Twenty Questions (E13): 2025 What I Learned

Happy New Year! Learning, seeing and doing new things is something that I love doing, and I hope to never stop doing it, ever! If you have been around for a while, you know that I always like to do a recap of some of the new things I learned over the prior year. Last year, I did a list of 24 things, the year before that, it was 23 things, and the year before that, 22 things. Since we just wrapped up 2025, I thought I would incorporate the list into one of my 20 year lists, even if it is kind of cheating a bit. So here you have it! 25 new things for me for 2025! 

In 2025, I...

1. Learned that the Ampersand (&) was made from the ligature et. I went to a very cool exhibit at the library in Riga for the 500th anniversary of the Latvian written word where they were talking about how books are made, and how languages get morphed and created. The Latin word "et" means "and" but it was written kind of as one letter crammed together when done in cursive and so eventually it started to look like our current ampersand. 

2. Went to several new to me countries: I revisited several countries that I had been to before, but even then, I got to either experience a new city in a country I had been to before or see a previously visited city from a different perspective. However, I also went to several countries that I had not been before. I talked a little about some of the interesting places I saw in 2025 in this post, but here are some new to me countries, in the order visited: Gibraltar (territory), Poland, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Wales, and Morocco. 

Riga, Latvia

3. Learned more about the German occupation of Poland. I learned a lot about this in both Krakow and Warsaw, but especially in Krakow. I went to the Schindler factory / museum (from Schindler's List fame) where they went through each of the years and spoke about how the Jewish people were rounded up into the ghetto and subsequently onto trains bound for work or death camps. It was quite moving. 

Auschwitz

4. Rode a bike on the left side of the road. I did a bike trip from one side of Wales to the other and it was mostly on dirt and smaller roads, but I did have to ride on the left, which was  first for me! 

Lon Las Cymru

5. Tried bread in several new places. I like most breads, and am always down for trying new ones everywhere! One of my favorites (don't tell all the others) was khachapuri in Georgia, which often has cheese in it! They also have a non-cheese version called puri, which is shaped like a boat and is cooked on the side of an oven similar to a tandori. 

6. Did an overnight(s) backpacking trip in... Turkiye (Lycian Way), Montenegro, Albania & Kosovo (Peaks of the Balkans), Romania (Via Transilvanica), Bulgaria (Pirin Mountains), and Scotland (Affric Kintail, Cape Wrath, West Highland Way, Skye Trail).

Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye

7. Went skiing in the Alps. Not only was this easy (FYI getting to the ski hill without a car in the US can be hit and miss) but it was also a lot cheaper than it would have been for me at home. For a bus ride, lift ticket and equipment rental it was only about $90 USD, plus I got wine and pizza afterward, and my total bill including that was only around $110 USD. France for the win! 

8. Went on a cruise ship. I always figured that I would not be a "cruise person," but I needed to get home and I decided to try a repositioning cruise to see how it went. For those who don't know, this is when the cruise line needs to move the ship from a colder place (i.e. Europe in winter) to a warmer one (i.e. the Carribean in winter) so often since they have to move it anyway, you can get a pretty good deal. My flight home would have been about $550, but a cruise (plus flight) was about $900 for 15 days, which of course includes food, accommodation and entertainment. I met a ton of fun people and had a great time and am glad that I tried it, even though I am still not 100% sure that I would call myself  a "cruise person." Stay tuned. 

Somewhere in the Atlantic

9. Had 120 seconds of fame. On the cruise, I signed up for what I thought was a trivia show, but ended up being me getting up in front of everyone in a chair with a spotlight and a microphone. The contest was where the MC asks you questions and you are not allowed to say the words "yes" or "no" or nod or shake your head. I lasted about 110 seconds, which was longer than anyone else so far, but I did not win. I am not a fan of being (literally) in the spotlight, but I felt like I did okay, although my sweat quotient was quite high! 

10. Watched the news in French. When I was in Lyon, that was when the Musk gesture fiasco was happening and I turned on the news to see what I could find. The funny thing was that when they dub over people like Musk or Trump, the voice DOES NOT match the guy, and so it was kind of comical to watch Trump speak in a high pitched French voice on the news. 

11. Visited two silk worker cities. Both Lyon, France and Macclesfield, England were big hubs for silk making. In Lyon you can see the traboules, which were stone passageways used by the workers to stay dry and transport the silk faster. Additionally, many of the restaurants, called bouchons, were started as a way to feed the workers quickly and inexpensively. In Macclesfield, I visited a silk factory, where they are still using the original looms from the 1800s. 

