Friday, July 18, 2025

AK Month-to-month Recap: June 2025


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Generally, you find yourself with a VERY busy month of journey — and that’s what June was to me!

That stated, one of the best time for a seaside summer time trip in Europe is in early June. It’s a bit earlier than peak season begins, and at instances, it’s principally been me, Charlie and many Germans. (Irrespective of the place you go, there are Germans. They go all over the place.)

The one trade-off is that the water is commonly a bit chilly at the moment of yr within the Mediterranean. And certainly, it was a bit too chilly for infinite swimming in Crete in early June — however greater than enough for fast swims. And for me, that’s a good trade-off.

Let’s check out the whole lot that went down in June 2025!

Kate taking a selfie in a black and white patterned bathing suit in front of a beach with incredibly clear turquoise water.
It was an exquisite day at Elafonissi Seashore in Crete!

Locations Visited

  • Kraków and Wieliczka, Poland
  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • Athens, Chania, Elafonissi, Milia, Vatolakkos, Agia Marina, Melidoni, Fournes, Drakona, Agios Nikolaos, and Krasi, Greece
  • Paris, France
  • London, England
Cailin and Kate take a selfie on a park bench. Cailin holds a paczki, a Polish-style donut topped with chocolate and pistachio with a cat-shaped birthday candle on top.Cailin and Kate take a selfie on a park bench. Cailin holds a paczki, a Polish-style donut topped with chocolate and pistachio with a cat-shaped birthday candle on top.
It was a enjoyable Polish birthday for Cailin!

Highlights

The remainder of an important journey to Poland. Cailin and I arrived in Kraków late on Might 30 and spent our first day visiting Auschwitz. We celebrated her birthday with paczki and pierogi, road markets, out of doors cafes, vodka tasting, fancy cocktail bars — and I discovered just a few birthday candles with cat heads on them that she liked!

The following day, we visited the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Positioned exterior Kraków within the city of Wieliczka (VEE-yeh-LEECH-ka), that is the proper half day journey from the town. The mine has dazzling rooms, together with their well-known room with hanging chandeliers that will make SUCH an excellent wedding ceremony or celebration setting.

We had been hosted by Kraków Reserving, who’re hosts to great excursions in and round Kraków. We liked our personal journey in a luxurious automotive to Wieliczka, although it is best to know all excursions of the mine itself are group excursions. You’ll be able to see their salt mine tour right here and their different excursions right here.

A huge, cavernous ballroom cut out of giant slabs of salt in the Polish salt mine. Some chandeliers hang from the ceiling.A huge, cavernous ballroom cut out of giant slabs of salt in the Polish salt mine. Some chandeliers hang from the ceiling.
Wieliczka Salt Mine is beautiful!

And two bits of recommendation: this mine is the BEST place to go to on a scorching day! It’s a lot cooler inside. For those who’re visiting Kraków within the scorching summer time months, this must be a serious precedence for you.

And secondly, should you plan a visit to Kraków, you’ll see numerous mixture excursions that do each Auschwitz and Wieliczka in the identical day. I strongly urge you not to do that, as Auschwitz is such a heavy expertise that you just’re not going to need to do anything that day.

As a substitute, don’t schedule something within the afternoon, and preserve your schedule mild. Mirror in your expertise. Perhaps take a stroll across the beautiful park that surrounds the outdated city. You’ll be glad you probably did.

Kate and Charlie take a smiling selfie in Greece with the Acropolis rising up on a hill behind them. They both wear sunglasses and Kate wears a wide-brimmed straw hat.Kate and Charlie take a smiling selfie in Greece with the Acropolis rising up on a hill behind them. They both wear sunglasses and Kate wears a wide-brimmed straw hat.
I FINALLY made it to Athens! About time!

My first go to to Athens ever! The day after getting back from Kraków, Charlie and I had been off to Athens! Athens has lengthy been certainly one of my largest oversights in Europe, and we spent two days there absorbing the sights.

