It was my Iast full day in Sarajevo, and I’d decided to wander—do a little shopping, get my hair washed and blow dried, enjoy some of my favourite Balkan dishes, and check off the final spots on my list.
Legend has it that visitors who drink water from this fountain will surely return to Sarajevo. I took a big gulp!
This kind face greeted me every time I turned the same corner in my haphazard wandering
Best time and money spent. 🙂
East meets West. To the left, Ottoman-era architecture. To the right, Austro-Hungarian architecture,
A view from the Yellow Fortress
I’ll admit, I felt a bit nervous before this trip. While I travel solo fairly often, it’s usually just to reach a destination where I meet up with family or friends. It had been a while since I’d gone somewhere entirely new on my own.
I’m so happy to say I found my joy in travel again. This trip has been truly wonderful. I cherished my time with my cousins, and Montenegro was a delightful surprise. Sarajevo, though, completely captured me. I felt safe, there was so much to explore, and I quickly found a sense of ease — both in my apartment and in the rhythm of the city itself.
As my guide said the other day, there was so much more to Sarajevo than the siege. It’s the landscape, the food, the layered history and the warmth of the people that I’d carry with me as my time here came to an end.
As I packed my bags and prepared to leave, I realized this trip gave me more than just new memories —it gave me back a sense of confidence and curiosity that I knew I’d been missing and worried was a thing of the past. Sarajevo, with its resilience and quiet beauty, felt like the perfect place for that rediscovery. I left with a full heart, a grateful spirit, and a renewed excitement for wherever I choose to go next.
Now that I’m nearing the end of my holiday I have settled into a lovely routine that combines exploring, relaxing, eating yummy food and reflecting. I had booked an all-day tour with Meet Bosnia tours to Mostar so I made sure to allot time to enjoy coffee and breakfast on my balcony before setting off. I said goodbye to Spritz, the neighbour’s cat who meets me every time I come and go from the apartment. Cats in the Balkans are beloved, well-fed and treated as family. They are everywhere.
Spritz
Our tour started in the old town where we were met by Chris(tian) who would expertly guide us along the Neretva river—the Nile of Herzegovina. It is the coldest river in the world—the whole world!
Our first stop was to Konjic. This was the geographical centre of Yugoslavia and is the point where Herzegovina meets Bosnia. Here we saw the Old Bridge which has been declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Our next stop was Blagaj where the Buna river begins. The Buna river spring flows out of a 200m cliff wall and creates a crystal clear, extremely cold 9 km long river that flows into the Neretva. Here we also came to the dervish house: its primary purpose was to serve as a praise-chanting venue and guest house.
The weather was perfect—it was warm enough to shed layers but cool enough to not need to run and find shade every few minutes. I sat up front in the van so had a great view of the surroundings and life that was happening as we drove along. We had a road block of goats on the journey from Podgorica to Sarajevo and this day, it was sheep.
I am a sucker for a pretty waterfall and so I booked this tour knowing we would head to Kravice falls. There are around 20 cascades falling about 25 metres into the lake below. I sat and watched a canoe, and listened to its passengers squeal, as it approached the falls. It was like a more daring version of our Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls. We were fortunate to arrive just ahead of the big tour buses so didn’t happen upon the huge crowds until we were heading back to our van.
Our final stop was Stari Most—Old Bridge of Mostar. Mostar was definitely the busiest stop on our tour.
Sometimes it’s nice travelling alone, just sitting and enjoying the atmosphere and surroundings. Other times it’s nice to meet new people and hear about their lives and experiences. On this tour we were 5 plus Chris, our guide. There was a couple from Switzerland (who had Bosnian roots), someone from Cyprus via Russia, a traveller from the UK (Scotland and England) and me.
Susan, the traveller from the UK, and I decided to spend our time in Mostar going for a little wander and stopping in a restaurant with a view to have a drink and enjoy the bridge from a distance. A retired teacher, with children living in different locations around the world, I enjoyed hearing about all the amazing places she’d been.
