere from 20 minutes to an entire day or more. There are several options and each comes with its own experience. If you have the budget and the time I would recommend trying more than one.
Rochester, New York has something for every season. These are a few local gems that aren’t a secret, but even if you have lived here for years you may not have experienced them all.
Where we are going next, highlights of the latest posts, and what articles to look for in the near future.
We took an 11 day scenic lap around the country, starting in the lush green south, zigzagging through the fjords of the east, passing through the otherworldly volcanic areas in the north, and topped it off with rounding the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the west. On this late May trip we generally had pleasant weather, but we encountered rain, fog, snow, wind, and sunshine. We saw tons of wildlife, waterfalls, geothermal hot spots, lava fields, and glaciers. It was an incredible experience! Options included for 4 Day - 11+ Day Trips.
I keep getting asked What is the best? and What if you have to pick just one? While there are hard questions to answer, here is my best shot at it. If I was going to do this trip again and only go to the very best places these would be my picks.