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

Twenty Questions (E5): Travel Inspiration

Are you looking for travel ideas? When I asked readers for their input on the question, "what is your favorite travel destination and why?" I got so many fun responses! So for this post, it will be twofold! First I will go over some of their answers, and next I will talk about some of my own! Don't forget to add your answer to the comments below! 

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 said: Paris! It’s a gorgeous city with excellent food and there are direct flight options. Domestically, anywhere with mountains/hiking. [I agree! Paris is a classic and I am always down for mountains/hiking too!]

2. Ernie said: Vancouver- only been once but loved it. So much to see and it had everything- city and outdoorsy stuff like mountains and ferry rides to islands and whale watching. Went there for Irish dancing national champs and turned it into a vacation. [I agree! I love a place with city and outdoor all in one!]

3. Melissa said: Tasmania, has such outstanding nature scapes, history and food in a tiny landmass and is only a 1 hr flight away. [I have never been! Added to my list!]

4. Nicole said: I have had so many and they change throughout my life, depending on what stage I'm in. Currently I'm going to say Italy, but ask me this time next year as I have a few different continents that I will have travelled to. [I totally agree; how can you pick a "favorite!?" But I will ask you again next year!]

5. Nance said: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. Fantastic wineries/wines. We go frequently and have made so many friends there. We've learned about the terroir, the wine-making, the wines. We know so many winemakers personally. Now, when we open a bottle of wine from NotL, we experience a visit all over again. [I have never been! I biked past it last year but did not have a chance to stop. It's on the list!]

6. Tobia said: Everywhere I have not yet been ;-). Nordic countries over Southern. [I also have a long list and it keeps getting longer!]

7. San said: Dolomites. I grew up skiing there every year. [I have only been in summer time and loved the area.]

8. Stephany said: A cruise ship! Okay, not a destination but my favorite way to travel. I love that everything is included, I love that I can REALLY disconnect and feel like I'm in a whole different world, and I love not worry about the logistics of getting from place to place. [I have not tried cruising yet but have plans to try it soon!]

9. Kat said: Amsterdam; I went on my first (and only thus far) solo European trip there and spent three days walking the city, touring museums, going on a boat ride, visiting parks and markets, and going to the symphony. It felt so special and magical to do something like that, on my own no less (even though I was 36! But an inexperienced and anxious traveler overall so it was a big deal for me.). And it was a beautiful and welcoming place. [I agree; it is beautiful and the Dutch speak perfect English so it is super easy to get around.]

10. Suzanne said: Big Sky Montana: 1. I've been skiing at Big Sky since I was two, so it has decades of sentimental feeling and good memories built into it. 2. It's one of the most beautiful places on earth, especially when it's a-glitter with snow and sunshine. 3. The skiing is better in Big Sky than anywhere else. [I have never skied in MT or been to Big Sky!]

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Thanks everyone for chiming in! Here are some of mine. Keep in mind, my "favorites" list is very long, so there are a lot more where these come from, and as always, I will avoid mentioning the obvious ones like London or Rio, since you all already have heard of these already! I will also exclude any US locations for this post.  

11. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over a year ago, I chose this destination as an answer to a question in an interview with Elisabeth about somewhere I had on my travel list, and I finally made it there! It is not only beautiful but there is so much history to be learned; I highly recommend it! It is easy to get to from Sarajevo, plus the train ride itself is a beautiful experience! 

Mostar

12. Vilnius, Lithuania. Not somewhere that you probably have at the top of your list, but move it up! The town itself is charming, has a lot of history, plenty of green spaces and good food, and easy day trips to places like Trakai or Kaunus, where you can see castles and drink beer. I also rented a bike, went swimming and had a great time perusing the thrift shops for 1 euro finds! Oh, and of course, don't forget about the quark bars! 

Vilnius

13. Ushuaia, Argentina. The bottom of the world (almost)! You can do a boat trip to see penguins and birds, do plenty of hiking, or if you have the means, get a ship to Antarctica from here (I have not done the latter yet, but I have it on my list!)

14. Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil. Sand dunes for days! It is a little hard to get to but it is well worth it and you can take a jeep trip along the dunes, or even swim in some of the little dune pools if you so desire! 