Stari Most
Spritz with a view
Our guide, Chris was full of information and stories asked questions to better understand what we were interested in, and then made suggestions based on what he’d learned. At one point he’d been talking about the lamb cooking on spits that was so popular and delicious and when one of the tour members perked up, Chris decided to make a stop so we could all try some. After seeing all the sheep run by us in the road, some of us had softened and were wavering as to whether or not we wanted to try. Then seeing the lambs all spinning away…I wasn’t sure it was for me. It was lamb with a view and the parking lot was crammed with cars so I decided in the end to give it a go. I’m not a huge fan of lamb but i had the lamb sandwich and it wasn’t lamb-y at all! I had to admit that Chris was right—it was delicious!
I love finding packable, useful souvenirs that are made or designed by locals. This one says:
The summer isn’t over, you’re just not in Herzegovina.
The day ended with some Celine Dion blasting in the van with most of us signing along—the result of me saying I like Canadian music. Perfect end to a great day!
Yesterday was a really long day spent driving—first from Kotor back to Podgorica and then on the bus to Sarajevo. It was an easy trip and a beautiful trip. I slept, I read, I watched a movie and listened to music and I watched the world through my window. I shared a taxi with a French documentary filmmaker from the out-of-town bus station and got a great tour all the way to my apartment. My apartment is in a fantastic location so I put my stuff away and went out to find groceries and to explore the neighbourhood.
Today started with the birds and a cup of coffee on the balcony.,
My first tour of the day was around Sarajevo with local guide, Adis. It was great to learn about the history and it is always great to learn and hear from a local. We walked, we explored, Adis made us laugh and I took pictures.
One of the things that stuck with me was when he talked about the shells that were launched during the siege. He told us that they were being collected and turned into vases—what once took life, now holds life.
We learned the traditional craft of copper smithing, how to make a Bosnian coffee (not the same as a Turkish coffee), how to drink a Bosnian coffee (no espresso here—they take 15-30 minutes to drink what we would drink standing at the bar in Italy), what constitutes traditional Bosnian baklava and where to get the best cevapi.
From visitsarajevo.ba: On 6 April, the day Sarajevo was liberated in the II World War, the city came under siege, exactly 47 years later. It was the longest siege in modern history–1425 days; it began on April 5, 1992 and ended on February 29, 1996.
Neno was a child when Sarajevo came under siege and remembers the sounds of the shelling. He said that to this day he can still hear the sounds of the siege. He was young but there are things, even fireworks, that bring back the feelings and memories.
We saw the marks on the buildings from the bullets and shells, went to the front line and saw how far away/close by the snipers were and watched videos (taken by the Associated Press for international news) of civilians running as shots were being fired.
When I was in the classroom teaching, I used to love to read novels to my students. I tried to read novels that would generate discussion, challenge their thinking, make them think, and question things. One of the novels that I read in my last years was The Blue Helmet by William Bell. In the novel, one of the characters talks about the Blue Helmets during the 1992-1995 siege. The discussions I had with my grade 7 and 8 students still resonate with me. Their questions, their thoughts, their wonderings.
Going on the tour today and listening to Neno’s first hand account of the siege brought me back to reading that book.
He talked about how it sometimes hurts to talk about but how important it is to not forget. And to make sure their story is still heard and kept alive. They talk about the aggression. The genocide. The Bosnian Serbs talk about defending their homeland. He wondered if we’ll ever learn. One can’t help but think about the current state of the world.
Neno talked about how sometimes the version of history you’ll get when you talk to a Bosnian will depend on how old that Bosnian is. I was reminded of Yvetta, our tour guide in Moscow and the stories she shared with Mum and me.
A superhero/comic book created for Bosnian children during the siege
A memorial for the children killed during the siege- the forms in the middle represent a parent and child. The circle is the ring around the city and the marks in the ring are shoe prints representing the shoe sizes of all the murdered children.
Danger Zone- Run or R.i.P
One of the last things Neno showed us was the canned beef monument.
The Serbian siege of Sarajevo led to what would become the longest running humanitarian airlift in history. Running between July 3rd, 1993 and January 9th, 1996 it even surpassed the two years of the 1948-49 Berlin airlift. 12,000 flights brought 160,000 tons of food and medicine to the people of Sarajevo but it was not always appreciated.
The ICAR canned beef soon became a symbol for the shortcomings of the humanitarian help. According to eyewitness reports collected by writer David Charles, sometimes the food was leftovers from the Vietnam war that expired 20 years earlier, and sometimes it was pork, an egregious oversight when half of the population receiving the aid were Muslims.
