It is March in Iowa. The weather does not know what to do.

Whenever I talk with my daughter about storms, I minimize the drama as though they’ve been making up their tornado stories.

Twice this month, we have cycled from below freezing to 70F and back. We had a tornado warning. I learned thundersnow is a real thing. And a few days ago, we added a blizzard on top of it.

It is 20F as I write. On Saturday it will be 87º.

I Dream of Cyprus

This is a far cry from the weather we had hoped for this winter. Since returning to the United States last summer, we have labored hard to secure a remote job, so we can continue to zigzag around Europe and the US.

Our most recent goal had been to return to Cyprus after Christmas.

Paphos was the second stop of our inaugural European tour. We spent Christmas 2022 through February 2023 there.

In many ways, it was more work for us than our first stop in Albania. Our original Airbnb was terrible, so we had to get a refund and find a new one. I got sick, which required time spent at specialists. And we missed the nomad friends we had left behind in Sarande, Albania.

Though these struggles were hard, they taught us essential skills for this lifestyle. We had amazing experiences and made a new dear friend: Lesia!

Now that we are more experienced nomads, we thought it would be fun to return in January.

A Changed World

Everything changed on February 28th, 2026. Israel and the United States launched their bombing attacks on Iran. Over the next few days, Iran retaliated with a drone strike on the British air base in Cyprus.

While it caused minimal damage and no casualties, it sent shock waves through the residents who scrambled to seek shelter. And it rocked Deana and me.

She quickly confirmed our friend Lesia was OK.

Our next concern was Yaron. He is one of a handful of Israelis we met at Swiss Nomad Fest ‘24. He quickly became a close friend and frequent political sparring partner at my breakfast table.

I wasn’t worried, because last I knew, Yaron was in Tblisi, Georgia.

Deana encouraged me to message him on Whatsapp, and ask where he was.

You’re not going to believe it.

He had recently returned to Israel for a bar mitzva before Israel bombed Iran! And was now stuck! It took him a few weeks to safely leave.

Stay Safe

The global situation emphasizes a phrase we regularly get when we travel:

Stay safe.

The under-my-breath reply is always:

You too!

Every European country and city we lived in has fewer homicides, and violent crimes than our home country. Less obesity and addiction. And most of them rate higher on hapiness indexes. We explicitly choose the countries we travel to based on safety.

And yet, had we been in Cyprus or Greece when the United States joined Israel’s crusade against Iran, our family and friends would have been (justifiably) worried.

It happened three times before:

• An earthquake devastated Turkey when we were in Cyprus.

• A passenger train collided with a freight train between Thessaloniki and Athens while we lived in Greece.

• We were living in Georgia when Hamas attacked Israeli citizens.

Today, I live comfortably alongside the citizens of my home country. But if I was there, you would be telling me: Stay safe.

My friends in Europe don’t have that luxury.

It stirs pangs of grief and anger in me, that we are afforded this luxury despite our country participating in the chaos they are living through.

We started Zigzag Along, with the overt purpose to connect you our friends and readers with the global community:

We believe a sense of connectedness is vital in these perilous times. We hope this newsletter can become a tool to extend our global community to you and include people who haven’t (yet!) traveled.

This newsletter is your chance to share in our sense of wonder, connect with people we meet along the way, and perhaps learn more about yourself in the process. 1

Wherever you are in the world, when you read the news of conflicts, remember people like our Ukrainian friend Lesia living in Cyprus, and our Israeli friend living in Georgia.

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Hello, dear friends.

It is February in Des Moines, Iowa. January has been very cold!! A couple of weeks of sub-zero. Brrr! The above photo was taken on my first outdoor walk in two months. I was so happy to be back outside!

Update

It’s been a hot minute since you’ve heard from one of us. We’ve been getting things done and making things happen.

Since returning to the States in May, we’ve been working hard at creating an income stream that can support us while traveling. At the same time, we’ve applied for various jobs in our field here in the city.

No small task! Both of us have gone through multi-stage interviews that took months to complete. Deana in healthcare, and me in AI and data. I’m sympathetic to anyone looking for work. It’s tough out there!

I’ve also met multiple local businesses, unions and political campaigns to pitch AI data services. Sales is new to me, but I’ve taken to it like a fish to water.

Holidays 2025

Last year in Albania, I found myself longing for family during Christmas.

Granted, three years ago, we were in Prague. And last year, we watched fireworks with a friend on New Year’s Eve at the Colosseum in Rome. Pretty amazing times, so don’t cry for me, Argentina.

But there’s something about Christmas with my parents, sister and adult children, that I didn’t know I would miss, until I’d spent two winters in Europe and one in Des Moines.

So this year, we made it a priority to get back to Washington for Christmas for the first time in three years.

Viva la difference.

We went from this:

To this:

Our visit with family and friends was wonderful. On Christmas morning, I realized it was the first time since college that I’d woken up on Christmas day with my parents at their home. We visited our sons in their homes, and spent a few nights with my sister and her husband.

It cemented my committment to what I call my intended migratory pattern. Many animals move around seasonally. You can find deer trails. And geese and other birds stop at the same ponds and lakes every year as they find their way south for the winter and north in the spring. My goal is to spend 2 months with family in America and 10 months in Europe.

If we closed our eyes and pretended Iowa was Europe (spoiler alert: it’s not) we actually lived that pattern this year. We took a month in the summer to travel by train to see our children and family in Texas, California, Oregon and Washington. And now we have done it again for Christmas.

This feels right. And as I said earlier, there are tons of lessons I’ve learned about myself that came from getting out of my normal routine and doing something crazy. It took moving to Europe to discover how important Christmas with family is. And it took a few month long trips to cement that I can live somewhere else and affordably travel to spend time with them.

More US Rail Travel

Speaking of train travel. Here we are in our happy place. On the move!

It’s a common mantra between us, that I’ve really screwed myself up. I don’t know many people who contentedly sigh when they enter an airport terminal, or board a bus or train.

But I love, love, love the journey.

As soon as I enter the terminal, I’m at home again.

The return to Iowa was no exception. We boarded Amtrak on a late cold January evening, and wound our way through the northern states.

The most beautiful portion was Montana. Here’s a taste.

After two nights, we arrived in St. Paul, Minnesota. Our city transportation skills served us well. We quickly found the city bus route to Minneapolis, and once again had that feeling of familiar. After a delicious breakfast, we camped out at a Starbucks and waited for our bus to Des Moines.

