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This month, I visited a brand spanking new nation — Panama — and made a pleasing consult with house to the states. Sooner than that, it used to be all about playing the month of November in Prague, seeing the remaining of the brightly coloured leaves and feeling the primary cold temperatures of wintry weather.
And that’s what I’ll be speaking about. No longer the election. As a result of I don’t really feel love it.
Let’s check out November 2024!
A really perfect evening out for Shakespeare!
Locations Visited
Prague, Nymburk, and Poděbrady, Czech Republic
Panama Town and the San Blas Islands (together with Flamingo Island, Aroma Island, Nugnudub, Isla Perro, and Isla Diablo, amongst others), Panama
Beverly, Danvers, Gloucester, and Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Kennebunkport and Wells, Maine, USA
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA
The view from our room on the Sofitel in Panama Town
Highlights
A a laugh pre-Thanksgiving go back and forth to Panama. Charlie and I made up our minds to throw in an additional vacation spot within the Americas — why now not Panama? I’ve visited such a lot of Central The united states differently!
We began our go back and forth in Panama Town and splurged on a keep on the Sofitel in Panama Town, which we completely liked. I will be able to’t counsel the lodge extremely sufficient!
In Panama Town, we did a go back and forth to the Panama Canal (so interesting to be told the historical past and seeing the large ships go back and forth throughout the locks!), strolled throughout the Casco Viejo outdated the town group, ate conventional Panamanian meals (such a lot ceviche, and we liked their tackle arroz con pollo), and drank a LOT of superb espresso.
The San Blas Islands appear to be a child drew them!
Then got here the San Blas Islands — and THAT is an outstanding vacation spot. Those islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama are in an independent zone run by means of the Guna Indigenous other people.
We booked a three-day, two-night itinerary that integrated nights on two other islands. When you arrive, the boat captains herd you round expertly; everybody goes someplace other!
Those islands actually are the type you fantasize about as just a little child — tiny islets crowned with a number of tall, wild palm timber, a couple of huts on shore. Simply getting that have is efficacious — as is getting clear of the arena and playing a virtual detox (islands have various levels of telephone sign and wifi availability).
I additionally liked getting to shop for some Guna artwork — brightly embroidered items of material known as molas — without delay from the Guna group, and significantly better high quality for decrease costs than in Panama Town. Like, $20 for an exquisite piece of art work the scale of a placemat. I will be able to’t wait to border ours.
For the file, I’d counsel visiting Panama right through prime season if you’ll be able to (mid-December via mid-March). It used to be so humid, grey, and wet right through a lot of our November consult with. Panama Town used to be particularly brutal. It felt like our garments may just by no means get utterly dry.
Thanksgiving dinner at my cousin’s area!
Excellent instances with friends and family in New England. We flew house to rejoice Thanksgiving with my kin, and it used to be great to look everybody and benefit from the time in combination.
We were given to spend some high quality time with my dad, and we had a super meal at a new-to-me position, Seaport Grille in Gloucester — move there for a large lobster roll at an incredibly low value!
Charlie and I additionally went to dinner at No. 9 Park, a mythical Boston eating place that will probably be final within the New Yr, and I sought after to enjoy it one remaining time. WELL — seems any person purchased it and will probably be preserving the entire team of workers! They want to somewhat regulate the eating place identify, despite the fact that.
If you wish to move, you wish to have to get their signature dish — the prune-stuffed gnocchi. It’s well-known for a explanation why.
Using up the coast close to Kennebunkport.
We additionally went to Kennebunkport to hang around with my Maine peers, and spent an evening on the Nonantum Hotel, the place my pal’s dad works and kindly introduced us a friends-and-family fee. Now THAT is a pleasing position — so comfy, a fantastic team of workers, and almost definitely the most efficient lodge breakfast that I’ve had in the USA.
Kennebunkport is a spot I all the time power via however hardly spend time in, but it surely’s any such great the town, particularly right through the Christmas season as a result of they move all out on decorations! We had nice foods on the Batson River Brewery in Kennebunkport and the Sour Finish, a ravishing little pub in within reach Wells.
Amusing with the women — together with one tiny lady!
And as is changing into standard, my peers and I met up for brunch in Portsmouth, New Hampshire — a town magically equidistant from the place we’re all primarily based in this day and age. The Pleasant Toast is all the time a a laugh meal out.
And a snappy ultimate observe — I’m somewhat embarrassed to mention this as a traveler from the Boston house, however I took Logan Categorical this month for the primary time ever. I must were doing this for YEARS. $9 consistent with price ticket, and a snappy, direct trip from the suburbs to Logan Airport.
