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May was the month Charlie and I had been ready for. This is the month that we celebrated our massive marriage ceremony in Prague. The month our family and friends descended upon our adopted metropolis. The month we celebrated more durable than we ever have.
And it was so, so good.
Here’s what went down — together with a sneak peak of the primary skilled marriage ceremony pictures!
Destinations Visited
- Karlovy Vary, Loket, Prague, and Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
Highlights
The marriage ceremony, the marriage, the marriage! Honestly, all of it went SO properly. Charlie and I didn’t understand till it was in full swing that we basically threw a journey blogger convention, simply with no instructional worth in any respect!
We initially ended up planning three days of marriage ceremony revelry for our friends, and it rapidly became 5 days of organized occasions.
On the primary day, the marriage eve eve, we invited our associates to hang around on the pizza fritta and beer competition at Dva Kohouti and Bufet, two cool venues in our neighborhood of Karlín. The night churned alongside, Charlie went off to his bachelor celebration, and our associates took me out for “Kate’s stag do” at Lokal!
On day two, six of my women joined me for a bridal luncheon at CottoCrudo on the Four Seasons, which places on a improbable three-course enterprise lunch with a view of the fort (one among my favourite uncommon issues to do in Prague). After that, I dropped them off for a strolling tour of Prague that Charlie organized for our friends.
That night was our welcome dinner at Manifesto Market, the good outside meals corridor in Prague, with numerous nice meals and drinks! It was such a enjoyable night. And a beautiful shock was that two associates I made in Antarctica, Bob and Barbara, have been passing via Prague that day — so I invited them and so they got here! It was so good to see them once more and introduce them to my family members.
Then the marriage day! The ceremony happened within the afternoon at A(void) Floating Gallery, a moored boat on shore overlooking the fort within the distance. After the ceremony, we had a cocktail hour on board, then our friends boarded a historic wood tram with open home windows to take them on a 40-minute scenic tour of Prague earlier than taking them to the reception. In the meantime, the marriage celebration rode in a hummer limo!
The reception was at Arthur’s Pub, an exquisite upscale Irish pub in our neighborhood. The outside space was completely idyllic — it barely wanted decor in any respect. And the employees have been past improbable — they cherished us as a lot as we cherished them.
Everyone stored raving about how good the meals was, the cake blew our minds, and the band, Tram 69, stored everybody dancing till late! (Also, cops confirmed up in some unspecified time in the future.)
The subsequent day, we hosted folks for an off-the-cuff lunch at Cafe Frida, a Mexican restaurant in our neighborhood. We introduced the flags and loved everybody’s firm, then FINALLY Charlie and I went house to crash, snuggle the cats, eat leftover schnitzel and tiramisu, and watch Below Deck.
The day after that? French meals and Prosecco competition throughout the river, with extra of our friends! And that night, we took a bunch of oldsters out to Kantyna, our favourite place in Prague and the place we went after our elopement.
I will likely be doing a full put up concerning the marriage ceremony as soon as now we have all of the skilled pictures! Our photographer Teru Menclova despatched us a number of already as a preview.
PERFECT WEATHER ALL WEDDING WEEK. Seriously. It’s so uncommon to have climate THAT good for THAT lengthy in Prague, however it was completely good. I’m so glad we determined to have the marriage in late May!
No COVID circumstances post-wedding. We requested everybody to check earlier than touring to Prague and on the morning of the marriage, handing out checks on the dinner the evening earlier than (they’re nonetheless round $1 every in Prague, which REALLY must be the case all over the place), and stored nearly the entire marriage ceremony occasions outdoor.
Welcoming my family and friends to Prague. The marriage ceremony, in fact, was the principle occasion, however it was very nice to point out items of our Prague life to our family members. I like that we received to carry folks to one among our favourite festivals of the 12 months, Pivo a Burger (beer and burger).
We introduced associates to our favourite cocktail bar, Bugsy’s Bar, and naturally we took everybody to our favourite butcher store, Kantyna. And it was nice seeing my associates go to a lot of our favourite Prague eating places — Eska, Field, Naše Maso, Lokal, Manù, and Krystal have been amongst everybody’s favorites.
It was particularly good welcoming my associates’ children to Prague — and their dad and mom realizing what an incredible place Prague is to have a child. So many festivals. Unlimited rooster schnitzel.
A fast journey to Český Krumlov. I hadn’t been to Český Krumlov since December 2019, and it was so good to return and present a special a part of the Czech Republic to my mother and her associate Tom. What an awesome go to! Krumlov is a beautiful little city, and it was such a special place within the spring!
Everyone was out rafting and taking boat journeys (together with one bachelor celebration with a blow-up doll in tow). I actually wish to return to go rafting! And now I’m satisfied that possibly one evening isn’t sufficient…possibly it might be good to go for 2 entire nights someday.
