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Ah, September — probably the most stunning months of the 12 months, and among the finest 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 Nation and La Rioja later within the month.
Let’s check out September 2024!
Locations 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 likewise visited the city of Lednice.
Lednice is residence to a chateau — and what a powerful 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 could climb.
Subsequent up, we went to Valtice, residence of the nationwide wine cellars. Famously, they’ve greater than 100 wines, and you’ll style all of them (fairly rapidly) in a two-hour interval! Sure, we did it. We pulled off 100 tiny tastes in 120 minutes.
General, I actually beloved South Moravia, and it’s now one among my favourite elements of the Czech Republic.
This month, Charlie and I additionally had a visit to Spain with our mates Nick and Jack, deliberate across the San Mateo wine pageant in Logroño.
We started our journey within the Basque Nation, visiting Bilbao and San Sebastián. I actually beloved Bilbao — it simply felt so nice and livable! Good 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 definitely worth the wait. There may be SO MUCH AMAZING FOOD HERE, and the pintxos bars end up so many artistic dishes. The seashores and the views are good, too. I discovered the outdated city to be a bit hectic however actually beloved the Gros neighborhood throughout the bridge.
Subsequent up was La Rioja. The San Mateo pageant was in full swing, and it was WILD — everybody carrying wine-red bandanas round their necks, loud music in all places, parades and statues and large crowds on the tapas streets.
Truthfully, the pageant was a bit a lot for me — however I’d love to come back again to Logroño when it’s quieter. This metropolis has a number of tapas streets crammed with 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 best way.
We visited a number of wineries and a cheesery within the space, then we made our manner by way of Guernica to Lekeitio, a seaside city on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, for the previous few days. This was simply so calm and chilled and wonderful — the right ending to a busy journey.
General, I actually love the Basque Nation — it’s so completely different to the opposite areas I’ve visited in Spain by way of geography, temperature, tradition, and meals. It’s good to go someplace in Spain that’s inexperienced in all places as an alternative of overly brown.
Past that, this month I finalized my Czech everlasting residency paperwork. I’ve my new ID and the whole lot. And I’ve loved two advantages already!
First, we renewed our condo lease and I didn’t need to go to the overseas police to file paperwork, which I’ve at all times needed to do earlier than! And I received 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 laborious this month, and water ranges rose considerably in Prague. Nonetheless, due partly to protections taken after main floods in Prague in 1997 and 2002, harm was minimal.
Sadly, different elements of Central Europe didn’t fare so effectively.
Weblog Posts of the Month
Most Widespread Publish on Instagram
When my mates and I have been in Scottsdale this summer time, we ordered an Uber and received an sudden message — “Would you wish to attempt a self-driving automobile?” Um, positive! For a five-minute journey by Previous City 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’d completely journey with them once more!
For extra enjoyable movies from my travels, you may comply with me on Instagram at @adventurouskate.
What I Watched This Month
Will & Harper on Netflix was such an excellent watch this month. In case you’ve been dwelling underneath a rock, Will & Harper is a documentary about Will Ferrell and his shut good friend, 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 he or she beloved 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 can be about two common folks and their relationships. That’s what that is about. Nevertheless it’s additionally an schooling that cis folks must see about simply how harmful it’s to be a trans lady within the US.
(Additionally, it was superior to listen to that Harper wrote the sketch “Oops I Crapped My Pants.” My mates and I quoted that continually in highschool!)
Beneath Deck replace: This month, Charlie and I watched Beneath Deck Season 11: the newest season, and the primary season that includes Captain Kerry.
And may I simply say that CAPTAIN KERRY IS THE BEST CAPTAIN YET. Charlie and I are continually exclaiming about what an excellent boss he’s. He has excessive requirements, expects the most effective from his crew, handles thorny points skillfully, and makes himself a relentless presence across the ship.
After watching manner an excessive amount of Captain Sandy recently, this season was an excellent watch, even in case you began being irritated by many of the crew by the top.
One other factor: I seen this season that you just virtually by no means see any crew members smoking. Many of the crew smoke continually on their nights out on earlier seasons — I’m wondering if Bravo is making an effort to chop it out.
What I Listened To This Month
Somebody 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?!
Truthfully, I by no means paid a lot consideration to Willow. Principally due to the nepo child factor, and the Smiths being a bit exhausting recently, however you realize what? She makes unimaginable, genre-defying music.
I listened to this track time and again, then to Willow’s newest album, Empathogen. It’s wild and funky and jazzy and futuristic and ethereal and sensible. A hell of an album that must be topping the charts and successful the awards.
Seems whenever you’re a really gifted musician who occurs to be a nepo child, you’ve gotten the liberty to make uncommon music that may not promote tremendous effectively. It is a nice album. Give it a pay attention.
Coming Up in October 2024
Right here comes an enormous solo journey to 3 new nations! 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 every week. It’s good to work with a tour firm with a purpose to go to Bhutan, and I’m touring with Bhutan Journey Heart, who’re internet hosting me as their visitor. They’ve deliberate a enjoyable week with numerous tradition, mountain climbing, and surroundings.
After that, I fly again to Kathmandu and spend the evening in an airport resort 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 remaining 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’ll want to fly one among two small airways with restricted attain.
You must know that I got here near canceling this journey because of the horrible flooding in Nepal, particularly the Kathmandu Valley. The harm is in depth and so many lives have been misplaced.
Then as soon as I noticed Kathmandu airport was absolutely working as regular, I made a decision simply to do two nights in an airport resort, 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 accommodations. The decision: life is regular in all of the areas I’m visiting, my journey plans gained’t be impacted (notably since I’m flying between Kathmandu and Pokhara), I gained’t be impeding any rescue work, and native small companies will want my cash.
Briefly, 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!
