One day and counting…Tomorrow’s the big day!…

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Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.

No words can express how thrilled we are to be boarding our 47-night cruise tomorrow morning. Our local friend Carlos will arrive at 10:30 am to help Tom take our luggage down the three levels and load the taxi when it arrives. Some taxi drivers don’t help much with bags.

It’s a 20-minute ride to the cruise terminal, and when we arrive, baggage handlers will tag our bags and take them to our cabin later in the day. They guarantee we’ll have our bags by no later than 7:00 pm, so we will keep everything we may need with us until then.

The clothes we’ll be wearing when we arrive will be the same we’ll wear through dinner and the evening, so we won’t have to worry about unpacking everything when the bags arrive. Most likely, as always, we’ll unpack what we need and finish unpacking after breakfast.

Typically, we don’t unpack everything; we only unpack the items we’ll use on the cruise. Being organized is crucial in the small cabin with minimal storage space.

Today for dinner, we have enough chicken salad left for me, but not enough for both of us. This morning, I ordered Tom one last meal of lasagne from Uber Eats. We’ll scramble the remaining eggs to supplement the small portions of our main dishes.

This morning, Tom packed his clothes. We have one more load of laundry for later today and then we’re done, done, done. Tonight, will be relaxing while we finish a few shows we’ve been streaming since it’s doubtful we’ll stream anything while aboard the cruise.

On most evenings, while cruising, we stay out of the cabin until we’re ready for bed, only returning during the day to change for dinner and, if Tom needs a nap, possibly returning in the early afternoon. He never seems to sleep enough at night, so he gets up very early; a short 20-minute nap may be on the agenda.

That’s it for today, folks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 26, 2015:

Rasnesh, our driver, took this photo of us in front of the Vuadomo Waterfall in Fiji, on the chief’s property. We were hot and sweaty, but the long trek was worth it! For more photos, please click here.

Two days and counting…Applying or renewing a passport during the government shutdown?…

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Applying for a US passport.

From Travel+Leisure online magazine:

“What to Know About Applying or Renewing a Passport During the Government Shutdown

The government shutdown, which started on Oct. 1, continues to drag on. Here’s how it’s impacting passport applications and renewals. By Lauren David  Published on October 24, 2025

Applying for or renewing a passport can be stressful, especially when preparing for an international trip. The government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, 2025, has impacted many federal services, but for those traveling abroad, there shouldn’t be cause for concern, as passport processing hasn’t been affected. Passport processing is part of Consular Affairs, which is considered an essential service. “During the lapse in government funding, consular operations domestically and abroad will remain operational. This includes: passports, visas, and assisting American citizens abroad,” according to the Department of State website.

Congressional appropriations don’t fund passport processing; rather, processing is primarily funded by passport applications, so the government shutdown doesn’t directly impact this service. “Passports are funded through the U.S. Department of State and are primarily fee-funded, meaning passport issuance isn’t dependent on government funding,” says Sarah Silbert, managing editor for Points Path.

Processing times haven’t changed since the government shutdown. Routine processing time is 4 to 6 weeks, and expedited service is 2 to 3 weeks, according to the Department of State website. Mailing times are not included in these estimates; it can take up to an additional month for them to receive the application and then mail out the completed passport.

Traveling internationally in two weeks or less? Request an appointment through a passport agency or center. “Those needing urgent travel documents should book an in-person appointment at a regional passport agency and bring proof of imminent travel within 14 days,” says  Reza Motalebpour, founder and CEO of INGWE Immigration.

Dr. John Rose, chief risk advisor for Altour, renewed his passport and book this October, with the whole process taking 13 days. “That shows the system is working efficiently right now, but travelers should not assume that will remain the case if the shutdown drags on.”

It’s advised to plan ahead and allow for possible delays in processing if you’re currently applying for or renewing a passport. “There could be delays if passport-processing staff are impacted by furloughs or shutdown of other government agencies,” says Silbert. Reduced agency staff and staffing disruptions within the government could cause processing to take longer than normal. Motalebpour adds, “In the 2018-2019 shutdown, for example, passport operations continued at most locations, although delays of one to two weeks were common due to reduced staffing and slower security clearances.”