Should you’re primarily based within the Boston suburbs, take it! I must were taking it from Woburn once I lived in Studying, however no less than now I will be able to take it from Danvers once I’m visiting my dad in Beverly.
It used to be great walking round Nymburk.
Excellent instances in Prague and past! We had a pleasing month in Prague. Charlie and I went to our annual Shakespeare efficiency — The Service provider of Venice by means of the Prague Shakespeare Corporate.
This month’s go back and forth to a brand new Czech vacation spot used to be in reality to 2 cities shut to one another — Nymburk, which has a fascinating town wall, and Poděbrady, which is a small spa the town with a fort and a pleasing park.
Either one of the ones cities are pretty to consult with if you happen to reside in Prague, however I don’t assume I’d counsel them to guests from in another country. There are such a lot of higher day journeys from Prague.
Additionally — I discovered a brand new Czech trainer this month! I’m going again into classes, and this time it’s one-on-one tutoring. And I’m overjoyed that I retained an honest quantity of Czech from the teachings I had years in the past!
Demanding situations
This month I stated good-bye to a kitty I liked. You may take into accout Balíček, our peers’ cat, who got here to reside with us for a couple of monthlong stints and had a good time putting out with Lewis and Murray. We noticed him always and frequently took care of him when his kin used to be touring.
Balíček were dwelling with most cancers and kidney failure the remaining yr, and despite the fact that remedies prolonged his existence and stored him comfy, he took a flip for the worst in November. I’m thankful that our peers invited us over to mention good-bye to him.
I’ve by no means met a cat as loving as Balíček! He used to be repeatedly snuggling as much as other people, sitting in everybody’s laps, mountain climbing on you whilst you have been operating at your computer. When Charlie and I labored at our desks, he would come as much as us and faucet our palms till we gave him sufficient room to leap into our laps.
Listed here are a couple of of my favourite pictures:
Omit you eternally, good friend. You have been one among a type.
Weblog Posts of the Month
I by no means concept I’d personal such a.
Model Second of the Month
I’ve been seeking to put on extra herbal fibers in recent times — extra wool, linen, silk, and cotton. Much less plastic — that means much less polyester and polyamide-blend sweaters.
This has made a giant have an effect on on my buying groceries, as I now get started label-first. I put on numerous Sézane, and despite the fact that their high quality has long gone down lately, they nonetheless have some 100% herbal sweaters — I really like the 100% merino wool Betty, and the merino wool-cotton blend Sami. Each really feel SO great.
However one among my absolute favourite issues I’ve purchased in herbal fibers isn’t one thing I by no means concept I’d purchase — a cashmere sweatsuit.
It’s a cashmere hoodie and cashmere straight leg pants from the reasonably priced high quality emblem Quince. Most likely somewhat dear for loungewear, however CHEAP for cashmere, and taking into account how frequently I’m dressed in them, they’ll be right down to $1 consistent with put on by means of spring.
I’ve LIVED IN THESE at house each and every unmarried day since I’ve gotten them. I sleep in them. I paintings in them. They’re so heat however so gentle, and really feel SO DAMN GOOD. If you wish to deal with your self, those are superior.
What I Listened To This…Yr!
I pay attention to such a lot lo-fi right through my operating hours that it from time to time throws my complete Spotify Wrapped out of whack — however this yr, it’s filled with exact tune that I listened to!
My best tune used to be the standard combine of dad and hip-hop, with a large of different thrown in from Smashing Pumpkins, whom I noticed in live performance in Prague this yr.
2024 used to be an improbable yr for ladies in pop, and I particularly listened to numerous Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish (whom I began paying attention to for the primary time this yr, and now understand that sure, she completely merits her ridiculous collection of awards at any such younger age), and Sabrina Wood worker.
I’m hoping to look any of the ones girls in live performance someday! Lately hoping Sabrina extends her Europe live performance dates this spring, as a result of she has not anything in Germany or Austria or Czech Republic but — indubitably she’d upload a couple of dates there, wouldn’t she??
And naturally… “No longer Like Us” used to be the tune of the yr, to 0 marvel on my finish.
What I Watched This Month
First off — I noticed Depraved, and it used to be EVERYTHING. In spite of being a Broadway fan, I by no means were given into Depraved, however the film is SO, SO, SO well-done. Fantastically solid, with a fully spellbinding manufacturing design (with minimum CGI, yay!!).
And up to I flinched on the Boq-and-Glinda moments (if you recognize, you recognize), there’s no query that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have been the very best possible choices to famous person in those roles. They have been each exceptional and embodied the characters so superbly.