Macclesfield silk factory

12. Climbed Wales highest mountain...and saw nothing! Mt. Snowdon is 3,599 feet tall and can be hiked in one day. There are several different ways you can take to get to the top, including a train. I took the Pyg track up and the Miners track down, which is roughly a 8 mile round trip. The day I climbed it was a very foggy and rainy one and I got to the top and there was no view to speak of. However, it was still a fun experience, although I would like to go back on a more sunny day, if possible. 

View from the top of Mt. Snowdon

13. Borrowed a tent from a stranger. In Türkiye, I mentioned that I did not have a tent yet and a woman from Switzerland let me borrow hers. I used it and sent it back to her afterward, and was super glad to have been able to have it! Funny enough, I actually once swapped a Europe guide book for a tent, but in that case, I did not have to give it back. 

14. Drank rakija. Rakija is a high alcohol (40% - 60%) drink made from plums and served in Serbia and Bosnia (and Croatia). However, many countries have a similar thing, usually made from plums but also made from other fruit; in Bulgaria it's called Rakia; in Romania it is Palincă. 

15. Learned to pivot. Whether it is financial, physical or emotional, things do not always go the way that you expect. This is okay, and I am getting better at leaving my old expectations behind and moving on to the next thing. I was watching my friend's 11 year old daughter's soccer camp the other day, and a kid made a mistake, and the trainer told him not to think about it for a second more, and to move on to the next play, and I think this can be true in life too. I don't think stewing over what could have been is healthy, and that instead, we should all move on and start figuring out the next play. 

16. Went to the border of Russia. One day I would like to actually go to Russia, but for now, I will probably hold off. However, I did go right up to the border when I was in Georgia, and I also met many Russians when I was in Georgia and Turkey. I obviously don't want to put myself somewhere harmful, but I also am a firm believer that we should not judge a people or a place by their leader. Side note, Iran is also on my list for someday. I have heard that it is a beautiful place. 

Kazbegi Region, Georgia

17. Realized the importance of community. I don't think this is something that is completely new, but it is new for the situation that I am in. Moving around a lot can be isolating and it took me a while to figure out where to even find likeminded people. However, I am figuring it out and am finding that there are a lot of people out there like me, making their way around the world, month by month. It just takes a while to get it all sorted out, but I am getting there! 

18. Learned to love (?) WhatsApp. You may remember a post I wrote at the beginning of the year (why does that seem so long ago?) where I talked about the frustrations of communicating with different groups of people from different places on different platforms. I still sometimes get annoyed or overwhelmed by group texts (especially when I wake up in the morning and there are over 100 missed messages) but I have to love the fact that I can communicate with anyone anywhere for no extra cost (remember the days when you had to use a phone card?) Also, many foreign businesses actually use WhatsApp to communicate, which is great when you are traveling, as otherwise you may have to incur international calling fees to call people, as your regular phone number is usually still from your home country. So, yay WhatsApp (and Telegram etc.) as it has helped me to get things done and make friends while far from home. 

19. Learned how to say toilet (restroom) in several languages! You may know that I have a standard list of things I learn in each language for each country I go to. I usually just tell ChatGPT (Chad) to give me the list for the next few countries, and then I sreenshot it and put it as my phone screensaver (lock screen) so that I can access it easily in each place. Here is my basic list that I usually start with: Hello, Good morning, Good day, Goodbye, Thank you, Toilet, Water, Where is…?, Do you speak English?, I don’t speak...the local language. Luckily the word for toilet is very similar in most languages (or you can always just do the pee pee dance and most people will understand)! 

Romanian: Toaletă, pronounced toh-ah-LEH-tuh

Albanian: Tualet, pronounced too-ah-LET

Lithuanian: Tualetas pronounced too-ah-LEH-tahs

Latvian: Tualete pronounced TOO-a-leh-teh

Russian: Туалет pronounced  too-a-LYET

French: toilettes pronounced twah-LET

Georgian: ტუალეტი pronounced too-ah-LEH-tee

Turkish: tuvalet pronounced too-vah-LET

Dutch: toilet pronounced twah-LET

...and then there's Armenian: Զուգարան – ZOO-ga-ran

Lock screen

20. Took a train across Türkiye. I rode the Dogu Express, which goes from Ankara to Kars, all the way across the country of Türkiye. It took over 24 hours and was quite the adventure, although it was not the longest time period that I have ever spent on a train! 

Bonus five! 

21. Learned patience. I am not a patient person, and I would not say that I have perfected this at all, but I do think that I am getting better at realizing that there are some things that I just can't control and it does not make any sense to try, or to be stressed out when I can't control them. I still have a way to go, grasshopper, but I am working on it! 