Fortunately, we renewed our passports last year for the second time since we began traveling in 2012. Currently, we have nine years remaining on each of our passports. At one point, we also had four-year passports as an adjunct to our ten-year passports, which enabled us to apply for visas that, at that time, may have required us to send in our passports with the applications. But processes have modernized and changed in most countries where applications are submitted online.

Packing continues today with only two days until we board the ship.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 25, 2015:

Typically, in rainforests, we’ve observed insects and birds to be more colorful than in less-dense areas of vegetation. Tima spotted this caterpillar we’d easily have missed. For more photos, please click here.

Packing has begun…Three days and counting…

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We’re getting ready to board the ship in three days.

This morning, I woke up determined, knowing it was time to face the inevitable…packing. It’s never a task I look forward to, but it always signifies that another chapter of our world travels is about to begin. I started early, methodically folding and organizing all my clothes, leaving out only what I’ll wear on boarding day. Each item felt like a small piece of my nomadic life, a collection of memories from so many places we’ve called “home,” even if only temporarily. By mid-morning, I had neatly stacked the neatly folded clothes into my suitcase, feeling that quiet relief that comes when the bulk of the job is finally behind me.

All that remains now are the small but time-consuming things: the supply bag, a few kitchen items, and our toiletries. Those always take more effort than expected, with so many little decisions: what to keep out until the last minute, what to tuck away now, what we might suddenly need again before we leave. Over the next few days, I’ll chip away at it all, bit by bit, until everything has a place. That’s the secret to managing these constant transitions: staying organized and refusing to let the process overwhelm us.

Packing may not be fun, but we’ve learned how to make it efficient. After all these years, we’ve developed our own rhythm, our unspoken teamwork. When flying, as opposed to sailing, I fold while Tom checks weights, tucking the scale under each bag, calling out the numbers. We shuffle items back and forth until we’re comfortably under the airline’s limit. It’s a bit of a dance, but we’ve become experts at it. Everything goes neatly into its designated bag, and when it’s all zipped up and stacked by the door, I always feel a quiet sense of accomplishment, like we’ve conquered another small hurdle on this never-ending journey.

This time, with our two new suitcases, we’re slightly ahead of the game. They’re sturdy and spacious, rolling smoothly across even the roughest tiles. We also have one additional extra-large bag for the 47-night cruise, a practical solution for the constant unpacking and repacking we’ll do while living aboard the ship. It’s amazing how quickly a cabin can feel like home once everything is tucked neatly away in drawers and closets. Cruise lines have no restrictions on the number or weight of bags.

Still, in the back of my mind, I can’t help but think about December 13, the day we’ll have to fly to New Zealand from our disembarkation location, Brisbane, Australia. That date hovers like a distant checkpoint, a reminder that no matter how well we pack now, we’ll soon face the same challenge again, but with the added dilemma of airline baggage fees. After a long cruise, our belongings always seem to multiply, although we don’t buy souvenirs or trinkets.

That’s the nature of living without a permanent home. Everything we own must fit into our suitcases and travel with us from one continent to the next. There’s no closet somewhere waiting for our return, no basement filled with storage bins. It’s both freeing and challenging at once. Sometimes I miss the luxury of “extra space,” but there’s something deeply satisfying about knowing that everything important fits into just a few bags. It keeps life simple, and it keeps us moving forward.

As I looked around the apartment this afternoon, my clothes packed, I felt that familiar sense of excitement. Each time we pack, we close a small chapter of our story, but another adventure always awaits just beyond the next boarding gate or, in this case, the ship’s gangway. And with everything packed neatly and ready to go, I can finally let myself feel that anticipation again.

Shortly, I’ll head to the kitchen to put together the chicken salad we’ll eat over the next three dinners. Yesterday, we peeled all the boiled eggs and diced the onions. Now, all I have to do is make the dressing and stir it well. It will be a pleasant day.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 24, 2015

Handmade raft for fishing for tribespeople in Fiji, which Rasnesh, our driver, explained is safer than a boat when there’s no chance of being stranded or sinking. For more photos, please click here.

Stats and facts on digital nomads…

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We thought it would be fun to share some key statistics (as of 2023-25) about U.S. citizens living a full-time travel / location-independent (“nomad”) lifestyle, that is, working while moving around the world without a permanent home base. These figures may help frame the broader picture for people like us who are making the world our home.

