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Away & Around 2022Away & Around 2022
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Away & Around 2022

June - July 2022
Kai and I embark on 60 days of adventure, inquiry, and inspiration. Join us on our Northern Hemisphere travel around the 🌏. Read more
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  • 36footprints
  • 12countries
  • 59days
  • 391photos
  • 5videos
  • 30.5kmiles
  • 26.2kmiles
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  • TravelerAway & Around 2022
    1
    Day 17

    Firenze, Uffizi Gallery & More

    June 18, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    Firenze (Florence) is an artistic, culinary and wine focused city. It feels more accessible than Rome or Venice. Like the other cities- there are many tourists but here you meet many more Italians. You hear them chatting with each other about politics and see them walking with their families and dogs.

    While we did not go wine tasting, we did test out the gelato. Kai is very particular about gelato. Gelato di Nature of Venice is in first place. The gelato of Firenze is in 2nd place. Alas, the gelato tested in Rome was inferior and of poor quality. Of course, we ate it anyway because it was hot outside and even poor gelato is cold.

    Our photos focus on the Uffizi Gallery. An amazing place that consumed most of our day.

    Tomorrow we return to Venice, collect are bags, rent a car and 🏎 (drive) to the Dolomites 😎.    Read more

  • TravelerAway & Around 2022
    1
    Day 19

    San Martino di Castrozza

    June 20, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Our car was less 🏎 and more 🚗 but has navigation which is wonderful. The drive to the mountains from Venice was an easy 2.25 hours.

    We are among 2 of 4 English speakers in our hotel filled with Italians on holiday. The other English speakers are a retired American/German couple that lives in Germany.

    Dinner is set each evening at 7:30. It’s a 4 course meal and very interesting. Last night’s meal included a blueberry & cheese risotto. Kai was not a fan but I liked it.

    We did a lovely 10km hike today. We were surprised how few people were out on the trails. Pictures show the views. We did have one small scare on the hike. Very early on we encountered a snake 🐍 on the path. As it slithered away, I assured Kai that it was most likely a harmless garden snake. It did make me wonder 🤔if there are poisonous snakes in the area…. It turns out there are😬! The image included with this post is identical to the snake we saw on the trail.    Read more

  • TravelerAway & Around 2022
    111
    Day 20

    Crown of the Dolomites

    June 21, 2022 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 66 °F

    Today we took two Gondolas 🚠 up to what is called the Crown of the Dolomites. Check out the video of the second Gondola. Kai and I had to conquer our fears to make the trip 😬.

    The Dolomites are 250 million years old and began as coral reefs during the Triassic. Sixty million years ago the collision of the African and European tectonic plates pushed them skyward. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wind, rain, and ice have changed them into the beautiful peaks we see today.

    We hiked down from mid-mountain and made it back to our car and hotel before an afternoon lightening storm came through. It was enjoyable to watch ⛈⚡️from the safety of our room.    Read more

  • TravelerAway & Around 2022
    11
    Day 22

    Dolomites Continued

    June 23, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    This part of the Dolomites is a mix of Austrian, Swiss and Italian influences. Dairy cows wander the meadows with their bells ringing away. You can find apple strudel and kraut in shops and restaurants. Yet, everyone here speaks Italian, cappuccino is an essential start
    (middle and end) to the day, and pasta is served with every meal.

    Our hotel includes a 4 course meal every evening at 7:30. It’s a long, interesting, and formal affair.

    Meals are interesting because we’re never really sure of what’s being served. A description of the evening’s dinner, including each course and any options, is posted in the lobby for anticipatory review. Even on the occasion that we’ve recognized some part of the meal’s description (e.g. rigatoni) the presentation and combination of ingredients has been surprising to us. Each meal is an adventure in the culinary delights of the region.

    The dinning experience is from 7:30-9:30. This is a really long stretch of time is you are tired after hiking all day. Our Italian hotel friends love the lengthy meals and usually move outside to talk and smoke for another hour or two after dinner. 🥂Kai and I can barely stay awake long enough to enjoy dessert.