But not before seeing this famous site. First Avenue is the famous concert venue where Purple Rain was filmed!!

Deana’s New Job

We left Des Moines in December without clarity about Deana’s work. But she was thrilled to learn she’d been hired! Back in Des Moines, she had a mandatory physical and was given a clean bill of healthy-work! Next step: Onboarding! She’s still training for the position, even though the work is very similar to her job in Moses Lake. Yesterday was her first 12 hour shift, and boy was she sore. She is loving the job, the hospital and the people.

Two of Our Nomad Churches

As a teenage Christian in a small town, we were cautioned against the bad habit of church hopping. “Grow where you’re planted,” was the mantra that kept the faithful in this pew and presumably put their offering in this plate.

This idea does not exist in Orthodoxy. If your city had ten Orthodox churches, you could attend each one in succession and take communion with no issue.

This makes our American nomadic life exciting! My godfather and his wife attend this church, Prophet Elijah Antiochian Church, where our dear friend serves as a priest.

Deana’s godmother is at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox in Spokane. And we have close friends at Three Hierarchs Antiochian Church in Wenatchee. We definitely hop when we visit Washington.

When we first visited our daughter in Des Moines, two years ago, we made it a priority to visit the Greek church: St. George Orthodox. After a few Sundays, we became dear friends with a couple there and stayed in touch.

We surprised them last spring when we returned, and have grown closer to the church ever since. Deana learned from our priest’s wife how to make bread for communion. And a friend who loves Greece loaned us this book about Corfu!

When we left for Christmas, we weren’t certain when we would return. I was so surprised to hear people tell me they hoped I was returning. And it was a joyful reunion when we showed up the second Sunday.

What’s Next?

Stay tuned for more. I’m busy at work on a new endeavor that I will be sharing.

In the meantime, thanks for Zigzagging Along!!

~ Jeff

We love meeting new people!

It’s always been a part of who we are; welcoming people into our world and connecting everywhere we go. Truly listening and letting others know they’ve been seen and heard is a huge gift to others. And it really doesn’t take much, if you have an open heart.

Honestly, we just love people!

Not many countries around the world celebrate Thanksgiving. But I had no idea that the holiday is so well-known, at least in the countries where we’ve lived. Seriously, it only takes asking if anyone is going to get together, and the next thing you know, people are volunteering to find a venue, cook this dish, bring that dish, and suddenly, we’re celebrating together.

It is massive fun!

The original owners of The Buzz Bar in Sarandé were an American couple. They started the inaugural Thanksgiving Potluck of global travelers in 2022, our first year away from the States.

We’d been living in Sarandé for over two months, but people showed up that day we’d never laid eyes on.

Estimates were at least 150 showed up that first year! That’s a lot of eyes we had not seen spread throughout the city and farm land.

The original owners have since sold the business and moved on, but the beautiful thing?

The new owners kept the tradition alive, hosting the gathering every year.

This place, though…

I could cry every time I see this photo.

Robert and Gena are the most welcoming, warm, loving couple you will ever meet. After running a very successful catering business in Florida for over 20 years, they decided to move back to Albania and be closer to family.

They started this restaurant after COVID and have welcomed more expats and nomads than you could possibly imagine. They are the ‘go to’ place when you arrive in Sarandé because their food is a-mazing! Not only that, but they can answer any questions you might have. And inevitably, you will run into at least one expat anytime you go there. Typically, a large group of expats gathers for brunch on Sunday mornings beginning around 10:30am. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

This year, they offered a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner in the late afternoon/evening with all the trimmings. All of our friends staying in Sarandé raved about how good it was, and also how wonderful it was to share their time together at Robert and Gena’s.

We miss them so much!

And these two women!

I had the most amazing time two years ago in Batumi, Georgia, with these two beautiful women!

Again, all I did was post a question in the Expats in Batumi Facebook group asking if anyone or any place had a plan to celebrate American Thanksgiving. I’m not exaggerating, it happened so fast!

Suddenly Jordan from Jordan pipes up with, “Hey! I’ll get a couple of turkeys and cook them. I visited my brother in Texas and saw how to do it right.” Then another friend, Samer, offered to ask his friend about using his bar for the venue.

And these two beautiful women offered to take me shopping and help me cook my pumpkin stuffing and the homemade pumpkin pies from scratch at one of their apartments. The one on the left was from Tbilisi on school break from teaching. And the one on the right, my friend Khatuna, had lived in the United States with her husband for over 20 years, then he passed away. She still owned their home in America, and some of their children still lived in the States, but she decided she wanted to move back to her home country and be near her extended family. We had the most lovely time sharing stories, listening to music, and laughing together. It’s such an amazing memory for me!

Then it was time for the grand event!

Each person brought something to the table, even if it was simply their presence.

We met people from Jordan, Egypt, Ukraine, Norway, Poland, Russia, the Republic of Georgia, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, and even a fellow American.

So many blessings come when we step out with an open heart and give to one another!

My question to you…

What will you bring to the table to share with others?

…And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It’s more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35

Getting outside and moving my body is a non-negotiable, no matter where we are.

The plethora of benefits to my soul and body is too enormous to ignore.

Plus, I get extra dopamine hits from using both the Pacer app and my Apple Watch Workout app when I complete exercise and movement goals.

Bonuses all around!

A couple of weeks ago, while on a walk, I was …

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New Beginnings

It was midnight when we stepped off the plane. The air was unlike any place we had experienced; warm like a weighted blanket. We were tired, yet bubbling with anticipation.

After standing in line for what seemed like forever, we finally made it through passport control and found a taxi to take us to our hotel for the night.

It was around 1:30 AM when we finally nodded off.

The next morning, as I opened the shutters of the hotel room windows, my jaw dropped in awe.

“Oh. My. Gosh. Jeff, look!”

He slid over next to me by the window, gazing at what was staring us in the face.

The view was so breathtaking that we stood there in silence, taking it all in.

Then I looked to the left.

“Is that the fortress?” I asked.

“I don’t know, maybe. It’s definitely some ancient wall. Oh man, look over there. That must be Sarandé,” he said.

And at that moment, I exclaimed with restrained exuberance.

”We’re here. We’re really here! Can you believe it?”

“It’s remarkable. We did it,” he said, with the biggest grin and a giant hug.

We had officially landed in GREECE!!!

