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Ah, September — one of the stunning months of the 12 months, and probably the greatest months to journey. I undoubtedly put this month to good use.
This was a busy September for me, starting with my getaway to South Moravia within the Czech Republic, with a 12-day journey to the Basque Country and La Rioja later within the month.
Let’s check out September 2024!
Destinations Visited
- Mikulov, Lednice, Valtice, and Prague, Czech Republic
- Bilbao, San Sebastián, Samaniego, Haro, Logroño, Eltziego, Guernica, and Lekeitio, Spain
Highlights
The month started with the getaway Charlie and I took to South Moravia, within the southeast of the Czech Republic. We based mostly in Mikulov and Valtice and in addition visited the city of Lednice.
Lednice is house to a chateau — and what a formidable fortress it’s! I’m not an enormous fortress fan typically, however I completely LOVED the decor of this fortress, with so many turquoises and darkish mahoganies, and the grounds that included canals and an precise minaret that you would be able to climb.
Next up, we went to Valtice, house of the nationwide wine cellars. Famously, they’ve greater than 100 wines, and you may style all of them (fairly shortly) in a two-hour interval! Yes, we did it. We pulled off 100 tiny tastes in 120 minutes.
Overall, I actually cherished South Moravia, and it’s now one in all my favourite components of the Czech Republic.
This month, Charlie and I additionally had a visit to Spain with our pals Nick and Jack, deliberate across the San Mateo wine competition in Logroño.
We started our journey within the Basque Country, visiting Bilbao and San Sebastián. I actually cherished Bilbao — it simply felt so nice and livable! Nice walks alongside the river, stunning bridges, glorious pintos bars, and naturally the Guggenheim Museum!
San Sebastián is a spot I’ve wished to go to for greater than a decade, and it was well worth the wait. There is SO MUCH AMAZING FOOD HERE, and the pintxos bars prove so many inventive dishes. The seashores and the views are good, too. I discovered the outdated city to be a bit hectic however actually cherished the Gros neighborhood throughout the bridge.
Next up was La Rioja. The San Mateo competition was in full swing, and it was WILD — everybody carrying wine-red bandanas round their necks, loud music in every single place, parades and statues and big crowds on the tapas streets.
Honestly, the competition was a bit a lot for me — however I might love to come back again to Logroño when it’s quieter. This metropolis has a number of tapas streets full of distinctive tapas bars, a few of them solely serving one dish. And Logroño is SO low-cost, partly as a result of it’s a bit out of the way in which.
We visited a number of wineries and a cheesery within the space, then we made our means through Guernica to Lekeitio, a seaside city on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, for the previous couple of days. This was simply so calm and chilled and wonderful — the right ending to a busy journey.
Overall, I actually love the Basque Country — it’s so totally different to the opposite areas I’ve visited in Spain when it comes to geography, temperature, tradition, and meals. It’s good to go someplace in Spain that’s inexperienced in every single place as an alternative of overly brown.
Beyond that, this month I finalized my Czech everlasting residency paperwork. I’ve my new ID and every little thing. And I’ve loved two advantages already!
First, we renewed our residence lease and I didn’t need to go to the international police to file paperwork, which I’ve all the time needed to do earlier than! And I bought my new medical health insurance card, and it’s blue as an alternative of inexperienced and it’s legitimate for TEN years as an alternative of 1!
Challenges
Flooding hit Central Europe very arduous this month, and water ranges rose considerably in Prague. However, due partly to protections taken after main floods in Prague in 1997 and 2002, injury was minimal.
Unfortunately, different components of Central Europe didn’t fare so properly.
Blog Posts of the Month
Most Popular Post on Instagram
When my pals and I have been in Scottsdale this summer time, we ordered an Uber and bought an surprising message — “Would you like to try a self-driving vehicle?” Um, positive! For a five-minute experience by way of Old Town Scottsdale, why not?
I made a reel about our first self-driving automobile expertise, and it was SO enjoyable and SO wacky! Waymo is now working in sure neighborhoods in three metro areas — Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco — and I might completely experience with them once more!
For extra enjoyable movies from my travels, you possibly can observe me on Instagram at @adventurouskate.