22. Navigated local transportation in Türkiye etc. The Turkish (and the Georgians and Armenians) often use a little minivan as their transport. In Türkiye it is called a dolmuş; in Georgia and Armenia, it is called a marshrutka. In all cases, it is difficult (for a foreigner) to figure out: where it leaves from, where it goes, how much it costs, when it leaves. It is like a (not so) fun scavenger hunt, where you have to find the station, or gas station, or side of the road, where the minivan leaves from, and then figure out where it goes and then also figure out how to let the driver know when you want to get off. Most of these stop wherever someone needs to get on or off, so it is kind of confusing, but it also quite nice if you need to be dropped at your cousin's driveway, as long as it is along the route! PS did I mention that in Georgia and Armenia the signs are not always in Latin letters?

Transport in Georgia

23. Splurged! I am a frugal person, but there have been a few things that I have splurged on that I think have been worth it. For example, I pay for a(n overpriced) travel related credit card that I basically cringe every time I get charged the annual fee. However, it has given me some respite for hectic days due to lounge access, as well as some travel insurance and perks, and has "forced" me to do some fun things in order to recoup my fee, so all in all, I think in some cases comfort or low-stress is worth paying for. This is also something I am still working on though, and I will still probably continue to balk at paying $20 for a salad in a restaurant. Such is life. 

24. Tried new foods! Hellim, the Turkish cheese, Ćevapi, the Balkan meatball in tube form, Romanian Mici and Papanasi, Baltic quark, Polish Żurek, and don't forget Burek, Börek, Byrek, Boreg, and Brik! I love food and trying new food is such a fun part of traveling (and life)! 

Meat in tube form: Bosnia, Serbia, Romania

Papanasi - basically a donut with whipped cream and berries

25. Learned to value that which I sometimes take for granted. This category encompasses a lot of things, but mostly, I think that there are people who keep me sane, let me know that I am cared for, and encourage me to continue to do what I am doing. Not to say that I did not appreciate this before (or ever), but for each year or day that goes by, I realize more and more how good I really have it, when it comes to support from both near and far (literally!) I have enjoyed all of my meet ups with friends, both new and old, and also am always happy to come home to the usual crowd. I also of course appreciate all of you reading and commenting here today! Happy New Year! Here's to this year being even better than the last! 

2025 fun with friends!

What new thing did you do, see or learn in 2025? What is your favorite foreign food that you tried in 2025? 

Twenty Questions (E12): 2025 Best of Books

Happy Holidays! As you know, every year, I give you a list of some of my favorite reads from the year. According to Goodreads, I read 139 books in 2024 and DNFed an additional 12, which comes out to roughly 56,112 pages. Here are a few stats.  

Breakdown by star rating:
5 stars (loved/it was great): 14 (9%)
4 stars (liked a lot/it was good): 72 (47%)
3 stars (liked a little/it was okay): 40 (27%)
2 stars (barely liked/it was not that good): 12 (8%)
1 star (it sucked but I finished it): 1 (1%)
0 stars (DNF): 12 (8%)

Average rating including DNFs: 3.32
Average excluding DNFs: 3.61

As you can see, I am getting better at abandoning books I don't like, although this year I did not do it as much as last year (8% vs 13%). Also four stars was my most common rating once again (last year it was 41%), and due to there being a higher percentage of five star ratings (last year was 4%) I brought my average rating up from last year (3.48). 

Here's my list from last year, or you can find a list of all of my favorites from prior years on my bookshelf page or on Goodreads. 

The following books (in revese order of date read) were all five star reads: 

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: This was a series of letters, mostly written by a 77 year old woman to various people, including authors, family members, friend's children and her next door neighbor. You can't help but like her and so for me this book caught me right off the bat. Her life takes some interesting twists and turns and you find out all about them in her correspondence. I generally enjoy this writing format, and this book was no exception. 

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs: I am sure you have probably read books about the wayward girls before, which were (often Catholic) girls who got pregnant before marriage and were sent to a home to have the baby and subsequently give it up for adoption. They were meant to be studying, but often were put to work doing labor for the institution that they were sent to. This one is similar to the others, but was an interesting story of how some of these places really worked behind the scenes. 

River is Waiting by Wally Lamb: Although disturbing, I could not help but get into this book. The other thing that was strange is that although the main character is technically the "bad guy" you kind of want him to succeed in the end. He is a father who commits a horrible crime and gets sent to prison, where he struggles both mentally and physically. The questions is: does he deserve to be punished or do we want him to be forgiven?

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa: This is a fascinating story of the Israel-Palestine conflicts as told from the perspective of a Palestinian family. I feel like this is not a perspective that I have seen a lot, and so it was interesting to hear some of the stories. 

