Meanderings Abroad – Creative Meanderings

New York Visit

Nov 152024

I may have left it too long for my memory to recall our/my latest trip to New York City. It was nearly a month ago now and it seems that despite my promises to update about the trip, I have only just now remembered. Guess that’s part of the brain fog era of life that I am in. Anyway, let me see what I recall.

First, the main reason for going was to attend a book writing retreat with the company I do some editing work for. Initially, I was going to teach a full session, but as it was my first time to meet everyone on the team and see what the work would require, I decided to just attend as a participant so I could get a sense of everyone first. This turned out to be a good idea.

When I decided that I was going, my mom and I thought it would be fun to combine a short mother-daughter trip to the City. So, we got to work on finding out what shows were on and getting our tickets.

We saw three shows: Oh Mary!, Six – the musical, and YellowFace. It was a mix of show types, and Oh Mary! was definitely my favorite. I enjoyed the others, but they just weren’t as entertaining.

During the days, we did a lot of walking in different areas of the city, taking in sights and enjoying some of the eats on offer. Although Mom probably would have liked to see more museum exhibits, we didn’t go to any…. Still, it was a good time.

Since M decided he didn’t want to spend time apart a few months ago, he joined the trip on the day that Mom went back home. He had to entertain himself for three of the days, but he seemed to have survived.

The retreat was good, interesting, and motivational in seeing how the company works, learning about people’s ideas for books, and reminding me why I love reading, writing, and editing. I’m amazed at how just saying YES got me there.

So, that is what the NYC trip entailed. Overall, I was reminded of my love of the crazy city that is truly an entity of its own. Despite the increased level of noise and scent of MaryJ everywhere, I fell into a comfortable groove walking around, interacting with Americans/New Yorkers, and just being a part of the pulse of the city. I had missed it, to be honest.

Hopefully, it won’t be another ten years before I return again. Next time, I’d like to see more shows and eat even more food! Haha!

~T 🔥🐉♋️

A Week in Sardinia

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Oct 112024

This was a trip planned sometime back in April, I think. Despite our frequent travels and desire to stay put for a bit, we/I enjoyed our week in Sardinia – still on the island as I type this post, actually.

Some people put it on our radar last year when they relayed stories of their visit saying that it was lovely. So, when we were discussing with our friends about a joint trip, we all quickly agreed to organize our week away here.

After some research and discussion, we decided to do a few days in the south in Cagliari – the capital of the island/region of Sardegna (Sardinia) and a few days in the north near Olbia where many visit for the beaches. We stayed in Airbnbs whilst together to be able to enjoy shared space and have the option of eating in or being able to enjoy leisure mornings.

While I am, personally, more of a fan of hotels and kitchenette options since cleaning up and such is not part of my usual holiday activities, it was actually rather nice to have our own spaces and shared spaces – though I still would choose hotels. 😅

M and I took the ferry over with the car so that we would have freedom to explore around the island. It meant a bit longer travel time for us, but it was a good choice for convenience as I’m not a fan of wasting time waiting for public transport or spending money constantly for taxis. It also meant that we have had an extra day on either side to relax together. So, on the way, we stayed in Livorno since our departure was early in the morning. Tonight, we are further northwest near Porto Cervo so that we can relax in a spa resort hotel along the beachfront before our overnight ferry back to Rome.

As for my impressions of the island, well, not so much for me. I’m sure that in the peak summer months it is more lively, but there isn’t a lot to see. The bike tour we did in Cagliari was fun and interesting, but the guide was very skilled at making the town seem more interesting that it really is. There were some tidbits of culture and history to absorb, but overall, I felt it was a grimy and old place to visit.

In terms of the north, well, the beaches are nice and the water is a pretty blue, but again, not overly engaging. We walked around Olbia center, which was cute and had more of a vibe to it than the south. Still, I haven’t been convinced that I would ever need to come back.

What made the trip was our time drinking, eating a lot of pizza and pasta, and chatting away the days and nights. 🥰🥰

Here are some pics (in reverse order):

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Munich Oktoberfest 2024

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Sep 252024

For many years, I have been interested in Oktoberfest in Munich. I’ve been to other beer festivals in various locations, but there’s something special about going to the OG place to experience it. It was definitely a fun time, even though I don’t drink beer much.

