Category: Europe
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Tips for Visiting The Cliffs of Moher: Costs, Crowds, and the Best Viewing Angles
The Cliffs of Moher. Just the name conjures images of dramatic coastlines, crashing waves, and windswept beauty. This iconic Irish landmark attracts approximately 1.5 million visitors every year, and for good reason. But planning a trip to this natural wonder requires a little know-how to make the most of your experience. From understanding the costs…
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From Belfast to Roscommon: Castles, Coastlines, and Cultural Discoveries
Ireland presents a captivating tableau of contrasting experiences, where stunning natural beauty mingles with stark reminders of a troubled past. Our recent 10-week overseas journey brought us to this enchanting island, where we embarked on a 29-day counterclockwise exploration that revealed both expected treasures and unexpected delights. Our Irish adventure began with an unpleasant surprise…
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Is Affordable Healthcare Worth Leaving Home For?
Medical tourism is a growing trend among Americans seeking respite from the astronomical costs of healthcare in the United States. As someone who has experienced both systems firsthand, I want to share my journey of receiving medical care abroad and how it compares to healthcare in America. This perspective might help those considering similar options…
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Health Care Overseas
You often hear politicians touting “the US has the best health care system in the world”, usually as a preface to explaining why there is no need to improve, or even worse, why they want to cut funding for social programs. You also hear disparaging comments about health care in “socialist hell-holes”, again arguing against…
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Learning Italian and Buying a Villa
The second season of “Travels with Jim and Rita” continues with an inspiring conversation with travel writer Linda McCarley, who shares her remarkable journey toward establishing a home in Italy. Linda’s story begins with her earliest travel memories at just three years old, when her Scottish-born parents took her from Canada to visit relatives in…
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A Pleasant Surprise – Seville, Spain
When we were originally planning our spring 2025 trip, we were not thinking about Spain at all. Our primary goal was the UK and Ireland, but our late-March start meant it would be a little too cold to enjoy. So instead, we decided to stay a couple of weeks in the Algarve region of Portugal…
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Why Not Take a Cruise?
Cruising represents one of the most versatile and value-packed ways to explore the world, offering travelers the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and adventure. While cruises sometimes get dismissed as superficial travel experiences, our recent conversation with veteran cruiser Babs Dearmond revealed why these floating resorts might be the smartest way to see multiple destinations…
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The Transformative Power of Women’s Travel
The transformative power of travel has been a recurring theme on our podcast, and our recent conversation with Sonja Thayer of Rom-Soul Escapes provided remarkable insights into how women-focused travel is reshaping the landscape of global tourism. As certified yoga teacher, lifelong traveler, and retreat organizer, Sonja has created a unique niche focusing on women’s…
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Mistakes Were Made
In our last post, we were finishing up in Lagos, Portugal and ready to move on to Sevilla, Spain. We were packed, and just relaxing until it was time to order a Bolt to take us less than a mile to the bus station. What could go wrong? Well, it all started about 11:45am. Our…
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Three Nights in Lagos, Portugal – Part 2
For our second and last full day in Lagos, were were up and at ’em and ready to call a Bolt for a ride out to the Ponto da Piedade. The ride out cost just €3.65, which seemed to be the base rate. Every rideshare we ordered, no matter how near or far, was €3.65.…