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September is certainly one of my favourite months of the yr to journey. You’ve gotten unbelievable climate in each Europe and New England, it’s nonetheless seaside time in barely hotter areas, and the youngsters are again at school, so it’s far much less busy.
Like most years, we had a September stuffed with journey plans. However this yr, we had some excellent occasions and really dangerous occasions.
This month was stuffed with celebrations and reunions. My sister’s long-awaited marriage ceremony on Cape Cod. A pal’s milestone birthday celebration within the UK. A convention stuffed with buddies, simply down the street from Prague in Brno.
After which we received hit with COVID for the primary time because the pandemic started. First it got here for Charlie. Per week later, it got here for me. I’m nonetheless testing constructive as I sort this out, ready to get better so I can depart quarantine already.
Let’s check out the month!
Locations Visited
Prague, Soběhrdy, and Brno, Czech Republic
Brighton, Watford, and Amersham, England
Studying, Malden, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Provincetown, Oak Bluffs, Winery Haven, Aquinnah, Chilmark (together with Menemsha), Edgartown (together with Chappaquiddick), West Tisbury, and Woburn, Massachusetts
Nashua, New Hampshire
Highlights
Celebrating my sister’s and brother-in-law’s marriage ceremony on the Cape. Sarah and Matt really received married in 2020, however this was their long-awaited BIG celebration. This was among the finest weddings I’ve EVER been to (really, in all probability THE finest?!) and I beloved the way it was stuffed with a lot love and enjoyable.
I used to be the maid of honor, and Sarah and Matt introduced collectively a tremendous assortment of household and buddies in a real occasion setting. One of many highlights was the favors — Cape-themed non permanent tattoos in lighthouses, hydrangeas, clams, and sharks! We had a lot enjoyable with them!
The marriage was on the Nauset Seashore Inn in Orleans, which was great in each approach (and set on the Cape’s finest seaside, Nauset Seashore). Additionally need to give a shout-out to One Step Forward, an impressive band that saved us dancing to Lizzo, Montell Jordan, and Earth, Wind and Hearth!
Visiting Martha’s Winery for the primary time ever. For greater than a decade I’ve joked that Martha’s Winery and Nantucket are my two largest oversights as a Massachusetts native who travels for a residing. FINALLY, I made it to the Winery.
And it was an important journey. I used to be genuinely shocked at how not-crowded it was in September, and we loved beautiful early fall climate — suppose sunshine, blue skies, and jean jackets at evening.
We lined the island in depth, gawking over the multicolored Aquinnah cliffs, strolling by means of the candy-colored Victorian homes of Oak Bluffs, taking the tiny Chappy Ferry to Chappaquiddick Island.
We stayed at Nobnocket Boutique Inn in Winery Haven, who hosted us, and for those who’re in search of a pleasant place to remain, I adored it right here. We had an unlimited suite with a sitting room, the breakfasts had been scrumptious and gorgeously plated every morning, they introduced turndown cookies every evening, and it was only a quick stroll from downtown Winery Haven, rather more chilled out than the opposite massive cities. I may have stayed there for weeks.
Way more on the Winery is coming to the weblog quickly!
Celebrating an in depth pal’s milestone birthday within the UK. Charlie’s finest pal Aeon throws a bonfire occasion in November yearly, however this yr threw one two months earlier for his birthday. It was a lot enjoyable — buddies, meals, costumes thrown collectively on the final minute, having fun with our time in a historic residence outdoors London.
Charlie and I flew into Gatwick, so we determined to go to Brighton for an evening, because it’s a brief practice journey from the airport. I’ve needed to go to Brighton for such a very long time, and actually beloved it! Such a cool seaside metropolis with stunning laneways, an amusement park-topped pier, attention-grabbing structure, enjoyable pubs, and a proudly queer scene. I can’t wait to write down about it.
Our time in Watford coincided with a retro practice journey close by. An old style practice from the Nineteen Thirties made a visit from Amersham to Watford and again, so just a few of us received tickets for the journey. It was a enjoyable classic journey for transportation geeks!
Returning to my first Traverse convention since 2019. I like Traverse — Charlie and I met at Traverse in Trentino! — and it was so good to see so many buddies. I noticed a number of inspiring talks and realized a ton.
Brno is a very cool metropolis, and has wonderful cafes and bars. It’s sandwiched proper between Prague and Vienna, so it makes an important place for a go to! For me, the large spotlight was Villa Tugendaht, a spectacularly functionalist residence. Get tickets WAY upfront.
