About five years ago Brenda and I started looking for a place down south where we could get away from time to time during the god awful long Wisconsin winter. We sat down one weekend and put together a list of preferences, along with things that were not negotiable. As expected, the number one requirement […]
Of all the things to be concerned about regarding a potential move to Central America, I’m thinking about our status. I don’t mean where we are in the process or what our social status is. I’m wondering whether we’ll be considered an immigrant or ex-pat. I know that sounds odd, but I was having a […]
I had planned on writing a few in-depth reviews about our time in Havana, but to be honest I’m struggling to construct a cogent narrative. In a previous post, I wrote about trying to balance romanticizing Havana with the reality that is Cuba. And that is the dilemma I’m dealing with. Cuba is a complex […]
Brenda and I have started planning another return visit to Costa Rica. It’s been a few months since our last trip and we are itching to get back as soon as possible. This time, we’d like to explore the Central Valley, near San Jose. There are a handful of small towns in the area that […]
In a few weeks, we will be headed to Havana, Cuba. Of all the places we’ve visited, Cuba may be the most intriguing. I’ve had Havana on my list for so many years that part of me can’t believe we are actually going. At the same time, apprehension is starting to set in a bit. […]
Some years ago I came across a website called findyourspot. It’s a survey site that recommends the best city/geographical area for you to live, based on answers to their questionnaire. The site matches up your personal preferences regarding climate, size of city, preferred geographical location, and a host of other metrics. After inputting roughly a dozen […]
Luna Llena Hotel It seems as though, on most trips, Brenda and I end up moving a couple of times. With limited time, we always want to experience as much as possible. Part of me would like to stay in the same place and avoid packing and unpacking. But if there is time to squeeze in […]
A few years ago we started a new holiday tradition in our house. Realizing how much we disliked the craziness that is the American Christmas season, Brenda and I decided to start taking our three kids on a trip, in place of buying gifts. We thought it would be a great way to connect as […]
I hate luggage tags. I know it’s a silly thing, but I think for the most part they are useless. Constantly filling out information by hand on flimsy pieces of paper and then attaching it to your bag, usually with an inadequate strap. I like my Briggs-Riley roll-aboard but even that has an interior placed […]
It’s getting to be that time of year when Brenda and I start thinking about Germany. I know that may sound odd, but for quite a few years we were fortunate to visit Frankfurt, Germany every December. One of our vendors, a German company, participates in a large international trade show in Frankfurt that we […]