We visited the Acropolis, acquired misplaced within the labyrinthine streets of the Anofiotika neighborhood, dove into all of the Greek meals, sampled Greek wines, watched the altering of the guard, ran across the Olympic stadium like Phoebe in Pals (that was simply me), market-hopped, and loved dinner and drinks with Charlie’s Greek colleagues. I even visited my pal Alexa’s favourite gyro store from her semester overseas, 20 years in the past!

The powerful factor about Athens is that one of the best time to go to is in spring or fall, when temperatures are extra nice — but most individuals pair Athens with the islands and thus go to in the summertime. Such is life. However I’d love to return to Athens when it’s cooler and discover extra in depth.

The old town of Shania, Greece, at sunset. A calm harbor with a single boat in it, and a yellow, orange, and purple sky over the short buildings. Many people are out and about along the harbor's edge.The old town of Shania, Greece, at sunset. A calm harbor with a single boat in it, and a yellow, orange, and purple sky over the short buildings. Many people are out and about along the harbor's edge.
On our first evening in Chania, we loved an exquisite sundown.

A implausible week in Crete. Charlie and I’ve lengthy wished to go to Crete, and let me inform you — that is an INCREDIBLE island.

We began with 4 nights in Chania within the west, and completed with three nights in Agios Nikolaos within the east. I feel the west is the higher a part of the island, and Chania is a beautiful little metropolis. The day journeys listed here are top-notch, and we did enjoyable journeys to Elafonissi Seashore in addition to a cooking class up within the hills.

Agios Nikolaos isn’t as good of a city, however we stayed in a wonderful resort there — Minos Seashore Artwork Lodge. This can be a nicer place than we often keep in, and it was an expensive but laid-back place for our closing days. We additionally took a wonderful catamaran journey!

What did I like about Crete? The individuals are SO heat, welcoming, and pleasant. The meals is astoundingly good. The landscapes are stunning. And I used to be stunned how inexpensive it was — you possibly can go fancy if you’d like, however you too can have a dynamite souvlaki pita or gyro for 4 euros, which I did for a lot of meals.

I’ll be writing extra in depth about Crete sooner or later, however for now, my largest recommendation is to deal with Crete as THE vacation spot, not a part of the vacation spot. A lot of vacationers (significantly from the US) go to three or 4 Greek islands for just a few nights every, and Crete is a type of. As a substitute, keep in just a few completely different spots in Crete and also you’ll like it.

After so many summer time journeys to Italy and Croatia, I feel we’re hooked on Greece now!

A huge outdoor concert with Bruce Springsteen on three big screens on stage.A huge outdoor concert with Bruce Springsteen on three big screens on stage.
Bruce for the primary time ever!

Seeing Bruce Springsteen in Prague. Effectively…for a part of the live performance, anyway. Charlie and I went, and this was our first time seeing Bruce stay. However about 45 minutes into the live performance, it began raining actually exhausting, and it was thundering and lightning.

We caught it out for a bit, then bailed once we figured they might cancel the live performance as a result of lightning. And you realize what? They didn’t! We loved what we noticed for an hour or so, however will certainly pack our ponchos for the longer term!

(Additionally at that live performance? The Czech president, Petr Pavel, simply hanging out within the GA space with everybody.)

A star-shaped concert stage in Paris, with dancers on it and plumes of fire shooting out from the back.A star-shaped concert stage in Paris, with dancers on it and plumes of fire shooting out from the back.
Beyoncé in Paris! This was throughout “Riiverdance.”

Seeing Beyoncé in Paris. This journey was a bit on a whim, lengthy after the tickets had gone on sale — however I like Beyoncé, and I like Paris, so why not?? I actually wished to go to the Renaissance tour in 2023, as that’s my favourite album, however I didn’t need to danger getting COVID so near my two weddings.

The nice factor was that Beyoncé carried out a ton of Renaissance songs at this live performance, too! And Miley Cyrus was the shock visitor — she and Beyoncé carried out their duet “II Most Wished” for the primary time stay, ever!! And naturally I liked seeing Beyoncé’s daughters Blue and Rumi carry out.