Our Vision

That first view of Corfu, Greece, was only the beginning. We spent the next 10 months living long-term in four different European countries. Along the way, we had week-long excursions in three others.

The life we envisioned was much greater than being tourists. We were creating our “Home Where We Roam.”

We spent the first half of our marriage raising a large family; seven children to be exact. Home meant the place we all came back to after a full day at school or work. Family meals eaten together, pictures of our children on the wall, chores, and homework.

As our kids became adults, they created their own lives in different cities. Then our youngest graduated, and the pandemic came to a close. We began to wonder what home for the second half of our marriage might look like.

We were in our early 50s and had only once traveled outside of the U.S., a five-hour drive North into British Columbia, Canada. We had always talked about visiting Rome and Cairo. But traveling to another country for vacation had been financially out of the question.

We began to see opportunities to not just visit those places on our bucket list, but to maybe make Europe our home.

At first, we thought we would live in Portugal, because it had an attractive visa program. Once we looked into it, the timeline would have taken way too long.

Then one day, Jeff came home and asked, “What if we could live as nomads: staying in each country three months at a time?”

He didn’t think I’d say yes.

Guess what happened?

I said YES!!

Home Where You Roam

Most people think of “home” as the place they reside. But nomads are wanderers! What would “home” even mean for us when we were in constant motion?

We knew that creating a nomadic home would encompass more than duplicating the home we made at the fixed address where our children were raised.

You can’t possibly take every book or picture you own. You also can’t take your kitchen sink

So, before we left the United States, we made elaborate lists to figure out what we would take with us, knowing it all had to fit in just two checked suitcases, two carry-ons, and our backpacks!!

Throughout our travels, we have met hundreds of nomads. Some we met at nomad festivals, and others we met at local meetups or simply walking down the street. We’ve even been part of online communities. Among these groups there seemed to be a common missing thread for a large percentage of them.

How do you pack all that is uniquely ‘you’ in a backpack, carry-on, and a checked bag?

Many ‘aha’ moments have happened when we’ve discussed this concept. And the resounding replies were, “You should write about this!”

Guess what happened?

I said YES…again!

In this book, you will find practical ideas for every room, lists of our favorite things we carry with us, along with links to each one, stories from our travels, and discoveries we’ve made about ourselves and each other. Travel changes you. Things you might have thought were important in the beginning might slowly fade away into the distance, and you will leave them behind. It’s the ebb and flow of life. Stepping into that stream is what’s important.

Come along!

Let me show you how to make your

“Home Where You Roam.”

It all started when I was 9 years old.

My 4th-grade teacher, Mrs. Russell, had visited Egypt five times that I remember. But, I’m sure it was more. She had a passion for ancient history and easily passed on her exuberance to her students, including me.

The depth of expertise she had was incomprehensible. But somehow, she was able to communicate it in a way that thrilled a room of nine and ten-year-olds. I have no idea how she did it, but I was hooked.

We learned about hieroglyphics and practiced writing our names that way. It was just as much art as it was writing. We learned about the Nile River Delta and the rich, fertile soil that created much of the agriculture for the region. We each had individual projects we chose to emphasize a specific aspect of the Country. One person created a Sphinx with clay and wrote a report about its significance and how it was originally made. Another person built an irrigation system similar to what was used to bring water to the more deserted areas to grow crops. Yet another built a pyramid and explained the significance of the burial sites for the pharaohs.

It was all so captivating. It was also fascinating to learn all the intricate details of a king and queen and how they not only lived, but also what happened when they died, including ceremonially, and their beliefs about the afterlife. We know more details because of the tombs they have discovered over the years, which have confirmed what researchers surmised through various studies.

My 9-year-old mind simply could not absorb it all.

How could a civilization possibly be 5000 years old? How could the people design and build such massive monolithic structures in their time without the use of modern machinery? What minds could envision artistic creations so intricately to meld together gold, turquoise, precious stones, and minerals to paint and carve fine linens, jewelry, ornate furniture, and rock monuments?

It all seemed surreal….

Then it happened.

For the first time ever, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities was bringing a portion of the King Tutankhamon Exhibit to the United States for all to see. You can imagine the excitement in our classroom when Mrs. Russell shared this amazing development. We were beyond thrilled! We could go and see all we had learned with our own eyes.

There was one catch: only 5th-grade classes and above were allowed by the museum to be part of this chance of a lifetime. You could palpably feel the discouragement my classmates and I experienced when she shared that news with us. It was like quickly deflating the biggest balloon imaginable without the explosive pop.

But Mrs. Russell had a plan.

Because she had made connections in Egypt over the years, she thought we might be able to use what she and Mr. Metcalf, the other 4th-grade teacher, had taught us about the exquisiteness of Egypt, its history, development, and remarkable culture to convince the curators to make an exception.

So we got to work.

Every student created artwork, shared knowledge, and wrote in detail what it would mean for each of us to experience such a golden opportunity. We even guaranteed, without offering our firstborn children, that our behavior would be above and beyond expectations while touring through the exhibition. We all did our very best work. Our local newspaper even wrote a big article spotlighting our efforts in hopes of gaining an audience to influence the decision of the Ministry of Antiquities and the Museum. Mrs. Russell gathered it all together and sent it off…and then we waited.

I don’t remember how long it took to receive an answer. But I know for nine and ten-year-olds, it seemed like forever. Then one day, it arrived. The letter of response we had all been waiting for came in the mail. They were extremely impressed with our hard work and knowledge of all things Egypt. And because we had guaranteed our understanding of appropriate dress and behavior in such an exhibit, they said, “YES!”

I cannot possibly express how much this entire experience of learning about the ancient peoples of Egypt, including taking in this spectacular exhibit, influenced my love for the ancient world and its history overall.

Since then, I have dreamed of going to all of the places steeped in history and learning all I can about them. When we started our “Dream Board” three and a half years ago, of where we HAD TO GO, we chose Italy, Greece, and Egypt. We’ve only scratched the surface of Italy and Greece, and we still have yet to experience Egypt.

We have traveled to Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, the UK, the Republic of Georgia, Ireland, Switzerland, and Spain. Within all of those countries are more sights to see and more people to learn about.

Our dreams are still very much alive and burning within us.

The places we’ve seen, some that have become part of our daily walks, bring me right back to my childhood and the wonder that was nurtured as a nine-year-old. My jaw isn’t dropped in photos for no reason. Every ounce of my being is astonished at what I am beholding before my eyes!

