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My travels in 2025 started with a six-week go back and forth to Mexico and the United States. Nearly totally to puts I had visited ahead of, with simplest Houston and Austin being new.
And whilst I’m most often ready to take care of the paintings when touring, all of it fell aside those closing two months. Partially as a result of the turmoil in america, as the federal government absolutely embraces fascism, as telephones are searched at borders for political beliefs, as ICE kidnaps other people, as many widespread guests refuse to go back to america, because the financial system crashes whilst the billionaires get richer.
I do know what to do as a citizen. I donate. I name my reps. I boycott. I magnify. I protest when I will be able to, and beef up protestors when I will be able to’t. I even make political go back and forth movies on Instagram and TikTok.
However with regards to the paintings that in fact earns me a dwelling, I’ve felt frozen. I’ve been a certified go back and forth blogger for 15 years. You don’t do any process for 15 years with out going via difficult instances. However what we’re coping with now’s horrific and complex on a degree I haven’t skilled.
I’m in the course of writing a miles higher weblog put up about this factor, as it merits to be fleshed out correctly. You’ll get that quickly.
And now that I’ve mustered up the power to jot down about go back and forth once more, let’s check out the previous two months. Beneath this happy-little-monthly-recap, there’s been greater than a bit of of screaming.
Playing a cold dip within the Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca, Mexico!
Locations Visited
Prague, Czech Republic
Mérida, Dzibilchaltún, Progreso, Bacalar, Mexico Town, Oaxaca, and Hierve el Agua, Mexico
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Webster, Houston, and Austin, Texas, USA
Beverly, Gloucester, and Lynnfield, Massachusetts, USA
Salem, New Hampshire, USA
New York, New York, USA
The Palacio de Bellas Artes
Highlights
3 fabulous weeks in Mexico. If anything else, I fell extra in love with Mérida, liked that Bacalar hadn’t modified one bit, loved Mexico Town up to same old, and fell a bit of out of affection with Oaxaca.
Has Mexico modified in the previous few years? In fact. Eating places have opened and closed. Mérida now has electrical buses. American vacationers on excursions to find tactics to subtly throw coloration at Trump to weed out the crowd, then exhale in aid when everybody else joins in.
However the greatest exchange around the board in Mexico used to be that each and every time we ordered a espresso at a pleasant cafe, the server would ask, “Leche commonplace?” Nicer cafes did have plant-based milks a couple of years in the past, however servers didn’t mechanically be offering them to you! A refined exchange that claims so much.
One of the vital highlights? Swimming in wild cenotes close to Mérida, returning to Los Rapidos in Bacalar, consuming such a lot excellent meals in Mexico Town, and in any case visiting the Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca.
We had a blast on Bourbon Side road!
Celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I’ve celebrated Mardi Gras as soon as ahead of, again in 2014, and I’ve at all times sought after to go back and do it a lot better. Charlie, Nick, and I had a fully FABULOUS time, and I were given to enjoy a large number of issues I overlooked the primary time round (like status on a balcony!).
We additionally actually liked our riverboat journey at the Creole Queen, the place there have been limitless Bloody Mary’s and mimosas for simply $25. An extraordinary deal at Mardi Gras time.
After Mardi Gras, we drove to Houston for one night time, simply to discuss with the Area Middle — or even took a excursion of Challenge Keep an eye on, which is preserved to seem identical to within the past due 60s!
Attending my first SXSW in Austin. Charlie liked attending the South via Southwest convention years in the past, so when it coated up with Mardi Gras this yr, we determined to do it! This convention is SO dear, particularly whilst you consider lodging, however we booked lodging weeks ahead of the dates had been introduced.
Was once it price it? I loved a large number of it, however I don’t assume it’s well worth the funding when you’re coming right here in particular to develop what you are promoting as a content material writer.
(On the other hand, if you’re making that ONE magical connection that adjustments your lifestyles…in fact it will be. However occasions designed round networking are uncommon right here. If you wish to community, you want to actively strike up conversations with strangers round you. Which is hard when you’re an introvert like me.)
I did cross to a couple of helpful workshops (my favourite one used to be about crowdfunding), attended a couple of comedy displays, and were given to peer Pedro Pascal and the solid of The Final of Us! The panels I maximum loved had been the political ones, and I were given to peer Elizabeth Warren, Ayanna Pressley, and Michelle Obama talk.
Additionally, Austin is all in regards to the reside tune, which sounds excellent on paper…however I discovered the entire venues to be method too loud to be stress-free. Possibly that’s simply a part of aging.
This used to be my first time visiting Austin, and to be truthful, I waited too lengthy. I actually must have visited 10 or 15 years in the past, when it used to be imaginable to earn cash as an artist and reside decently. Austin’s transformation right into a tech hub took a large number of town’s personality with it. (And I say this as any person who had LOTS of conversations with longtime Austin citizens about how town has modified.)
A pleasant fast go back and forth again to Massachusetts. For lobstah, chowdah, circle of relatives, and buddies. My new house base has been in Beverly since my dad bought our house in 2023, and this time Charlie and I visited a large number of Beverly’s downtown stores and the library. It’s this sort of great the town!
