Adventurous Kate comprises affiliate hyperlinks. For those who make a purchase order by these hyperlinks, I’ll earn a fee at no additional value to you. Thanks!
My travels in 2025 started with a six-week journey to Mexico and the US. Nearly fully to locations I had visited earlier than, with solely Houston and Austin being new.
And whereas I’m often in a position to sustain the work when touring, all of it fell aside these final two months. Partly due to the turmoil in america, as the federal government absolutely embraces fascism, as telephones are searched at borders for political beliefs, as ICE kidnaps individuals, as many frequent guests refuse to return to america, because the economic system crashes whereas the billionaires get richer.
I do know what to do as a citizen. I donate. I name my reps. I boycott. I amplify. I protest after I can, and help protestors after I can’t. I even make political journey movies on Instagram and TikTok.
However by way of the work that truly earns me a dwelling, I’ve felt frozen. I’ve been an expert journey blogger for 15 years. You don’t do any job for 15 years with out going by powerful instances. However what we’re coping with now’s horrific and complex on a stage I haven’t skilled.
I’m in the midst of writing a a lot bigger weblog publish about this challenge, as a result of it deserves to be fleshed out correctly. You’ll get that quickly.
And now that I’ve mustered up the vitality to put in writing about journey once more, let’s check out the previous two months. Below this happy-little-monthly-recap, there’s been greater than a little bit of screaming.
Locations Visited
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Mérida, Dzibilchaltún, Progreso, Bacalar, Mexico Metropolis, Oaxaca, and Hierve el Agua, Mexico
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Webster, Houston, and Austin, Texas, USA
- Beverly, Gloucester, and Lynnfield, Massachusetts, USA
- Salem, New Hampshire, USA
- New York, New York, USA
Highlights
Three fabulous weeks in Mexico. If something, I fell extra in love with Mérida, appreciated that Bacalar hadn’t modified one bit, loved Mexico Metropolis as a lot as typical, and fell a bit out of affection with Oaxaca.
Has Mexico modified in the previous few years? After all. Eating places have opened and closed. Mérida now has electrical buses. American vacationers on excursions discover methods to subtly throw shade at Trump to weed out the group, then exhale in reduction when everybody else joins in.
However the largest change throughout the board in Mexico was that each time we ordered a espresso at a pleasant cafe, the server would ask, “Leche regular?” Nicer cafes did have plant-based milks just a few years in the past, however servers didn’t mechanically provide them to you! A refined change that claims lots.
Among the highlights? Swimming in wild cenotes close to Mérida, returning to Los Rapidos in Bacalar, consuming a lot good meals in Mexico Metropolis, and eventually visiting the Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca.
Celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I’ve celebrated Mardi Gras as soon as earlier than, again in 2014, and I’ve at all times needed to return and do it significantly better. Charlie, Nick, and I had a fully FABULOUS time, and I obtained to expertise lots of issues I missed the primary time round (like standing on a balcony!).
We additionally actually liked our riverboat journey on the Creole Queen, the place there have been limitless Bloody Mary’s and mimosas for simply $25. A uncommon deal at Mardi Gras time.
After Mardi Gras, we drove to Houston for one night time, simply to go to the House Heart — and even took a tour of Mission Management, which is preserved to look similar to within the late 60s!
Attending my first SXSW in Austin. Charlie liked attending the South by Southwest convention years in the past, so when it lined up with Mardi Gras this yr, we determined to do it! This convention is SO costly, particularly if you think about lodging, however we booked lodging weeks earlier than the dates have been introduced.
Was it value it? I loved lots of it, however I don’t suppose it’s definitely worth the funding for those who’re coming right here particularly to develop your online business as a content material creator.
(Then once more, for those who make that ONE magical connection that adjustments your life…in fact it will be. However occasions designed round networking are uncommon right here. If you wish to community, it is advisable to actively strike up conversations with strangers round you. Which is hard for those who’re an introvert like me.)
I did go to some helpful workshops (my favourite one was about crowdfunding), attended just a few comedy exhibits, and obtained to see Pedro Pascal and the solid of The Final of Us! The panels I most loved have been the political ones, and I obtained to see Elizabeth Warren, Ayanna Pressley, and Michelle Obama communicate.
Additionally, Austin is all in regards to the stay music, which sounds good on paper…however I discovered all of the venues to be means too loud to be gratifying. Perhaps that’s simply a part of getting older.
This was my first time visiting Austin, and to be sincere, I waited too lengthy. I actually ought to have visited 10 or 15 years in the past, when it was potential to earn a dwelling as an artist and stay decently. Austin’s transformation right into a tech hub took lots of the town’s character with it. (And I say this as somebody who had LOTS of conversations with longtime Austin residents about how the town has modified.)
A pleasant fast journey again to Massachusetts. For lobstah, chowdah, household, and associates. My new residence base has been in Beverly since my dad offered our residence in 2023, and this time Charlie and I visited lots of Beverly’s downtown retailers and the library. It’s such a pleasant city!