Our hope throughout this journey is that we can convey that awe and wonder surrounding us if we simply stop, shift our focus, and allow our hearts to be open to the beauty and majesty of this World.

Perhaps, for whatever reason, travel isn’t possible. We are here for you. Let us show you places that give you joy from a distance. We’ll continue to write, share stories, pictures, and more.

Maybe you’ll get to travel on a short trip or vacation. We are here for you. We would love to help you navigate areas you would like to visit and that we have experienced. Follow along and feel free to ask us questions.

Or maybe, just maybe, you need inspiration to take a chance and create a different type of life that brings you peace and unending opportunities. We are here for you, too. Let us show you what following your dreams, no matter how long ago they were created, can do.

Hey everyone! Welcome to the Midwest edition of Zigzag Along!

It’s been a hot minute since you’ve heard from me. Deana’s done such a bang-up job writing these past months, I decided it was time I gave her a little break.

One of my favorite gifts to you, our supporters, is the inside scoop on our travel plans. I always write a little more intimately, knowing it’s just us.

Where are Jeff and Deana? Where are we going next?

Read more

One of the first questions we get asked while traveling abroad is where we are from. We are somewhat of a puzzle to many people because we have a ‘zero’ accent, meaning no accent whatsoever. Most cannot guess our country of origin from the sound of our voice.

When we tell them Washington, we always clarify by saying “the state, NOT D.C.” Many times they will then respond with, “Oh right, Seattle! I bet you get a lot of rain there.”

Well, for those of you not familiar with Washington State, it is abundant with environmental diversity. Seattle and the west side of the state are only one area.

The part of the state we are from is the Columbia Basin, directly in the center. If it weren’t for Grand Coulee Dam and the irrigation project, it would be an arid desert. But instead, it is a thriving agricultural hub.

It is still very hot and dry during the summers, though, which is why we explain that there are five seasons in Washington: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fire. No joke.

This beautiful area surrounding our favorite swimming hole is along Hwy 2 through Tumwater Canyon. Looking at it now, you would never know that 31 years ago, the Hatchery Creek Fire decimated this entire landscape. Those of us who lived in the state during that time can point out sections of the forest that still look like burnt matchsticks against the lush greenery that’s recovered from nature’s brutality.

It’s truly remarkable how much beauty comes from ashes.

Among this magnificent landscape, we wind our way to the cabin belonging to Jeff’s parents. Our original nomadic plans began there, in the winter of 2022. It is where we spent the entire month of July, 2025.

What a gift!

This place holds so many wonderful memories. Our children grew up spending time here. Many years ago, Jeff’s sister and family, as well as his parents and our brood, all spent Christmas together at the cabin. 16 total; 6 adults and 10 kids all under the same roof!

The day we arrived, one of our younger boys immediately sank into a snowbank up to his neck. He didn’t seem to mind it. But it was quite a funny sight seeing his head sticking out like that. We had to grab the shovels and dig him out, quickly though, as breathing can get difficult with the snow compacted around his body, especially for a child. And he lost a shoe, which we never did find.

Then, overnight, a massive snowstorm dumped four feet of fresh powder. It was so fun! No one had to go anywhere, so we enjoyed staying put, playing in the awesome Winter Wonderland, warming up with hot cocoa and homemade soup. It felt like living inside a Norman Rockwell photo, though one of our older boys also broke his arm sledding during this same trip. He will tell you that it was for sure not the best way to end what was otherwise a fun family time together.

The cabin is also very close to Lake Wenatchee for swimming, Fish Lake for ice skating or ice fishing in the Winter, as well as Stevens Pass for skiing. Many of our adult children now spend time there on their own, or with their own families, to enjoy all the area has to offer, including the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth.

We did experience a few “firsts” for us while staying there this trip. Jeff and I have a routine every day of taking a decent walk to get in a good workout. But this particular day, he had to go into Leavenworth for a Zoom meeting, so I stayed back. I went ahead and took my walk without him that morning. He hadn’t taken his walk when he got back, so he took off to get in his steps for the day, while I stayed behind. As he was headed back to the cabin, he heard a crunching kind of sound nearby and thought to himself, “I better look up.” So he looks to his right, and about 20 feet away, he sees…

A BEAR!!!

In the 33 years of my in-laws owning this property, not one of us has seen a bear up close and personal. On their wildlife cameras? Yes. But not while out and about.

Most often, bears aren’t interested in humans and are just as scared of us as we are of them, unless it’s a momma protecting her cubs. However, you really don’t want to hang around when they’re in your neighborhood.

Jeff was so funny. Normally, because we walk together, I carry the bear whistle, so he hadn’t thought to take it when he left. He said as soon as the bear looked up at him, he thought, “Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this.” Thankfully, as soon as it looked up and caught eyes with him, it turned around and ran off. And Jeff high-tailed it outta there, too.

The other “first” we had was this:

I wasn’t kidding when I said we have Fire Season. This particular fire started three miles away and was wind-driven. About seven miles east from the cabin, as the crow flies, is the Lake Wenatchee State Airport. During Fire Season, it is the base for many firefighting helicopters along with HotShot fire crews. The Lake Wenatchee Fire & Rescue also has a station there, as well as one at the beginning of the Forest Service road on your way to the cabin.

They were on that fire quickly and attacked it like bees on a hive. It was a bit unnerving to get the screeching alert, needing to call Jeff’s parents for next steps, then packing up to be prepared to “bug out” if we needed to. But once again, it’s a reminder of being fully alive, present in the moment, and the awesome power of nature. And we didn’t have to leave.

Thank you is never enough to say to our firefighters.

We are so grateful for the gift of this place we call “The Cabin”. It fills and refills our souls, spending time here. Truly a family gem graciously shared from a dream of Jeff’s parents some 33-plus years ago.

Don and Colleen, we are so blessed to get to continue enjoying the place you built literally from the ground up. Your dream has created a beautiful space filled with peace, memories, and love. We appreciate you so much! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!! We love you!!!

Welcome, friends, to my first-ever voice note. Last week, I shared part one of our rail travels and mentioned that I would post part two today. But there's just so much to this part that Jeff and I decided it would be fun to record our chat about it. And with that in mind, I announce the first episode of our ZigZag Along podcast coming very soon. We'll be sitting down and having conversations about all the things people ask us about, like,

• How did you even come up with the idea of nomadic travel?

• Where's your absolute favorite place to be?