Size and growth of the community

  • As of mid-2023, about 17.3 million U.S. citizens described themselves as “digital nomads.”

  • In 2024, this number rose to around 18.1 million Americans.

  • To put that in perspective: in 2019, the number was about 7.3 million, and by 2020, around 10.9 million.

  • In global terms, there were about 35 million digital nomads worldwide as of 2024, and U.S. citizens accounted for a substantial share of that total.

Demographics & characteristics

  • Most U.S. nomads are in the millennial age range: for example, one source shows that about 47% of digital nomads globally fall in the 30-39 age bracket.

  • Educational attainment tends to be high: one estimate puts the figure at around 90% of digital nomads having completed higher education.

  • Income levels: for U.S. digital nomads, many earn between US$50,000 and US $100,000 annually; in one dataset, around 34% fall into that range.

  • Gender: one dataset indicates that about 56% of digital nomads in 2025 are men (i.e., ~44% are women).

Lifestyle & travel habits

  • One source notes that among digital nomads, choosing destinations is driven by cost of living, internet connectivity, and safety.

  • More extended duration stays appear to be increasing. For example, a study of U.S. Airbnb usage found that stays of ≥28 nights nearly doubled from pre-pandemic levels to around 2.2% of bookings in the post-pandemic period.

  • There is continued intent to “stick with it”: for example, one report states that 95% of nomads say they will definitely or maybe continue the lifestyle.

Implications and observations for full-time world travellers

  • The fact that ~18 million Americans are nomads suggests the lifestyle is now much more mainstream than the “fringe traveller” image of a decade ago.

  • High levels of education and earnings, in many cases, mean that this isn’t simply budget backpacking; many nomads are professionals who’ve decoupled location from work.

  • However, the rise in longer stays suggests that more of us are adopting a “slow-travel” or “base-once-in-a-place-for-a-month” pattern, rather than moving every few days.

  • Even so, while the data is strong for “digital nomads” (remote workers travelling/working), it is less precise for the subset who have no permanent home base anywhere in the world. Some may retain a home-country address, a bank account, or a tie to a residence. So if your definition is fully location-independent with zero permanent home, the stats are less finely tuned.

  • For people like us (U.S. citizens travelling full-time around the world), these figures suggest we are part of a growing community, but also that we might still be a smaller niche within it, given the broad definition of “digital nomad”.

Limitations & caveats

  • The term “digital nomad” covers a wide range, from someone who works remotely but keeps a home base to someone who constantly travels with no fixed residence. Many data sources don’t separate those nuances.

  • Self-reporting: the figures rely on how people self-identify as nomads. Some may include short-term remote travel rather than full-time global living.

  • Country-specific data: Most figures relate to U.S. citizens, but travel patterns, visa/tax burdens, and mobility may vary significantly for full-time world travellers.

  • Income/tax/legal implications: Many nomads may face complex tax, insurance, health care, and visa issues when living globally. The stats don’t fully reflect those burdens.

It’s interesting for us as long-term world travelers to see these stats. On October 31, we’ll have been traveling the world for 13 years. Out of curiosity, we’d love to hear from other nomads who’ve been traveling as long as we have.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 23, 2015:

The Fish Shop, where we purchased kava for the chief, as a token of appreciation for allowing us to visit the waterfall on his land. For more photos, please click here.

Traveling to Greece?…Euphoria Retreat…Five days and counting…

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Not our photo. Euphoria Retreat in Greece.

Many of our readers are cruising and flying to Greece for their vacations/holidays. Today, we stumbled across this article that may be of interest to those interested in wellness and spas. This article was written in the first person by the author from her personal experience.

From Travel+Leisure online magazine:

“This Might Be the Most Transformative Wellness Retreat in Greece—Where Ancient Philosophy Meets Modern Healing

At Euphoria Retreat in Mystras, timeless philosophy and holistic therapies help guests rediscover balance and purpose. By Janine Di Giovanni Published on October 11, 2025

I’m a strong believer in psychotherapy, but the concept of professional coaching never appealed to me. The one time I tried it, I was unnerved by a trust exercise and gave up almost immediately. Then, a couple of years ago, I became CEO of a nonprofit investigating war crimes in Ukraine. Having spent most of my career as a writer, working alone, I found leading a team to be exhilarating, but I needed a new skill set. So I signed up for a leadership program at Euphoria, a wellness retreat in Greece.