Heartwood by Amity Gaige: If you have not heard about this book yet, you may be living off the grid. Actually speaking of off the grid, it is a story of an Appalachian hiker gone missing and the subsequent search to find her. If you are not into hiking, you will still enjoy this book, but if you are, it will be even better. Even my brother read and enjoyed it. 

Careless People by Sara Wynn-Williams: There are a lot of books written by people in the tech world, where they talk about how bad or good it is, and some of them are much better than others. I definitely have DNFed several in this space, but this one was not one of them. If you have read or enjoyed Lean In, you may find that this book is an interesting counterpoint to some of items discussed in Sandburg's novel. 

Alive by Piers Paul Read: Funny story, I am fairly certain I may have read this a long time ago, but either way, I liked it again. This is a true story about a Uruguayan rugby team who are flying over the Andes in a small plane when they crash and land on a ledge high up on the side of a cliff. They have to struggle to survive and also attempt to get out of a very precarious situation. Spoiler alert! Some of them live to tell the tale, but it takes a long time for them to get help. 

The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah: Interestingly, this book is also about a Palestinian woman, but this time she is living in the US. She is teaching at a Muslim school in Chicago when a shooter attacks. She struggles to mentally heal from the experience and has to delve into her past to come to terms with it. This book discusses the subjects of Islamophobia, living in the US as a Muslim woman and finding community in your roots. 

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood: Do you want to feel good? Read this. A young woman gets out of prison after serving a sentence for drunk driving and she goes to work at a bookstore where she makes an unlikely friend. It delves into forgiveness, family and friendship and... books! 

Look Closer by David Ellis: I love a good thriller, and this came right at the right time. I was in a bit of a slump, and this book is one that you don't have to think much about, but it is entertaining. It's a tale about money, greed, adultery and murder and it helped get me out of my slump. There are definitely some flaws in the writing, but for me it hit the spot. 

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom: This is the tale of Goes First, a Crow Native, who gets married off to a white trader, gets renamed Mary and moves with her husband to her new home near a trading post in Saskatchewan. She has to learn to adapt to the ways of the area, and form new friendships with the people there. There is still a lot of fighting between the whites and the Native tribes and over the years, there are many battles, some of which Mary has to fight in, and some of which are devastating to her and her family. I have also read both The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything, and both books are also excellent reads. 

Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan: A true story about twenty-four-year-old Susannah Cahalan, who woke up alone in a hospital room one day, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak, with no memory of how she’d gotten there. She becomes labeled violent, psychotic, and a flight risk and this is her story of how she figured out what was going on inside her head. 

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult: A dual timeline story about a woman in 1581 and one in modern day, both of who struggle a bit in the man's world of playwriting. In both cases, the women are passing off their work as someone else's and this is the story of how, despite the years between them, some things continue to be difficult to overcome. 

Some Honorable Mentions: As my biggest category was the four stars, there are way too many to mention, but to round out my list of twenty, a few others worth a read are: 

Listen For the Lie by Amy Tintera: A woman is suspected of murdering her best friend but she cannot remember any details of the night that her friend was murdered. Years later, a podcaster decides to dig up the past and old stories resurface. 

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali: This is a coming of age novel set in Tehran, where two young women of different classes grow up in the middle of a country filled with political strife. 

I'm That Girl by Jordan Chiles: Chiles' memoir of her time growing up, and her path to the Olympics. Of course, getting to that point was not easy, but this was even more true due to her race, and this book does a good job of describing the struggle to get there both physically and mentally. 

Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter by Nikki French: This is a very similar plot to Listen For the Lie, as it also about a woman who disappeared several years ago and a podcaster who digs up the past and of course some things that people don't want to be dug up. I guess I enjoy this storyline! 

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagen: Cate Kay is a famous author and has successful movies made from her stories. However, nobody knows who Cate Kay is. An author writing under a pseudonym, she is an enigma, but one day, she decides to come out of hiding. Of course her past also comes to light and we may be surprised to discover who she really is. 

From Here to The Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Prestley: Luckily, Lisa Marie's daughter recorded some stories with her mother before she died and this is a memoir put together by daughter Riley about Lisa Marie's life growing up with Elvis as a father. It was not an easy life and it was interesting to hear a little bit more about the behind the scenes world in the Prestley household. 

On The Hippie Trail by Rick Steves: Who doesn't love a good travel story? If you haven't heard of Steves, he is an avid traveler with several TV shows and books (and free walking tours!). This book was about one of his first journeys in the 70s from Istanbul to Kathmandu overland, and the adventures he had along the way. I loved seeing this adventure through fresh eyes and he has some lines in this book that I completely agree with. 

