Trip Highlights
(59) FINLAND-July/August 2024
(Found the cutest book series-Moomin-written by Tove Jansson from Finland) (First time seeing a grocery store inside the airport while leaving for our airbnb) (Jude tried squid at an all you can eat sushi place) (Rich & Richie found "Richie's Gourmet Hot Dogs" in the airport)
(58) SWEDEN-July/August 2024
(Loved Gamla Stan "Old Town") (Vasa Museum-best preserved 17th century ship) (Walked to the Royal National City Park and gps led us to a random tree) (Kids loved IKEA dinner night at the airbnb so much that we did it twice) (Life guard infantry marching band performed during the changing of the guards at the Royal Palace in old town) (Brought home a handmade Sweden wooden horse as a souvenir and named him "Rody") (Jude did more hedgehog hunting with no sightings)
(57) LATVIA-July/August 2024
(Riga's black cats are supposed to bring good luck-they are symbolized all over old town-surprisingly we only saw one real cat during our visit) (Lots of beautiful parks to go hedgehog hunting and feed the pigeons) (Three brothers houses) (House of the Blackheads)
(56) LITHUANIA-July/August 2024
(Visited the Holy Trinity Church where the original Divine Mercy painting is) (Jodi saw a real hedgehog during her moring run) (Boys had some amazing pork knuckles and ribs at a Lithuanian restaurant) (Richie got a real amber dice) (Jude found the "Miracle Tile" by the Vilnius Cathedral where you can make a wish) (Loved Uzupis free town) (Jude found 4 hedgehog souvenirs & searched for hedgehogs with no luck) (Rich & Jude tried beet soup which was not a hit) (Loved the Lithuanian "Tree Cakes") (Terrible storm the day we left with 54 mph wind gusts-Jodi had her worst run ever)
(55) POLAND-July/August 2024
(Boys loved the Polish food - pork knuckle with mustard, horseradish & sauerkraut was their favorite) (Richie loved Lody aka "ice cream") (Church of the Holy Cross-Frederic Chopin's heart is preserved in a pillar-Warsaw) (Lviv Croissants were Rich's favorite-Warsaw) (Jude found a huge amber scorpion-Warsaw) (Lazienki Park-saw a peacock & Jude fed the pigeons and a squirrel-Warsaw) (Hala Mirowska market was fun buying cheese from a grumpy Polish lady-Warsaw) (The Divine Mercy Shrine-resting place of Saint Faustina was amazing-Krakow) (St. Mary's Basilica was so beautiful inside-Krakow) (Loved the old town-even found a Domino's Pizza that was way better than home-Krakow) (Rich found the best Polish donut at Dobra Paczkarnia-Krakow) (Richie loved the gingerbread cookies-Krakow) (Dragon's Den was fun for Rich & Richie and not for Jodi & Jude because they turned back-Krakow) (Kids stood by a man from Croatia that was 6'8" and did not play basketball) (Saw a stork nest and storks on our drive from Krakow to Warsaw)
(54) ESTONIA-July/August 2024
(Loved the charming Old Town) (Jude collected his first 4 hedgehog souvenirs) (Rich found his favorite cake-Strawberry Marzipan Cake at a really nice mall) (Got the coolest poster-All the countries by size) (Estonian Open Air Museum-the boys got to cut logs with a hand held saw) (Explored Tallinna Linnahall-old soviet stadium) (Had a picnic & fed seagulls by the water) (Alexander Nevsky Cathedral) (Balti Jaama Turg Market)
(53) BRAZIL-May/June 2024