My return to New York for the primary time since 2020. Sure, critically. It was bizarre staying away for 5 years after dwelling there for 4 years!
The largest spotlight was seeing Tituss Burgess star in Oh, Mary! The funniest and strangest present I’ve ever seen. His engagement is over, however I extremely suggest you go and see Cole Escola and the unique solid!
Different first-time highlights have been visiting the Museum of the Shifting Picture, lastly visiting Roosevelt Island, and evaluating the 2 burgers at Minetta Tavern. After all we visited a few of my favourite spots, from Harlem Public to Caveat, the Union Sq. Greenmarket, and Katz’s Delicatessen.
And once more, we hung out with household and associates. We additionally celebrated an enormous milestone birthday for Charlie!
Good instances in Prague. Actually, there’s nothing like the primary sip of a pilsner after a visit abroad as a result of NO BEER IN THE WORLD EVEN COMES CLOSE.
Challenges
I injured what I believed was my hip whereas we have been in Mexico. Between the on-and-off ache, the truth that I may not do a figure-4 stretch on one aspect, and that at one level I jumped away from bed, landed weirdly on my foot, and screamed in ache for about 30 seconds straight — I used to be terrified that it was the arrival of arthritis.
Fortunately, I noticed the physician in Prague and discovered that it’s not arthritis or a bone challenge — only a muscle challenge that may be handled with a month of physiotherapy classes. I’m grateful that it’s not something worse than that.
That, and I had two separate colds, one in the beginning and one on the finish of March. And since I’m nonetheless upset that one in every of my colleagues obtained me so sick at a convention in 2024, I masked on the convention. I used to be one in every of only a few individuals carrying a masks. Not enjoyable, however I’m glad I did it.
Additionally — you could bear in mind from just a few years in the past that I had a gum an infection whereas in Mexico Metropolis and struggled to seek out an emergency dentist who may take me. Nicely, this yr the identical painful signs arrived the morning that we have been flying to New Orleans.
However three years older is three years wiser — so I purchased some hydrogen peroxide and commenced rinsing my mouth with it. The ache went away inside just a few days! I’m so glad, as a result of I didn’t need to pay by the nostril to see a dentist within the US.
Nonetheless, that is making me suppose that I shouldn’t brush my tooth with the water in Mexico, since this has occurred twice. I by no means drink the water, however I brush my tooth with it. Perhaps I ought to follow purified water for that.
Oh, and eventually, I obtained a nosebleed on the streets of Austin! My first nosebleed since I used to be a child, and HOLY CRAP WAS THERE A LOT OF BLOOD. Two strangers provided me napkins and moist wipes, which was so sort of them.
Weblog Posts of the Month
10 Fab Issues to Do in San Teodoro, Italy — In order for you a seashore trip in Italy, neglect the Amalfi Coast — San Teodoro in Sardinia has precisely what you need.
Most Fashionable Reel on Instagram
I relaunched one in every of my hottest reels of all time — The place Italians Truly Go. The primary one obtained 7.5 million views. And sure — the second time was the allure. Regardless of not utilizing a trending audio like I did the primary time, this one obtained 1.9 million views, and fairly just a few sign-ups for my mailing listing.
I have to do extra of those.
For extra updates from my travels, observe me on Instagram at @adventurouskate — it’s also possible to observe me on TikTok at @adventurouskate!
What I Wore This Month
Final yr I began transitioning my wardrobe to pure fibers — largely wool, which I now put on a ton of. My time in Mexico, particularly blisteringly sizzling Mérida, gave me an opportunity to test-drive which of my new objects would work finest in summer time warmth.
And my absolute favourite is this gown from Wool&. Wool& makes use of a number of totally different sorts of wool of their garments, however this materials is their lightest and thinnest — the Signature 160 — and it’s a pleasant, free, comfy swing gown. You possibly can put on it free, but it surely seems fancy sufficient for an evening out if you belt it.
I’m going to stay on this gown all summer time. And Wool& simply added a bunch of recent colours — so I needed to seize it in teal as nicely!
What I Watched This Month
The Pitt. This present is totally excellent. The Pitt is a medical drama on Max starring Noah Wyle as an attending doctor within the ED of a trauma heart in Pittsburgh. Every episode is one hour of a 15-hour shift, shot in actual time like 24.
What makes this present so nice? Medical professionals are saying it’s essentially the most reasonable medical TV present they’ve ever seen. No cleaning soap opera drama — simply individuals doing their often-impossible jobs. (And since it’s on Max, it’s lots gorier than community exhibits. I hate gore, however I simply look away at these transient moments.)
Every character is fleshed out SO fantastically over the course of this 15-hour shift. Some you like, just a few you possibly can’t stand, however every of them are drawn out so richly. I particularly love one physician who’s a sensible neurodivergent character — not a savant or somebody with no social abilities, however somebody who steps apart to stim and is delicate to sufferers in the way in which others don’t get.