I will leave you with a few lines about his experience from the end of his book: 

"I believe that if more people could have such a transformative experience, especially in their youth, our world would be a more just and stable place. Travelers understand that the big challenges of the future will be blind to borders and we'll need to tackle them together, as global citizens and as a family of nations. And most fundamentally, travelers know that the world is a welcoming place filled with joy, love and good people. 

Young or old, rich or poor, backpack or rolling suitcase, the best way to understand this is to experience it firsthand. To get out there and get to know our neighbors. To build not walls, but bridges. 

I believe anyone can still stow away on the Reality Express like [we] did, get their fingers dirty in other cultures, wallop their ethnocentrism, and come home with the most valuable souvenir: a broader perspective." 

What was your favorite book of 2025? Do you mostly read audio, eBook or paper books? 

Twenty Questions (E11): 2025 Best of Travel

First of all, I just want to say sorry that I have been absent in communicating, reading and commenting, but I am not going to lie, I came back from being away and out of service for the last several weeks and marked all my feed "as read." I will be catching up slowly, but will also probably not be 100% on in December either, as my focus will be spending time with family. Now, onward! 

One of the most common questions I get asked about my travels is...what was your favorite place? As I have mentioned before, I liken this to choosing my favorite child, or my favorite book, which I believe is near to impossible. I mean, obviously I am my parents' favorite, but other than that, choosing a favorite is hard! Just kidding Broski! So instead of choosing a favorite, I will tell you twenty (in no particular order) destinations that I really enjoyed in 2025! 

Don't forget to add your two cents in the comments: what were some of your favorite destinations, vacations or trips in 2025 and why?? 

1. Hiking and eating in Mesita, Georgia 

Mestia

2. Cycling, beaches and history in Riga, Latvia 

3. Mountain sports in Bansko, Bulgaria 

Bansko

4. Turquoise waters in Kaş, Türkiye 

5. Slate houses, valleys and mountains in Snowdonia, Wales 

Betws-y-coed

6. Tapas, architecture & history in Granada, Spain

Granada

7. Architecture, food and wine in Dijon, France

8. Hiking the Via Transilvanica, Romania 

Sighișoara

9. Peaks of the Balkans hike through Albania, Montenegro & Kosovo

10. Riding across Wales on the Lon Las Cyrmu route

Lon Las Cymru - Yup, that's snow!

11. Learning about the textile mills in Macclesfield, England

Silk factory

12. Cave churches and rock formations in Cappadocia, Türkiye 

Cave church

13. Learning about ancient wine and religion in Georgia and Armenia

14. Sarajevo and the beautiful Bosnian mountains (and Mostar of course!) 

Stari Most, Mostar

15. Hiking and exploring the Isle of Skye, Scotland

16. Seeing Auschwitz and Krakow in the dead of winter 

This pile of prosthetics made me cry

17. Living on the beach for a month in Costa del Sol, Spain

18. Learning to make Khinkali and Khachapuri in Tbilisi, Georgia

Khinkali making

19. Skiing in the Alps in Valmorel, France

Valmorel

20. Trying to speak French again in Lyon, France

What were some of your favorite destinations, vacations or trips in 2025 and why??

Twenty Questions (E10): Aye, I Speak Scottish

After hanging with my friends and their kids in Scotland recently, it reminded me of the first time I heard some Scottish words and wondered what the heck they were saying. My first recollection is the song Loch Lomond, as my Mom sang it to me. If you haven't heard it, the chorus goes: 

O ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

So my first Scottish word was probably bonnie, but over the years I learned many more. It is funny though as the different regions also have different accents and the people from Glasgow seem to have the hardest one to understand. So sometimes if they are drunk or I don't know they are talking to me, I don't even understand what they are saying at all! 

Highland cow

Some of these are ones I learned long ago and others are ones I talked about recently with my friend. It would be fun if you copy and paste them into the comments and then just guess what they mean! I will put a link to the answer key at the bottom so you can see how many you got right or close (and you can post again your number if you want to!) Good luck, or should I say lang may yer lum reek (long may your chimney smoke)!!

(To copy, highlight the list, click CTRL-C; to paste, click into the comment box, click CTRL-V)

1. oose
2. hoachin
3. give it laldy
4. crabbit
5. haud yer wheesht
6. peelly wally
7. wean
8. bairn
9. eejit
10. coorie in
11. bluttered
12. steamin
13. piece
14. wee
15. numpty
16. ned
17. jobby
18. manky
19. nick
20. braw

Have fun! Here is the key for when you are done. If you are unable to access it, please email me and I can reshare it with you. 

