2017

After Costa Rica, it was time to head home. We sailed for two nights back to Fort Lauderdale. Since my flight back to Seattle departed late in the day, I had the opportunity to go out on a sight-seeing tour in the Everglades “on the way” to the airport.

We sailed overnight from Panama to Limón, Costa Rica. Today’s shore excursion from Limón included a tour of a rain forest and a visit to the Tortguero Canals near the Atlantic coast.

We left Cartagena last night and arrived early this morning at the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal. We sailed into Lake Gatún, the first major inland lake on the canal, and then I took a shore excursion to see the new version of the canal and some local culture.

Happy New Years, everyone!

We sailed overnight to Curaçao, making this my second new island nation in as many days.

After leaving the Bahamas, we sailed for most of two days to get to Aruba, an island nation just off the South American coast.

In the first few days or this trip, I’ve flown from Seattle to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, boarded the cruise ship, and sailed to a private island in the Bahamas.

I write this from the comfort of my own home early on the morning after returning (jet lag, y’know?).

This was, all in all, a trip I greatly enjoyed. Perhaps at some point I’ll pull together some thoughts and some favorite photos and places. For now, I just wanted to close out the daily blogs with an appreciation to everyone who played a part in this grand journey – family, friends, and especially those who helped along the way when things got a little crazy.

As I mentioned yesterday, my return home didn’t quite go to plan, but fortunately no major derailment this time.

I guess the charitable way to put this is the European mainland wanted to hang on to me a bit longer.

Today we drove from Salzburg to Vienna.

Keron and I part company (sniff) tomorrow (actually, tonight as my flight tomorrow is much earlier than hers) and I will be on to new adventures for a few more days at least.

So happy to report that the weather is much nicer here in Salzburg.

The plan was to go slightly north from Pula to maybe Trieste on the Italian coast and lay low for a day or two before proceeding to the next airport. But instead a heat wave sunk in.

This morning I took a brief but very productive photo walk around the Old Town district of Bucharest. Then we bid farewell to Romania.

Today I took a long drive through the Romanian countryside.

I especially enjoyed the mountain regions and small rural villages. Here’s a sampling of what I saw today.

Oh, wait … that wasn’t the advice they gave people in the early American days?

I’ve long found the notion of a microstate intriguing.

After an unexpected adventure yesterday, car is acquired and we are Go Mission to resume the trip as (sort of) planned.

Today I’m thankful for a port in a storm.

I’ve spent most of the last 24 hours saying “How could you not love this?” to myself.

Amsterdam was at its best: perfect weather, everyone out and enjoying the canals and the cafés.

Alas, it was time to move on. This afternoon I took the train to Cologne.

Today I flew to Amsterdam where I will shortly be meeting some friends.

Today I took a long, winding drive from Riga, Latvia, to Vilnius, Lithuania.

I left Tallinn this morning (I’ll be back 😘) and enjoyed a nice drive through the Estonian countryside this afternoon.

Latvian driving, on the other hand … let’s just say it’s a bit on the wild side.

Today I took a ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia.

Based on a great tip from a friend who is originally from Finland, I ventured west from Helsinki today and visited the coastal resort town of Hanko and the inland village of Fiskars.

Decided to take it easy today, so I hit the motorway east from Helsinki for an hour or so and then took the old / slow roads back to the city.

This morning I watched as my wife and daughter walked through security and on towards the flights that will take them home.

Our paths diverge today and I continue on for another three weeks or so on my own. As I write this, their flight is said to be somewhere over that great frozen tundra known as Greenland.

This morning we drove into Kristiansand in search of coffee (yes, we are those American tourists who like fancy coffee drinks!) and a little shopping.

We had good intentions of going exploring today.

Today we left Oslo for the south coast of Norway.

A friend suggested that we spend some time in the coastal village of Kragerø. We did and it was absolutely charming. Most of today’s photos are from there.

Today we accepted an invitation to meet some friends on their boat for a tour of Oslo harbor.

Today, we left Ireland and flew to Norway.

We left the farm this morning and drove up to Galway.

We are staying at a farm / B&B near Limerick last night and tonight.

Today we left Blarney for a new location, staying at a farm near Limerick.

Today, based on a recommendation from a friend of Tara’s, we explored the coastal village of Kinsale. It was absolutely charming!

Today we left Dublin and made our way south to Blarney, just outside of Cork.

Today it was mostly sunny here in Dublin, so we took a city tour on one of those infamous double-decker buses.

This morning, we welcomed my wife Tara into the trip.

Borders are like magnets to me.

Today we said farewell to Scotland and took a short afternoon flight to Dublin.

Today, we took the car east for a bit more exploring and a few photos.

Today we took the car a bit farther west (to the coast).

Today we rented a car and explored the countryside around Edinburgh.

I asked Ayla some months ago whether she would prefer that I drive or we take the train from London to Edinburgh. She chose the train.

Yesterday was a long day. Fortunately we had the option of taking a daytime flight from Boston, which I think (Ayla might disagree) made the time zone transition easier.

Today we ventured into the heart of London.

Today we said goodbye to our relatives in Plattsburgh and returned to the airport in Boston.

We spent yesterday and today visiting with relatives in upstate New York; many photos, of course, but those are private family memories.

Yesterday, I said goodbye to my home and the wonderful island on which I live. I’m blessed to live in a beautiful place with such a great circle of friends.