The word euphoria is derived from ancient Greek. (Its literal meaning is “to bear” or “to carry well.”) It’s a fitting name for the first—and most acclaimed—wellness center in the country. The property is set in the fortified town of Mystras, about a three-hour drive south of Athens. I arrived just as the sun was going down behind Mount Taygetos, the highest peak in the Peloponnese, and casting a golden light across Euphoria’s stone floors.

The property, which opened in 2018, was designed by Greek architect Natalia Efraimoglou to reflect the area’s Byzantine heritage. Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was a key inspiration; elements of that building are reflected in Euphoria’s domes and arches, as well as its palette of gold, blue, red, and yellow. Most of the retreat’s 45 rooms are set in the main building, but I stayed in one of six suites located in the 1830s Leoncini Mansion, which has marble floors and is decorated with Turkish rugs and traditional wooden furniture. My balcony overlooked a sweeping green valley. I didn’t unpack that night—unusual for me—and instead fell into a deep sleep. When I woke to birdsong and a crowing rooster 10 hours later, I realized it was the first time I’d slept without sleeping pills or melatonin in years.

That morning, I began the leadership program, which the property curates for each participant. Euphoria blends ancient Greek and Chinese therapies, as these two great civilizations developed similar well-being philosophies that emphasize inner peace, unity, and holistic balance. In my first session, a therapist explained how the elements of ancient Hellenic medicine (water, fire, earth, air, and a fifth element known as aether) and traditional Chinese medicine (water, fire, earth, wood, and metal) were reflected in my body and personality. My dominant traits were a mix of earth for pragmatism and fire for passion.

On the spa’s top floor, which overlooks a shady evergreen forest, I met my teachers. Marina Efraimoglou, Euphoria’s founder (and the sister of architect Natalia), had, like me, switched careers later in life. A former Wall Street banker who moved to Athens to continue her career, she was diagnosed with cancer in her late twenties. Chemotherapy and recovery prompted her to re-evaluate her life. She stayed in finance for a while, then founded Euphoria to promote physical, mental, and spiritual healing.

Her teaching partner, Mary Vandorou, provided a counterpoint. The daughter of a dancer and an actor, she had been a ballerina and later trained in Zen Buddhist meditation. While Efraimoglou is bold and authoritative, Vandorou is quiet and reflective. The pair divided the classwork, which included discussions and exercises. We began with meditation, then explored how to become an effective messenger. “What are your examples of true leadership?” Efraimoglou asked. “Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi,” I answered. Both led their people through seemingly impossible conflicts with grace and the ethos of nonviolence.

The retreat’s core teachings are based on three levels: leadership of the self, of a small group, and on a broader, global scale. The first is rooted in the phrase “Know thyself”—the Socratic idea that self-development begins by understanding your body, mind, and emotions. To this end, Efraimoglou presented me with a set of handwritten questions, most of which focused on the way I presented myself to the world—at conferences, symposia, and meetings—and whether that reflected my true self. She asked what mattered most to me. Commitment, loyalty, principles? Are there personality types I resonate more with?

One evening, I was asked to talk about and reframe the parts of my life or career that I regretted. I expected to struggle with opening up to strangers, but both women were such good listeners that I found myself revealing things I’d never shared before. “Why are you apologizing?” Efraimoglou asked. “Why don’t you own your path?” Vandorou added. “What does ‘own my path’ mean?” I asked. They both laughed. It means to accept your work, your life, and yourself. To focus on the good things around me. And there are many.

At Euphoria, there’s also a strong focus on female empowerment and leadership that draws not from yang (masculine) energy but from yin: intuition, empathy, care, nurturing, and supportive teamwork. That prompted me to reflect: When was I short-tempered? When did I shut down a good idea? When was I judgmental with my team? After our sessions, I retreated to the forest to walk. I spent a lot of time in the spa, which had an outdoor pool where I lay floating on my back, staring up at pine and cypress branches.