Twenty Questions (E9): A Book For Everyone

TBR?

Where would we be without books? I remember sitting on the couch with my Dad as a child, as he read to me from Treasure Island. My parents had a wall of books, including the Funk and Wagner Dictionary, Agatha Christie, Louis Lamour, Enders Game, Clan of the Cave Bear, and much, much more. From books I learned about Greek Mythology and romance; I learned about history and war; I learned about religion and food. Because of books, when a British person says that they are knackered, I know what they mean. I learned about travel and dreamed about going to the worlds shown in the pages of the Encyclopedia Britannica that my aunt had at her house. When I went abroad for the first time, I nearly had an entire suitcase full of paper books. I mean, do people in France have books in English? I did not know and did not want to take the risk that they wouldn't! 

I guess what I am saying is that I love books. Over the years there have been some good ones and today I have twenty that if you haven't read, you may want to. Below I will give you the "what you can learn about if" you read the following books (FYI: not all are non-fiction!). I also have a Bookshelf Page if you are looking for more recommendations! 

Let me know which ones you have read, what you thought and of course, what few books over your life have been your favorites! 

1. Early Onset Dementia: Still Alice by Lisa Genova. This book will make you want to hug your loved ones and start working on your list of dreams. 

2. Becoming Financially Independent and/or Retiring Early: Quit Like a Millionaire by Kristy Shen. If you want to find out an easy way to save, invest and travel, read this. 

3. Apartheid / Mixed Race Household: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. A first hand story of growing up in Africa with a Black mother and white father during apartheid. 

4. The War on Opiates: Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe. An interesting insight into big pharma and how the US war on opiates began. 

5. Eating Local/Surviving off the Land: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. A family decides to try to live off the land and eat local for one year. 

6. Introverts: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. Introverts are not lacking personality; they just recharge differently. 

7. The Donner Party (+ Cannibalism): The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown. An attempt to get to California in a covered wagon before winter sets in goes horribly wrong. 

8. Immortality: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. Would you like to be immortal? This book may help you decide. 

9. Plagiarism: The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. An author passes off someone else's work as his own. Will he get away with it? 

10. The Tudors & Henry VIII: The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory. Henry the Eighth had a lot of wives, but not many of them survived! Learn more here! 

11. Native American Oppression in the US: This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. Native American children are ripped from their parents and sent to boarding schools to learn to behave. Will it work? 

12. Orthodox Jewish Women: Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman. A woman struggling with the Orthodox community tries to decide whether it's worth staying or not, because if she leaves she may be ostracized. 

13: Cancer (From a Neurosurgeon Perspective): When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. A neurosurgeon gets lung cancer and tells his personal story from a doctor's perspective. 

14: Vietnam: The Mountains Sing by Phan Quế Mai Nguyễn. A story about multiple generations of a Vietnamese family and their struggles before, during and after the Vietnam war. 

15: The Far North of Canada: The River by Peter Heller. Two men go on a canoeing trip in the far north of Canada and a fire breaks out. Will they survive? 

And because I particularly love learning about WWII, I have five for this category. 

16. Resistance Women in France: The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah

17. Women Spies: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (or any book by Kate Quinn!)

18. Japanese Living in the US: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

19. Greece: Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

20. England: The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Have you read any of the above and if so, what did you think? What is the most interesting thing you have learned from a book? What are a few of the best books you have read over the years? 

Twenty Questions (E8): Better Than, When Walking/Hiking

I thought I'd stay on the walking and hiking theme in honor of the Cool Bloggers Walking Club! Speaking of, in October, I've been out hiking this month and have been out of service for most of the time, so I've been a bit absent in the old blogosphere! I promise to come back in November and tell you all about it. 

Actually, speaking of November, as I've been away, I haven't kept up with the NoBloPoMo current events, but will say for sure that I will not be taking part in it this year! However, I will be checking on y'all's blogs at least once a week during the event! However, this November I'll be doing some visiting, more hiking and other travel and I just can't commit to being present and engaged for it this year. 

You can see other posts in the Twenty Questions series here. Also, if you want to be featured in a future list, don't forget to fill out --> THE QUESTIONNAIRE!

Without further ado, here are 20 things about hiking and walking that I think are better than their alternative. Chime in at the bottom: which do you prefer and why?? 