I’m having a look ahead to seeing Depraved a 2nd time as soon as it involves Prague!
Gladiator II, then again? Entertaining from time to time…however did this film want to be made? I don’t assume it did! The CGI baboons have been ridiculous, and Denzel having an American accessory among all of the British accents used to be simply too jarring.
And up to I like Paul Mescal, I believe he used to be miscast. His energy is softness, like in Aftersun, and this function used to be written as testosterone personified. Each and every time Denzel instructed him how a lot rage he had inside of himself, I assumed to myself, Actually? Rage is what you spot? And also you actually assume this dude may just rally 1000’s of squaddies to do his bidding?
Some other film I actually loved used to be Emily the Prison, which is to be had to observe on HBO Max. This film stars Aubrey Plaza as a tender lady in pupil debt as much as her eyeballs who makes a decision to do somewhat of bank card fraud to get forward — then finally ends up in the course of a sinister legal endeavor. For sure value gazing, female-gazey in all of the proper techniques, and a super exhibit for her performing!
Lewis and Murray and salmon paste!
What I Learn This Month
The Battle of Songbirds and Snakes by means of Suzanne Collins (2020) — I rewatched the Starvation Video games motion pictures this month (actually, you’ll by no means wager what gave me the urge), and discovered that I had by no means ended up studying the newest e book, the prequel about President Snow as a young person.
What I really like in regards to the Starvation Video games collection is the extremely detailed world-building of Panem, but the way it’s a sobering and life like take a look at the results of conflict and fascism. This e book takes you again to the tenth Starvation Video games (Katniss’s first video games used to be the 74th), when the Capitol is only strong after years of conflict.
Coriolanus Snow is the son of a distinguished Panem kin — however at the back of closed doorways, they’re secretly ravenous. His simplest hope is to ingratiate himself a number of the maximum privileged of Panem, ace his research, and carve out a greater existence for his kin.
And this yr, he turns into some of the 24 first-time Starvation Video games mentors. He’s assigned the woman from District 12 — an interesting singer named Lucy Grey.
If you wish to be told up shut about how a decent-seeming teenage boy will get radicalized, this e book is an excellent instance.
Inside Out by means of Demi Moore (2019) — I grabbed this e book as an off-the-cuff pay attention whilst out on my walks, and WOW. I had no concept that Demi Moore is a type of celebrities, now not in contrast to Minka Kelly, who had any such wild adolescence that it’s a miracle that she made it to maturity.
Should you take into accout her romance and eventual marriage with Ashton Kutcher within the early 2000s, you take into accout the tabloids going nuts over their age distinction. She used to be 40 and he used to be 25 once they were given in combination. BLOODY HELL. I’m 40 now! She used to be handled like she used to be historic!!
Additionally, Ashton sucks. Despite the fact that you almost certainly knew that.
There have been some portions that appeared purposefully reticent (like a time when her complete kin minimize her off for a couple of years — they’ve since reconciled). However general, it used to be an excellent learn, and I loved spending a couple of hours inside of her head.
And it made me wish to watch extra of her motion pictures! There are such a lot of I haven’t noticed, like St. Elmo’s Hearth and G.I. Jane, and I’ve by some means by no means noticed A Few Excellent Males…
Colmar at Christmas, by means of Shutterstock
Coming Up in December 2024
It’s formally Christmas marketplace season in Europe! After lacking all of the markets remaining yr because of being in South The united states, I’m having a look ahead to indulging within the markets this yr.
Charlie and I will be able to be doing a four-day highway go back and forth to consult with some markets we haven’t visited sooner than. Day one will take us to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Heidelberg, two German towns I’ve lengthy sought after to consult with.
Days two and 3 will take us to the Alsace area of France, which I’ve visited sooner than, however by no means right through Christmas. We’ll be first visiting Obernai and Strasbourg, then heading to Colmar for 2 nights. From Colmar we’ll be taking the Christmas go back and forth to consult with the small cities of Kayserberg, Riquewihr, and Ribeauvillé.
At the lengthy power again, we’ll be breaking it up with a prevent round Stuttgart — perhaps Ludwigsburg.
I would possibly attempt to squeeze in some day journeys to the Christmas markets in Dresden and Nuremberg, either one of which I’ve visited sooner than, however I’d like to get some video.
And for my ultimate new Czech vacation spot of 2024, Charlie and I will be able to be visiting Ceské Budejovice, a a laugh town in South Bohemia that still places on a pleasing Christmas marketplace.
What are you getting as much as in December? Proportion away!