(Christ the Redeemer-amazing views and just below is a beautiful santuary with the Black Madonnna) (Could see Christ the Redeemer from our awesome airbnb) (Jude loved the waves at Copacabana Beach-we were 2 blocks away) (Famous Selaron Steps were so detailed, amazing tile work-Snoop Dogg & Pharell filmed there) (Riding motorcycles to start the Pefro de Telegrafo Hike-quite a trek, fed white tufted marmosets along the trail) (Museum of Tomorrow) (Jardin Botanico) (The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian-pyramid church-saw a Black Madonna) (Richie loved the gelato at the biggest mall in Rio de Janeiro)
(52) URUGUAY-May/June 2024
(Andes Museum) (Carnival Museum) (Jodi ran along the rambla which is the longest in South America) (Walked a lot in Roosevelt Park-kids played on the handmade equipment) (Explored the beach) (Jude found his favorite candy bar-Hershey Air)
(51) ARGENTINA-May/June 2024,
(Iguazu National Park-explored the upper & lower circuits, saw toucans in the wild, a kingfisher, so many butterflies-the falls were amazing with beautiful rainbows-largest waterfall system in the world) (The boys had Argentinian steak known as Bife de Chorizo & loved it) (Rich loved Yerba Mate out of his fancy tea cup & special straw) (Three borders landmark-stood in Argentina and could see Brazil and Paraguay) (Enjoyed relaxing at our airbnb)
(50) PARAGUAY-May/June 2024
(Presidential Palace-ate at a nice restaurant across from the palace, our waiter Gustavo was very kind) (Paraguay river front was nice) (Plaza de la Democracia-a soccer game was playing on the closed street for pedestrians) (Asuncion City Market-found unique crafts) (Almost had the entire Paraguay airport to ourselves)
(49) BOLIVIA-May/June 2024
(Biocentro Guembe Mariposario eco park-saw real toucans & lots of macaws in the aviary and spider monkeys) (El Cristo statue) (Ventura Mall-Jude loved the Sushi train restaurant and the family went bowling) (Had trouble leaving Bolivia because our airline went out of business & they questioned our yellow fever vaccines because of the "necessary" incubation period)
(48) COLOMBIA-May/June 2024
(El Dorado Day-Lake Guatavita) (Rich ate bunny rabbit at the town of Guatavita) (Rode the funicular to the top of Monserrate mountain-10,341') (Saw the Black Madonna at Monserrate Sanctuary) (At the Gold Museum in Bogota, we saw the golden boat that represents the Muiseas cermonies) (Got our free yellow fever vaccines at the airport clinic)
(47) JORDAN-March 2024
(Petra-Wadi Musa) (Stood where Indiana Jones was filmed in Petra) (Rode mules to the top of the Monastery) (Learned how to tie Arab Head Scarves) (The Baptism Site of Jesus Christ) (Swimming/Floating in the Dead Sea-Rich loved the Dead Sea Mud) (Only one restaurant was open in the City Mall-we were told we had to eat in our car because of Ramadan)
(46) SAUDIA ARABIA-March 2024
(Very hospitable people) (Jude loved the food) (Woman's bathrooms were designed for women wearing burqas)
(45) EGYPT-March 2024
(The Great Pyramids of Giza) (Riding the camels at the pyramids was super fun) (Red Sea was beautiful-Dehab) (Hiking Mount Sinai was unbelievable-our guide Mohammad had already hiked it before us that day with no food or water-St. Catherine's) (St. Catherine's Monastery-oldest monastery in the world) (Valley of the Kings-seeing King Tut's mummy was amazing-Luxor) (Luxor dogs were very vicious during Jodi's runs) (Thebes resturant was our favorite-Luxor) (Drove around 2500 km in Egypt total)
(44) CAMBODIA-Dec 2023/Jan 2024
(Angkor Wat Temple) (Bayon Temple) (Ta Prohm Temple "Tomb Raider") (Kanell Dinner Show) (Tho, our 3 day tuk tuk driver was amazing) (Fair trade handmade crafts were very well done) (Best inexpensive massages) (Cambodia Green Gardens were beautiful)
(43) INDIA-Dec 2023/Jan 2024