The live performance was superb, although I used to be type of in a clumsy seat and I want I had spent extra so I may really see the massive display screen. I’ll preserve that in thoughts for the longer term.

I liked seeing everybody of their cowboy costumes, although I didn’t participate in that myself (as an alternative I wore a flamenco-style ruffled shirt for her track “Flamenco”). It was actually enjoyable seeing everybody in cowboy hats on the airport and throughout Paris.

In reality — that is the primary time I’ve been surrounded by individuals in western put on and truly felt protected. Like, no one right here had a gun. It was a bizarre however great feeling, and I’m grateful to Beyoncé for giving us that.

A view of London through the window of a Double Decker Bus, lots of traffic going around a circle and some old-fashioned church-like buildings.A view of London through the window of a Double Decker Bus, lots of traffic going around a circle and some old-fashioned church-like buildings.
London is at all times finest considered from a double-decker bus!

A beautiful journey to London. After Paris, I took the Eurostar to London (Charlie left Prague about the identical time and we raced to our lodge. I beat him by 4 minutes). We stayed for the weekend to rejoice my father-in-law’s milestone birthday.

Along with having a very nice celebration with household and mates, we noticed The Ebook of Mormon (how did I am going so lengthy with out seeing this present?!), loved Chinese language meals and cocktails.

And I took the time to see Rachel Zegler sing “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” to the gang exterior the theater the place she’s starring in Evita. The crowds had been insane, however she sang so superbly, I cried. It was so extremely price it.

She sings round 9:00 PM on the London Palladium, and I might suggest getting there no less than 45 minutes early.

Good instances with mates. Too many to say. Although I did do my first Escape Room of all time, and we had a blast!

Lewis the gray tabby cat with a white bib and white stripe on his nose sitting on a kitchen counter next to a bunch of bananas. His eyes are bright green.Lewis the gray tabby cat with a white bib and white stripe on his nose sitting on a kitchen counter next to a bunch of bananas. His eyes are bright green.
Lewis and a few bananas for scale.

Challenges

Heraklion Airport is the worst airport I’ve ever skilled in Europe. I do know lots of people have one dangerous expertise and declare an airport the worst ever — however this one was BAD.

It was extremely scorching inside, there was nowhere close to sufficient enough seating, and in a primary for me, I had lounge entry however the lounge didn’t even have its personal bathroom. The one girls’s bathroom within the space had 5 stalls, two of which had been out of order, and a wraparound line across the airport.

For what it’s price, they’re opening a brand new airport in Heraklion quickly. They want it.

And for transparency: my picks for the worst airports on the earth are Kathmandu and Manila, whereas my favorites are Amsterdam and Qatar.

Packing an excessive amount of in. I spotted this month that between Might 21 and June 23, I had precisely someday at house with out entertaining out-of-town guests. And because of this, it left me unmoored and a bit irritable.

I’ve gotten higher at not scheduling an excessive amount of journey again to again — what actually did me in was having so many family and friends visiting, as a result of I at all times overlook how a lot vitality it saps out of me. I like having individuals go to, however I must be higher about recharging.

Charlie and I are speaking about going to Italy in October, and I’ve already stated that I would like two weeks at house after my huge Madagascar journey earlier than we go elsewhere.

Murray the gray tabby cat with a white belly and white pays looks intently at a drone on the floor, lit up in green and red.Murray the gray tabby cat with a white belly and white pays looks intently at a drone on the floor, lit up in green and red.
Murray continues to be fascinated by the drone — particularly when its lights are on.

New on the Weblog

25+ Enjoyable Issues to Do in Portland, Maine — I feel the East Coast Portland is among the most underrated cities within the US. Don’t simply velocity by way of right here on the way in which to Acadia — really cease for just a few days and revel in a extremely nice metropolis.

