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My travels in 2025 started with a six-week journey to Mexico and the US. Virtually completely to locations I had visited earlier than, with solely Houston and Austin being new.
And whereas I’m normally in a position to sustain the work when touring, all of it fell aside these final two months. Partly due to the turmoil in the US, as the federal government absolutely embraces fascism, as telephones are searched at borders for political beliefs, as ICE kidnaps folks, as many frequent guests refuse to return to the US, because the financial system crashes whereas the billionaires get richer.
I do know what to do as a citizen. I donate. I name my reps. I boycott. I amplify. I protest after I can, and assist protestors after I can’t. I even make political journey movies on Instagram and TikTok.
However by way of the work that truly earns me a residing, I’ve felt frozen. I’ve been knowledgeable journey blogger for 15 years. You don’t do any job for 15 years with out going by means of powerful 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 a lot bigger weblog publish about this problem, as a result of it deserves to be fleshed out correctly. You’ll get that quickly.
And now that I’ve mustered up the vitality to jot down about journey once more, let’s check out the previous two months. Beneath this happy-little-monthly-recap, there’s been greater than a little bit of screaming.
Locations Visited
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Mérida, Dzibilchaltún, Progreso, Bacalar, Mexico Metropolis, 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
Highlights
Three fabulous weeks in Mexico. If something, I fell extra in love with Mérida, appreciated that Bacalar hadn’t modified one bit, loved Mexico Metropolis as a lot as typical, and fell a bit out of affection with Oaxaca.
Has Mexico modified in the previous couple of years? In fact. Eating places have opened and closed. Mérida now has electrical buses. American vacationers on excursions discover methods to subtly throw shade at Trump to weed out the group, then exhale in reduction when everybody else joins in.
However the largest change throughout the board in Mexico was that each time we ordered a espresso at a pleasant cafe, the server would ask, “Leche regular?” Nicer cafes did have plant-based milks just a few years in the past, however servers didn’t mechanically provide them to you! A delicate change that claims lots.
Among the highlights? Swimming in wild cenotes close to Mérida, returning to Los Rapidos in Bacalar, consuming a lot good meals in Mexico Metropolis, and eventually visiting the Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca.
Celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I’ve celebrated Mardi Gras as soon as earlier than, again in 2014, and I’ve all the time needed to return and do it significantly better. Charlie, Nick, and I had a completely FABULOUS time, and I obtained to expertise a whole lot of issues I missed the primary time round (like standing on a balcony!).
We additionally actually liked our riverboat trip on the Creole Queen, the place there have been limitless Bloody Mary’s and mimosas for simply $25. A uncommon deal at Mardi Gras time.
After Mardi Gras, we drove to Houston for one night time, simply to go to the House Heart — and even took a tour of Mission Management, which is preserved to look similar to within the late 60s!
Attending my first SXSW in Austin. Charlie liked attending the South by Southwest convention years in the past, so when it lined up with Mardi Gras this 12 months, we determined to do it! This convention is SO costly, particularly while you consider lodging, however we booked lodging weeks earlier than the dates have been introduced.
Was it price it? I loved a whole lot of it, however I don’t suppose it’s definitely worth the funding in the event you’re coming right here particularly to develop what you are promoting as a content material creator.
(Then once more, in the event you make that ONE magical connection that modifications your life…in fact it could be. However occasions designed round networking are uncommon right here. If you wish to community, you must actively strike up conversations with strangers round you. Which is hard in the event you’re an introvert like me.)
I did go to a couple helpful workshops (my favourite one was about crowdfunding), attended just a few comedy reveals, and obtained to see Pedro Pascal and the solid of The Final of Us! The panels I most loved have been the political ones, and I obtained to see Elizabeth Warren, Ayanna Pressley, and Michelle Obama converse.
Additionally, Austin is all concerning the reside music, which sounds good on paper…however I discovered all of the venues to be approach too loud to be gratifying. Perhaps that’s simply a part of getting older.
This was my first time visiting Austin, and to be sincere, I waited too lengthy. I actually ought to have visited 10 or 15 years in the past, when it was doable to earn a residing as an artist and reside decently. Austin’s transformation right into a tech hub took a whole lot of town’s character with it. (And I say this as somebody who had LOTS of conversations with longtime Austin residents about how town has modified.)
A pleasant fast journey again to Massachusetts. For lobstah, chowdah, household, and mates. My new dwelling base has been in Beverly since my dad offered our dwelling in 2023, and this time Charlie and I visited a whole lot of Beverly’s downtown retailers and the library. It’s such a pleasant city!