My go back to New York for the primary time since 2020. Sure, severely. It used to be bizarre staying away for 5 years after dwelling there for 4 years!
The largest spotlight used to be seeing Tituss Burgess celebrity in Oh, Mary! The funniest and strangest display I’ve ever noticed. His engagement is over, however I extremely counsel you cross and spot Cole Escola and the unique solid!
Different first-time highlights had been visiting the Museum of the Trendy Symbol, in any case visiting Roosevelt Island, and evaluating the 2 burgers at Minetta Tavern. In fact we visited a few of my favourite spots, from Harlem Public to Caveat, the Union Sq. Greenmarket, and Katz’s Delicatessen.
And once more, we frolicked with friends and family. We additionally celebrated a large milestone birthday for Charlie!
Excellent instances in Prague. In truth, there’s not anything like the primary sip of a pilsner after a go back and forth in another country as a result of NO BEER IN THE WORLD EVEN COMES CLOSE.
Apologies to the dude choosing his wedgie. This used to be the one pic I were given. (Heh. Pic.)
Demanding situations
I injured what I assumed used to be my hip whilst we had been in Mexico. Between the on-and-off ache, the truth that I may now not do a figure-4 stretch on one aspect, and that at one level I jumped away from bed, landed weirdly on my foot, and screamed in ache for roughly 30 seconds immediately — I used to be terrified that it used to be the coming of arthritis.
Fortunately, I noticed the physician in Prague and discovered that it’s now not arthritis or a bone factor — only a muscle factor that may be handled with a month of physiotherapy classes. I’m thankful that it’s now not anything else worse than that.
That, and I had two separate colds, one at first and one on the finish of March. And since I’m nonetheless disappointed that one in all my colleagues were given me so in poor health at a convention in 2024, I masked on the convention. I used to be one in all only a few other people dressed in a masks. Now not amusing, however I’m happy I did it.
Additionally — you might take into accout from a couple of years in the past that I had a gum an infection whilst in Mexico Town and struggled to seek out an emergency dentist who may take me. Neatly, this yr the similar painful signs arrived the morning that we had been flying to New Orleans.
However 3 years older is 3 years wiser — so I purchased some hydrogen peroxide and started rinsing my mouth with it. The ache went away inside of a couple of days! I’m so happy, as a result of I didn’t need to pay in the course of the nostril to peer a dentist in the United States.
Alternatively, that is making me assume that I shouldn’t brush my enamel with the water in Mexico, since this has took place two times. I by no means drink the water, however I brush my enamel with it. Possibly I must keep on with purified water for that.
Oh, and in any case, I were given a nosebleed at the streets of Austin! My first nosebleed since I used to be a child, and HOLY CRAP WAS THERE A LOT OF BLOOD. Two strangers introduced me napkins and rainy wipes, which used to be so roughly them.
The toughest a part of touring is lacking those two. Their uncle took nice care of them whilst we had been away.
Weblog Posts of the Month
10 Fab Issues to Do in San Teodoro, Italy — If you wish to have a seaside holiday in Italy, disregard the Amalfi Coast — San Teodoro in Sardinia has precisely what you wish to have.
Maximum Well-liked Reel on Instagram
I relaunched one in all my hottest reels of all time — Where Italians Actually Go. The primary one were given 7.5 million perspectives. And sure — the second one time used to be the attraction. Regardless of now not the usage of a trending audio like I did the primary time, this one were given 1.9 million perspectives, and slightly a couple of sign-ups for my mailing record.
I want to do extra of those.
For extra updates from my travels, follow me on Instagram at @adventurouskate — you’ll additionally follow me on TikTok at @adventurouskate!
What I Wore This Month
Final yr I began transitioning my cloth wardrobe to herbal fibers — most commonly wool, which I now put on a ton of. My time in Mexico, particularly blisteringly sizzling Mérida, gave me an opportunity to test-drive which of my new pieces would paintings absolute best in summer season warmth.
And my absolute favourite is this dress from Wool&. Wool& makes use of a number of other forms of wool of their garments, however this subject material is their lightest and thinnest — the Signature 160 — and it’s a pleasant, unfastened, relaxed swing get dressed. You’ll put on it unfastened, but it surely appears fancy sufficient for an evening out whilst you belt it.
I’m going to reside on this get dressed all summer season. And Wool& simply added a bunch of new colors — so I needed to seize it in teal as neatly!
What I Watched This Month
The Pitt. This display is totally remarkable. The Pitt is a scientific drama on Max starring Noah Wyle as an attending doctor within the ED of a trauma heart in Pittsburgh. Each and every episode is one hour of a 15-hour shift, shot in actual time like 24.
What makes this display so nice? Clinical pros are pronouncing it’s essentially the most practical scientific TV display they’ve ever noticed. No cleaning soap opera drama — simply other people doing their often-impossible jobs. (And as it’s on Max, it’s so much gorier than community displays. I hate gore, however I simply glance away at the ones transient moments.)
Each and every personality is fleshed out SO fantastically over the process this 15-hour shift. Some you like, a couple of you’ll’t stand, however every of them are drawn out so richly. I particularly love one physician who’s a sensible neurodivergent personality — now not a savant or any person with out a social abilities, however any person who steps apart to stim and is delicate to sufferers in the best way others don’t get.
