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What does summer season journey appear like to you? For me, July is the time for just a few fast journeys, however August is after I go away to relax out and take away myself from the world.
On this month, there have been two huge journeys: the top of my Montenegro and Croatia journey, which was all about having fun with the very best of the Adriatic; then a two-week journey to Copenhagen and Greenland, all about having fun with the sting of the wilderness.
Let’s check out what made August 2023 nice!
Locations Visited
- Perast, Montenegro
- Dubrovnik, Cavtat, Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, Croatia
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Kangerlussuaq (and the Greenland Ice Sheet), Aasiaat, Manermiut, Qeqertarsuaq, Ilulissat, Oqaatsut, and Eqi Glacier, Greenland
Highlights
Celebrating my thirty ninth birthday in one of many prettiest small cities on the Adriatic — Perast, Montenegro. It began out a bit wet, however cleared up and turned out to be pretty! Charlie and I received lunch at a mussel and oyster farm within the Bay of Kotor, did a ship journey across the bay and to Our Girl of the Rocks, went for a beautiful swim, and loved a tasty dinner out.
A beautiful return to Dubrovnik. I’m all the time completely happy to go to Dubrovnik, and this time I received to check out one thing particularly cool — the Sky Bike Dubrovnik, the place you experience a motorbike on a tightrope on Mount Srd’, overlooking the town. We additionally loved a non-public day journey by boat to the attractive Elafiti Islands — a marriage current from Charlie’s Croatian colleagues!
I additionally received to hit up a few of my favorites — strolling the partitions (now an eye-watering 35 EUR ($38) after I paid 70 kuna ($10) on my first go to in 2011), and Dubrovnik Eat with Locals for some fabulous meals and friendship.
Attending to know Cavtat. Cavtat (SAHV-taht) is a small seaside city near Dubrovnik however a world away. It’s quiet, chill, and a lot cheaper than Dubrovnik, with a direct boat to the outdated metropolis for 20 EUR ($22) round-trip. I actually preferred it! Undoubtedly choice for individuals who wish to expertise Dubrovnik however hate crowds.
Good occasions in Copenhagen. With three visits this summer season, Copenhagen is changing into certainly one of my better-known cities! Some highlights have been visiting the cool worldwide out of doors meals market at Reffen, testing the beach-like surroundings at La Banchina, revisiting Tivoli (with rides this time), lastly visiting the Glyptotek, and spending time with Copenhagen buddies.
A visit to Greenland that I’ll treasure without end. There’s SO MUCH to say about Greenland, and I’ve been writing a giant submit in my head for awhile. That will likely be coming quickly, relaxation assured about that!
This was my huge main solo journey of the 12 months. Greenland is the type of place that makes you’re feeling such as you’re on the finish of the world. The tourism business there may be nonetheless very younger. The character is totally gorgeous. It’s the type of place that leaves you privileged.
Once more, I wish to save the majority of Greenland for future posts, however my private highlights have been mountain climbing solo at dawn on volcanic Disko Island, crusing across the icebergs of the Ilulissat Icefjord (UNESCO World Heritage Web site #175!) at sundown, experiencing the huge quaking Eqi Glacier, and attending to know what it’s prefer to stay at this fringe of the world.
Challenges
FOOD POISONING. Charlie and I each received a relatively violent spherical of meals poisoning after we have been in Dubrovnik.
It’s so irritating when you possibly can’t work out the particular wrongdoer. Was it the oysters we had at lunch? Was it the grocery retailer sausage roll that morning? Was it the native water, because it seems protected native water isn’t all the time protected after a storm, and there had been a storm the day earlier than?! Who is aware of.
Lacking a day in Disko Island and getting caught an additional day in Aasiaat. I knew that weather-related cancellations aren’t uncommon in Greenland, however this one harm — Disko Island had been the place I had been wanting ahead to visiting probably the most, and Aasiaat doesn’t have a lot to do on the town in any respect.
Prague’s airport lounges have been faraway from the Precedence Move. This really occurred final month, however I forgot to jot down about it. I like the lounge entry I get with the Precedence Move (a perk from my Capital One Enterprise X card, which is SO value it), and it saves a ton of cash as a result of I by no means purchase overpriced meals at airports anymore.
However Precedence Move quietly eliminated entry to Prague’s lounges. And the annoying factor is that they don’t talk this (they take the lounge off their app however maintain it on their web site), so I’m on the desk and getting rejected like I’m a 19-year-old attempting to sneak right into a bar. FUN.
Nevertheless, Charlie really opened a elaborate Czech checking account that offers him lounge entry in Prague as one of many perks! Ha. Subsequent step is so as to add me as a licensed consumer.
Lacking my cats. A LOT. I’ve been away from the cats rather a lot this summer season, and I don’t prefer it. It’s time to make that point as much as them.