(Taj Mahal-Agra) (Amber Fort-Jaipur) (Monkey Temple-monkeys sat on our shoulders & we fed them-Jaipur) (Chandni Chowk was an overwhelming & busy market-New Delphi) (Dogs of India were quite aggresive during Jodi's runs) (Khalid our driver had exceptional driving skills to drive in India)
(42) THAILAND-Dec 2023/Jan 2024
(The Grand Palace-Bangkok) (Elephant Villiage-fed elephants-Hua Hin) (Monkey mountain-Hua Hin) (Jude found his new favorite type of restaurant, "Hot Pot") (Best Orange Juice & Fruit)
(41) JAPAN-Dec 2023/Jan 2024
(Toliets played music while being used) (Very polite people) (Richie loved the vending machines)
(40) BULGARIA-July/August 2023
(Walking 3 miles across border) (Liberty square) (Eating the mixed grill plate) (Roman castle of sexsaginta prista)
(39) ROMANIA-July/August 2023
(Bran Castle) (Peles Castle) (Cantacuzino Castle-set of tv series "Wednesday") (Eating Papanasi) (Brasov-Cartofisserie chicken & fries) (Sighisoara-Dracula's birth town) (Sighisoara-Dracula investigation) (Sighisoara-Spoonman's shop) (Zarnesti-Cafe Rustico) (Bucharest-Parliamentary palace)
(38) HUNGARY-July/August 2023
(Parliament building) (Fisherman's bastion) (Richie's 2nd favorite pasta in the world at Jamie Oliver's Italian Budapest) (Eating chimney cakes)
(37) SLOVAKIA-July/August 2023
(St. Elizabeth's church-blue church) (St. Martins's cathedral) (Old Town) (Devin's castle) (Bratislava castle) (Selfie cappuccino at Five Points Bistro-We did our travel logo)
(36) CZECH REPUBLIC-July/August 2023
(Infant Jesus of Prague) (Old town) (Prague astonomical clock) (Prague castle) (Saint Vitus cathedral) (Basilica of St. George) (Golden lane)
(35) NORWAY-May/June 2023
(Kon-Tiki museum) (Fram museum) (Munch museum)
(34) DENMARK-May/June 2023
(Lego House) (Legoland) (Nyhavn historic waterfront) (Freetown Christiania)
(33) FRANCE-May/June 2023
(Climbing 674 steps & elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower) (Louvre museum) (Picasso museum) (Sienna river cruise) (Disneyland) (Palace of Versailles)
(32) LUXEMBOURG-May/June 2023
(Le Chemin de la Corniche-most beautiful balcony in Europe) (Chocolate House) (Old Town) (Adolphe Bridge)
(31) BELGIUM-May/June 2023
(Manneken Pis landmark) (Eating Belgium chocolate, waffles & fries) (Mini Europe) (Atomium)
(30) NETHERLANDS-May/June 2023
(Anne Frank House) (Van Gogh museum) (Rijks museum) (Waterlooplein flea market) (Albert Cuyp market) (Eating amazing cheese, best strawberries in the world & stroopwafels)
(29) UNITED KINGDOM-March 2023
(Stonehenge) (Going inside the Tower Bridge) (National Gallery-Trafalgar Square) (Riding the double decker bus) (Seeing all the landmarks) (Biggest Lego store & M&M store in Europe) (Crust Bros. Pizza) (Underground)
(28) CYPRUS-March 2023
(Climbing Aphrodite's Rock) (Olestro Olive Oil tour) (Archaeological Site of Nea Paphos) (Paphos walkway) (Jude loved feeding the coy fish at breakfast)
(27) NORTH CYPRUS-March 2023
(Shopping in Buyuk Han) (Meeting Savina who crochets beautiful baby items)
(26) ECUADOR-Dec 2022/Jan 2023
(Seeing Galapagos penguins, Blue footed boobies, Nazca booby, Galapagos giant tortoises-dome & saddleback, Marine iguanas, Frigatebirds, Sea lions & Sea turtles) (Snorkling during Las Tintoreras boat tour)
(25) PANAMA-Dec 2022/Jan 2023
(Panama Canal) (Shop in Casco Viego)
(24) CROATIA-May/June 2022
(Dubrovnik-Old Town) (Dubrovnik-Hike Mt. Srd) (Split-Diocletian's Palace) (Split-Krka National Park) (Pula Colosseum) (Zagreb licitar gingerbread heart) (Rijeka-Church of Mary of God of Trsat)
(23) BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA-May/June 2022