We had two beer tents in our tour package: Lowenbrau and Marstall. We definitely had more fun at Lowenbrau on the first day, plus it was day drinking rather than the evening. The music and bands were good. Next time, we would like to be downstairs where the action is! However, it was really fun to watch everyone drinking, dancing and making merry!

Anyway, it’s a little bit busy around here with lots to catch up on, but for now, I’ll sign off here.

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Croatia and the Adriatic

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Sep 062024

As promised, here’s a post about our trip to Croatia and time bobbing on a boat in the Adriatic Sea.

For some years now, Croatia has been a highly recommended destination for travel thanks to the Game of Thrones being filmed there and its latest entry into the European Union. Its clear waters and fairly untainted coast line is also a popular draw for the yacht and sail boat lovers.

Since M often muses about wanting to sail the Atlantic Ocean or spend life on a boat, we have gone back and forth about a sailing holiday. Unfortunately, I have a very low tolerance for motion causing me to get ill rather quickly when getting jostled about whether in a car or on water. However, things like a fast roller coaster or a speedboat do not seem to affect me at all, so we compromised on a motor boat (yacht) for our water-based vacation.

Because we boarded the boat from Split, I decided it was a great chance to do a little bit of sightseeing if we added a day to either end of the trip.

Also, because it is easy enough to get a car ferry and driving is more convenient in some ways, we embraced a road trip!

So, from our home we drove about six hours to the southern side of Italy on the Adriatic Sea side where we caught the ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik. We stayed the night in Dubrovnik closer to the ferry port since it was a late arrival and we were tired from the long drive.

Knowing that we were coming back, we decided to get up early and head toward Split with some planned stops along the coast. So, we took the slightly longer coastal road stopping in Ston and Makarska Riviera, where we had lunch, to see a bit of the lesser known towns. Both were unique in their views, but equally interesting.

Finally, we arrived in Split where we had a hotel in the old town near the Diocletian’s Palace. It was an interesting old town area that bordered the harbor. There was a reasonable amount of activity along the shore as we people watched and took in the scene. Plus, we had to have a little Game of Thrones fun!

Then, it was a week of glorious weather on the water. Each day, we would anchor in a bay to relax and swim. Then, we would head towards a different coastal town on one of the 1200 plus islands for dinner and where we’d spend the night. It was indeed a luxurious way to spend the week.

Our friends joined us for five of the seven days, which added to the fun. There were only a couple of bumpy water moments, but we moved to calmer locations and I was well prepared with different methods of addressing these situations.

We returned back to Split, then drove the quicker highway route back to Dubrovnik, where we wandered around the fortified old town, saw the GoT stairs and then relaxed before our early ferry return ride and long drive home.

All in all, it was a lovely time. We relaxed, got sun, laughed a lot, and explored a tiny bit of a new country that wasn’t on our radar until recently. We agreed that we would likely do another boat trip, since I seem to have developed some sea legs, but we think we might try the Greek islands or somewhere different next time.

If you want to know more about the preparations I took for avoiding seasickness or where we stayed, etc., just let me know!

~T 🔥🐉♋️

We’re on a boat!

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Aug 262024

This might be the only post until next week as we are currently on vacation on a boat in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Croatia.

We drove from our house to Bari on the east coast of Italy, which is about six hours away, caught an 8-hr ferry to Dubrovnik and stayed one night there. We didn’t see anything as we will visit again on the way back and wanted to do a leisurely drive up the coast toward Split.

Mostly taking the coast road, we broke up the four-hour trip with stops in Ston and the Makarska Riviera.

Eventually, we arrived in Split, which is a cute old town. Our hotel was nicely located near the Diocletian Palace square.

We explored the marina and old town for a day, then headed off for the main event of our holiday – the yacht. We are on the boat for a week with friends joining us this evening (after two days with just us).