My retreat only lasted five days; I wished it had been longer. Several other women were staying for three weeks, and I was jealous of them. Before leaving for Athens, I took one last walk through the private woodland bordering the property, which Efraimoglou called “the enchanted forest.” There was no rush, no desire to climb the highest peak. Just a simple path to follow around the ancient trees, all stable and firmly rooted. Be like that tree, I thought. Stay on your path. Efraimoglou would have approved.

A version of this story first appeared in the November 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline “Deeply Rooted.”

That’s it for today, folks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 22. 2015:

There were no photos posted on this day ten years ago.

Six days and counting…It was great to get out and see our friends!…

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A kindly passerby took this photo of the four of us.

It was fantastic to go to lunch with our dear friends Linda and Ken, whom we hadn’t seen in about six years. Time has a funny way of slipping by, yet when we finally met again, it felt as if no time had passed at all. We first met them years ago in Marloth Park at a dinner party at Kathy and Don’s home along the Crocodile River.

Over the years, we’ve stayed in touch, sharing adventures, stories, and laughter along the way. The last time we were together was in Wales, where we spent an unforgettable day exploring castle ruins and savoring a long, leisurely meal filled with good conversation and plenty of laughter. Seeing them again brought back a flood of wonderful memories from that carefree day in the Welsh countryside.

My first glass of wine in five weeks. Notice the skimpy pour. It couldn’t have been more than three or four ounces.

Over the years, we spent time together in Marloth Park on various occasions when our visits happened to overlap—a happy coincidence that always led to laughter, storytelling, and shared sundowners on the veranda. Then, in 2017, our paths crossed again on the other side of the world, when we enjoyed a wonderful lunch with Linda and Ken at the famous Fortune of War, a historic pub established in 1828, tucked in the heart of Sydney, Australia. Sitting in that old establishment, with its worn wooden bar and walls steeped in seafaring history, we reminisced about our adventures in the bush and marveled at how our travels continued to intertwine in the most unexpected corners of the world.

Yesterday, when we reunited at El Tribut, an oceanfront restaurant not far from our current location, it felt like coming full circle. The restaurant, perched above the sparkling sea, offered breathtaking views of the coastline, a perfect backdrop for an afternoon of reminiscing. The Mediterranean breeze drifted across the terrace, carrying the scent of salt and grilled seafood. There’s something so comforting about the familiar energy of friends who share your passions, and Linda and Ken are very much kindred spirits. Like us, they have a deep love for travel, cruising, and discovering the world one port at a time.

Tom ordered the Beef Wellington and thoroughly enjoyed it. No bread or potatoes were served with this entree.

El Tribut doesn’t open for lunch until 1:00 p.m., which is typical in Spain and many parts of Europe. We arrived a few minutes early and waited near the entrance, chatting and catching up on recent adventures. It reminded me how different dining customs can be around the world. While Americans often have lunch by noon and dinner by six, Europeans tend to linger through their afternoons, with lunch stretching well past 3:00 p.m. and dinner not beginning until 8:00 or later. There’s a certain rhythm to this lifestyle, a slower pace that encourages relaxation, conversation, and savoring every bite.

By 2:00 p.m., the restaurant was packed. Locals and tourists filled every table, their voices blending into a pleasant hum of conversation and clinking glasses. We ordered a leisurely lunch, each of us choosing something different so we could share tastes, as travelers so often do. The food was excellent, fresh, flavorful, and prepared with care. Between bites, we shared stories from our respective journeys: ports we’d loved, favorite cruise lines, unexpected challenges, and funny mishaps that only seasoned travelers could truly appreciate.

Linda, Ken, and I ordered this fish, croaker, with a side of aubergine (eggplant) and marinated grape tomatoes.

Linda and Ken had met us from their current cruise, on their port of call to Barcelona, and they spoke with such enthusiasm about their experiences. We compared notes on itineraries, ships, and destinations, laughing at how small the cruising world can be, how often travelers cross paths without even realizing it. We also talked about how travel has changed in recent years, with fluctuating prices, evolving visa requirements, and the ever-present balance between adventure and comfort.