• How do you deal with jet lag?

And extra special stories that are simply too long to write. Plus, we'll share sounds we recorded that bring us back to our adventures. The amazing and some not-so-great. I love to write and will continue to publish our newsletter, including photos from all the places we visit, so that you can have the absolute best experience of our travels. So it's the best of everything. You get to read, you get to see pictures, you get to hear the sounds, and we get to share even more details of our travels.

And be honest about what it’s like to be out there. It's a lot of work doing what we're doing, and we love it. We love all the experiences that we've had, good and bad, because it's all an adventure, right? We look forward to adding even more depth to ZigZag Along now and well into the future. So we really hope you'll join along, continue to be here, continue to support our work, and here we go!

Subscribe now

I wanted to start this ‘extra’ post by sharing our essentials list with you first, so you can start planning your rail adventure with ease.

Zigzagalong Rail Essentials:

1. Blanket

2. Pillow

3. Jacket/Hoodie

4. Noise-cancelling Headphones

5. Eye Cover

6. Hand Sanitizing Wipes

7. Washcloth

8. Snacks

9. Entertainment/Games

10. Your sense of adventure

Tales from the Rails

You will meet many people fr…

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All Aboard!

Did you know we have seven grown adult children and nine grandchildren (so far) spread out over five different states?

Yes. I did, in fact, birth all of them.

No, there are no twins.

And yes, Jeff and I had them together.

And yes, that is a lot these days.

We couldn’t be more proud and love them any more deeply than we do now. But we certainly try.

You can imagine what it takes to plan to see each of them in a year. And our ultimate goal is to see them twice a year.

Since moving overseas three years ago, we started planning our USA travels months in advance. It’s the only way to find the best schedules for both ourselves and all of their families. It’s quite a task and well worth it.

I’m proud to say I planned every detail of our 2025 trip back to the States and had only one hiccup on our journey. Not only did we make it smoothly from Thessaloniki, Greece, to the U.S., but we also managed to affordably travel across 10 different states and spend time with every single one of our children and grandchildren.

How did we manage to do that?

We discovered the USA Rail Pass offered by Amtrak.

🚂 American Rail Travel

The USA Rail Pass is valid for 120 days after purchase. It costs $499 per person and is valid for 30 days from your first segment traveled. Our first segment went from Osceola, Iowa, to our first stop in Chicago, Illinois. We had 30 days from then to complete the next nine, which was perfect for us.

The next day, we got back on the train and headed south to Texas. This was our first overnight train ride. It was an adventure as we rode through Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and finally into Texas.

One thing to know is that you are riding in the Upper Coach seats, not sleeper cars. It’s perfectly comfortable, as you have a cushioned reclining seat with a footrest and plenty of legroom; much more than on an airplane.

You will definitely want to pack a small blanket and a travel pillow for extra comfort. Noise-cancelling headphones and eye covers are essential to help with light and noise. Maybe the train sounds won’t bother you, but your snoring neighbor might be trying to suck the train ceiling in while they sleep, and keep you wide awake. True story we experienced first-hand. Grateful for our AirPods.

From Austin, Texas, we then boarded the train to Los Angeles. Yep, that’s right; 1379.9 miles, and two nights all on the Amtrak! And just so you can keep a count of segments, this was only one, for a total of three when we arrived in L.A.

Once again, we got to see so much of the country we’ve never seen before:

• Southwestern Texas,

• New Mexico,

• Arizona, and

• Southern California.

In fact, at one point, we got so close to the border of Mexico that both our phones popped up with the notification:

It was pretty funny.

Geographical Landscapes

The landscape is so diverse across those states. One area might have forested mountains, and the next looks like the surface of Mars with its flat, multi-colored sands. Then there’s the desert with crevasses dug deeply into the ground from either wind storms or monsoonal rains that cause flash flooding, only to have the high heat suck up the moisture like a vacuum cleaner. Often, the words “I didn’t have a clue it was like this here” came out of my mouth.

Freedom to Move

Another bonus to train travel is that you can get up and move around anytime you want. After all, you aren’t driving! And there is a cool lounge car that’s all windows, you can sit in to read, watch the scenery, play games, work, or whatever. It really does add to the experience. There’s just so much to see!

You catch the best photos from the lounge/observation car, too.

Food

Food is available for purchase in two places; the dining car, and the snack bar. Depending on how much you want to spend will determine where you eat.

The dining car requires reservations. It is also the most expensive option. Breakfast was $25 per person, Lunch was $40 and Dinner was $45. However, you do get a full meal, including dessert and a beverage.

The snack bar offers food such as burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, chips, veggie boxes, salads, bakery items, and beverages including alcohol. That’s not an exhausted list of items, but just an idea of what they have available. It’s not completely unaffordable. But more than we wanted to spend overall. A can of soda was $3.50. And I believe a burger was $9. All of the food was prepackaged and the attendent would heat it up in the microwave for you. So, again, not the best, but not the worst either.

Here’s what we chose to do instead.

I bought a Titan backpack cooler at Costco for $34. It came with 2 high grade ice packs that slide into two side zipper pockets. I went shopping before leaving each place we stopped to visit our kids. I bought yogurts, cheese, pepperoni sticks, individual avocado as well as cream cheese packets, snack sized bags of veggies and berries, you know, whatever to make it through 2 days.

I also brought a reusable grocery bag to carry dried foods like nuts and other snack foods, including a couple of sodas for Jeff that didn’t need refrigeration. You can get a cup of ice from the snack bar for free.

Because we always carry our LifeStraw water filtration bottles with us, we can refill those for free as well.

There’s so much more to share; practical, in-depth tips to make your rail excursion more comfortable. Plus, we have stories to tell!

Stay tuned for a DEEPER post this Thursday!!!

Hello everyone!

Deana and I have settled into a cabin in the woods in Washington state.

We just finished a two-month-long cross-country train trek. After an extended stay with our daughter and her family, we hopped on the train in Osceola, Iowa. We made stops in Chicago, Austin, Los Angeles, Monterey, and Longview, visiting family and friends along the way, before landing in our hometown of Ephrata. Phew!

During that time, I’ve been hard at work behind the scenes!

One of my projects has been cleaning up the front page of Zigzag Along. Many of you have only read our posts when they arrive by email. But did you know there’s a treasure chest of our past articles available online??

