While there are no specifics finalized, we have purchased airline tickets to Nashville ….so this trip is finally happening. As I began my search for lodging I stumbled upon The Wendell Home. This Airbnb home is a minimalist’s dream come true. I seriously cannot stop looking at the pictures. {I’ve included a few here, but you must look at all of them in the listing!}. The home gets a 5-star review, which isn’t surprising! A couple of my travel mates are not sold on staying in a house instead of a hotel {including my husband}. I love the idea of staying in a neighborhood and exploring shops and restaurants off the main tourist strip! All the other stuff is just a Lyft ride away. I may just book it and surprise them. I mean, how could we go wrong with this house?
Hoping to catch some live music at The Bluebird Cafe and see the Grand Ole Opry. Any other Nashville suggestions?
Not all who wander are lost. I have recently come to love that phrase. Though I was never that girl who threw a change of clothes in a backpack and just took off-I have come to crave travel and discovering a new place. My husband usually shakes his head at me. Lucky for me, the boys are slowing getting the travel bug as well and three against one is beneficial for my cause.
Aaron, Big W, and I have been watching Sonic Highways. A documentary created by the band Foo Fighters that W got for Christmas. He loves music and this documentary follows the band as they visit eight cities in the United States as they record the album Sonic Highways. In each city they explore the the music scene, which is totally fascinating. This weekend we watched the episode featuring Nashville. All three of us agreed, we should GO! We have added it to the short list of places to visit.
Topping our list of places to visit is The Bluebird Cafe. A small cafe that has live music every night. They play in the round and features original music by songwriters. In the episode, natives shared that playing the Bluebird was rite of passage in Nashville. What else could we do and see? Of course there is the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, but like any city there are hidden gems.
Have you been to Nashville? I’d love to hear all of your “insider” information!
On our recent trip to Argentina, we took a mid-week excursion from Buenos Aires. We jumped on a local airline and visited the town of Puerto Iguazu and the astonishing Iguazu Falls. These amazing falls occur at the borders of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. We did not apply for a Brazilian visa, so we stayed on the Argentinian side of the falls.
The flight, although only 90 minutes, was the most turbulent flight I have ever experienced. It was no joke! We arrived in the early afternoon to a torrential, sub-tropical downpour. After checking into our hotel and planning our trip to the falls the following day, we waited out the rain and then ventured into town. Puerto Iguazu was very different from the hustle of Buenos Aires. Small businesses lined the streets and it definitely had a small town feel. The people were incredibly kind and children played on the side walks. We had an extremely fun day and all of us count the time we spent there as one of the highlights of the trip. A completely different side of Argentina and certainly worth experiencing.
Our trip was really short – basically 24 hours -and we didn’t have much time at Iguazu Falls. In hindsight, our departing flight should have been much later in the day so that we could have really had time to see the entire park. We made the most of the time we had there and went for the “extreme” experience. Boarding a 4 x 4 for a trek through the jungle, we bounced for a few miles down to the river. We stuffed all of our belongings into dry bags, which coincidentally were soaking wet on the inside, and braced ourselves. A boat ride took us upriver and through some really fun rapids. Then we caught a glimpse of the enormous falls in the distance. No picture can do these falls justice.
The view of the falls from the water was breathtaking, but the view of the falls INSIDE the falls was exhilarating. Imagine someone turning on a fire hose and shooting it straight at you. While I would have loved to open my eyes and see the what it looked like-it was virtually impossible. There was lots of screaming and tons of laughing. It was really quite something. We should have brought our GoPro. The footage would be really fun to have. After departing the boat, we had time to walk the trails. The views from land were also fantastic, albeit a little dryer. Would I recommend allowing someone to drive you into these falls? YES! Would I recommend a swim suit, poncho and a set of dry clothes for after? YES! However, the after shots of us soaking wet make me giggle.
The surrounding park was filled with trails, monkeys and more vantage points of the falls. A train takes you to the top with a lookout and viewing deck. We didn’t have time to get up there, but the pictures we saw highlight exactly how much water is coming over the top. A TON! Iguazu Falls are truly a natural wonder of the world. If you find yourself in Argentina {or Brazil} I highly recommend it!
We spent a week in Buenos Aires last month and we couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Why Argentina you ask? Aaron and I had once talked about going to Buenos Aires and then we had kids. Needless to say, it has been on the list for quite awhile. I luckily found three other couples excited and willing to travel to South America with us. Oh and to end the trip -we planned to see Pearl Jam play live in concert. {This made the men very happy!}
First off, it is quite a journey to get to Buenos Aires. From Dallas Fort-Worth, it is a 10 1/2 hour flight {11 hours on the way home}. Luckily ours was an overnight flight. So with a little bit of sleep, we hit the ground running once we arrived!
Click through for the highlights and photos from our trip…… (more…)
We leave for Buenos Aires in just four days. {Pinch me!} One of my dear friends, who we are traveling with, has issued a challenge. Carry on luggage only. My husband has wholeheartedly accepted the challenge for me after lugging my enormous suitcase around Italy for two weeks. I will admit that I packed too much on our trip to Europe. We were gone for fifteen days and I had no idea what to take with me. Now I have a better idea of what I like to wear in a large, international city. It also helps that it is spring time in South America, so I won’t need big bulky clothing. Don’t get me wrong, this is not going to be easy to do. I am beginning to formulate a plan. I think dresses will be my saving grace. However, what do I do about shoes? Or outerwear? Or beauty products? The beauty products alone are nightmare. Damn 3 oz. rule! {I strongly believe that rule is discriminatory toward women.}
So I have to ask:
Do you carry on or check your luggage? If you carry on, what are your tricks?!
