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For those who’re going to be in northern Europe in December, it’s worthwhile to be ready for the darkness. On daily basis will get darker than the final, and by early December, you’ll end up questioning simply how bleak it could actually get.
However that’s the place the Christmas lights are available in. And the markets. And all the pieces turns into a bit of extra bearable.
Locations Visited
- Prague and České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Heidelberg, Germany
- Strasbourg, Colmar, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, and Kayserberg, France
- London and Coulsdon, England
Do You Wish to Transfer Overseas in 2025?
I do know a number of you might have thought-about residing outdoors the US. Possibly it’s one thing you’d do “sometime” — and sometime hasn’t arrived but. Possibly your job, your children, or your pets stored you from pondering it was a chance for you.
This month, my pal Richelle is opening up the Transfer Overseas Escape Plan Boot Camp, a four-day occasion from January 25-28, the place Richelle helps you determine a particular plan to maneuver overseas.
In 4 days, she helps you determine what sort of way of life you need, the way you’ll become profitable, which nation to concentrate on — and a DATE. And sure — even you probably have children. Even you probably have pets, a associate, a situation that requires treatment, a profession you like. There’s a plan that may be just right for you personally.
Richelle is excellent at what she does, and she or he’s helped fairly a number of folks transfer abroad already, as you may see from her many testimonials.
This four-day boot camp solely prices $37 — which I feel is excellent worth for cash. You may be taught extra about it right here.
Highlights
I wore the identical gown 30 days in a row! Severely. I’ve found the model Wool& and their marvelous wool clothes, the softest issues you may think about. And since wool is a cloth that doesn’t maintain onto physique odor, you may put on it tons of occasions with out washing it.
(That doesn’t imply I didn’t wash it in any respect! I washed it twice — on day 11 and day 24.)
Wool& does 30-day gown challenges — in the event you put on the gown 30 days in a row and take a photograph every day, you’ll get $30 or 30 EUR. (Additionally they have a 100-day problem with a $100 reward.) However I used to be extra in it for the enjoyable than the cash.
I selected the black Chloe gown, a fitted gown with quick sleeves and an above-knee hem, which might be the best, most elementary gown you may think about — it’s gentle sufficient to tuck into denims, or you may throw a sweater or skirt on high of it.
So sure — I loved my 30 days immensely! I loved the “uniform” facet of carrying the identical gown every single day, and I liked dressing it up with equipment. And in the event you don’t like carrying clothes within the winter, having thick tights and good leggings makes such a giant distinction.
You’re going to see me carrying a LOT of Wool& in future posts. When you put on good wool, you received’t need to put on the rest. Keep tuned for extra.
Garments featured above:
- Picture 1: Gown, sweater (colour bought out), belt (related), tights, footwear
- Picture 2: Gown, thrifted Anthropologie skirt, belt (barely completely different colour), tights
- Picture 3: Gown, wrap gown worn as duster, belt (related), denims, belt (barely completely different colour), slippers
- Picture 4: Gown, blazer, belt (related), tights, footwear
A beautiful Christmas markets journey. After spending final December in South America, this yr I used to be looking forward to Europe’s Christmas markets season. Charlie and I made a decision to do a protracted weekend highway journey to a number of we hadn’t visited but.
We drove by way of Rothenburg to Heidelberg, the place we spent the evening; drove first to Strasbourg, then Colmar; and spent a day on the Navettes de Noël Christmas shuttle in Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, and Kayserberg, earlier than yet one more evening in Colmar and driving again to Prague.
General, it was enjoyable! The 2 main highlights had been Heidelberg, which has such an incredible vibe, scrumptious meals, and busy however not overly packed markets; and Ribeauvillé, an extremely detailed medieval market in arguably essentially the most lovely city in France.
I’ve been writing a bit about this, however the Alsace area of France is so crowded throughout Christmas that I wouldn’t advise visiting in the course of the weekend AT ALL (apart from Ribeauvillé, whose market solely takes place on two December weekends). Mainly, all of France’s Christmas vacationers get dumped into one tiny area and it’s tremendous, tremendous busy.
However we had a lot enjoyable, ate a number of good meals, and loved Christmas cheer in some lovely locations.
We additionally did a day journey to České Budějovice in South Bohemia, two hours from Prague by prepare. I’m not huge on Prague’s Christmas markets, that are tremendous commercialized, however České Budějovice has a very great market with distributors who’re really native, an ice skating rink, a ferris wheel, and a beer hut.
And České Budějovice is my ultimate new Czech vacation spot of the yr! I really visited at the least one new vacation spot every month of 2024!
Christmas enjoyable in Prague. We had a enjoyable Christmasy day trip going to a curler derby — my first ever — that was Santa vs. Grinch! Tremendous enjoyable! We topped it off with the Krampus parade in Prague.
Additionally, this yr, we obtained a Christmas tree — which is a giant deal, as a result of I’ve by no means had a Christmas tree in my grownup life. It at all times appeared like there wasn’t a degree when we’ve got to journey for each Christmas. And truthfully, I sort of felt like I didn’t deserve one — till this yr. It was time.