The most important improvement? You can now browse posts sorted by country, including:

• 🇮🇹 Italy

• 🇬🇷 Greece

• 🇦🇱 Albania

• 🇬🇪 Georgia

• 🇺🇸 United States, and

• 🇨🇭 Switzerland

We also changed the address. Our newsletter is now ZigzagAlong.com.

Click ZigzagAlong.com to visit!

And be sure to log in with your email address so you can like and comment on your favorite posts. That helps us know what you, our readers enjoy most.

Hasn’t Deana done an amazing job writing and sharing about our travels?

When we started the newsletter two years ago, she had only recently rediscovered her joy for writing. She’s grown so much since then!! A frequent refrain she hears when seeing our friends and readers is “You are such a great writer!” I couldn’t agree more!!

She’s hard at work getting a post ready about our train travels throughout America. I can’t wait to read it!! What an amazing journey!!!

~ Jeff

My Irish eyes were definitely smiling in this photo of us on the campus of Trinity College in Dublin. They may be a little sleepy-looking, but certainly, they were smiling.

We had only arrived the day before after our whirlwind trip back to the States for my Dad’s funeral. After we had gathered with my family and made all the arrangements to honor Dad, Jeff and I began planning our return to Europe. It probably sounds odd to you. But, we had excursions already paid for and knew we wanted to follow the path we had in place for those experiences. Also, we had decided months before that we didn’t want to be in America for the election.

The other choice we made was to take a slower pace of traveling back so we could take some time to rest along the way. For us, that meant staying two full days in Dublin and then three full days resting in Corfu before landing back in Sarandé. We had never explored Dublin before and were very much looking forward to wandering to get a feel for it.

Funny side story, we arrived October 31st, America’s Halloween, which isn’t celebrated in the countries we’ve visited so far. However, when we checked-in to our hotel, the receptionist told us that there was going to be a parade starting at 7:00 pm down the street if we wanted something to do. We were tired, so we decided not to go and it’s a good thing we didn’t as I discovered a few hours later on social media news networks that the whole thing had been a hoax. Hundreds of people had shown up for a parade that wasn’t. Dirty little pranksters anyhow 😂

The next day, we slept in and decided to investigate the campus of Trinity College, and the “Book of Kells” exhibit in the afternoon.

Trinity College was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. It is an amazing college known around the world for its academic excellence. Famous people such as Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, and Samuel Beckett graduated from Trinity.

The architecture is stunning, with the majority being neoclassical. However, the oldest buildings are Georgian, named for the first four King Georges of England. You can see a great example of this in the background of the first photo with Jeff and I.

We made our way to the ‘Old Library’ as it’s named, to experience the “Book of Kells” exhibition. Never heard of the “Book of Kells”? I hadn’t either until Jeff told me about it. And because I want to share correct information with you, I’m going to let the actual exhibit speak for itself.

I have never seen a book so artistically intricate and colorful as this one. It is truly a masterpiece! I am a lover of all things bright colors, so this utterly captivated me.

And the way they created the inks and pigments to write on the vellum (aka calfskins) is wildly fascinating, too.

Read more

When I say we explored Corfu, I am not kidding. We wandered North, South, East, and West. What we discovered was not only beautiful beaches and spectacular views, but amazing history as well.

On the Northeastern shores of Corfu, planted on the hill above the bay, sits Kassiopi Castle, part of the Byzantine fortress constructed from 582-602AD. However, some excavations have discovered ceramic pieces of pottery called ostraca dating back to the 300s. The 300s?? Talk about wandering through history!

Though the ruins are degrading, there are still signs of a massive garden area in the middle. As we made our way around the inner walls of the fortress, we came upon this ancient well that, amazingly, is being used to this day by incorporating it into the modern-day water supply system using piping and pumps. There are obvious signs it was built up around the top. But, I mean, why not? Why reinvent something that’s already very capable and has withstood time? We were quite impressed.

Breathtaking Beach Views

After exploring the Castle and Fortress, we made our way around the shoreline and could not believe what our eyes beheld. No photo will ever truly capture the magnificence of the crystal clear turquoise waters and breathtaking beachfront. As it was still early Spring, we weren’t able to ‘dive in’ as the water and wind were much too cold. I guess we’ll have to go back another time when it’s warmer…darn.

Going South

The next day, we decided to explore the Southern part of the island. Our day started at Kanoni Harbor and the Holy Monastery of Panagia Vlacherna.

This monastery was built in the 1600s and was home to many nuns until it closed in 1980. There is a small church inside the walls. However, it was closed for renovation so we didn’t get to see it. This particular monastery is often used in photos and Greek films, so it’s possible you may have seen it before not knowing what it was.

The other significant thing to point out is on the right side of the picture. What you see there is a pedestrian walkway called the Kanoni Causeway. This bridge connects the peninsula to the southern part of Corfu town. But even more significant is this…

Pedestrians stand out in the middle while airliners fly overhead and land at the airport. Crazy tunes! We managed to get there right as this small plane came in for a landing. I cannot imagine being there as a passenger airliner was coming in.

Community

The best of everything comes in the community and connections we make. Often, while wandering through Corfu Town, we happen upon guys hanging out playing music together. Corfu is the most musical Greek island as it hosts the Ionian Music University and is also home to 18 marching bands. It’s so fun! We stopped and chatted with them a bit then I asked if they would play something for us, which they happily abliged.

But this next picture says it all.

Outside the only Starbucks for hundreds of miles, we sat and had the most wonderful conversation with this group of high school students. We all had so many questions for each other. They shared what it was like to go to school in Greece, what their village was like, how they were focused on passing their final exams coming in the next year that set out the course of their futures, what they hoped to do with their lives, and what they would like their teachers to help them learn in the meantime.

Then they peppered us with questions; Do kids really come to school with guns and kill people? Why? Is America dangerous? Is it as crazy as they say? How much does it cost to live there?

It was the most amazing three hours spent together sharing our lives. We all came away from there with the deepest sense of gratitude and a much better understanding of life in Greece.

Which leads me to this:

There is always time to stop, take a breath, and enjoy the beauty of creation. Sharing that time with those you love brings more joy than you can possibly imagine. Thank you, Joe and Carmen for flying halfway across the globe to spend time with us on this magical island! It was truly a gift.

Spring can be a bit chilly in the Mediterranean region, especially if it’s windy.

March 20th, 2025 was no exception. We were exploring Paleokastritsa on the western shores of Corfu.

