-
Continue reading →: Land of the Midnight SunI never realized how much I missed darkness. How much I enjoyed the sun setting and rising; the regular cadence of sun and moon, blue skies and dark ones. But in the land of the midnight sun, it dawned, not literally, but figuratively. Constant lightness messes with you, as I’m…
-
Continue reading →: To Run or not to Run: Alaska’s Great RaceI’ll say it right up front. The Iditarod is controversial. PETA hates it. Dog trainers and veterinarians who raise and care for the dogs both in preparation and during the race defend it. But it is a part of Alaska’s culture. I’m not here to condemn or defend it. I’m…
-
Continue reading →: A Visit to a Peruvian Textile ShopAfter arriving in Peru, our guides had arranged for us to visit a high mountain textile factory on our first full day. We arrived and were just starting to feel the effects of having come from sea level (both in Europe and in Lima) to over 12,000 feet. That’s when…
-
Continue reading →: The Staggering Experience of Anne Frank“The Annex is an ideal place to hide in. It may be damp and lopsided, but there’s probably not a more comfortable hiding place in all of Amsterdam. No, in all of Holland.” — Anne Frank I never read the Diary of Anne Frank in school. I’m not sure why.…
-
Continue reading →: This is not AIThis weekend, we had the opportunity to go to our neighbors’ for a traditional Egyptian Ramadan dinner. The invite list was more representative of a mini-UN with guests of British, South Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Egyptian and South African heritage. And, of course, us. Like many of these experiences, we always…
-
Continue reading →: Carnival, Podence Portugal StyleNew Orleans has its beads and floats, Rio de Janeiro has its samba dancing passitas but in Podence Portugal, Carnival is celebrated with its masked caretos. The road from Lisbon was relatively quiet on this sometimes-rainy Shrove Sunday but as we exited all tranquility evaporated. Cars were queued up exiting…
-
Continue reading →: A Really Bom NatalThis holiday season, we found ourselves at home, the one in Portugal. It was, initially, difficult for us to spend the end of year holidays so far away from family and friends. We return to the USA for them about every other year now so we can reconnect with people…
-
Continue reading →: Driving in Greece: A Game of Chicken not for the ChickensI’ve driven in quite a few countries both in North America and Europe (Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, England, Ireland, Wales, Isle of Man, San Marino, Scotland and Northern Ireland) so I think I’m pretty experienced in navigating small roads, tight garages, even driving on a different side of the road…
-
Continue reading →: Le Tour de FranceIt’s been a while since I’ve paid any attention to the Tour de France. At one time, I was pretty into it and watched summer coverage of it around Wimbledon, the British Open and the Boston Red Sox (of course). But those were in the Lance Armstrong days and, well,…
-
Continue reading →: Let them Eat Cake: La Fête NationaleKnown as “Bastille Day” in English speaking countries, Le 14 Juillet (14th of July) or La Fête Nationale (the national holiday) celebrates France’s patriotism and democracy. In the lead up to our summer jaunt through France, I read one of Melissa’s old college textbooks: The Coming of the French Revolution…
The Traveling Ridleys
Welcome to the Sunday Journal, our sister blog about our experiences along the way.
Follow along
Stay updated with our latest Sunday Journal posts by joining our newsletter.
The Traveling Ridleys: Sunday Journal 