                     Photo: Sawtooth Mountains, ID

1. Walking/hiking uphill > Walking/hiking downhill

2. Dry feet > wet feet

3. Dirt path > paved path

4. Forest > desert

5. A bit too cold > a bit too hot

6. Trail runners > hiking boots

7. Wool socks > cotton socks

8. Starting early in the morning > finishing late at night

9. Snow > rain

10. Cold feet > cold hands

11. Flies (non biting) > ticks > mosquitoes

12. Camping under a tree > camping in a meadow

13. Swimming in a freezing Alpine lake > no shower/bath

14. No underwear > wet underwear 

15. Battery died in camera > battery died in phone 

16. Falling going uphill > falling going downhill

17. Lost toenail > multiple blisters

18. Wearing sunscreen hoodie > putting on sunscreen 

19. Warm meal in morning > warm meal at night

20. Trail mix (GORP) > most other hiking snacks

Which do you prefer and why?? Or what are some that I've missed where you think that one thing is better than another!? 

Twenty Questions (E7): Best Places to Walk or Hike

Since it is October, it is Cool Bloggers Walking Club month! So, without further ado, I thought I would make this list about some of our favorite walking and running places! If you are looking for inspiration for your next walking holiday, here are some ideas! As always, crowd participation is welcomed so don't forget to let us know where your favorite walk or run is! 

You can see other posts in the Twenty Questions series here. Also, if you want to be featured in a future list, don't forget to fill out --> THE QUESTIONNAIRE!

1. Lisa (MN) said: I love to run around Lake Harriet! [I've done this!]

2. Ernie (IL) said: Hmm- I usually walk in my neighborhood and the neighboring subdivisions. But coach and I took the little girls to Starved Rock and that was really cool. That’s about an hour away. [Wow, those rock formations are crazy!]
 

3. Melissa (AU) said: Ferny Creek [this looks nice!]

4.  Diane (VA) said: Sligo Creek Trail because it is close, a 1/4 mile from my house.  For views, Great Falls National Park.  Or the Tidal Basin during Cherry Blossom season.  Though only on weekdays because it gets really crowded at night.  [I have been to the Tidal Basin, but not the other two!]

5. Nance (OH) said: I love to walk my neighbourhood and see the small changes each day and each season. And give biscuits to the dogs. [I love this!]

6. Tobia (Germany) said: Tough... not sure I have a favorite since I don't do nearly enough to have it. However I always liked this one where we went a few time as a child. A couple years ago I wanted to share it with my friend and her kids but they rebelled because of the mosquitos. [I also am not a fan of mosquitoes, but that park looks nice!]

7. San (CA) said: American River Parkway [I used to run there!]

8. Stephany said: Walsingham Park [Looks fun, and there is canoeing!]

9. Kat (VA) said: The Custis Trail in Arlington, VA… I’ve since moved further away but I used to live down the street and I walked/ran probably 10,000 miles on it between 2020-2024… “I see you out here more than I see myself!” someone said to me as I passed by once lol. It’s an urban/commuter trail so not the most beautiful/serene, but it was such a comfort to me during the pandemic that I’ll always feel sentimental about it. [I know that feeling! I did one of those "run every street" projects in 2020 and I covered a lot of ground!]

10. Suzanne said: I love walking in the park near my old house! It's a beautiful little oasis of greenery in the middle of a bustling suburb and I find it endlessly fascinating to watch it change across seasons and years. [Do you still go back now that you have moved?]

11. Nicole said: Every day Rex and I walk the Mission Creek Greenway, but in not-summer we like to go up Knox Mountain. [I love the greenway! And there is cycling! And Knox Mountain has pickleball!]

Thanks ladies!!...and now, here is a random list of some places I like to walk and hike! Excuse the formatting for the photos; I'm doing this from my phone and I sometimes get huge and/or random justification...so, sorry in advance! 

12. The Marin headlands, North of San Francisco. Not only can you get here in less than a half and hour from the city, but you will be treated to views of the ocean, redwoods, and the rolling golden hills. People from San Francisco used to have "summer homes" in Marin county, and it wasn't until after the 1906 earthquake that some of them were made into more permanent residences. However, the Golden Gate bridge was not built until roughly 30 years later. (Seen below: Stinson Beach)

13. The Via Transilvanica, Romania. This is a 1,400 km / 870 mile trail from east to west through the small villages of Romania. Like the more well known Camino, you can easily hike it without needing a tent, and you can easily walk a section of one or two or three days, using public transit to get from one end to another and seeing lots of cool tiny towns along the way. (Seen below: Biertan, Romania)

14. Forest Park, Portland, Oregon. I've talked about this one before but it's a great park right near downtown and you feel like you're all alone I'm within about two minutes of starting the trail! 

15. Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC. This is similar to Forest Park, where although you're still in the city, it doesn't feel like it! Plus there's a good bike and running late around the perimeter/seawall and I do love a good run along the sea! 