We additionally completed our first mini-moon to Czech spa city of Karlovy Vary on the primary day of the month, visiting the beautiful city of Loket on the best way again.
Food festivals galore. Man, summertime in Prague is SO good. It’s so good figuring out there’s a cool meals competition each weekend! We additionally received to attend one among our favourite occasions of the 12 months, {the catalogue} celebration at The Italians Wine and Food Market, the place meals distributors come from throughout Italy to share their wares with Prague foodies.
Murray began pooping within the litter field once more! Man, that took a while! What lastly labored was including one other litter field in one other room. Once he had extra choices with privateness, he felt comfy pooping within the field once more.
Challenges
Some marriage ceremony snafus, however nothing too dangerous. We forgot to carry the flags to the ceremony. The gluten-free nut-free desserts received put out early and everybody ate them forward of time. The flower arch moved from the ceremony to the reception was alleged to be an Instagram spot for everybody, however that part of the outside became the “kids’ corner,” so no person went up there!
Overall, these have been very small issues. Unfortunately a couple of of our friends weren’t capable of make the marriage attributable to a last-minute strike at Heathrow, which was unhappy, however other than that, nearly the whole lot went to plan.
I DID NOT SLEEP the evening earlier than the marriage. I slept from 12:30-1:30 AM, then wakened and COULD NOT return to sleep. I attempted the whole lot — meditation, CBD, push-ups, sleep podcasts, a stroll across the neighborhood. Nothing labored. And I began freaking out. How may I do that day on a single hour’s sleep?
I posted on the marriage planning subreddit in a panic. And these brides gave me SUCH good recommendation. They emphasised the significance of simply resting if I couldn’t sleep, to take it straightforward on the alcohol and caffeine, and adrenaline would carry me via the day. They have been proper.
In the tip, I used to be capable of squeeze in one other nap from 7:30 till 9:15, and I made it via the day simply tremendous.
My bank card received stolen the week of the marriage. That hasn’t occurred for a couple of years. Sigh. At least CapitalOne sends alternative playing cards internationally with out getting them caught in customs (taking a look at you, Schwab).
Murray received sick. He began randomly vomiting and stored throwing up, so we took him to the vet. It appears to be hairball-related, and we have to feed him hairball administration meals any more.
Unfortunately, one among us wanted to control him, so Charlie stayed house from Český Krumlov and I took Mom and Tom by myself.
Having to RUN LIKE MAD for a practice in Ceske Budejovice! Trains from Krumlov have been late, however they often maintain them a bit so you may make your practice to Prague. We needed to bounce off and RUN to make the practice, and we made it with 30 seconds to spare. Glad I received to point out my mother that quintessential European expertise.
Blog Posts of the Month
What NOT to Do in Prague — I like this put up. The definitive information to learn earlier than visiting Prague!
Which of the 6 Martha’s Vineyard Towns is Right for You? An overview of the six cities in Martha’s Vineyard, which every have their very own persona and elegance.
30 Stunning Mediterranean Islands to Visit Once in Your Lifetime — From Ibiza to Crete, from Corsica to Hvar, listed below are probably the most lovely Mediterranean Islands to go to sometime!
This Month on Patreon
On the Adventurous Kate Patreon, I publish unique content material and never-told tales which you could entry for $6 per thirty days. We even have a personal Facebook group and members get free entry to the Book Club every month.
This month did find yourself being a wedding-heavy month! I shared the complete album of our elopement pictures as quickly as they got here in (haven’t shared any publicly right here besides on Instagram, however I plan on running a blog concerning the elopement at a later date and can share then).
I additionally shared some early insights after the massive Prague marriage ceremony — together with what I’m VERY glad we did, and some issues we may have completed higher.
(One factor I’m particularly glad about is deciding on Azazie bridesmaid clothes in 5 coordinating however completely different colours and 5 completely different types, all lengthy and chiffon. It stored everybody trying cohesive however in types that flattered them!)
Book Club This Month
Our subsequent e-book membership will really happen in August — on Sunday, August 13, at 7:00 PM ET. We will likely be studying In the Shadow of the Mountain by Peruvian writer and adventurer Silvia Vasquez-Lavado.
“Endless ice. Thin air. The menace of dropping into nothingness 1000’s of toes under. This is the climb Silvia Vasquez-Lavado braves in her page-turning, pulse-raising memoir chronicling her journey to Mount Everest.
A Latina hero within the elite macho tech world of Silicon Valley, privately, she was hanging by a thread. Deep within the throes of alcoholism, hiding her sexuality from her household, and repressing the abuse she’d suffered as a toddler, she began climbing. Something concerning the brute drive required for the ascent—the danger and spirit and sheer measurement of the mountains and dying’s shut proximity—woke her up. She then took her greatest ache as a survivor to the largest mountain: Everest.