Lençóis Maranhenses

15. Mestia, Georgia. Mountains, food, hiking, good views and small town charm. What more could you ask for? 

Mestia

16. Biarritz, France. Food, beaches, waves and cliff walks! It is the ideal spot for a vacation, although be careful because the surf is strong! This is also the first place that I went topless on the beach, which as a modest person, was actually quite freeing!  

17. Kaş, Türkiye. You may have heard of Turkish beach towns like Antalya or Izmir or Fethiye, but there are plenty of smaller gems that sit right on the Turquoise coast, and Kaş is one of them. I also like it because you can hike into the hills straight from town and in a mere few minutes you will have outstanding views. Also, Turkish food is excellent and coastal Turkish food is even better! 

Kaş

18. Fernie, BC, Canada. You are probably seeing a theme here, but I do love small mountain towns! From Fernie, you can hike, bike or ski depending on the season, without even needing a car for the most part. Also there are a couple of breweries, lots of camping spots (and hotels for those of you who want a warm bed and a shower) and some swimming holes, so it is the perfect place to go for a summer outing! 

Fernie

19. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. It's touristy, but its a cute medieval town to walk around for a few hours! I went in early January and maybe because of the cold, it was not too busy, but pro tip, get a dinner reservation early because we tried to do a walk in and were shut down! I don't think you need more than a day here, and there are lots of other fun towns to visit in Germany nearby so you can easily do a loop to a few different places in the same trip! 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

20. Tijuana, Mexico. Of course, you must visit Mexico City; however, I was pleasantly surprised by Tijuana. I thought it was going to be dirty and gross and full of drunk 18 year olds from the US, but I found it to be walkable in some cases, easy to get an Uber in others, and the food was delicious. Also, it is close enough to mountains and beaches to do a day trip from there! If you go, you must visit Tacos El Franc. Note: Upon getting the link for this, I noticed that they recently got noticed on a Netflix series so they are probably going to be busy! I was lucky to go there before that. However, I thought it was delicious, so hopefully they haven't changed due to fame! 

Now, my questions to you are: have you ever been to any of the places on this list and if so, what did you think? If not, are you adding any to your bucket list? And of course, tell us, what is your favorite travel destination and why!  

Twenty Questions (E4): Strange Things Abroad

Fresh produce! Don't take it for granted!

I polled four people who have lived or do live outside of their home country and asked them to tell me what things they found or find strange when they first arrived in their home away from home. Here are twenty of their answers, along with some of my comments about the subject! 

First, some introductions: San is a German woman living in Sacramento, CA, Daria is a Russian woman living in New Jersey, Tobia is a German woman who lived in Idaho during her high school years, and Rachel is an American living in Wales (I think that may be a Sting song?😁). These are only some of their answers, so there may be a part two! 

I want to stress that there is no right way, and nobody in this post is saying that one way is better or worse than another. These are just reflections on differences and/or things people aren't used to. 

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

1. San: That tap water is always free (yay!) and that you get free refills on soft drinks at most restaurants. (I say at most restaurants, because I have experienced the occasional exception in places like San Francisco, where they’ve adopted the European way of charging for every single glass. Beware!)

My take: I hate paying for water, and Germany (sorry San & Tobia) is a country that if you ask for tap water, they basically deny you, which really chaps my hide. There are some countries (France for example) where if you ask for water they will bring you a bottle, but if you ask for a glass of water, they WILL bring you tap water. As for soda, I don't drink it, but usually in Europe you don't get free refills on coffee either (boo)! 

2. San: That  (mostly) everybody calls everybody else by their first names. As you might know, there is a formal and informal way in Germany to address other people. The formal Sie is used in situations requiring respect or formality, such as when speaking to strangers or in professional settings, and you’ll also address the person by their last name (Mr/Mrs). The informal du would be used for family members and friends, and with people with whom you are on a first-name basis (e.g., colleagues). I’ve really gotten used to it and like that it’s more informal here (it has less of a hierarchical feel), but at first, it was really hard for me to call my professors (at university) or supervisors by their first names.