Whoa. Sometimes Facebook gives me gift on a Tuesday. Yesterday, I spotted a link to photography blog which led me to Chateau de Gudanes. Breathtaking to say the least, this site and blog documents the abandoned and neglected chateau, the couple who purchased it, and its restoration.
As for their plans for it?
“Our plans for the future keep changing and evolving, and they are only in their infancy, but we hope to welcome you as soon as possible. Ideally, to begin, a cafe and tours, even in its well worn state. By 2016 we would like to also offer you accommodation, a gift shop, and facilities for weddings, music festivals, local fêtes, workshops, conferences, seminars and courses.
Our aim is to tread lightly and gently – to preserve the atmosphere and authenticity of the Chateau and region as much as possible. She will be renovated but her rawness, wear and history will not be erased, but instead integrated. In keeping with this, we also plan to use energy efficient principles and sustainable refurbishment. This means up cycling and recycling as much as possible, including building materials, design features and decor.”
The pictures, even in its run-down state, are something out of a history book. A beautiful one at that! I am pretty sure I will be reading the blog updates regularly. And the pictures on Instagram could brighten even the gloomiest of days!
This staircase….
And that light…
I found this blog post particularly interesting. {This post is just because. Because I find it so interesting and I couldn’t help but share it!}
Let me back up. I am starting a new series called Would You Rather. You know that game that you played after drinking too much. It was always so much fun because people’s inhibitions were low and the truth was bound to come out! I play it now with my kids, but the questions are a bit more tame. However, why not use it to make life decisions or discover what is truly important to you?
So I ask you, would you rather buy a new car or go on vacation?
The answer for me is easy-go on vacation! Problem is, I probably should get a new car. I drive a 2003 Trailblazer and she has been good to me. Actually, really good to me! Recently one of the backseat doors broke and it makes a god-awful sound when you open and close it. She is showing her age. Of course I can fix the door, but it stands to reason that it is the first of many repairs that are coming. On the flip side, it gets me from A to B reliably, I don’t commute, and my kids are slobs. {Honestly, we don’t really deserve a new car!}
More importantly, I would rather use the money to go on vacation! Travel makes me happy. Really happy! A trip is something that stays with you forever. It changes you. I can’t think of anything that makes me happier. {Well, maybe eating and drinking while ON vacation!} So this year I may or may not fix my car door and plan a family vacation. Our tentative plan is to take the boys to NYC as soon as school lets out for summer.
Please share with me your answer. Leave a comment here {below} or on social media! Dying to hear the conversation!
It has been just over two weeks since we returned from our amazing vacation to Italy. I look at pictures every morning to remind myself of our trip. {I am working on editing pictures and will share about our adventures soon. Promise!} This shot from our breakfast table in Praiano makes me smile every time I see it. This was our view every morning for six mornings! It was truly unbelievable. We stayed in a very small {8 room} hotel run by a charming and delightful family. Arturo took care of us each morning. Greeting us with “Buon Giorno” and the best coffee in the world! He also whipped up made-to-order omelets. Italians don’t eat large breakfasts and rarely do they eat eggs in the morning, so I am sure this was just to keep his guests happy. Delightfully, his omelets were simply eggs cooked in olive oil and folded over. Served with fresh herbs and tomatoes-it was perfection!
Earlier this week, I was missing our slice of heaven on the Amalfi Coast, so I cooked myself a lunch inspired by Arturo. Omelet, sliced tomatoes, sliced cured meat, and orange juice!
And away we go. Pinch me because this is real! If you hadn’t heard, my husband and I are going to Italy. Today.
I realize I have been quiet these last couple of weeks. {Sometimes life is just nuts.} I promise to post away upon my return! Look for travel posts from our visits to Rome, The Amalfi Coast, and to my grandfathers’ “old country”. Adventure awaits!
Want to come along? Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @seattlejune.
In the summer of 1999, my husband had the chance to travel to Israel for work. He was invited by clients who lived and worked in Tel Aviv. We were not married {or engaged} at the time, but we planned to take the trip together. I was teaching and summer was the PERFECT time to take a long trip. Unfortunately, the cost of my air fare {the only cost out-of-pocket} proved not to be in our budget. We didn’t make much money at the time and the numbers didn’t seem to add up. Sadly, I did not go on the trip and Aaron went alone. {In hindsight, we should have just gone for it! It was a trip of a lifetime and we were being overly practical, in my opinion. But that is another post’s topic}.
Lucky for me, Aaron made a wise choice when purchasing something to remember Israel. He bought hand-painted, ceramic bowls while on a day trip to Jerusalem. As you can see they are lovingly nicked and stained. We use them often. Every time I reach for them I love that they have a story.
The bowls have proven to be the perfect travel treasure. A beautiful item with practical use. I have been thinking about what I would like to buy on our trip to Italy. My list is short at the moment: a pair of sandals and something for my home. I read an article over the weekend that touted olive oil and balsamic vinegar as the top souvenirs to bring back from Italy. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen!
What have proven to be your FAVORITE travel treasures?