‘The Mother of the World,’ because it’s identified in Nepal, permits few to succeed in her summit, however Silvia didn’t go alone. She gathered a bunch of younger feminine survivors and led them to base camp alongside her. It was by no means straightforward. At occasions hair-raising, nerve-racking, and at all times difficult, Silvia remembers the acute nervousness of main a bunch of novice climbers to Everest’s base, all of the whereas coping along with her personal nerves of summiting. But, there have been additionally moments of peace, pleasure, and therapeutic with the power of her fellow survivors and group propelling her ahead.
In the Shadow of the Mountain is a outstanding story of heroism, one which awakens in all of us a lust for journey, an urge for food for threat, and religion in our personal resilience.”
You can be taught extra concerning the e-book and purchase it right here.
You can signal as much as attend the e-book membership right here. Hope to see you there!
Fashion Find of the Month
I’ve been eyeing this Sandro denim jacket for a couple of months now. It’s a bit unorthodox, and fairly fashionable…however you don’t at all times have to purchase one thing you’ll put on for a decade! Where else are you able to discover a bedazzled armpit?
I first cherished the black model of this jacket. It was crazy-expensive, so I bid on it on eBay. Didn’t win the public sale. THEN I discovered the identical jacket, however in white, and for a FRACTION of the listed worth.
So I received it! Still attempting to determine how greatest to put on it. I can’t discover it in white wherever anymore, however you may get it in light blue denim with rainbow rhinestones right here and in black denim with gold rhinestones right here.
Side Projects Update
With a lot happening with the marriage, not a lot received completed on my non-AK work this previous month. But I did get some excellent news! This is my first 12 months operating Mediavine advertisements on New Hampshire Way throughout excessive season, and visitors took an enormous upturn main into Memorial Day Weekend!
This has me feeling hopeful about how the positioning will carry out over the following few months. Summer is excessive season in New Hampshire — however PEAK season is in early October for foliage!
Most Popular Reel on Instagram
I need you to know that I’ve been making main modifications on Instagram recently, posting numerous enjoyable Reels about completely different journey and life content material. I might like to have you ever observe me at @adventurouskate!
My hottest Reel of the month was all about how I selected what to put on for our elopement in April — together with skilled pictures from that day. I needed a classic mid-century look and located the right gadgets from a couple of distributors on-line.
You can see it above!
What I Watched This Month
This month, I watched Succession in its entirety: all 39 episodes. I watched a couple of episodes some months in the past, however Charlie wasn’t actually into it, so we stopped. I needed to choose it up once more and catch up by the finale, so I studiously binged. An episode on the elliptical every day; an episode earlier than mattress; an additional episode the place I may squeeze it in.
I like Succession — it’s sensible and well-deserving of all its awards (although I hope among the as-yet-unrecognized actors like Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook lastly win their Emmys this 12 months). But I do NOT advocate binging Succession! It’s a dense present, with a lot drama and wordplay. You want to look at an episode and let it marinate.
Below Deck replace: This month, Charlie and I completed Below Deck Down Under and started Below Deck Sailing Yacht: Season 2.
So far I can say that these two seasons have two of my favourite casts. They actually did the casting properly (and it was a SMART resolution for Sailing Yacht to not carry again any of the folks from terrible Season One).
As a lot as I like Aesha from Down Under, Daisy from Sailing Yacht is perhaps my favourite chief stew ever. She’s nice at her job, she really trains her stews as an alternative of simply complaining about them on a regular basis, and he or she’s really a pleasant particular person you’d wish to hang around with.
Coming Up in June 2023
We are beginning this month with an Italian mini-moon — Charlie and I are heading to Ischia and Naples for a couple of days! I’ve by no means been to Ischia earlier than — it’s an island off the coast of Naples — however Charlie has.
We will likely be having fun with summer season on the Italian seaside as we at all times do, with fritto misto and spritzes, and we plan to do a little bit of climbing, chill out at a spa, benefit from the seashores (some pivotal scenes from Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels happen on Ischia’s seashores!), and have a giant dinner at a agriturismo. Despite being an island, rabbit is definitely the favored dish of Ischia!
We will likely be bookending Ischia with time in Naples — which you may recall was my favourite new vacation spot of 2022. We undoubtedly plan on hitting up our favourite pizza locations!
After Italy, we’ll be in Prague for a bit, and we at the moment are totally in meals competition season. The Prague Ice Cream Festival is one I’m significantly trying ahead to.
At the tip of the month, we’re flying to Boston for our third marriage ceremony! And we’re flying in enterprise class on British Airways, which I’ve by no means completed long-haul earlier than. The marriage ceremony itself is going down in early July and wow — now we have a LOT extra planning we have to do!!
What’s deliberate for you this month? Share away!
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