My take: I was raised to say Mr. or Mrs. so-and-so as a child, and in college, we did call the professors Professor so-and-so (last name). However, my friend Bugsy is a professor and I think that they are more informal now, like they just call him Dr. G. Also when I learned French I was taught to always say vous (formal) but when I worked in France, they all told me to call them tu (informal) which surprised me! Readers, feel free to chime in. What were you taught and/or what do you teach your kids? Do you still call anyone Mr. or Mrs.? 

3. San: That there is a lack of good public transportation options (and/or bikeable areas). Sacramento is actually not that bad in both regards, and over time, it has improved in some places, but the reliance on your personal car is still mind-boggling to me. I remember when I first came here, I took the bus to a shopping center in the afternoon (and keep in mind, that was a time before digital bus schedules or the UBER app at you finger tips on your smartphone) and I got stranded because, for my return trip, the last bus had left the shopping center around 5 p.m. AT 5 PM! The stores were open til 8 p.m. I did not understand how there could be no later bus. (I ended up having to walk to a gas station to use their phone to call a taxi, and it was hellishly expensive to get home.)

My take: I totally agree! I have taken a train or bus to a small mountain town in Europe, which is nearly impossible in the U.S. Also in some places the public transit is FREE (Belgrade, Luxembourg, Tallin)!!

4. San: That stores are open 7 days a week. In Germany, stores - for the most part, with some exceptions - are still closed on Sundays. I’ve really gotten used to being able to run errands every day of the week, and I would probably miss it.

My take: I have gotten used to stores being closed on Sunday, but I still don't love it. Also they often are not open as many hours on regular days. However, I have found this differs depending on where you are (for example in Spain, grocery stores are closed on Sunday. In France, they are starting to sometimes have limited hours on Sunday, and in Belgrade they actually have 24/7 grocery stores in some places).

5. San: That people still write checks. When I moved here, checks were everywhere (and still are, although it’s gotten more common to pay through other means). In Germany, checks were something that I remember my parents using when I was little, but by the time I was old enough to have a bank account, financial matters were handled with bank transfers. I only ever had a checkbook - and wrote actual checks - in the US. 

My take: The US has been behind Europe for a while regarding payment options. I remember when credit cards became more common (when I first moved to France, I used cash for everything) and I was asked where my chip was because they were using a chip reader rather than a swipe. Well, we got the chip finally, but it was probably a few years (?) later! However, did you know that many European countries don't have credit cards? They have a Visa or whatever, but it comes straight out of their bank account every time. Readers, feel free to chime in. Do you or does anyone you know still write checks? 

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6. Daria: From heat straight to air conditioning. I was surprised that once the heat was off, the air conditioning came on pretty immediately. Back home we crack windows open in the dead of winter to air out the room. To this day my windows are open quite often. I cannot sleep in a stuffy room, my husband, however, does not have that problem.

My take: I agree with you. I prefer open windows, and when I lived in Florida and Louisiana, I hated the hot outside/freezing inside contrast. I would prefer to be a little warm than have fake air on me all the time! In Europe they are starting to get AC more, but it used to be very rare! 

7. Daria: Breakfast. Back home we ate a very small breakfast, some bread, butter, maybe, some cheese and sausage if we were lucky. Eggs were like gold and eaten for dinner. In the US the breakfasts were more like desserts, and I very much enjoyed pancakes and waffles. 

My take: Amen! I notice that everyone is a little different. In France it is very common to just have a croissant and coffee for breakfast. In the Netherlands, they usually eat cold lunch (sandwich, some sort of salad). In many European countries, they have bread, cheese and lunchmeat for breakfast (which was weird to me at first)!

8. Daria: Lots of positivity. By nature and culture I am a pessimistic person. That is simply how you survived since caution was imperative to be in Russia in the 90s. So it was weird to me to hear my fellow peers at the university say things like "I failed my test today. But the score will only go up from here." I thought "well, the score can go either way, up or down." Or "when I graduate and make a lot of money, I will…”Schooling was much harder in Russia, and gainful employment was not guaranteed, like, at all (unless you knew a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy). For me, that statement was more along the lines of "if I graduate, I hope I get a job where I make good money."