And total, it’s a fast-moving present, which makes it good for watching whereas on the elliptical, and the episodes go by so rapidly.
What I Listened To This Month
I’m listening to all 500 of Rolling Stone‘s 500 Best Albums of All Time, which I’m having fun with immensely. I’m loving discovering new artists and listening to albums I’ve in some way missed my complete life till now!
In February, I listened to albums 435-401, and I took a break from the listing in March however picked it again up in April. Listed here are the highlights:
Favourite Discovery: Risqué by Stylish. I’m an enormous disco fan ordinarily, and suppose the style doesn’t get almost sufficient respect because it deserves. As a result of when disco is sweet — and this album is nearly as good as disco will get — it’s transformative.
I like this album for its detailed musical preparations with a full orchestra. Give me all of the strings and the horns. That is the late 70s personified, dancing all night time.
Different Favourite Discoveries: Un Verano Sin Ti by Unhealthy Bunny, Supreme Clientele by Ghostface Killah, Arular by M.I.A., Everyone Is aware of That is Nowhere by Neil Younger, That’s the Method of the World by Earth, Wind & Hearth.
Favourite Revisited Album: Confessions by Usher. Actually, I’m nonetheless salty that this album didn’t win all of the Grammys — as a result of Ray Charles occurred to launch a duets album and die the identical yr, and due to this fact he swept all the pieces and no person else had an opportunity.
Confessions is such an superior album, so emblematic of a selected time (my faculty years!), with an amazing mixture of dance tracks and ballads, all with the identical message: “I’m unhealthy however I’m additionally lots of enjoyable.”
Favourite Songs: “All About U” by 2Pac feat. Yaki Kamari, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Deadly; “Yo No Soy Celoso” by Unhealthy Bunny; “Nutmeg” by Ghostface Killah feat. RZA; “Standing within the Shadows of Love” by the 4 Tops; “Open My Eyes” by Nazz; “That’s the Method of the World” by Earth, Wind & Hearth.
Get the playlist: I’m making a playlist of my favourite songs from the five hundred albums — most one per album — on Spotify. You possibly can take heed to it right here.
Lowlight of the Month: New Day Rising by Hüsker Dü. (Say it with me — extra like Hüsker Don’t!) Mediocre punk with voices you possibly can barely hear. I do not know why this album is lauded.
Random Thought: That is the primary month I acknowledged one of many songs from this problem on the radio: Paul McCartney’s “Monkberry Moon Delight”! I’m retaining what I hear!!
Additionally, this was the third month of the problem and the primary month that I listened to artists’ second albums on the listing: Unhealthy Bunny, Marvin Gaye, and Al Inexperienced. There might be much more sooner or later.
And sadly, this was the primary month when an artist I had listened to handed away — Roberta Flack. RIP.
What I Learn This Month
Dawn on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (2025) — THE NEWEST HUNGER GAMES BOOK!! I’ve been ready for this ebook for SO lengthy, learn the entire thing inside 24 hours, and have been occupied with it and speaking about it ever since.
This ebook is the story of the fiftieth Starvation Video games — the story of Haymitch, Katniss’s mentor. Haymitch’s video games have been a Quarter Quell and had a twist — double the standard variety of tributes have been reaped, 48 in complete.
The theme of this ebook is the facility of propaganda. This ebook, greater than the opposite Starvation Video games books, goes into depth about how the Capitol solely exhibits the story they need instructed — all the pieces else is stored hidden.
Whereas Katniss and Peeta watched a video of Haymitch’s video games, there’s SO MUCH MORE that the world by no means noticed as a result of it was stored hidden. And you discover out EVERYTHING that occurred on this ebook. Katniss didn’t begin the revolution. She was simply the primary try that succeeded.
As at all times, this ebook may be very helpful for understanding the political surroundings we’re dwelling in in the present day.
One last item: lots of people have requested if it’s essential to learn The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the primary prequel about President Snow as an adolescent, earlier than Dawn on the Reaping. Lots of people didn’t learn it as a result of they didn’t need to get into his twisted, evil thoughts. I didn’t learn it till this previous fall, and I actually loved it as a world-building story (and the film is one in every of my favourite casts in fairly a while).
My suggestion? You possibly can technically learn Dawn and perceive the plot with out studying Ballad, however you’ll get SO way more out of it for those who learn the ebook first. The individuals saying, “I didn’t learn it and I used to be fantastic!” do not know what they’re lacking.
Coming Up in April 2025
It is a month with zero journey on the schedule! Spring is my favourite time of yr in Prague, and I like the official swapping of winter coats for trench coats, the reopening of out of doors eating, and the way in which flowers burst into bloom all over the place.
Do I’ve any tangible plans? Nope, and I’m joyful for it.
What did you stand up to in February and March? Share away!
