MissDTravels

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Summer 16 Wrap Up, Part 1

September 17, 2016

2016 Summer Travel Map - Country Names in French This summer I visited 13 countries in total. They were: France Norway* Denmark* Sweden* Finland* Estonia* Latvia* Lithuania* Poland* Slovakia* Austria Germany England Nine (*) were new country visits, bringing my total number of foreign countries visited to 34. SUMMER 2016 HIGHLIGHTS - Part 1 Finishing a Marathon in the Arctic Circle By far the biggest highlight of this summer was completing a marathon in Tromsø, Norway, on June 18th/19th. Running a full marathon has been a life goal and when I decided to run this particular race, I also decided to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In total, I raised over $3100 and I finished the race injury free! Crossing the line at 12:43am during the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromsø. Eating Everything in Scandinavia (aka - "I Like Hotdogs Now") Crab Roll at Magnus Nilsson's food stall at Teatern, Stockholm. After leaving Nor

Catching Up

November 28, 2015

In Iceland. June 2015. When I started SwissMissD as a way to keep in contact with my former students, band parents, and friends and family in the USA, I thought that maintaining a steady flow of posts would be no problem. As someone who is often celebrated as highly "self-disciplined", I am disappointed in myself that I haven't found a way to keep it going with the same wit and consistency as I did at the beginning. So now, it's time to catch up a little. This weekend is my first one at home with time to myself in nearly 7 weeks and it's given me an opportunity to reflect on the last 5-6 months of travel and life overseas. Travel Since my last post (a very late and very short description of a February visit to Amsterdam), I've spent a few weeks in Portugal, a weekend in Milan, a weekend in the UK, a week in Croatia/Montenegro, and an entire summer of travel with a 60 litre pack (Countries visited: France, Iceland, N. Ireland, Ireland, Englan

Amsterdam

May 05, 2015

I wanted to take a long overdue moment to post a few photos and thoughts on my trip to Amsterdam in February. I felt incredible in Amsterdam. I was sketching, writing, reading, and just otherwise very happy there. I think it's a great place for people with diverse interests; you can find everything from serene biking around the canals to recreational drugs (if that's what you're into, of course) to museums, design, and music. Of all my travels so far, Amsterdam is the place I felt most at home; safe, creative, and energized. Highlights of my trip included: Rijksmuseum - The Dutch National Museum showcases the masters of art in a newly renovated and recently reopened tour de force. Van Gogh Museum - I spent Valentine's day at the Van Gogh Museum. He was my date. Did you know he produced all of that amazing work in only 10 years of painting? Neither did I. Badass. Tip: Order a ticket for a timed entry online and avoid the queues. Flower Market - A memora

Exploring NE Italy

February 17, 2015

After spending some time in PA with my family for the holidays I spent a quiet week in Leysin and then headed to North East Italy to visit with two friends from Florida. First, the flight from Geneva to Venice is the most beautiful I've ever been on. You fly directly over the Alps and it is truly breathtaking. Glad I had a window seat! Next, I have to thank my hosts, Kate and Paul (and Daisy Mae), for their incredible hospitality. It was really lovely staying in their cozy guest room, enjoying some K-cup coffee, and snuggling with their adorable dog Daisy Mae. One of the best things I did on my visit was learn to cook Frico, a regional dish, from the lovely and lively Italian, Teresa. Using Montaso cheese and potatoes, we created a filling dish that I've since recreated at home. Oh, and there was wine and blueberry Grappa, too. ;) Now, off to Venice. I really enjoyed visiting Venice in the winter months because there were very few crowds. It is a beautiful

Best of Berlin's Christmas Markets

January 17, 2015

It's officially 2015 and the holiday season is all wrapped up. I hope you all had a wonderful time with your family and friends, ate lots of goodies, shared stories, and celebrated a wonderful New Year. To put a bow on my 2014 travel stories, here are some thoughts and highlights from a 48 hour whirlwind tour of the Christmas Markets ( Weihnachtsmarkt ) in Berlin, Germany. I was inspired to visit Berlin before flying to the USA after reading several articles boasting Berlin's 50+ annual markets, the German Christmas atmosphere, and the superb gifts and foods. First, a little history: I visited Berlin in August and my December visit was entirely different. (Not unlike my Dental Tourism November versus August Music Festival travels to Budapest). During my first visit to Berlin, I stayed at a very large hostel with lots of young people and spent my time enjoying a diverse mix of cultural sights and evening events with some local Berliner friends. This time, however, I h

"AcciDental" Tourism

December 29, 2014

Earlier in the fall, a group of girl friends and I had decided we would spend our November long weekend in Budapest, Hungary. I had talked up the capital city for its thermal baths, cheap salons, spas, accommodations, and shopping, that now everyone else wanted to go, too. And, of course, I was happy to return to one of my favorite summer 2014 travel destinations and serve as a bit of a tour guide. We booked our flights and an Airbnb apartment and in November off we went with an empty suitcase intended for goodies and a list of beauty treatments we wanted done. And then, on the first night, dental disaster struck. It started with a series of strange headaches followed shortly after by pain in my jaw and then BOOM! - full on excruciating pain on the entire left side of my mouth, both inside and out. It was at this moment that one of my friends informed me of "Dental Tourism" - a subset of medical tourism that was completely unknown to me beforehand. As it turns out, Buda