16. The Quiraing, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Big rocks! I love them! The formations here are wild and you can get to them within a mile or so from the car park! (Seen below: The Prison)

17. Bansko, Bulgaria. This is such a fun mountain town. Whether you just want to explore town, or get out into the trails, or tackle several summits, you will have your chance here! There is also mountain biking and skiing, so no matter the season, you will not be bored! (seen below: downtown Bansko)

18. The San Juan mountains, Colorado. The colors are stunning and it's basically head on a swivel the entire time. I especially love this area in September when the fall colors are popping! 

19. Emigrant Wilderness, California. Yosemite's lesser know little cousin, this stretch of wilderness sits just north of it's popular big cousin, and has rocks and lakes and beautiful views galore. Also, only a self submitted permit is needed rather than the more difficult lottery process for some of the more popular trails. (Seen below: Bugsy near Big Lake)

20. The PCT, aka there's no place like home. You may have heard of it!? It's roughly 2,600 miles long, but you don't have to do it all! There are some great day hikes along the length of it, and it crosses some highways so you can access it easily. Unfortunately much of the surrounding areas were burned but I still love going home and doing my regular out and back! (Seen below: home sweet home)

Your turn! Have you walked or hiked any of the places we mentioned? Where is your favorite walking or hiking place? Or tell me, where are you walking this month!? 

Twenty Questions (E6): Never Have I Ever

I know you have been waiting for this, but I wanted to add some of the answers you had provided to this list, so I was waiting for content! So, without further ado, here are twenty things that some of you and I have never done. As always, crowd participation is welcomed and I have pasted the list at the bottom so you can copy and paste and answer them yourself! 

You can see other posts in the Twenty Questions series here. Also, if you want to be featured in a future list, don't forget to fill out --> THE QUESTIONNAIRE!

Bungy NZ -- 134 m / 442 ft

1. Lisa and Nicole said: Gotten a tattoo. [guilty!]

2. Ernie said: Hmm- so many things. Never sky dived or zip lined or taken a cruise or visited Vegas. [I have never ziplined or taken a cruise!]

3. Melissa said: Skydiving [guilty!]

4.  Diane said: So many things!  One big one is I've never gone sky diving.  One small one is I've never gotten my ears pierced. [guilty x 2!]

5. Nance said: I've never learned to swim. [I can't even remember learning to swim. My Dad jokes that they just threw me in the water when I was a baby and let me struggle to shore on my own.]

6. Tobia said: Traveling in a water plane. [I have never done this but would love to! I hope to do it when I visit some of the National Parks in Alaska one day]

7. San said: Smoked a cigarette. [guilty (you're not missing anything!)]

8. Stephany said: Traveled solo! [guilty, of course!]

9. Kat said: Run a marathon… two halfs showed me that was definitely my limit and I am fine with that! [I've done this!]

10. Suzanne said: One thing I've never done but want to do: Travel outside of North America/Europe/Scandinavia. One thing I've never done but never want to do: High-risk adrenaline sports like BASE jumping, sky diving, or bungee jumping. NO THANK YOU. [I have never gone base jumping and would like to try it!]

Thanks ladies!!...and now, here are some of mine. 

11. Ridden a horse bareback (I have ridden a horse with a saddle and have gotten some major saddle sores though!) 

12. Bought a new car (actually I have only ever bought one car, and it was used)

13. Had a car payment (I paid cash for my used car)

14. Been to Ohio (sorry Birchie and Nance, you are on my list!) 

15. Been on a multiday kayak trip (I would love to do this, but just haven't made it a priority)

16. Played an internet game (like Minecraft) (I was pretty good at Mario Bros back in the day though!)

17. Eaten at a Michelin starred restaurant outside of the US (I probably would not do this by myself, as part of the fun of these kinds of things is sharing it with someone)

18. Waxed a body part (Oh Kelly Clarkson!)

19. Lived in a high rise building (I have stayed for a month or so when traveling but never lived in one for good)

20. Gone kite surfing (it's on my list though!)

Your turn! Which of these have you done? Also, did any of the above answers surprise you? 

1. Gotten a tattoo

2. Ziplined / gone on a cruise

3. Skydived

4. Had your ears pierced

5. Learned to swim

6. Traveled in a water plane

7. Smoked a cigarette

8. Traveled solo

9. Run a marathon

10. Traveled to a different continent than North America or Europe

11. Ridden a horse bareback

12. Bought a new car

13. Had a car payment

14. Been to Ohio (sorry Birchie and Nance, you are on my list!) 

15. Been on a multiday kayak trip

16. Played an internet game

17. Eaten at a Michelin starred restaurant outside of the US

18. Waxed a body part

19. Lived in a high rise building

20. Gone kite surfing