So far, we have been swimming in the bays, relaxing and soaking up the sun during the day. Then, we either dock or moor in the evenings with dinner somewhere on shore. Just so days in and I’m loving it!

Thankfully, I prepared for the potential sea sickness and am using pressure point bands and did some training beforehand. I’ll write more on that in another post when we are back. In any event, I feel alright even after one bumpy ride last night. So, fingers crossed 🤞🏽, it remains this way for the rest of the week.

More when we return! Until then, stay tuned. 😁

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Another Little Escape

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Aug 162024

It’s been a little quiet here the last week or so as I was with guests, then headed to France for a few days to see friends and enjoy the sea.

There is something different in the vibe and energy with those in the Var, where I go to visit. Perhaps, it is the closeness to my age or a similar outlook to life. I’m not sure, but I do often feel refreshed when I come back from catching up with my friends there.

This time, I only stayed a few days as I had initially planned to spend a few days on my own in Nice to do some writing and relax.

A certain someone decided somewhat last minute that he was feeling ‘needy’ and flew up to join me for the Nice days. We had a lovely time with a full day at a Le Negresco Beach Club, then a half day after the Lorgues market with our friend at Barco Beach Club in Sainte-Maxime. These moments of sea water, sunshine, and sand gave me a refreshed feeling.

Summers used to be my favorite season, but I think what made it so was that I could go to the seaside. There’s something soothing about the enormity of the ocean, the vastness of the sand made up of millions of pieces of shells and rocks, and the endless open skies into the unknown horizons.

It calms me to be tiny in the great big world, to blend into the nothingness, to feel absorbed.

So, now we are back for a couple of weeks to catch up on normal life and get a little ahead of things before we head off again. I’m enjoying the routine, but also looking forward to the next escapade.

~ T 🔥🐉♋️

Happy 48th To Me!

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Jul 012024

When I was younger, I really had no interest in celebrating my birthday. It seemed like an unnecessary moment of bringing attention to myself, which was something that I actively spent time on avoiding. If I was not noticed, I would not get unwanted attention from leery male eyes. If I was not noticed, I may not get moved around to a new home. If I was not noticed, I could pretend that I was just like everyone else around me rather than the one who was different – in looks, in life experiences, in what felt like everything.

There was a period of time when people actually forgot my birthday unless it was announced on social media or someone told them. Even my parents forgot it was my birthday for a few years since I lived abroad – I had to fight the urge to believe that “out of sight out of mind” wasn’t a truth. 😳 For the most part, I didn’t mind, but I admit that it hurt when those closest to me didn’t remember. As I’m not the type to tell others that it is my birthday, I let it slide. I love them all anyway (plus, they’ve redeemed themselves many times over since 🤪).

Perhaps it was when I met M or some time around then that I began to think that it was OK to celebrate and let others celebrate me.

In fact, I almost always remember everyone else’s birthdays. For many years, I would make an effort to reach out, send cards or gifts to almost everyone I could to let them know that I cherished their life and presence in this world. I’ve never taken for granted that people cross my life path for a reason and that I appreciate them as there are plenty in my early days of life whom I cannot recall or never really knew well enough to make note of their days of birth.

These days, though, I save my messages and gifts for a select few. I no longer have a need to stay connected to everyone. Part of me got a little jaded by those who never return the acknowledgement unless told to – thus I NEVER reply to people who post well wishes on social media after it is made known to them…I think it’s a copout and too easy since they wouldn’t have said anything otherwise. I know, it probably sounds terribly selfish, but welcome to the “I’m in my 40’s and don’t care” era!

Anyway, back to MY birthday – obviously. 😬🫢

As long as we have been together, M has always made my birthday special. Whether it has been in small acts or big ones, he knows how to make me feel worthy of celebrating my existence in this world.

This year was no different! It seems I forgot to share and post about last year, so I have been reprimanded sufficiently to make sure that I get on here all the joy and fun that I had in saying “cheers” to year 48!

We kicked it off with a “small” BBQ party with friends at our home. My BFF and godson were here to help celebrate and my local friends really outdid themselves in making me feel extra special (seems I don’t have photos at the moment of that event…).