We purchased our first stockings and decor, our pal generously gave us some ornaments and lights, and it was so good not solely having decorations, however giving the kitties a particular Christmas. Lewis was SO excited to get the toys out of his stocking!
Christmas in England. This yr, Charlie and I celebrated along with his household in London. It was nice spending time with all of them, having fun with the over-the-top Christmas decor at my sisters-in-law’s home, and consuming the implausible meal Charlie cooked.
New 12 months’s at our place. We had mates over for New 12 months’s Eve, we drank the wines we had purchased on our journeys over the course of the yr, Charlie made beef Wellington, and naturally our pal Klara introduced her tiramisu.
Challenges
We had a troublesome time illness-wise with our Murray Bear this month. Murray peed in a number of locations the place he shouldn’t have — and as soon as we realized it was a sample, we took him to the vet.
That began a waterfall of occasions — Murray peeing on the mattress, a number of visits to the native laundromat as a result of it’s the one washer that may match our cover, Murray and his brother Lewis out of the blue not consuming (that could be resulting from a number of days of New 12 months’s fireworks scaring them), Lewis recovering and Murray refusing to eat something however Churu, Murray getting constipated, Murray and his brother violently attacking one another all afternoon lengthy after a vet go to.
After some meds and some adjustments at dwelling, Murray is doing SO a lot better. He hasn’t peed wherever he shouldn’t for weeks now. (I simply knocked my picket flooring.) And he’s been additional cuddly, snuggling as much as me after I go to mattress most nights.
Weblog Posts of the Month
Most Fashionable Reel on Instagram
My reel concerning the Ribeauvillé Christmas market in France went loopy! And deservedly so. This really is a particular market in contrast to another I’ve ever visited.
You may watch the reel right here and observe me on Instagram at @adventurouskate.
What I Listened To This Month
This month, my mates, I started a VERY huge problem. I’m listening to all 500 of Rolling Stone‘s 500 Best Albums of All Time. Why do that? I need to broaden my musical horizons, and at last take heed to so many musicians I’ve by no means listened to earlier than.
This looks like a well-structured approach to take heed to new music, and use it as a place to begin for deeper musical exploration. (It’s additionally price noting that the listing has been redone a number of occasions for the reason that first listing in 2003, which was heavy on white dude rock of the 70s. At present’s listing is far more various.)
I began this venture on December 17, and I ended up listening to albums 500-480 in December.
Favourite discovery: Weird Journey II the Pharcyde by The Pharcyde. WHAT AN ALBUM. The Pharcyde is artistic, bouncy, super-danceable early 90s hip-hop with a lot humor. (All of them began as dancers earlier than they grew to become rappers.) That is a few of the most joyful hip-hop I’ve ever heard.
Different favourite new discoveries: Ask Rufus by Rufus, If You’re Feeling Sinister by Belle and Sebastian.
Favourite revisited album: II by Boyz II Males. This was the second album I ever purchased myself, after I was 10 years outdated. It’s nonetheless implausible. Although I’ve to say “Khalil” hit me lots more durable as a 40-year-old with a information of police brutality than it did 30 years in the past.
Favourite songs: “Soul Flower” by The Pharcyde, “Daydreaming” by Harry Types, “Like Dylan within the Films” by Belle and Sebastian, “TV Social gathering” by Black Flag, “Getaway Driver” by Miranda Lambert.
Get the playlist: I’m making a playlist of my favourite songs from the five hundred albums — most one per album — on Spotify. You may take heed to it right here.
What I Watched This Month
Dangerous Sisters Season 2. I completely liked Season One in every of Dangerous Sisters, a darkish dramedy set in Eire the place 4 sisters conspire to homicide their sister’s abusive husband. I feel it’s top-of-the-line applications Apple TV + has produced.
Season 2? Whereas I liked the surroundings and the cinematography and the costumes and the nice and cozy, lived-in relationships the sisters have…this season wasn’t the identical. It was darker, felt hopeless, and the humor didn’t actually seem till the ultimate episode.
That stated, I appreciated what Sharon Horgan did — she wished to point out that life doesn’t out of the blue flip to rainbows as soon as an abusive associate is out of the image.
Other than that, Carry-On was mainly the film Telephone Sales space up to date for the 2020s, and Gladiator II was a film that actually didn’t should be made. I did persuade Charlie to come back see Depraved with me, although, which appears like an enormous triumph! He loved it.
Coming Up in January 2025
January goes to be a quiet month, one thing I’ve grown to worth and cherish. Charlie and I are persevering with our custom of a January with no alcohol, no sugar, no journey, and kicking up the train a notch or two. It units a very good instance for the yr to observe.
I’ve traveled throughout some Januaries (most just lately, spending January 2022 in Puerto Vallarta), however I discover that in January I’m so motivated to work onerous. I’m higher off utilizing that work-work-work power when I’ve it. Plus, January is a reasonably large month for the journey business with folks realizing they really want to plan some journeys!
Charlie and I even have a convention of a lodge keep someplace in Prague, profiting from the bottom lodge charges of the yr — however that’s as a lot as we’ve got on the calendar.
What are you wanting ahead to in 2025?
