Look Mom, I’m in North Korea!

Excited to introduce everyone to our daughter, Charli, AKA The Piglet!

For most parents, “Look Mom, I’m in North Korea!” is probably not a dream email to receive.

However, I obviously inherited a love of questionable activities in foreign countries from my parents, The GypsyNesters.

So when they received my weekly travel newsletter detailing my trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), not only… CONTINUE READING >>

Excited to introduce everyone to our daughter, Charli, AKA The Piglet!

For most parents, “Look Mom, I’m in North Korea!” is probably not a dream email to receive.

However, I obviously inherited a love of questionable activities in foreign countries from my parents, The GypsyNesters.

So when they received my weekly travel newsletter detailing my trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), not only… CONTINUE READING >>

U.P. and Over Big Mac – Loving Michigan’s Upper Peninsula!

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is the red-headed stepchild of the Great Lakes region.

Like kids left alone who’ve formed a tree house club, the people of the Upper Peninsula have developed a domain unto themselves, even a secret language all their own.

A conversation about a moose walking through town would sound something like this:

“Just seen a snow cow at da stop-and-go light.”
“Yah, Hey… CONTINUE READING >>

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is the red-headed stepchild of the Great Lakes region.

Like kids left alone who’ve formed a tree house club, the people of the Upper Peninsula have developed a domain unto themselves, even a secret language all their own.

A conversation about a moose walking through town would sound something like this:

“Just seen a snow cow at da stop-and-go light.”
“Yah, Hey… CONTINUE READING >>

Perfectly Provincial in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France

Bonjour! It looks like they “filmed” Beauty and the Beast here!

A day of provincial life as it has been for centuries, completely unpretentious. A place where the scent of flowers, coffee, and bread filled the air.
Then a surprise.

We came upon a pretty little lane on a really steep hill named Rue Rompi Cuou and discovered that it means… how should we put this?… bust your… no… let’s say Break Your… CONTINUE READING >>

Bonjour! It looks like they “filmed” Beauty and the Beast here!

A day of provincial life as it has been for centuries, completely unpretentious. A place where the scent of flowers, coffee, and bread filled the air.
Then a surprise.

We came upon a pretty little lane on a really steep hill named Rue Rompi Cuou and discovered that it means… how should we put this?… bust your… no… let’s say Break Your… CONTINUE READING >>

Yin and Yang: Ancient Meets Modern in Shanghai


How does a city with a jaw-dropping skyline and  the fastest train in the world also embrace its roots?

Join us as we discover Shanghai — the old and the new — through her art, religion, architecture and food (soup dumplings!)… CONTINUE READING >>


How does a city with a jaw-dropping skyline and  the fastest train in the world also embrace its roots?

Join us as we discover Shanghai — the old and the new — through her art, religion, architecture and food (soup dumplings!)… CONTINUE READING >>

A Quirky Slice of Pisa

We’re not sure if we have ever heard the word Pisa without “leaning tower” in front of it.

There is good reason for that, the gravity defying belfry is certainly the star of the show.

And we’re not even going to try to hide the fact that we took several obligatory “holding up the tower” photos.

Starting out with the classic two-handed (with the addition of Veronica bracing for the fall for extra style points)… CONTINUE READING >>

We’re not sure if we have ever heard the word Pisa without “leaning tower” in front of it.

There is good reason for that, the gravity defying belfry is certainly the star of the show.

And we’re not even going to try to hide the fact that we took several obligatory “holding up the tower” photos.

Starting out with the classic two-handed (with the addition of Veronica bracing for the fall for extra style points)… CONTINUE READING >>

A Cajun Boucherie – Let’s Pig Out!

Back in the days before refrigeration, families would get together to share a butchered hog because the meat would go bad before one family could eat it all. Before long this became a pretty good excuse to throw a little party…. CONTINUE READING >> 

Back in the days before refrigeration, families would get together to share a butchered hog because the meat would go bad before one family could eat it all. Before long this became a pretty good excuse to throw a little party…. CONTINUE READING >>