The tickle I tried to ignore turned into a sore throat, quickly followed by congestion and a cough. In the six months I have been on the road in 2019, this is the first time I have been sick. I tried to prevent it. I was travelling with family and one sister fell sick a … Continue reading Sick and Tired: Staying Healthy on the Road
We landed at the Helsinki airport at Midsummer and took a taxi. As we went through suburbs and then the city, everything was clean and spacious, but somehow odd. Then it struck me: there were no people. On a Saturday evening, there was no one walking, and no cars moving. It was eerie, like being … Continue reading Kesämökillä: Finnish Cottage Culture
The travels have been busy, and I've been with my two sisters and niece, as well as many relatives in Finland. So no essay this week, but here are some of my favourite pictures from St. Petersburg, Russia. Where else could this be but Russia? As in many other places, I was stunned by the … Continue reading St. Petersburg, Russia, in Pictures
I've hear it several times, from different people as I talk about travelling. "I'd love to go," they say wistfully. "But I don't have anyone to go with." After years of travelling with my partner, my family, or friends, this year I have discovered travelling solo. Much of it is not by choice, as it … Continue reading Traveling Solo or with Somebody?
"It's OK, I think I'll walk back," I said, as we stood outside the restaurant, in that warm glow of not wanting the evening of good food and good company to end. "I need the steps." And almost as soon as I turned away, the tears started to slowly roll down my face. I thought … Continue reading Yes, But how ARE you?
I lost track of how many times the trip counter has turned over- I thought it was three, but I checked and it is 5. Calculating, it is 5,300 km (3,300 miles) so far, and the road trip is only about a third done. Before the last two weeks, all my brave travels have been … Continue reading Road Trip!
I had plans for Glendive, Montana. It was half way between Billings and Bismarck, North Dakota, and the perfect place to break the drive. I was looking forward to a short hike in the badlands geology of the area, and to seeing how the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum was able to explain its exhibits … Continue reading You Can’t See It All
"Is that all you've got?" they ask incredulously, as they pick me up at the airport or ferry, or as we load luggage onto the bus. I was actually thinking I had packed too much, as I had both a carry-on sized suitcase and a small backpack. I travel light. Both metaphorically (see my previous … Continue reading Traveling Light (Literally)
Approaching each other, we do the sidewalk dance: I go left but the other person goes right, then I go right as they recalculate and go left. And I-- with luck we-- laugh as we work it out and pass by. It's not as clear cut as an escalator (stand this side, walk the other) … Continue reading Home Again with Different Eyes
"But I guess it's easy for you," he said. "You're so outgoing." The table talk at the cafe was about the Karaoke the night before, how I'd led the dancing to the songs I'd chosen: The Time Warp, Tic Tok, Macarena. And how afterwards some of us had gone out to a club and danced … Continue reading It’s not brave if you’re not scared, Part 2
Brave Travels 