And Cailin got here and stayed with us in Prague for a few of that point, so it was so good to have a go to along with her.
Good occasions in Prague. What did we rise up to this month? Festivals! September brings a few of the finest meals festivals within the metropolis, like Americká Fest, a wine fest on JZP (they really had Moldovan crimson wine, which Charlie and I had been so enthusiastic about!), and Pivo a Burger, a beer and burger fest proper in our neighborhood.
We additionally took our pal and his two-year-old daughter to Farmapark, a children’ park outdoors Prague with livestock, playgrounds, trampolines, and extra. They even have camels you possibly can feed! An ideal place to go to with children if in case you have a automobile.
Challenges
Charlie and I lastly received COVID. We averted it for two.5 years, nevertheless it lastly occurred. We really received it every week aside — it took him down first, then me.
I’m grateful that our signs had been delicate. I’m past grateful I made it to my sister’s marriage ceremony. (I examined twice a day main as much as the marriage, together with a PCR take a look at the day earlier than. My constructive take a look at got here the Tuesday after.)
I began feeling signs and examined constructive whereas in Martha’s Winery; we had seen a ton of the island already, however I actually want I had been in a position to discover Oak Bluffs and Edgartown extra. We then moved to quarantine at a lodge in Woburn for just a few days, then went again to my dad’s to complete the quarantine.
Some issues I must share about COVID:
You’re in all probability swabbing incorrectly. Within the Czech Republic, our residence checks are saliva checks. Within the US, residence checks are swab checks. The swab checks let you know to solely swab your nostrils.
However I lately realized from these tweets that swabbing simply your nostrils isn’t sufficient. As a way to get extra correct outcomes, you have to be swabbing your throat and cheeks as properly. (Your nasopharyngeal area is finest, WAY up your nostril, however I do know most individuals gained’t be capable of go all the best way up — simply go as far up as you possibly can stand.)
Simply do throat, cheeks, nostril, as far up the nostril as you possibly can go.
Don’t count on two companions to have the identical COVID expertise. It went by means of Charlie rapid-fire. Up to now it’s taking for much longer to undergo me. We anticipated me to observe his timeline, however nope.
Assume that any massive indoor gathering might be a superspreader occasion and plan accordingly. Like a convention, a celebration, a marriage, even an evening out at a bar. In case you knew for sure that it could be a superspreader occasion, how would that change your actions?
You might select to not go. You might select to go, and masks the entire time (and skip unmasked components like post-event drinks). You might select to go, unmasked, and clear your schedule for the subsequent two weeks or so.
Understanding what I do know now, I’m going to be a lot pickier with the occasions I attend. And I’m NEVER going to plan two occasions in a row once more. Going to a convention adopted by a marriage led to a lot unimaginable stress.
Weblog Posts of the Month
My Precise Iceland Journey Value: Detailed Price range Breakdown — Probably the most detailed budgeting and journey value submit I’ve ever printed, with tons of details about how a lot Amanda and I spent on our two-week Iceland journey.
45 Fabulous Free Issues to Do in NYC — A massively complete record of fabulous and enjoyable NYC actions, with submissions from lots of my blogger colleagues.
Ideas for Visiting Kvernufoss Waterfall, Iceland — Kvernufoss was my favourite waterfall in Iceland, nevertheless it’s not almost as fashionable as a few of its neighbors! Right here’s what to know earlier than you go.
This Month on Patreon
On the Adventurous Kate Patreon, I publish unique content material and never-told tales you could entry for $6 monthly. We even have a non-public Fb group and members get free entry to the E book Membership every month.
This month’s long-form submit was about the way to throw a marriage that REALLY works properly — utilizing my sister’s marriage ceremony as inspiration (and many pics).
I had a hell of a narrative to inform from the Brno convention, however that might be for this month, plus some Iceland stuff too. Sadly I felt too exhausted to get it out this month.
E book Membership This Month
I needed to reschedule this month’s e book membership because of my COVID and never feeling up for operating an occasion, even when on-line. Our subsequent E book Membership might be on Sunday, October 23, at 1:00 PM Jap Time! We might be studying Of Girls and Salt, a novel by Cuban- and Mexican-American writer Gabriela Garcia.