This month, Baliček the cat got here to stick with us whereas his household was away. This was his third long-term go to at our place, and he’s the sweetest, most loving cat on the earth. That stated, whereas all three cats appear to get alongside at occasions, I’m realizing that Lewis actually doesn’t like him. Unsure how that’s going to have an effect on issues going ahead.
Oh, and in addition, Baliček will get severely anxious at driving in automobiles — and after we introduced him again, he managed to puke UPWARDS by means of the mesh on the service. The service was on my lap. That was enjoyable.
Weblog Posts of the Month
Turning 39 with a Bit Extra Knowledge — Every year I write a giant submit on my birthday. Right here’s a group of issues I discovered this 12 months, lots of them wedding-related.
22 Finest Locations to Go to in Sicily — So that you wish to go to Sicily — nice! — however you’re unsure precisely the place to go. This submit will present you a few of the finest locations to go to and work out what’s finest for you.
Most Standard Reel on Instagram
INSTAGRAM WENT NUTS THIS MONTH!! (Test it out — I’m @adventurouskate on Instagram.) I began making an effort with reels in mid-April, and this month it paid off.
My “The place Italians Really Go in Italy” reel received to at least one million views on August 5. My first million-view reel!! It now sits at 6.3 million views.
Then my “Sky Bike Dubrovnik” reel received to at least one million views on August 16. It now sits at 8.1 million views.
Then my “The place I’m at age 39” reel received to at least one million views on August 27. This one really went viral on Fb greater than Instagram, and it was fast after which stopped. It now sits at 1.1 million views.
And the very best half about that is that I FINALLY received above 100k followers, the place I’ve been marooned, unable to develop past, for 9 years. Now I’m as much as 119k and rising.
What I Watched This Month
This month, mid-And Simply Like That, I started rewatching Intercourse and the Metropolis. Which I’ve performed rather a lot through the years, however all the time the later seasons.
The sooner seasons hit MUCH in a different way. Quite a lot of episodes and moments didn’t age properly. Nevertheless it’s quite a lot of enjoyable seeing their love pursuits within the earlier years — Timothy Olyphant! Will Arnett! Justin Theroux, twice!
Beneath Deck replace: We instantly vaulted into watching Beneath Deck: Down Underneath Season 2, because it’s airing presently and there was a significant incident that made information in quite a lot of publications. At present in the midst of all of it and can reserve remark till the top of the season, however will say that Captain Jason and Aesha have only a pleasant friendship.
What I Learn This Month
After a lackluster few years of studying, this month was fairly intense. (Spending three days in a distant a part of Greenland with no web will assist out with that rather a lot!) Right here’s what I learn:
Sturdy Feminine Character by Fern Brady (2023) — Fern Brady is a Scottish comic who was recognized with autism just a few years in the past. This memoir is likely one of the most outstanding books I’ve learn in a very long time — a retelling of her life as she struggled to et by means of faculty, get alongside along with her household, maintain down a job, all the pieces.
Autism presents in a different way in ladies, which is how so many go undiagnosed. You’ve most likely heard that earlier than. However this memoir is a fully SEARING account of how an absence of prognosis can destroy your life. Fern’s meltdowns contain destroying all of the furnishings in her home.
However you realize what? She was a stripper for awhile, and talks about how being a stripper is a perfect profession for a lot of autistic ladies — you do the identical routine each evening! You’ve the identical conversations each evening! Lights are stored low! It’s actually arduous to get fired! You understand precisely what males are on the lookout for, no subtlety!
Anyway — extremely suggest this memoir. I discovered a ton and laughed uproariously all through it.
Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen (2022) — On this novel, Ava Wong is an efficient woman who by no means did something mistaken — and now she’s a lawyer on who-knows-how-long hiatus, elevating a troublesome toddler as her surgeon husband works lengthy hours. Then Ava reconnects with an outdated good friend, Winnie, who runs a enterprise importing the world’s finest counterfeit designer purses from China to the US. Quickly Ava has joined Winnie’s enterprise — however quickly the authorities are after them.
I loved this guide rather a lot on a floor degree! It’s enjoyable and fast-paced and there’s a Gone Woman-style twist midway by means of (which suggests to say, there’s a twist midway by means of).
One factor, although — a lot of this guide is unrealistic in regards to the luxurious items business. All of Ava and Winnie’s workers are one-time bag purchasers who purchase a bag, then return the pretend instead, then by no means return to the store once more. Luxurious boutiques are all about establishing deep, long-term relationships between salespeople and purchasers. You purchase from the identical individual without end. They save issues for you. It simply appeared like this was ignored.