What I appreciated most about our time together wasn’t just the conversation. It was the feeling of connection. After years of moving from place to place, friendships like this become treasures, reminders that the world can feel wonderfully small when you find people whose spirits align with your own. We may go months or even years without seeing one another, but when we reunite, it’s as though we simply picked up where we left off.

It was wonderful to see our dear friends, Linda and Ken, once again.

As the afternoon sun dipped lower, casting golden reflections across the water, we reluctantly said our goodbyes, promising to meet again, perhaps on another cruise or in some unexpected corner of the world. The meal, the laughter, and the warmth of old friends reminded us once again why we travel: not just to see the world, but to share it with those who understand the joy of exploration.

In a mere six days, we’ll be heading to that same Barcelona port where Linda and Ken arrived and begin our 47 nights of cruising. We can hardly wait.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 21, 2015:

Several emergency vehicles were on the hospital property. Locals don’t hesitate to call in an emergency and feel the local care is adequate for many conditions. For more photos, please click here.

Not so easy ordering a taxi…Out to lunch today!…

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Not our photo.

This morning, I attempted to order a taxi for our ride to El Tribut Restaurant, located only about 1.5 miles from here. It wasn’t as easy as you’d think.

We have found that using credit cards online in Spain hasn’t been as easy as you think, either. Often, our cards are declined or the processing never goes through. When ordering most taxis, they verify a credit card before confirming a reservation. I have called our credit card companies, and they have stated there is nothing wrong with any of the cards (which we knew), and they can’t even determine if an attempted charge was made.

This same experience happened when ordering groceries online from the same supermarket each time. The processing often took a few hours of trying off and on, to process. I kept trying over and over again, as I did this morning when I attempted to order a taxi.

Finally, I found a taxi company that didn’t require a credit card to confirm the ride and arranged our pickup for 12:45 for our 1:00 pm lunch reservation with Linda and Ken at the oceanfront El Tribut Restaurant, close to the port. Once in the taxi, we won’t have any trouble paying for our ride using a credit card.

Each month, we pay off all our credit card balances to ensure we never run into issues. However, all of our credit cards have high credit limits, so it’s unlikely we’d ever encounter an issue, regardless of any recent holiday home or cruise transaction.

Even in South Africa, where we seldom experience such issues, we ran into similar problems when we placed orders through the Amazon-like equivalent, Takealot. Invariably, processing a purchase required the same several-hour, back-and-forth process to get the transaction to process.

I often wondered if these issues were due to WiFi problems with the company’s end or simply poorly run and operated online payment systems.

In Spain, we’ve used Amazon.es (for Spain), placing several orders, including, most recently, two large suitcases to replace old and worn pieces, including one with a broken wheel. With all the traveling we continue to do, it’s no wonder that our suitcases only last for four or five years. Amazon processing was relatively easy, with no credit card issues.

Thirty minutes ago, we received a taxi confirmation, and soon we will head down those scary steps to the street to await our taxi.

We’ll be back tomorrow with photos and details of our much-awaited get-together with dear old friends.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 20, 2015:

Colorful ocean view in Fiji near our holiday rental house. For more photos, please click here.

Eight days and counting…Japan is charging “tourist fees”…

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Not our photo. Kyoto, Japan.

From Travel+Leisure online magazine:

“Visiting one of Japan’s most famous cities will soon cost more.

Government leaders are raising the hotel accommodation tax for overnight visitors in the popular city of Kyoto, Japan, according to international news reports. The new updates are set to take effect in March 2026, and some travelers may see an increase of as much as ¥10,000 ($65.33) per night.

The fee will scale with the room rate. Rooms costing under ¥19,999 ($130.66) will be required to pay a ¥400 ($2.61) fee, EuroNews reported. For more expensive and luxury stays above ¥100,000 ($653.32), a maximum tax of ¥10,000 ($65.33) will be charged, according to The Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper.

Accommodations below ¥6,000 ($39.19) will be responsible for paying a ¥200 ($1.31) fee.

“The Accommodation Tax is used to cover costs involved in enhancing the attractions of Kyoto as an International Culture and Tourism City, and in promoting tourism,” Kyoto’s government wrote on its official website, which lists the old accommodation tax fees.

The government said the tax helps preserve Kyoto’s history and eases “congestion on roads and walkways.”