Thankfully, it was sunny. But it was definitely a “jackets required” day, at least for Carmen and me.

As we all wandered around the stunning beaches, we happened upon the Aquarium. The guys weren’t interested at all, so Carmen and I took the plunge by ourselves and escaped the wind.

What a pleasant surprise to discover this hidden gem!

For 10 euros each, we experienced the local aquatic habitat with our very own personal tour guide. Yet another perk when visiting during the off-season.

She was so knowledgeable! And very personable!!

As you can see, not every species we encountered was from the local habitat. Like, the snake wasn’t from here.

But, it was so fun to have the opportunity to interact with our guide. She shared so much detail about each creature, along with the plight of environmental impacts happening to each of them all around the globe.

Here are three pictures I took of species found in the native seas.

Read more

Many Americans will be heading out to the beaches and campgrounds this weekend for the first of many Summer excursions for fun and frolic. This particular three-day opportunity is in honor of the 1.19 million men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States.

With such a massive number represented, more than likely you have someone you know, whether family or friend, who gave unto death.

First, I share these flowers with you as an opportunity to take a breath and enjoy the beauty wherever you go.

Second, I share them as a reminder that we are grateful for that sacrifice.

Finally, may our country never forget.

🚂 On the Road (Railroad, that is) Again!

Yep, you read that right.

We are finishing up our time here in Iowa and about to hop on the Amtrak for our 10-stop railroad adventure across the U.S. courtesy of our USA Rail Pass.

We are super excited about this!

We’ve never gone cross country on the train; well, not in America anyway. So this is going to be quite the trip, seeing all the new areas only available by rail. And we’ll be sleeping on the train too!

We look forward to sharing the ins and outs of this part of our American Summer Tour 2025, so stay tuned!

Have the most beautiful weekend 💖

Phew! What a whirlwind!!

We kicked off our American Summer Tour 2025 this past week.

Not gonna lie, I am experiencing a bit of whiplash! It takes resilience to adjust. But so far, I am doing well.

First stop, Athens!

To begin our journey we rode the train from Thessaloniki to Athens where we spent three nights. It was extremely windy when we arrived, so we stayed in the first night and the next day. It helped us focus on work, which was good. You know, work-life balance and all.

But by the second day, I was ready to explore! And explore we did!

We’ve been to Athens before, but there were some places we were excited to revisit.

First priority: Areopagus, also known as Mars Hill (top left photo.) This is where St. Paul spoke to a group of Athenian philosophers. It is at the base of the Acropolis (in the upper right photo.) The text of his sermon is inscribed on the side of the hill.

This small rock-of-a-hill will forever be the location that cemented my faith. It was here that I realized for the first time the stories I heard as a child were not just stories…they actually happened!

Another place we explored was the Holy Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. It is stunning! The relics of two saints martyred during the Ottoman period are displayed there:

• Saint Philothei from the 1500s on the left, and

• The Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinopole (modern day Istanbul, Turkey) from the 1700s on the right.

Both gave their lives for their faith in Christ. I am always speechless when being among such sacred sites. It’s incredibly important for us to leave space and time to just sit and “be” in these places.

And just like that…we were off!

That 4:00 AM wake-up was a bit stretching, but we always have a plan!

We use the app “Timeshifter” which seriously helps manage time zone transitions during international travel so you don’t deal with the typical jet lag. Maybe you’ve never heard of it before. But this is how it works:

• You input your flights from point A to your destination.

• The app then sets up what day to begin your shift.

• It tells you when to sleep and for how long.

• When to wake up, when to have coffee, and when to stop drinking coffee.

• How much light to have, how to incorporate melatonin if you choose,

The plan goes through the first couple of days at your destination so you are completely set for that timezone. We have used it for all of our trips over the past two and a half years and it has been amazing!

🇺🇸 Arriving in America!

We flew Norse Atlantic Airlines into JFK in New York. We highly recommend them. It was an affordable flight in Premium Class! I can handle coach for puddle jumper flights. But when your flight is long, you need to sleep and lay back. This summer, Norse will start flying from LAX to Athens. Something to consider if you want to visit Greece.

This was our first time together in New York City! Jeff traveled there with his family when he was in Jr. High.

Our travel-hardened transit skills were put to the test. After landing, we took the subway and shuttle bus to LaGuardia, and boarded a plane to Cleveland. When we finally arrived at our AirBnB, we had been on the move for 24 hours since leaving Athens.

After spending the night, we got on a bus, and finally arrived at our first destination:

Detroit, Michigan!

We have arrived!!

Let the U.S. adventures begin!!!

Hello, dear friends!

Christos Anesti!!!

That is the greeting said everywhere we go right now in Thessaloniki.

Why?

It means Christ is Risen!

Read more

We had the privilege of hosting friends from America on the island of Corfu, Greece in March. We had such a great time!

And I got to chauffeur them around the island just like Spiros ‘Americanos’ from The Durrells!!

“Who the heck were The Durrells?”

Pull up a chair. (Preferably not in the water)

In 1928, Lawrence Durrell Sr. died at the age of 43, leaving his wife Louisa widowed and destitute. Struggling to provide for her and their four children, her oldest son and newly married, Lawrence Jr, recommended they all move to the island of Corfu, Greece.

In March of 1935, the family packed up and left Bournemouth, Britain, for a better life in Corfu and stayed until 1939.

Who were Gerald and Lawrence Durrell?

Gerald worked as a naturalist, zookeeper, and conservationist in adulthood. In 1955, while recovering from jaundice, he set out to tell the story of his childhood. He wrote three books about their family’s adventures. His Corfu trilogy depicts the landscape, wildlife, and culture that made an enormous impact on the island.

Lawrence wrote novels (some rather risqué👙), poetry, dramatic works, and about his travels.

PBS created a TV series based loosely on Gerald’s trilogy, along with Lawrence’s accounts about their time living in Corfu, “The Durrells in Corfu.”

I don’t want to give away their story, so I will say this:

You must watch the show!

We have watched it three times, the first time right before we left the States in 2022. So, of course, we had to introduce it to our friends while they were here. It became our evening entertainment after our daily exploration.

One place we all wanted to see…Lawrence Durrell’s House!

The House

Lawrence and his wife Nancy lived in this house on the Northeast shores of Kalami Bay from 1936 until 1940, when Greece fell during WW2.

Because we visited during the “off-season,” the house and The White House Restaurant next door were closed to the public.