My return to New York for the primary time since 2020. Sure, critically. It was bizarre staying away for 5 years after residing there for 4 years!
The most important spotlight was seeing Tituss Burgess star in Oh, Mary! The funniest and strangest present I’ve ever seen. His engagement is over, however I extremely advocate you go and see Cole Escola and the unique solid!
Different first-time highlights have been visiting the Museum of the Transferring Picture, lastly 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 hung out with household and mates. We additionally celebrated an enormous milestone birthday for Charlie!
Good instances in Prague. Actually, there’s nothing like the primary sip of a pilsner after a visit abroad as a result of NO BEER IN THE WORLD EVEN COMES CLOSE.
Challenges
I injured what I believed was my hip whereas we have been in Mexico. Between the on-and-off ache, the truth that I may not do a figure-4 stretch on one aspect, and that at one level I jumped out of bed, landed weirdly on my foot, and screamed in ache for about 30 seconds straight — I used to be terrified that it was the arrival of arthritis.
Fortunately, I noticed the physician in Prague and realized that it’s not arthritis or a bone problem — only a muscle problem that may be handled with a month of physiotherapy classes. I’m grateful that it’s not something worse than that.
That, and I had two separate colds, one initially and one on the finish of March. And since I’m nonetheless upset that one in all my colleagues obtained me so sick at a convention in 2024, I masked on the convention. I used to be one in all only a few folks carrying a masks. Not enjoyable, however I’m glad I did it.
Additionally — you might keep in mind from just a few years in the past that I had a gum an infection whereas in Mexico Metropolis and struggled to search out an emergency dentist who may take me. Properly, this 12 months the identical painful signs arrived the morning that we have been flying to New Orleans.
However three years older is three years wiser — so I purchased some hydrogen peroxide and commenced rinsing my mouth with it. The ache went away inside just a few days! I’m so glad, as a result of I didn’t wish to pay by means of the nostril to see a dentist within the US.
Nevertheless, that is making me suppose that I shouldn’t brush my tooth with the water in Mexico, since this has occurred twice. I by no means drink the water, however I brush my tooth with it. Perhaps I ought to persist with purified water for that.
Oh, and eventually, I obtained a nosebleed on 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 supplied me napkins and moist wipes, which was so form of them.
Weblog Posts of the Month
10 Fab Issues to Do in San Teodoro, Italy — If you’d like a seaside trip in Italy, neglect the Amalfi Coast — San Teodoro in Sardinia has precisely what you need.
Most In style Reel on Instagram
I relaunched one in all my hottest reels of all time — The place Italians Truly Go. The primary one obtained 7.5 million views. And sure — the second time was the attraction. Regardless of not utilizing a trending audio like I did the primary time, this one obtained 1.9 million views, and fairly just a few sign-ups for my mailing listing.
I have to do extra of those.
For extra updates from my travels, observe me on Instagram at @adventurouskate — you can too observe me on TikTok at @adventurouskate!
What I Wore This Month
Final 12 months I began transitioning my wardrobe to pure fibers — principally wool, which I now put on a ton of. My time in Mexico, particularly blisteringly scorching Mérida, gave me an opportunity to test-drive which of my new objects would work finest in summer season warmth.
And my absolute favourite is this gown from Wool&. Wool& makes use of a number of completely different sorts of wool of their garments, however this materials is their lightest and thinnest — the Signature 160 — and it’s a pleasant, free, comfy swing gown. You possibly can put on it free, but it surely seems fancy sufficient for an evening out while you belt it.
I’m going to reside on this gown all summer season. And Wool& simply added a bunch of recent colours — so I needed to seize it in teal as effectively!
What I Watched This Month
The Pitt. This present is completely excellent. The Pitt is a medical drama on Max starring Noah Wyle as an attending doctor within the ED of a trauma heart in Pittsburgh. Every episode is one hour of a 15-hour shift, shot in actual time like 24.
What makes this present so nice? Medical professionals are saying it’s probably the most sensible medical TV present they’ve ever seen. No cleaning soap opera drama — simply folks doing their often-impossible jobs. (And since it’s on Max, it’s lots gorier than community reveals. I hate gore, however I simply look away at these transient moments.)
Every character is fleshed out SO superbly over the course of this 15-hour shift. Some you love, just a few you’ll be able to’t stand, however every of them are drawn out so richly. I particularly love one physician who’s a sensible neurodivergent character — not a savant or somebody with no social abilities, however somebody who steps apart to stim and is delicate to sufferers in the way in which others don’t get.