“5 generations of ladies, linked by blood and circumstance, by the secrets and techniques they share, and by a single e book handed down by means of a household, with an affirmation scrawled in its margins: We’re power. We’re greater than we predict we’re.
1866, Cuba: Maria Isabel is the one lady employed at a cigar manufacturing facility, the place every day the employees discover power in day by day readings of Victor Hugo. However these are harmful political occasions, and as Maria begins to see marriage and motherhood as her solely choices, the sounds of struggle are approaching.
1959, Cuba: Dolores watches her husband make for the mountains in reply to Fidel Castro’s name to arms. What Dolores is aware of, although, is that to outlive, she should win her personal struggle, and commit an act of violence that threatens to destroy her daughter Carmen’s world.
2016, Miami: Carmen, nonetheless wrestling with the trauma of displacement, is shocked when her daughter Jeanette declares her plans to journey to Cuba to see her grandmother Dolores. Within the partitions of her crumbling residence lies a secret, one that can hyperlink Jeanette to her previous, and to this fearless line of ladies.
From nineteenth-century cigar factories to present-day detention centres, from Cuba to the US to Mexico, Gabriela Garcia’s Of Girls and Salt follows Latina ladies of fierce delight, certain by the tales handed between them. It’s a haunting meditation on the alternatives of moms and the tenacity of ladies who select to inform their fact regardless of those that want to silence them.”
You’ll be able to join right here. Patreon members get entry within the personal Patreon group.
New Hampshire Means Replace
Final month, I hit 25k periods inside 30 days on New Hampshire Means and utilized to Mediavine — however Mediavine was unable to evaluate my utility as a result of they’ll’t learn Google Analytics 4 (which Google assigns robotically to new websites lately). They requested me to put in Common Analytics, wait 30 days, and apply once more.
30 days later, I reapplied on September 19 (37k periods within the final 30 days). I received the information on September 28 — I used to be ACCEPTED! As I write this, they’re making ready to get the advertisements on.
This has been the BIG purpose I’ve been working towards since beginning the positioning. I’ve been earning money from lodge bookings and occasional excursions and actions, nevertheless it’s not sufficient to maintain the positioning. Mediavine advertisements will usher in vital earnings for the primary time, permitting me to recoup my sizable funding.
Listed below are some New Hampshire Means posts from this month:
New Hampshire Fall Foliage 2022: The place and When to Go — A information to the perfect foliage spots, and the way to time your journey for the perfect fall colours.
Greatest Mattress and Breakfasts in North Conway, NH — North Conway is THE fall getaway in New Hampshire, and there are lots of great B&Bs to select from.
What I Watched This Month
Not loads to share this month, however I did watch the remake of Father of the Bride with Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan and actually loved it! A candy 2022 model of the story, transported to Miami with a giant Cuban household, however with Nancy Myers-esque touches. It’s on HBO Max.
Oh, and Nice British Bake Off is again! Have any favorites? Up to now I actually like Syabira, Janusz, and Sandro. Sandro, OMG, he’s a scorching nanny from East London who works out twice a day and teaches baking to autistic children! HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE THIS GUY?
And Charlie and I began watching a present neither of us have seen: The Sopranos. By now it’s a interval piece!
Coming Up in October 2022
This month was supposed to start in New Hampshire, doing extra analysis and getting foliage images for New Hampshire Means. We needed to cancel a part of the journey because of my COVID, however as quickly as I get better, we might be heading as much as the White Mountains.
Past that, I’ll strive to slot in what we will! Possibly going to the Frank Lloyd Wright homes and all of the breweries I haven’t been to in Manchester, NH. Possibly Salem, Mass, which matches nuts in October. Possibly some other place in New England.
I head again to Prague in mid-October and that can start a month with ZERO journey plans. Truthfully, I’ve been wanting ahead to this break for months!
I overdid the travels this summer season: three weeks of Piemonte-Milan-Liguria-Sardinia in June and July, a July UK journey, two weeks in Iceland in August, one other UK journey in September, the convention in Brno, then 3.5 weeks within the States. Nice journeys, none of which I remorse, nevertheless it was an excessive amount of.
Possibly it wouldn’t be an excessive amount of for 26-year-old Kate, nevertheless it was positively an excessive amount of for 38-year-old Kate who has a house, fiancé, and cats. I’m wanting ahead to some much-needed cozy time at residence with kitty snuggles.
What are you wanting ahead to this month? Share away!
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