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (2023) — Have you ever ever observed how typically glamorous feminine stars find yourself courting and marrying often-schlubby SNL writers? That’s what this novel is about. Sally, a author at an SNL-esque present known as The Night time Owls, rolls her eyes when star after star pairs off with certainly one of her always burping writers and even writes a sketch about these males punching above their weight.
Then she meets the most recent host-and-musical-guest, Noah Brewster — a pop star recognized for courting fashions. And imagine it or not, he really likes her. And so the recent singer dates a considerably schlubby feminine comedy author!
I’m a giant SNL fan, in addition to a Curtis Sittenfeld fan, so that you gained’t be stunned that I very a lot loved this. And I appreciated how a lot the creator did her analysis on the present — there wasn’t one second that made me assume, “No, it wouldn’t occur like that.” It’s a enjoyable, low-stakes romance, and I like to recommend it.
Our Wives Underneath the Sea by Julia Armfield (2023) — On this novel, Miri’s spouse Leah, a marine biologist, has returned from a submarine expedition gone mistaken — she was trapped on the underside of the ocean for six months. However after returning, she’s not regular. She insists on sitting in baths all day, ingesting saltwater, and refusing to work together with the world.
This is likely one of the stranger books I’ve learn in a very long time. Half science fiction, half horror. Leah retains attempting to determine what occurred on the backside of the ocean with Leah — and it slowly turns into a meditation on her grief. A wierd one, and I nonetheless don’t fairly know what to think about it, however the writing is gorgeous.
Within the Shadow of the Mountain: A Memoir of Braveness by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado (2022) — Silvia Vasquez-Lavado turned the primary Peruvian girl and the primary overtly homosexual girl to summit Mount Everest. Earlier than her Everest climb, she led a bunch of sexual abuse survivors on a trek to Everest Base Camp. However behind the climbing, her life was a multitude — she was ingesting closely, hiding her sexuality from her household, and repressing her recollections of sexual abuse as a toddler.
Be aware: this guide incorporates graphic scenes of kid sexual abuse.
After studying Into Skinny Air, in regards to the 1996 catastrophe on Mount Everest, I resolved to by no means, ever, ever entertain the opportunity of climbing the world’s tallest mountain. So it was fairly one thing to examine an expedition that was really profitable.
Silvia is an extremely pushed girl. I cherished the story of her leaving Peru for America and rising within the ranks in Silicon Valley. On the identical time, although, she left a LOT of wreckage behind her, and doesn’t present any accountability. And as a lot as I need her to be sober, I doubt she is. (Identical with Matthew Perry after studying his memoir.)
Does that imply that flawed individuals who do superior issues can’t write memoirs? By no means. However this one left me feeling a bit uneasy.
The Pleasure of My Firm by Steve Martin (2004) — This was a reread for me. On this novel, Steve Martin tells the story of Daniel Pecan Cambridge — a person dwelling with extreme compulsions that influence his life. He takes lengthy winding routes across the neighborhood as a result of he can solely cross a road from curb to curb. He doesn’t perceive social cues. He makes intricate mathematical magic squares. After which when his therapist and her younger son have an emergency and want his assist, all the pieces modifications.
I am keen on Steve Martin’s writing to the moon and again — partly as a result of it’s so totally different from his comedy. And this guide is nice and great and it has certainly one of my favourite shocking heartwarming endings.
Rereading it a couple of decade or so later, although, and having learn a number of books by autistic authors, it provides me quite a lot of doubts, particularly because it ends with Daniel having “recovered” considerably. Is that this story a practical take a look at an individual with autism or OCD? Most likely not. Ought to we be celebrating an able-bodied individual writing about an autistic individual making their habits extra palatable for able-bodied folks? Most likely not, both.
I nonetheless love Steve, although, and there’s quite a lot of good on this little guide.
Coming Up in September 2023
ZERO TRAVEL THIS MONTH! Between the weddings and summer season journey I’ve been go-go-going since late April — I’m fairly anticipating a relaxation, and plenty of kitty cuddles.
However this month I’ve one thing huge deliberate — Czech driving faculty. It’s time to me to get my Czech driver’s license, and since you possibly can’t switch over American licenses (for the dumbest motive — as a result of Individuals write the month and date in a distinct order from the remainder of the world), I have to undergo the entire driver’s ed course of.
The excellent news is that I will likely be FINALLY studying to drive a handbook automotive! Guess this can kill two birds with one stone — I’ll discover ways to drive stick and how you can drive in Prague, two issues which can be majorly intimidating to me. I’m doing an intensive course and ought to be completed by mid-October.
Past that, September is a superb month to spend in Prague, and my buddies and I’ve quite a lot of plans. Beer festivals (sure, a number of), seeing Invoice Burr and Cobra Man stay, a non-public go to to the attractive Strahov Library, particular dinners out. I’m wanting ahead to all of it.