But as you can see, we wandered around the outside—and it is beautiful!

Which brings me back to this…

A month ago, we reported the story of meeting Anastasia.

She was so excited to share stories about her grandfather, Spiros ‘Americanos’ Halikiopoulos, the dear friend of the Durrells.

He was the only one on the island who had a car, which he had brought back from America after he and his brothers had lived there to make a better living for their families. Because of the Great Depression, he and one of his brothers chose to move back to Corfu. And he brought his Dodge with him.

I, however, did not drive a Dodge. But I really loved getting to taxi everyone around like Spiros! 🚖

And now I know the island even better than before. Fun fact: there were 21 switchbacks getting to the beautiful villa where we stayed. Don’t get car sick thinking about that.

The one place we had hoped to see was the home where they filmed the TV series. It is located on the Kontokali Peninsula about 10 minutes North from the city center of Corfu. Unfortunately, it is now privately owned, so that wasn’t possible. At the time of writing this the information we were given was it has been made into a small villa with rooms that can be rented out.

Hmmm….maybe we’ll have to stay there on our next visit?

Look at all the lush green popping out!

Yes! It’s finally warming up!!

The Spring equinox has come, time has shifted forward, and the daylight is getting longer. It’s time to get outside and stretch your legs.

Plans have been made to explore and see new things. Maybe a trip to a new place you’ve never been before. The weather is perfect for it, too.

“Let’s go!”

So you set out on a grand excursion with 10 days to get there, see all the sights, and make it back. You step off the plane, a bit tired from the long flight.

“It’s all good. After all, it’s an adventure, right?” you tell yourself. “I’ll head to bed early tonight, and I’ll be good in the morning.”

But all is far from good when you wake up.

POLLEN

Thousands of people travel during the Spring. It’s a great opportunity because the weather is nice, the crowds are small, and the costs are lower.

But one thing most people don’t think about is Spring’s silent partner….pollen!

Everything is waking up from the winter slumber, bursting with blooms!

… But that pesky pollen….aaaa achooo!

That sneeze nearly blew the door down.

And now you’re stuck feeling lousy in a place you don’t know, maybe even in a different country, aaandd you don’t speak their language.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

We’ve been in this exact situation. Our first Spring was rough, especially for. Neither of us had thought about how seasonal allergies could affect us.

We went through it twice in one Spring. We moved from Thessaloniki, where we had nearly gotten through the worst of it, to the mountains of Bansko, Bulgaria, where Spring was barely beginning. It was torture.

And here we are again, two years later, forgetting that we needed to plan for this season. But never again…because I’m putting it in print!

Deana’s Spring Guide to Bouncing like Tigger instead of Dragging like Eeyore.

Here’s what we have discovered from our experiences traveling during the season of sneezes. When you’re done reading this, you’ll be better equipped to navigate through almost any situation during your next Spring excursion.

BE PREPARED

The old Boy Scout motto rings especially true when you head out traveling thousands of miles from home. Before you step foot on a plane, here are a few ideas to boost your health:

• Eat a healthy diet - Try to avoid excess sugar as it weakens your immune system.

• Stay hydrated - Make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Long flights can dehydrate you because the air is dry.

• Sleep - Lack of sleep has been shown to weaken your immune system, so getting adequate sleep is very important to stay healthy when traveling.

• See your doctor - Check with your doctor to make sure you are healthy before traveling. Ask about immune-boosting vitamins such as Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Magnesium, and Zinc.

• Be consistent with taking your allergy medicines for at least 2 weeks before traveling and continue to take them regularly. Be sure you have enough to make it home with a few days to spare.

• Pack specific medicines to treat illness in your checked baggage. It is better to buy them ahead of time so they are in your suitcase. If you are an American, it is essential to know that the availability and prices of medications are different in Europe. Prescriptions are cheaper here, but over-the-counter meds are more expensive. Dayquil/Nyquil is hard to get in Europe. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are much more affordable when purchased in America.

• Bring a written list of all medicines you take

IF YOU GET SICK

Unfortunately, even with the best preparations, you can still get sick. You get exposed to all sorts of germs when traveling. And if it’s spring, you have all kinds of new pollens you’ve never been exposed to. Remind yourself: You’ve done your best.

So, what now?

• Grab the meds you packed along and start treatment.

• Communication is key! If you’ve traveled with someone, tell them you are not well. Be honest. No one can read your mind. Tell them your specific symptoms so they have as much information as possible in case you need to see a doctor.

• If you are traveling alone, write down your symptoms and when they started. You are your best advocate! It will help a doctor understand better if you are too weak to talk later on.

• Let your host know you are ill. Whether it’s the hotel receptionist or manager or your AirBnB connection, be sure to communicate that you are sick. Don’t be shy! They are your best resource for getting you the help you need, and someone knows to check in on you.

I NEED A DOCTOR

You can probably ride out your symptoms from the comfort of your hotel room or apartment and still enjoy your trip. But what if your symptoms worsen? What then?

Communicate!

• Tell someone you need to see a doctor. You know your body. And only you know when it’s time.

• Ask for help finding an English-speaking doctor. We have had excellent success messaging our host for recommendations. They are locals and know the ones they like and trust.

• Have someone go with you. Whether it’s your significant other, travel companion, your host, or someone you’ve become friends with where you’re staying, it’s always more comforting to have a support person with you. They can help immensely by being a second set of ears and mouth, especially with a language barrier.

• Google Translate is your friend! Honestly! Most places we have been to, including pharmacies, have English-speaking workers. However, sometimes, a specific word might be hard to understand. We’ve seen providers use it just as much as patients. I had an entire conversation in Google Translate with a doctor when I got pneumonia. The technology is amazing! So don’t hesitate to pull out your phone if you need clarification.

FINAL THOUGHTS

You must buy travel insurance.

The number one reason is if you become incapacitated from illness or injury, it covers medical transportation back to your home country, also known as expatriation.

I know of 2 families that suddenly had to raise $50,000-$100,000 for the cost of their loved one’s medical transport back to the United States because the family member had not purchased traveler’s insurance that included expatriation. Save yourselves and your families from a nightmare and buy traveler’s insurance.

For the past 2.5 years, we have used SafetyWing and can say it has worked well for us. If you use this affiliate link, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

Don’t be afraid to get out in this great, big, beautiful world and see new places no matter what time of year. Life is too short to be dictated by fear.

Just be prepared!

You will never regret it!!