What I Watched This Month
Will & Harper on Netflix was such an amazing watch this month. If you’ve been residing below a rock, Will & Harper is a documentary about Will Ferrell and his shut buddy, comedy author Harper Steele, taking a US street journey collectively after Harper’s transition.
Harper used to solo street journey the US continually earlier than she transitioned, and she or he cherished dive bars and truck stops and diners — however she didn’t know if she could be secure doing this post-transition.
I like films which are about two common folks and their relationships. That’s what that is about. But it’s additionally an training that cis folks must see about simply how harmful it’s to be a trans girl within the US.
(Also, it was superior to listen to that Harper wrote the sketch “Oops I Crapped My Pants.” My pals and I quoted that continually in highschool!)
Below Deck replace: This month, Charlie and I watched Below Deck Season 11: the newest season, and the primary season that includes Captain Kerry.
And can I simply say that CAPTAIN KERRY IS THE BEST CAPTAIN YET. Charlie and I are continually exclaiming about what an amazing boss he’s. He has excessive requirements, expects the most effective from his crew, handles thorny points skillfully, and makes himself a continuing presence across the ship.
After watching means an excessive amount of Captain Sandy these days, this season was an amazing watch, even in case you began being aggravated by a lot of the crew by the top.
Another factor: I seen this season that you just virtually by no means see any crew members smoking. Most of the crew smoke continually on their nights out on earlier seasons — I ponder if Bravo is making an effort to chop it out.
What I Listened To This Month
Someone on Threads was speaking about Willow’s track “Symptom of Life,” mentioning that a part of the track is in 7/4. I like bizarre time signatures, so I gave it a pay attention — and holy hell, this track is by Willow as in Willow Smith?!
Honestly, I by no means paid a lot consideration to Willow. Mostly due to the nepo child factor, and the Smiths being a bit exhausting these days, however you recognize what? She makes unimaginable, genre-defying music.
I listened to this track again and again, then to Willow’s newest album, Empathogen. It’s wild and funky and jazzy and futuristic and ethereal and good. A hell of an album that must be topping the charts and profitable the awards.
Turns out whenever you’re a really proficient musician who occurs to be a nepo child, you may have the liberty to make uncommon music which may not promote tremendous properly. This is a superb album. Give it a pay attention.
Coming Up in October 2024
Here comes an enormous solo journey to a few new international locations! I’m heading to Nepal, Bhutan, and Qatar!
The plan is to spend two nights at a resort exterior Kathmandu earlier than flying to Bhutan for simply over per week. You must work with a tour firm with the intention to go to Bhutan, and I’m touring with Bhutan Travel Center, who’re internet hosting me as their visitor. They’ve deliberate a enjoyable week with plenty of tradition, mountaineering, and surroundings.
After that, I fly again to Kathmandu and spend the evening in an airport lodge earlier than flying to Pokhara early the subsequent morning. I’ll spend one evening at a mountain resort and three nights in Pokhara earlier than flying again to Kathmandu for one last evening, then I’ll fly to Doha, Qatar, for 2 nights, then fly again to Prague.
I booked my flights on Qatar Airways utilizing my British Airways Avios (it was really less expensive with BA Avios than QA Avios!), although to get to Bhutan you could fly one in all two small airways with restricted attain.
You ought to know that I got here near canceling this journey as a result of horrible flooding in Nepal, particularly the Kathmandu Valley. The injury is in depth and so many lives have been misplaced.
Then as soon as I noticed Kathmandu airport was totally working as regular, I made a decision simply to do two nights in an airport lodge, then Bhutan (which is unaffected by the flooding), then fly again to Qatar.
Then I talked to lots of people on the bottom in Kathmandu and Pokhara, in addition to workers in any respect of my resorts. The verdict: life is regular in all of the areas I’m visiting, my journey plans gained’t be impacted (significantly since I’m flying between Kathmandu and Pokhara), I gained’t be impeding any rescue work, and native small companies will want my cash.
In quick, after in depth consideration, I made a decision to proceed with the journey as deliberate and make beneficiant donations to native organizations I discover on the bottom right here.
I can’t wait to share this journey with you.
What are you wanting ahead to in October? Share away!