(Visiting the blue cross where Mary appeared) (Our Medugorje crosses blessed by Father Michael at the church)
(22) MONTENEGRO-May/June 2022
(Jude's favorite pizza in the world) (Visiting Old Town) (Walking along the promenade) (Beaches)
(21) SLOVENIA-May/June 2022
(Visiting Bled Island by a pletna boat) (Strolling around Lake Bled) (Bled Castle) (Hike Mala Osojnica-best views)
(20) ITALY-May/June 2022
(Venice-Gondola ride-our gondala was in the movie "The Tourist") (Venice-Shopping for the perfect Venetian mask) (Venice-Murano glass) (Loreto-House of Mary & Black Madonna)
(19) SAN MARINO-May/June 2022
(Wandering around Old Town in the oldest sovereign state in the world) (Guaita tower)
(18) GERMANY-May/June 2022
(Munich-Staying at the Leonardo Royal four-star hotel)
(17) PERU-March 2022
(Macchu Picchu) (Kids drank "Macchu Picchu" rain water) (Trying alpaca in Aguas Calientes) (Lake Titicaca-Highest lake in the world) (Uros Islands) (Paracas History Museum-elongated skulls) (Trying cuy in Cusco)
(16) SPAIN-December 2021/January 2022
(Granada-Exploring Alhambra palace) (Granada Cathedral) (Granada-Jodi's favorite almond cake) (Trying iberian ham) (Granada-Flamenco show) (Granada-The Monastery of Cartuja-most beautiful sacristy in the world) (Seville-Plaza de Espana) (Seville Cathedral-Christopher Columbus tomb)
(15) GIBRALTAR-Dec 2021/Jan 2022
(Hike the Rock of Gibraltar) (See Gibraltar monkeys-tailless monkeys up close)
(14) PORTUGAL-Dec 2021/Jan 2022 & May/June 2023
(Fatima-The Chapel of the Apparitions 2021/2022) (Lisbon-Trying pastel de nata) (Lisbon-Commerce square)
(13) NORTH MACEDONIA-May/June 2021
(Skopje-Canyon Matka tour) (Skopje-Visting Mother Theresa's house) (Chocolate World is the best) (Strolling along beautiful Lake Orchid) (Ohrid pearls) (Ohrid-Bay of Bones boat tour & St. Naum Monastery)
(12) GREECE-May/June 2021
(Kavala-Richie's favorite pasta in the world) (Greek kourabiedes) (Philippi Archaeological Site) (Visiting Pella) (Thassos Island) (Melia Restaurant-best vanilla bean ice cream in the world) (Karydi beach)
(11) AUSTRIA-May/June 2021 & July/August 2023
(Vienna-Most comfortable airport couches-2021) (Schonbrunn Palace-2023) (St. Stephen's cathedral-2023) (Eating apfelstrudel-originated in Austria-2023)
(10) ALBANIA-May/June 2021
(Strolling thru the Old Bazaar) (Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral) (Talking to the Albanian teenagers)
(9) COSTA RICA-Dec 2020/Jan 2021
(Seeing the arenal volacano-only coned shaped volcano) (Richie & Rich learned to surf in Tamarindo-Richie's first time) (Jodi, Richie & Jude rode horses at Playa Conchal-Jude's first time) (Tour Manual Antonio)
(8) IRELAND-May/June 2019
(Exploring Conner's Pass) (Blarney Castle-Richie was the only brave one to kiss the Blarney stone) (Cliffs of Moher) (Trim Castle)
(7) NORTHERN IRELAND-May/June 2019
(Exploring the Giant's Causeway)
(6) ICELAND-May/June 2019
(Reykjavik-Most expensive airport food)
(5) CANADA-August 2018
(Seeing Niagara Falls) (Maid of the Mist boat trip)
(4) DOMINICAN REPUBLIC-June 2018
(Dinghy catamaran ride) (Beach & pools) (Best desserts)
(3) MEXICO-July 2015 & May 2023
(Swimming with dolphins-2015) (Fun kids club-2015) (Chichen Itza-2023) (Cenote-2023) (El Rey-2023)
(2) JAMAICA-June 2003
(Dunn River Falls tour) (Beach & pools) (Entertainment)
(1) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Best things to do in a new city
Strolling around the Old Town, relaxing at a cafe, talking to the locals, being adventurous trying the local cuisine and seeing the sites.
