We completely diverted from our slow travel mantra last week as we squeezed in a few big cities and historical highlights in Europe. From Sicily, we were headed to the mainland and, upon Luke’s request, we made a stop in Barcelona. He was learning about La Sagrada Familia in Spanish class when we left home, … Continue reading Only the Highlights
We know we are city people, and it was never more evident than this last week as we went out on the ledge again for a WWOOFing experience. And it was truly wonderful and hilarious. WWOOF stands for Willing Workers on Organic Farms. It’s a worldwide phenomenon, mostly for backpackers and serious folks who want … Continue reading WWOOF, WWOOF, Life on the Farm
Our time in Croatia is drawing to a close, and it has made its way to the top of our list of favorite countries. The beauty, diversity and history are captivating. The Adriatic Sea is so clear, we could see straight to the bottom looking down into it from a mountaintop. The shades of turquoise … Continue reading Beauty in Brokenness
Two days ago we drove to a town called Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bosnia-Herzegovina (they call it BiH for short) used to be part of Yugoslavia. Bosnia comes from the Bosna river that flows through the country and Herzog means “a duke” in German. In Mostar, there is a famous bridge that locals jump off of … Continue reading From Spring to Snow in Sarajevo
Croatia continues to meet and exceed every one of our expectations. We arrived in Split, a city on the central coast, and spent a few days exploring Diocletian’s palace remains that make up the winding lanes of the Old Town. We rented a car to fully explore Croatia, especially the coast. With more than one … Continue reading Cruising Down the Coast
Zagreb was our first stop in Croatia, a country of only 4 million people, but 3,000 miles of coastline. We started in the landlocked capital city (which isn’t on most people’s list of stops, but should be) and immediately felt the vibe of its cool, coffee culture. They are LAID. BACK. It’s a University town … Continue reading Coffee, Cars and Cool
In my ignorance, I never knew how much history, specifically Greek, Roman and Christian history, was entombed in the Turkish coast. We spent the last 10 days traveling slowly along the Aegean sea in small towns and villages. Each day uncovered more ruins, ancient sites and colorful history than I ever expected in this part … Continue reading History Along the Turkish Coast
As we started the second half of our adventure, we found a stop that is now in our list of favorites from the entire trip. Cappadocia had the small town charm of a U.S. ski town like Breckenridge or Vail, with beautiful landscapes and lots of fun outdoor activities. The Turkish charm was prevalent throughout, … Continue reading Six Thumbs up for Cappadocia
Without intending to, it seems we had given up the first world for Lent. We were anxiously anticipating clean, modern and beautiful European cities when we arrived in Istanbul last week. And it delivered. We love the walkable cobblestone streets and sidewalk cafes, the beautiful parks and historic sites, the kind and friendly people. Istanbul is … Continue reading First World Problems
So honored to be published on Huffington Post! Suzanne Rutledge Writer, Mom and Adventurer Traveling out of the country with children can be fraught with concern, not just over logistics and jet lag, but wondering whether they’ll enjoy and remember the international experience. As a parent, I dream big with my expectations for our son. I … Continue reading Five Fun Ways to Immerse your Children in a Foreign Country
Out of our Comfort Zone to Explore the World 