And general, it’s a fast-moving present, which makes it excellent for watching whereas on the elliptical, and the episodes go by so rapidly.
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 in some way missed my total life till now!
In February, I listened to albums 435-401, and I took a break from the listing in March however picked it again up in April. Listed below are the highlights:
Favourite Discovery: Risqué by Stylish. I’m an enormous disco fan ordinarily, and suppose the style doesn’t get practically sufficient respect because it deserves. As a result of when disco is sweet — and this album is nearly as good as disco will get — it’s transformative.
I really like this album for its detailed musical preparations with a full orchestra. Give me all of the strings and the horns. That is the late 70s personified, dancing all night time.
Different Favourite Discoveries: Un Verano Sin Ti by Dangerous Bunny, Supreme Clientele by Ghostface Killah, Arular by M.I.A., Everyone Is aware of That is Nowhere by Neil Younger, That’s the Method of the World by Earth, Wind & Hearth.
Favourite Revisited Album: Confessions by Usher. Actually, I’m nonetheless salty that this album didn’t win all of the Grammys — as a result of Ray Charles occurred to launch a duets album and die the identical 12 months, and subsequently he swept every part and no person else had an opportunity.
Confessions is such an superior album, so emblematic of a particular time (my faculty years!), with an ideal mixture of dance tracks and ballads, all with the identical message: “I’m unhealthy however I’m additionally a whole lot of enjoyable.”
Favourite Songs: “All About U” by 2Pac feat. Yaki Kamari, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Deadly; “Yo No Soy Celoso” by Dangerous Bunny; “Nutmeg” by Ghostface Killah feat. RZA; “Standing within the Shadows of Love” by the 4 Tops; “Open My Eyes” by Nazz; “That’s the Method of the World” by Earth, Wind & Hearth.
Get the playlist: I’m making a playlist of my favourite songs from the five hundred albums — most one per album — on Spotify. You possibly can take heed to it right here.
Lowlight of the Month: New Day Rising by Hüsker Dü. (Say it with me — extra like Hüsker Don’t!) Mediocre punk with voices you would barely hear. I do not know why this album is lauded.
Random Thought: That is the primary month I acknowledged one of many songs from this problem on the radio: Paul McCartney’s “Monkberry Moon Delight”! I’m retaining what I hear!!
Additionally, this was the third month of the problem and the primary month that I listened to artists’ second albums on the listing: Dangerous Bunny, Marvin Gaye, and Al Inexperienced. There will likely be way more sooner or later.
And sadly, this was the primary month when an artist I had listened to handed away — Roberta Flack. RIP.
What I Learn This Month
Dawn on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (2025) — THE NEWEST HUNGER GAMES BOOK!! I’ve been ready for this e-book for SO lengthy, learn the entire thing inside 24 hours, and have been fascinated with it and speaking about it ever since.
This e-book is the story of the fiftieth Starvation Video games — the story of Haymitch, Katniss’s mentor. Haymitch’s video games have been a Quarter Quell and had a twist — double the standard variety of tributes have been reaped, 48 in whole.
The theme of this e-book is the ability of propaganda. This e-book, greater than the opposite Starvation Video games books, goes into depth about how the Capitol solely reveals the story they need advised — every part else is saved hidden.
Whereas Katniss and Peeta watched a video of Haymitch’s video games, there may be SO MUCH MORE that the world by no means noticed as a result of it was saved hidden. And you discover out EVERYTHING that occurred on this e-book. Katniss didn’t begin the revolution. She was simply the primary try that succeeded.
As all the time, this e-book may be very helpful for understanding the political atmosphere we’re residing in right this moment.
One very last thing: lots of people have requested if it’s essential to learn The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the primary prequel about President Snow as a teen, earlier than Dawn on the Reaping. Lots of people didn’t learn it as a result of they didn’t wish 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 story (and the film is one in all my favourite casts in fairly a while).
My suggestion? You possibly can technically learn Dawn and perceive the plot with out studying Ballad, however you’re going to get SO far more out of it in the event you learn the e-book first. The folks saying, “I didn’t learn it and I used to be high quality!” do not know what they’re lacking.
Coming Up in April 2025
It is a month with zero journey on the schedule! Spring is my favourite time of 12 months in Prague, and I really like the official swapping of winter coats for trench coats, the reopening of outside eating, and the way in which flowers burst into bloom all over the place.
Do I’ve any tangible plans? Nope, and I’m comfortable for it.
What did you rise up to in February and March? Share away!