    The dinning experience is more formal than we are accustomed to because all guests enter the dinning room together, have assigned tables, and leave the dining room together. Each course is served to all tables at roughly the same time. If you eat too quickly you will have to wait a bit for the next course. Last night we were rebels and asked to skip the 3rd course altogether and go straight to dessert. We managed to escaped the dining room at 8:30🎉.

    We are enjoying these culinary adventures, as well as learning about Italian holiday preferences. It’s fun and would be more fun if we spoke Italian!

    Alas- no food pictures- but more mountains, trails and streams. Ooh, and a video of amazing electrical storm from earlier in the week. 💕    Read more

  • TravelerAway & Around 2022
    Day 23

    Laundry Day

    June 24, 2022 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 59 °F

    The mundane acts of daily living can be exotic adventures when away from home. We managed laundry day in half the time expected, and we still have white socks🙂! We did almost melt the buttons off our clothes in the dryer though it was set to medium. The high setting must incinerate your clothes if left more than 5-6 minutes.

    We anticipate our next laundry stop will be 2 weeks from now somewhere in India.    Read more

  • TravelerAway & Around 2022
    21112
    Day 25

    Arrivederci Dolomites & Italy

    June 26, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    We’ll let the pictures speak for themselves 💕 Typing left handed for a bit.

  • TravelerAway & Around 2022
    1
    Day 28

    Istanbul - Ayasofya & Blue Mosque

    June 29, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    Ayasofya or Hagia Sophia was built in 527 with additions and miniarettes added in the 15th and 16th centuries, It has both Christian and Muslim art, symbolism and inscriptions. The Blue Mosque was built between 1609-1616. Both are still active places of worship for people of all ages. Kai and I enjoyed that children are allowed to joyfully cavort while older relatives prayed.

    Jake - last picture is for you. 💞    Read more

  • TravelerAway & Around 2022
    11
    Day 29

    Topkapi Palace & Garden

    June 30, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    The description and history of Topkapi Palace is in the photos as is a definition of “haram” which is much broader than the description typically provided in western literature.

    The tiles are beautiful. You might also notice the motifs in the stone walkways.

    Unsweetened Turkish coffee is lovely- even better than Italian expresso. We also tried the Ottoman’s best “traditional” ice cream which Kai described as “chewy” 😉! Mastic ice cream is resin based made from Salep (cornflower) and rose water. It is stretchy and is a tradition of the Ottoman Empire. Who knew? We learned only after researching why the ice cream had such unusual texture.

    Photos are a little wonky. I can’t hold the phone/camera in my right hand. Centering the photos and zooming in & out with 1 hand is tricky 🙃.

    Tomorrow the Bosphorus Strait, the Golden Horn & the Basilica Cistern 🌿.

    We love & miss you all.    Read more

  • TravelerAway & Around 2022
    1
    Day 31

    Goreme National Park

    July 2, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 64 °F

    Goreme is in Cappadocia, Turkey. It’s rock-hewn sanctuaries are amazing and the landscape is unique and intriguing. It’s hard to stop taking photos. I’ve included a link with additional info for the curious.
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/357/

    We so love each place we’ve visited and the many kind people we’ve met.🕊🌏 But, Turkey is our favorite when it comes to food (except Gelato- where Venice leads).    Read more

  • TravelerAway & Around 2022
    11
    Day 32

    Path finding in Cappadocia

    July 3, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    It was a beautiful day hiking in Cappadocia. The trails are not well marked but that only enhanced the adventure. We met a local farmer who was terrifically nice to us. He showed us his tomato plants, apricot and cherry trees, and vineyards. He ranted at another set of hikers - lost like us - but who had inadvertently trod on his tomato plants😡🍅🍇. Apparently we did not and so were blessed with fruits from the garden.

    The landscape is surreal. We could spend many more days hiking here and not tire of the exploration. We felt like we were in an Indiana Jones movie - archeologist out exploring forgotten ruins and discovering ancient treasures.

    Tesekkurler- pronounced sort of like Tea Sugar Ederim- said very fast.- means thank you. I’ve been practicing diligently but almost no Turk recognizes what I am trying to say😂. When they do finally understand me they are delighted and take a few minutes help me with the pronunciation. 💕Of course- Kai is better at saying Tesekkukler than me.

    Treasures from today’s adventure. 💞    Read more

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