Then, M and I spent a fabulous 4 days and nights in Paris where we did some sightseeing, saw Le Crazy Horse cabaret show, went shopping, and most importantly, got a lot of rest after a busy month or so. While Paris has not generally been my favorite place to go, I got a better appreciation for the city this time. It was nice to wander around and take in the different neighborhoods (arrondisements). So, here are some photos. I look forward to visiting the French capital again soon.

Here’s to another amazing year of this grand ol’ life of mine!

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Remaining Australia and Home

Meanderings Abroad 2 Responses »

Mar 082024

Well, the remaining six days of Australia were full of more adventure. I’ll try to do a short sum up here and then later prepare another post on the whole trip.

Adelaide
We were mostly here to see P!NK in concert. During the planning of our trip, we knew that we wanted to see the city, if for no other reason than it is the capital of South Australia and we were about seeing the highlights of the country. So, we adjusted our route to hit the concert.

The concert was great! Funnily enough, though, that wasn’t the real highlight of the trip! While we were on the Uluru and Kata Tjuta tour, we had a chat with some other ladies in the group over dinner. They mentioned seeing koalas in the “wild” on a hike outside of town. Well, that decided it for us.

After seeing six in various stages of sleep or walking, we were content with our visit to the south. There was other wildlife as well to make it fun. We also did a wine tour in the Barossa Valley on one of the days along with meeting an old friend of M’s from his hometown. So, it was an excellent stop that might have been just mediocre.

Cairns
What is a tour of Australia without a visit to the Cairns? It’s the more common place to go to see the Great Barrier Reef. While the town itself is a little run down, no thanks to COVID, it has the usual beachside charm expected of such places.

Of course, it did not disappoint with sea life views and sea sickness! I’m very glad that we did the snorkel boat tour, though I fully appreciated land again upon our return.

Sydney
Our trip ended back in Sydney where we did a bit of shopping and relaxing before our long journey home.

Oh yeah, and I added to my tattoo with a little commemoration of our trip. 😁

So, we are now home. It’s a bit of recovery mode around here, but it was an amazing time and now it is nice to be home again.

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Australia 14/20 Days

Meanderings Abroad 1 Response »

Feb 272024

We are now two full weeks in. This means just a week left, but still so much to do and see.

Even since the weekend, we have done quite a bit. From Alice Springs, we headed to Darwin which is popular for seeing the crocodiles. Obviously, we made sure that we did a tour.

It was great fun. We also did a hike in the Litchfield National Park, which was very hot, but also worth the visit.

Cascades, Lorikeet, Florence falls, and Cathedral termite tower

Now, we are in Adelaide. More updates on our activities here later!

~T 🔥🐉♋️

Australia Week 1.5

Meanderings Abroad 4 Responses »

Feb 232024

It’s definitely a lot warmer here in Australia than in Italy at the moment. Luckily, the sightseeing has been so enjoyable that it has made the temperatures bearable.

We had a lovely time in Byron Bay after a rather challenging night in Brisbane. We stayed in an area near the airport, which I wouldn’t recommend. It also encouraged us to adjust our schedule a bit to stay longer in Byron Bay rather than rushing back to the city.

It was fortuitous that we did so as M and D got to meet up with a cousin neither had seen, or perhaps met, for years. It was, of course, my first time to meet them as well. So, it was a nice family catchup visit along with the chill vibe of a beach life.

Upon our return to Brisbane, we stayed in a different area at a nicer hotel. Although two nights would have been OK, one was sufficient in giving us a taste of the city and appreciating the luxurious conveniences of life before heading to the middle of the country.

Then, it was off to Alice Springs where we spent two nights. The first full day was a long bus tour out to Uluru (previously known as Ayer’s Rock) and The Olgas, or Kata Tjuṯa. It was worth the long day of travel to see this amazing natural wonder and to learn a bit more of the history, culture of the original people of Australia.

We are now in Darwin – updates on that and our next moves after the weekend.

By the way, click on the pics for the link to our Instagram account where more pics can be seen. Eventually, I’ll try to put together a full Australia tour summary post when we get back home.

~T 🔥🐉♋️

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