For years, travelers have complained of crowding in the renowned tourist city.

“Out of all the places in Japan, Kyoto definitely has an over-tourism problem,” one traveler wrote in a Reddit post. “The increased tax isn’t even that much anyway; if you are a tourist, you can afford it.”

Previous versions of the accommodation tax have included waivers and fee reductions in the event of a natural disaster or emergency to aid tourists in a time of need. The tax will also not apply to school groups, according to the waivers.

Known for its cherry blossoms, temples, and historical significance, Kyoto has long been a popular destination for tourists in Japan. The city was named the “most mindful” in Asia in a July ranking of mindfulness, thanks to features such as its zen gardens and ancient temples. Travelers who go there enjoy exploring the covered Nishiki Market, visiting the Sanjusangendo Temple, and learning about the city’s sake-brewing culture.

Overseas travel to Japan has been hitting record numbers since COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted. Each month has set a record high, with 3.4 million people visiting Japan in July, compared to only 3.3 million during the same period in 2024 and 2.3 million in 2023, according to data from JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co.”

We had booked a few cruises to visit Japan. However, COVID-19 hit the world, and all of them were canceled. We hope to try again in the near future.
Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 19, 2015:

Fiji’s version of a “Quick and Easy,” or a superette. For more photos, please click here.

Nine days and counting…We can’t wait to go!!!…

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Sant Marti almost entirely consists of apartments.

In only nine days, we’ll be packing our bags, closing the door to this apartment for the last time, and heading to the Port of Barcelona to board Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas for a 47-night cruise. Just saying that out loud fills me with anticipation. This voyage has been on our minds for months, a long stretch of ocean days and new ports, the comfort of not having to cook or deal with maintenance issues for a while. And after our experience in this apartment, that thought feels like a reward in itself.

It’s hard to describe how relieved we’ll be to leave. What was meant to be a comfortable stopover in Sant Martí has turned into one challenge after another. We’ve had our share of imperfect rentals over the years, some quirky, some dated, some just missing that extra touch, but this one has tested our patience in ways few others have. It all started with the three flights of stairs, misrepresented in the listing as “only a few steps to the front door,” severely limiting my ability to get out and about.

For five long days, we were without a working toilet. Imagine the inconvenience and discomfort of that, especially when communication with the property manager felt like shouting into the void. Promises were made, repair people were scheduled and showed up late or never arrived at all, and each day ended with more frustration than the one before.

The hot water has been another intermittent luxury, flickering in and out as though controlled by mood. Some mornings, we’d stand in the bathroom waiting for the water to warm, only to give up and face a cold shower. Other days, it worked just fine, teasing us with reliability, only to disappear again. Then there’s the sink drain stopper that doesn’t work properly, and the washer-dryer combination that turns a basic chore into a daylong event. What should take a few hours stretches into an all-day affair, the kind of small annoyance that builds and builds until it starts to shape the tone of your days.

After a recent power outage, the dishwasher quit altogether, leaving us once again hand-washing dishes in a single, poorly designed sink, one without a proper drain or stopper. Washing dishes has become an act of improvisation, balancing items in a large salad bowl, one hand while trying not to splash water across the counter. The lack of basic kitchen supplies has made cooking equally exasperating. Pots without lids, dull knives, and missing utensils —those small, taken-for-granted items that make a kitchen usable were absent. We’ve managed, of course, as we always do, but it’s made even the simplest meals a chore.

We’ve written to management several times, hoping for a meaningful response, but we’ve learned that their unresponsiveness seems to be part of their approach to working with renters. It’s strange how a place can look just fine in photos, clean and bright, yet reveal so many cracks once you settle in. We’ve grown accustomed to rolling with the punches while traveling. We know that not every stay will be perfect, but this one has stretched even our well-practiced patience.

And yet, in a way, that’s what makes our upcoming cruise feel all the more thrilling. There’s something about the timing, as if this less-than-ideal chapter is closing just in time for a new adventure to begin. In nine days, we’ll step into a stateroom where everything works, where meals appear without our lifting a finger, and where the most difficult decision of the day might be choosing between participating in a trivia game or chatting with other passengers.