And total, it’s a fast-moving display, which makes it very best for staring at whilst at the elliptical, and the episodes cross via so temporarily.
What I Listened To This Month
I’m being attentive to all 500 of Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, which I’m playing immensely. I’m loving finding new artists and being attentive to albums I’ve come what may overlooked my complete lifestyles till now!
In February, I listened to albums 435-401, and I took a spoil from the record in March however picked it again up in April. Listed below are the highlights:
Favourite Discovery: Risqué via Sublime. I’m a large disco fan ordinarily, and assume the style doesn’t get just about sufficient admire because it merits. As a result of when disco is excellent — and this album is as excellent as disco will get — it’s transformative.
I really like this album for its detailed musical preparations with a complete orchestra. Give me the entire strings and the horns. That is the past due 70s personified, dancing all night time.
Different Favourite Discoveries: Un Verano Sin Ti via Dangerous Bunny, Perfect Clientele via Ghostface Killah, Arular via M.I.A., Everyone Is aware of That is Nowhere via Neil Younger, That’s the Means of the Global via Earth, Wind & Hearth.
Favourite Revisited Album: Confessions via Usher. In truth, I’m nonetheless salty that this album didn’t win the entire Grammys — as a result of Ray Charles took place to unencumber a duets album and die the similar yr, and subsequently he swept the whole thing and no person else had an opportunity.
Confessions is such an incredible album, so emblematic of a selected time (my faculty years!), with a super mixture of dance tracks and ballads, all with the similar message: “I’m dangerous however I’m additionally a large number of amusing.”
Favourite Songs: “All About U” via 2Pac feat. Yaki Kamari, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Deadly; “Yo No Soy Celoso” via Dangerous Bunny; “Nutmeg” via Ghostface Killah feat. RZA; “Status within the Shadows of Love” via the 4 Tops; “Open My Eyes” via Nazz; “That’s the Means of the Global” via Earth, Wind & Hearth.
Get the playlist: I’m making a playlist of my favourite songs from the five hundred albums — most one in step with album — on Spotify. You can listen to it here.
Lowlight of the Month: New Day Emerging via Hüsker Dü. (Say it with me — extra like Hüsker Don’t!) Mediocre punk with voices you’ll want to slightly pay attention. I do not know why this album is lauded.
Random Idea: That is the primary month I identified probably the most songs from this problem at the radio: Paul McCartney’s “Monkberry Moon Satisfaction”! I’m preserving what I pay attention!!
Additionally, this used to be the 3rd month of the problem and the primary month that I listened to artists’ 2d albums at the record: Dangerous Bunny, Marvin Gaye, and Al Inexperienced. There shall be way more someday.
And unfortunately, this used to be the primary month when an artist I had listened to kicked the bucket — Roberta Flack. RIP.
Challenge Keep an eye on in Houston — a fab position to peer!
What I Learn This Month
Sunrise on the Reaping via Suzanne Collins (2025) — THE NEWEST HUNGER GAMES BOOK!! I’ve been looking forward to this ebook for SO lengthy, learn the entire thing inside of 24 hours, and feature been fascinated about it and speaking about it ever since.
This ebook is the tale of the fiftieth Starvation Video games — the tale of Haymitch, Katniss’s mentor. Haymitch’s video games had been a Quarter Quell and had a twist — double the standard collection of tributes had been reaped, 48 in general.
The theme of this ebook is the facility of propaganda. This ebook, greater than the opposite Starvation Video games books, is going into intensity about how the Capitol simplest displays the tale they would like advised — the whole thing else is saved hidden.
Whilst Katniss and Peeta watched a video of Haymitch’s video games, there may be SO MUCH MORE that the sector by no means noticed as it used to be saved hidden. And also you to find out EVERYTHING that took place on this ebook. Katniss didn’t get started the revolution. She used to be simply the primary try that succeeded.
As at all times, this ebook may be very helpful for working out the political surroundings we’re dwelling in nowadays.
One last item: a large number of other people have requested if it’s essential to learn The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the primary prequel about President Snow as a teen, ahead of Daybreak at the Reaping. Numerous other people didn’t learn it as a result of they didn’t need to get into his twisted, evil thoughts. I didn’t learn it till this previous fall, and I actually loved it as a world-building tale (and the film is one in all my favourite casts in slightly a while).
My advice? You’ll technically learn Daybreak and perceive the plot with out studying Ballad, however you are going to get SO a lot more out of it when you learn the ebook first. The folks pronouncing, “I didn’t learn it and I used to be positive!” do not know what they’re lacking.
I really like taking a photograph of this purple tree and purple constructing annually.
Coming Up in April 2025
This can be a month with 0 go back and forth at the time table! Spring is my favourite time of yr in Prague, and I really like the reliable swapping of wintry weather coats for trench coats, the reopening of outside eating, and the best way flora burst into bloom in all places.
Do I’ve any tangible plans? Nope, and I’m joyful for it.
What did you rise up to in February and March? Percentage away!