My take: I have been told over and over how "cheerful and friendly" people from the US are. Some people love it; other people think that it is very fake! By contrast, I do think a lot of cultures that were under the Soviet umbrella don't smile very much (not all of course, but some)! 

9. Daria: Dusting. We dusted with clean, moist clothes, while in the US folks used something fluffy/feathery that, in my opinion, was not effective?…

My take: We used a feather duster when I was a kid, and you are right Daria, it is not that effective! Readers, feel free to chime in. What is your dusting method? 

10. Daria: Back home, it was not customary to eat anywhere but these two places: home or restaurants/cafeterias. In the US I was surprised to see my peers at university eat during class as the professor lectured, eat while walking down the street, eat in their cars and public transportation.

My take: This is also true in Japan. Eating in public can actually be considered rude, and they often don't have public trash cans! 

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11. Tobia: Tampons - when I had to buy tampons for the first time after arriving I was so overwhelmed. The boxes where huge and and they all said "applicator." I had no idea what that was. I had to ask my host mom which was a bit embarrassing as she was a Mormon and wasn’t using tampons. I ended up getting a box but I had issues. I think first time using it I left parts of the applicator in. Also they were so huge you couldn’t fit them in your pants pockets or hands when going to the bathroom. I ended up buying none ever again and bit the bullet and getting the very overpriced OB tampons I knew from home. 

My take: My aunt used to use OB and I remember the first time I tried one. I did not do it right and it was so uncomfortable. However, after realizing that they save the environment (no plastic) and are much easier to carry for backpacking or traveling, I have been using OB for years! And luckily I can find them everywhere in Europe. 

12. Tobia: School you move around - another thing that was different in school was that we moved a lot. In Germany it’s common that each class has a designated room and teachers come to your classroom. Only for special classes like music, art, PE or science you would go to the teachers room – mainly because of the equipment in the room. But everything from languages, math, history and stuff is in your class room. 

My take: That would be awesome to not have to lug around your stuff from room to room. Readers, feel free to chime in. Does anyone have experience with a place where the teachers come to you?  

13. Tobia: Fresh food – I was lucky enough that my host mom cooked dinner every day. But still I had the feeling I hardly ate any fresh veggies or fruits. I was a vegetarian when I came to the US and I missed greens. So much so that I was looking forward to when we were on the road with the team because I could go to subways and get some greens on my sandwich. I was not aware that I ate so much more colorful in Germany.

Bonus from Daria: Fruit and vegetables available out of season and year around! In contrast, we had to wait for the summer months to get fresh fruit and vegetables. 

My take: I feel like this may be a rural Idaho thing. When I lived in Iowa, I was shocked by their idea of a "salad" which was iceberg lettuce with a tomato and dressing. Full stop. In California we grow a lot of produce, so get a lot of fresh foods in season, but of course, like Daria said, we can also get a lot of out of season things year round too! Readers, feel free to chime in. What is it like in your state/province? 

14. Tobia: Milk and water. The amount of milk drinking I have seen in the US. Argh. I came from a non milk drinking family but even milk drinking families in Germany don't have milk for dinner. And lunch. And breakfast. I hated it. The only option for me was water as my host family didn't have anything else. There was no pop or iced tea or coffee for the Mormons. It was so boring. 

My take: Our family was a water drinking family. I would never drink an entire glass of milk. Yuck. However, we also did not really drink soda or juice either! I am still mainly a water drinker to this day! And beer, but beer is mostly water, right? Readers, feel free to chime in. What did you drink at meals growing up? 

15. Tobia: Eating with knife and fork. I was really surprised about the different way Americans eat with knife and fork. In Germany the fork is in your left hand and switching it to the right is a no go. Unless you don't need a knife. Then it is in your right. Also I realized many people hold the cutlery in sort of fist which looks a bit rough. I had never known there are different ways to eat with cutlery.

My take: Before I left for my summer in France, we were shown how French people use their cutlery so that we would not be perceived as rude. I actually prefer the "European way," but I was having lunch with people from all over and we were talking about this, and people from the UK also hold their cutlery differently. Also, did you know that in Japan you are not supposed to stick your chopsticks upright into your rice? It is considered disrespectful and a bad omen because it resembles an offering made at funerals for the deceased. Readers, feel free to chime in. How do you hold your cutlery (Knife in the right/left? Fork in the right/left? Put it down between bites? Hold it in your fist?)

