We came to Budapest looking to embrace the chilly weather and indulge in holiday cheer. The Christmas Markets are the perfect place to begin, but another great winter activity that we enjoy is ice skating. There is very little that so perfectly exemplifies the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJxdRZ6sKRI Continue reading Ice Skating in Budapest
We lounged comfortably on the couch of our rented condo in Malaysia as we talked about how and where we wanted to spend the holidays. It was September and, after spending 6 months in the extreme heat and humidity of Southeast Asia, the idea of spending Fall and Winter in the northern hemisphere didn’t sound bad at all. Plus, it was difficult to imagine that it would feel “Christmasy” to us in a tropical climate. I suppose that comes from growing up in the NE and NW regions of the United States.
We wanted chilly weather that allowed us to bundle up. We wanted holiday cheer and decorations. We wanted carolers and Christmas Markets. And, heck, we wanted ice skating. We looked into our destination options and we didn’t lack for choices, but ultimately we wanted the biggest holiday bang-for-our-buck. Continue reading The Holidays in Budapest
When you decide to travel long-term, many wonderful experiences lay before you, but you must also be willing to leave behind the comforts of home and loved ones. Of course, in today’s world it is easy to stay in touch with tools like Skype, Facebook, WhatsApp, and email. They all go a long way toward combating homesickness. With technology, you can often feel just as “in touch” when you are thousands of miles from home as you did when you were actually there.
We enjoy seeing what everyone is up to on Facebook and scheduling calls with friends and family, but the absolute best treat is when people come to visit. Not only do we get to see them in-person, but we get to play host and share some of our adventures with them. Continue reading Friends Abroad
People choose to travel for a number of reasons, but it often includes a desire to expose oneself to new experiences and cultures. It gives us an opportunity to grow and learn. To us, it’s what makes travel such a rich and worthwhile venture. However, putting yourself in unfamiliar situations, where you don’t always know the language, can sometimes cause stress and frustration. How you handle that stress and frustration will determine your success as a traveler and the satisfaction you get from traveling.
1) Be Prepared. This is partly about taking the time to learn a little about the place where you will be traveling, but it is also about preparing yourself mentally. Embrace the fact that there WILL be times when you are lost and confused. Expect it and accept it. Continue reading Unexpected Challenges
We visited Ljubljana in mid-November. We were happy to find that the city was every bit as charming as we’d expected it to be, even more so. The fact that it was cold and rainy wasn’t a problem, because we were expecting that, so we came prepared with warm coats and umbrellas. However, there was one surprise that we weren’t expecting. Luckily, it was a pleasant surprise.
It was a rainy November day and before we’d even found a parking spot in Ljubljana (pronounced “lyoob-lya-nah”) we were already enamored. This picturesque capital of Slovenia is situated about halfway between Vienna and Venice and is often compared to Prague for to its outstanding architectural beauty. In fact, Jože Plečnik, the great Slovenian architect and urban planner, designed numerous architectural masterpieces in both cities, so the comparison is apt. Although, Ljubljana can be seen as a cheaper, smaller, and less-crowded alternative to Prague. Continue reading Charming Ljubljana
Pula is situated at the southern tip of Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula and is the area’s largest city. Like all of Istria it offers gorgeous beaches, stunning natural beauty, and gourmet delights. The city boast 3,000 years of history. But Pula and its immediate surroundings are actually much older. Prehistoric artifacts dating to 1 million years ago has been found in the cave of Šandalja near Pula. There’s also been evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements.
About 3,000 years ago, Pula was part of Illyria, which describes the home of Indo-European tribes of the Baltic region during classical antiquity. It was at this time that the first hill-fort settlement was built on hill Kaštel and the fortification was named Histra, after the tribe called Histri.
Like most people on the planet, we’ve always dreamed of visiting Venice. Just thinking about Venice conjures up a sense of romance. The photos you’ve all seen are achingly beautiful. It’s hard not to imagine yourself strolling through the narrow streets, perhaps with a Classical soundtrack, and of course, at some point, you find yourself in a gondola.
One day we realized that our 9-year-old son did not know how to blow bubbles and we decided that it was time to remedy the situation. Up to this point, we weren’t purposely limiting his access to gum, but for whatever reason he’d rarely ever had it. Maybe 3 or 4 times in his life.
Anyway, one day we were at the grocery store in Rovinj and Ethan, our son, was not so subtly hinting that he really wondered what the gum at the check out stand would taste like. It was bubble gum. We bought some and proceeded to attempt to explain how to blow a bubble. It’s surprisingly difficult to explain. All you can really do it tell them to chew the gum until it’s soft, then put it just behind your teeth, push your tongue through, so that the gum covers it, then purse your lips around your tongue and blow. The *real* trick is getting the air to flow between your tongue and the gum. This is all very complex and hard for anyone on the receiving end to grasp. Continue reading Milestones: Being There
The path through the coastal forest is covered in crunchy limestone gravel, making a pleasant sound as we pedal our bikes. Everything about the experience is perfect. The weather is perfect, the bike paths are groomed and well-planned. The views idyllic.
During one of our easy hour-long rides we encounter rocky beaches with unbelievably clear water, limestone cliffs, Roman pillars, verdant forests, wide-open green spaces, and even a camping resort.
Meandering Family: Beyond the Nest 