A Discerning Cruise Port Guide to Exploring Ålesund Independently
One Day in Ålesund Cruise Port: Art Nouveau, Mount Aksla, & Local Bites Ålesund is hands-down one of the most…
Complete Diary Archives
Welcome to the complete, chronological archive of my travel and lifestyle diary. Here, more than twenty years of memories beautifully intertwine—from lifelong global adventures and scenic travel logs to the patient, rewarding rhythms of my kitchen garden, and raw reflections on embracing early retirement in the quiet Dutch countryside. Grab a cup of tea, turn back the pages, get inspired by the pictures, and wander through our story at your own pace. ***Older posts not showing? These pages are still migrating. Please try again later.***
Lunch on the Edge: Experiencing Mount Hoven and the Loen Skylift from Olden Port
Loen Skylift & Beyond: The Perfect Independent Olden Cruise Port Guide Itinerary Our second stop on the Holland America MS…
Eidfjord Port at Your Own Pace: A Sophisticated Independent Cruise Shore Guide
Eidfjord Cruise Port Guide Eidfjord was the first port cruise shore stop on our MS Rotterdam Norway Fjords cruise in…
Bloemenpark Appeltern: The Ultimate Netherlands Day Trip for Garden Lovers
The world-famous Keukenhof in Lisse is undeniable in its beauty, but it is firmly a tourist hotspot. While it certainly…
A New Chapter Begins: Welcome by Jo
Welcome to the New Chapter: Slow Living, Gardening, and Lifelong Travels Hello, dear readers, old friends, and new friends! If…
The Homestead: The Garden in June
After moving to the countryside last year and inheriting what is—by Dutch standards—a large garden, I have truly learned to…
A Sunny Winter Escape to Ravenstein: Finding My Travel Spark Again
It’s the end of winter, and I wanted to treat myself to a nice little village trip. There are so…
Beyond the Slopes: Why Le Grand Bornand’s Wednesday Market is a Must-Visit
A skiing holiday in France is a gourmet travel opportunity for me as well. I would normally take an afternoon…
A Laid-Back Week in Le Grand Bornand: Ski-In, Ski-Out Bliss & Alpine Vibe
If you are looking for a winter sports skiing destination that is still under the international radar, let me introduce…
2025: Looking Back on a Roller Coaster Year of Big Life Changes
We have celebrated our very first Christmas in our new home, and we chose to keep it quiet. True to…
Autumn Hikes in the Eifel National Park: Vogelsang Loop Trails to Morsbach and Urft Dam
Hike 1 on Day 2: Misty Woods and Plateau Views – The Loop to Morsbach On our second day in…
Architectural Minimalism Meets Nature: A Refined Autumn Cabin Escape to Eifel National Park
Don’t we all crave a designed autumnal break? An escape to bask in the warm, golden light of changing forests,…