It’s a reminder that travel isn’t just about beautiful views and perfect accommodations. It’s about endurance, adaptability, and gratitude, even when things don’t go smoothly. Because when they finally do, and you find yourself sailing toward the horizon, you can appreciate it all the more.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 18, 2015:

Tom’s mother, shown in front row center, wrote a book, “Memories of Muggs,” about the family’s history. On the date of the “book signing,” the family got together to celebrate the special occasion. This family photo was taken in 1997 with Tom, his mother, Mary, and his siblings. From left to right, front: Rita, Mary, Jerome; middle row: Mary Ellen, Margie, Patty, and Sister Beth. Since this photo was taken, Sister Beth, Jerome, Jim, and their mother Mary have passed away. The back row includes Colleen, Tom, and Jim. The book is listed at the Minnesota Historical Society. For more photos, please click here.

Why have I been sleeping better in Spain?…

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Sleeping through the night has been blissful.

For years, my nights were measured not by the hours I slept, but by the hours I didn’t. No matter what time I went to bed, my body seemed to have an internal alarm set for 3:00 am sharp. I’d wake in the dark, wide-eyed, my mind alert as if the day had already begun. I’d try everything: deep breathing, guided meditations, herbal teas, magnesium, reading a few pages of a book, even counting backward from 300. Nothing worked for long. The nights felt endless, the mornings groggy, and I often wondered if I’d ever again know the feeling of sleeping soundly through the night.

And then, quite suddenly, I slept through the night, oddly, once we arrived in Barcelona over a month ago.

It happened without fanfare, no new supplement, no magic pillow, no life-changing revelation. One night, I drifted off, and the next thing I knew, the light was filtering through the window. I blinked at the clock in disbelief, 7:00 am. I had slept through the night for the first time in years. My first thought wasn’t joy, oddly enough. It was a suspicion. Surely I must have woken up and forgotten. But night after night, the pattern repeated itself. My eyes stayed closed, my body rested, and the long stretch of uninterrupted sleep became my new normal.

It’s hard to explain what it feels like to rediscover proper rest after years without it. The mornings feel different, clearer, somehow. The air feels lighter, my thoughts less tangled. I no longer wake up feeling as though I’ve been wrestling with my own mind all night. There’s a calmness now, as if some invisible knot has finally come undone.

I’ve tried to understand why this change happened. Perhaps it’s a shift in rhythm, a long-overdue balance my body finally found. Maybe it’s the result of countless small choices. Or perhaps it’s simply the natural ebb and flow of life that, mysteriously, our bodies and minds heal themselves when we stop forcing solutions. Has anything changed since we arrived in Spain?

  1. More extended periods of intermittent fasting to lose the weight I’d gained from heart medications, with no snacking during the day and evening. Eating dinner at 3:00 pm and not eating again until the next day.
  2. No wine…although during many other periods I haven’t had any wine for extended periods, that didn’t improve my sleep.
  3. Falling asleep later, accepting the fact that I usually won’t fall asleep until close to midnight.

When I think back to those sleepless years, I realize how intertwined sleep and peace are. It’s not only about rest but also about safety, trust, and surrender. During those long, wakeful hours, I sometimes felt the world pressing in with thoughts of unfinished tasks, travel logistics, and health worries. Sleep never stood a chance against such noise.

Now, as I drift off each night around midnight, I notice the absence of struggle. There’s no bargaining with my mind, no tally of hours left until morning. I close my eyes and trust that my body knows what to do. That quiet trust feels like the real miracle.

Of course, I’m not naïve enough to think the 3:00 am awakenings will never return. Life has its way of stirring things up. But for now, I’m grateful for this gift of uninterrupted nights. It reminds me that even after years of restlessness, change is still possible. The body remembers how to heal, the mind learns how to soften, and peace finds its way back in quietly, almost imperceptibly, in the middle of the night.

Sometimes the most profound changes aren’t the ones we chase but the ones that arrive, unannounced, gentle, and long overdue. For me, it came in the form of something beautifully ordinary, a full night’s sleep. And in that ordinary moment, I found something extraordinary, the feeling of being at home, certainly not in this place, but within myself.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 17, 2015:

In Fiji, these gorgeous red flowers are growing in the shade beneath the veranda overhang. For more photos, please click here.