Most Common Reel on Instagram

My hottest reel in Might was all in regards to the Umbrella Cowl Museum on Peaks Island, Maine, simply off the coast from Portland!

That is simply the quirkiest museum I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen many). I imply, it’s a museum not dedicated to umbrellas, however particularly the sleeves that maintain the umbrellas.

The museum is run by a enjoyable girl named Nancy, who’s so obsessed with her assortment. You’ll completely fall in love with this place.

You’ll be able to watch this reel on Instagram or watch it on TikTok. I’m @adventurouskate on each platforms.

What I Watched This Month

I actually loved The 4 Seasons on Netflix. An ideal little comedic miniseries with a bunch of actors you like. Tina Fey, Will Forte, Steve Carell? I’ll watch them in something. And whereas Colman Domingo is certainly one of my favourite actors in the mean time, it was so good to see him in a comedy.

One other good factor about this sequence is that it’s a couple of bunch of fifty-somethings with fifty-something issues. You don’t at all times see that age group represented in romantic comedies (dramedies?).

And I loved the fantasy of getting such good mates, you go on 4 journeys collectively yearly!

What I Listened To This Month

I’m listening to all 500 of Rolling Stone‘s 500 Best Albums of All Time, which I’m having fun with immensely. I’m loving discovering new artists and listening to albums I’ve someway missed my total life till now!

In June, I listened to albums 340-319. I didn’t hearken to something whereas I used to be in Greece, in order that’s why there weren’t as many. This month was a little bit of a slog — it was a VERY male assortment of albums with few feminine voices, and a bit an excessive amount of of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Listed here are the highlights:

Favourite Discovery: Norman Fucking Rockwell! by Lana del Rey. I’ve by no means listened to a Lana album earlier than — I’ve possibly heard two or three of her songs? — and this positively blew me away. Her songs are stunning and darkish, ephemeral and messy.

On high of that, these are each songs of affection gone improper, and an fascinating reflection of a model of American life in the present day. I at all times take pleasure in darkish perceptions of California. Now I have to dive into extra of her stuff.

Different Favourite Discoveries: Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson, Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg, Abraxas by Santana, Endtroducing… by DJ Shadow, A Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay.

Favourite Revisited Album: I haven’t listened to any of this month’s albums in full earlier than (possibly I listened to Madonna’s Like a Prayer at a pal’s home after I was a teen?), so let’s simply go along with there was no full album to truly revisit.

Favourite Songs: “Incident at Neshabur” by Santana, “Come Again to Me” by Janet Jackson, “A Fast One, Whereas He’s Away” by The Who, “Underneath My Thumb” by The Rolling Stones, “Mariners House Complicated” by Lana Del Rey, “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face” by Coldplay.

Get the playlist: I’m making a playlist of my favourite songs from the five hundred albums — most one per album — on Spotify. You’ll be able to hearken to it right here.

Lowlight of the Month: Los Angeles by X. One other late 70s/early 80s album sitting squarely between pop and punk — a selected style that I’ve found out I completely hate every time I hear it. The entire album appeared a bit juvenile for my style.

Random Music Ideas: This month, two extra artists I listened to on the highest 500 albums handed away. RIP to Sly Stone and Brian Wilson. Thanks on your music.

A part of me hopes that their ascension closed the darkest timeline that started with the deaths of Prince and David Bowie.

Beautiful half-timbered buildings and a stone tower in Germany, set on a still river underneath a cloud-streaked sky.Beautiful half-timbered buildings and a stone tower in Germany, set on a still river underneath a cloud-streaked sky.
Nuremberg made a beautiful stopover on my approach to Frankfurt and again.

Coming Up in July 2025

The month started with a fast in a single day journey to Frankfurt to see Kendrick Lamar and SZA in live performance! And it was completely FANTASTIC. It’s so, so price it to see the artists you like essentially the most in live performance.

And that’s just about it for July. No different journey, as I take pleasure in time with the kittens and recharge earlier than my weeklong Slovakia-Poland journey in early August.

What are you getting as much as in July? Share away!



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