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16. Rachel: Wales exists! Back in 2007 I was doing the backpacking thing and I had just returned from a trip to Belfast.  My travel started in Dublin, then went to Edinburgh and London.  I was so proud that I had visited all the capital cities in the UK and started to write a blog post about my trip, but when I googled “Map of the UK with capital cities” I discovered I had missed a capital city!  There was a country called Wales and a capital called Cardiff and I had not been there. Keen to write my blog post, I decided to visit.  It was 2 hours from London. I did not think this would be the start of me living in the UK, but I found out Wales existed and now I’m here.

My take: I have not had this exact issue, but I definitely have gone to some places that were not high on my list because they were on the way to somewhere else, and have been pleasantly surprised! For example, Lithuania or Armenia! I highly recommend both of them!  

17. Rachel: Ok, controversial topic here, but Brits love their beer.  I was a little shocked how normal it was to see people using all sorts of things as urinals at night.  For instance: Cashpoints (ATMs). Here is a link for a photo journalist who documented a night out in Cardiff.  It’s kind of wild. Also, no one wears a coat on a night out.  I had a friend ask if people were cold, and I replied that beer is the jacket you wear on the inside.

My take: This is one of my favorite YouTube videos about a Scottish Sobriety Test. It's only about 30 seconds long and worth a laugh. Also I celebrated New Years Eve in Sydney with a group of Scottish people and it was....wild to say the least. 

18. Rachel: Perceptions of distance. When I first moved to Wales I got a job in a town (Pontypridd) 12 miles away.  I was serving beer to a customer and he asked where I was from. I said I was from the USA. “Wow!” he said “Imagine that, you moved all the way to Pontypridd from America!" “Oh no” I said, “I live in Cardiff.” (12 miles from Pontypridd) “Wow!” he exclaimed, in the same tone of awe, “and you come all the way to Pontypridd for work!” Wales is funny with geography.  I have met people who have moved 4 streets over because they wanted to be closer to their family.

My take: This happens a lot in Europe too. I was in Spain and was going to rent a car and drive to a place about 100km (60 miles) away and then do a loop back and I asked my Airbnb host for suggestions of places to stop along the way and he told me that I better stay the night in the middle because that was too long of a drive for one day. Readers, feel free to chime in. What do you consider a "long way" from home? 

19. Rachel: Things that I expected to be meat were not meat. When I arrived in Wales I was so hungry I went to a pub and ordered Welsh Glamorgan Sausage.  When it arrived, I was surprised to see my sausage was made out of potatoes and leeks and was actually vegetarian. Another national dish is Welsh Rarebit.  It is not rabbit or meat, it is cheese on toast.  Very good cheese on toast. While Wales does not have a particularly inspiring cultural dish to eat, it does have absolutely amazing cheese.  Wales used to host the Great British Cheese Championship, but it’s been replaced by a series of local cheese festivals instead.

My take: I have tried and enjoyed rarebit (usually on eggs and/or toast). Readers, feel free to chime in. Have you tried rarebit and if so, what did you think? 

20. Rachel: Bog snorkeling. Wales is home to the Bog Snorkeling World Championships.  These are held in Llanwrtyd Wells. I watched these in 2012.  It was just as weird as it sounds.

My  take: I had never heard of this before now. If you click the link, you will see that it is a sort of triathlon, and it's only £15 to join! I think I might put that on my 2026 event calendar! 

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Your turn to weigh in! Here are the questions; feel free to answer any or all of them!

Were you raised to call people by their first or last names? 

Do you still write checks or know anyone who does?

What are the "fresh vegetables" like in your state/province? 

What did you drink at meals growing up?

Does anyone have experience with a place where the teachers come to you?  

How do you hold your cutlery? 
What is your dusting method? 

What do you consider a "long way" from home? 

Have you tried rarebit and if so, what did you think?

Have you ever heard of bog snorkeling? 

Bonus questions: 

Which one of these made you giggle? 

Which of these were you surprised by?