Even cats and dogs were said not to eat it. After the war the “Grateful Citizens of Sarajevo” thanked the international community through this golden, meter tall can of ICAR beef.
The proposal was to put the monument in a prominent place but it was seen as too provocative so it was granted space where it is currently located. Funnily enough, two years after it was installed a UN building was built right behind it.
This was a good day. I am heading to bed with a head full of thoughts and questions. My heart is heavy from all I saw and heard today but at the same time there is hope and some light. I am grateful that Adis and Neno shared their stories with us.
At night, across the bay, we could see a path of lights winding their way up the mountain. There are paths and stairs that take you up San Giovanni’s hill and the views as you climb are spectacular.
Since it was our last full day, we decided to wander around Old Kotor and explore some of the paths. We split for the morning—two Marias took the path up whilst one Maria explored the lower trails.
The path was easy to follow though at times it was unclear which way to go. It was nice because it wasn’t overrun with people so you could stop to take photos (or catch your breath) as often as you wanted. I was humbled as the children ran up and down alongside, calling out to their families to hurry up. We made our way up, the Church of our Lady of Remedy was our destination. When we arrived, the three of us reconnected to share the views—they were something to behold.
We made our way back down then wandered through the shops, stopping to sample the local ice cream. There are cats everywhere in Kotor—both on the streets, and in the windows. As we watched one stalk a pigeon, we understood why. They definitely do their part to keep the old town clean and pest free.
Reconnecting when we got to the church
After we’d finished exploring the old town, we headed to Tivat—Kotor’s glamorous coastal neighbour. 
Montenegro has been a lovely surprise—breathtaking views, yummy food, kind people and just an overall relaxed atmosphere. It feels like we’ve been here for ages but then at the same time like the holiday had just begun. And with that, it’s time to say goodbye and move on. But never fear, the mini Marias have already started planning our next adventure. Stay tuned!
Day 3 started off slower than Day 2. After a nice home cooked breakfast and a few cups of exceptionally weak coffee, we packed a bag with snacks and were ready to hit the road for a little day trip.
We started in Budva. From visitmontenegro.com: Once a small and quiet coastal town, today, Budva is a metropolis of Montenegrin tourism and one of the loudest and most packed towns at the Montenegrin coast during the summer.
Easter isn’t until next week but this weekend the town was bustling with performing children and people everywhere. We went for traditional cake and saw a wedding before heading to our next stop.
Next we went to Sveti Stefan, a town just outside of Budva. We wandered, dreamt of staying in the luxury resort, wondered if we should dip our toes in the water and had a drink with one of the locals who told us the gossip of the now-closed island and gave us tips of where to go next for dinner.
Back to Perast, where we were the day before, we headed to hidden gem, Ćatovića Mlini, where we had the most delicious dinner. The restaurant came highly recommended and we were not disappointed.
Today our big question was whether we were becoming our mums or have already become Nan and the aunties. Sorting through our photos at the end of the day, rolling on the floor laughing at some of our faces, actions, poses and looks, we really weren’t sure.
Whatever the case may be, it was a great day all around. We returned home to plan the next day with a glass of prosecco and some Easter chocolate, whilst gazing out the window across the bay at a massive cruise ship.
Looking back at my last blog from my last trip, I re read all my ideas about things I wanted to do in 2026. I wanted 2026 to be a year to slow down and be intentional. We are just about 4 months in and I am pleased to say that I have been doing most of the things I’d hoped to do. It’s been a great first quarter. I feel clearer, lighter and more settled.
I hadn’t made any plans yet to travel. So when the mini Marias started talking of our yearly adventure and where we might go, I perked right up. They shared ideas, I gave them my shortlist and we agreed on Montenegro. After visiting two Balkan countries last year- Serbia and North Macedonia, I was inspired to visit the last three, having already visited Croatia and Slovenia.
We started doing our research and I found that Montenegro wasn’t an easy country to get to. My flight was going to be pricey so I decided to spend a little extra time, rather than just do a long weekend.
The journey out was a bit of a milk run. I had three flights with not very long layovers in between. I was hoping for on-time planes, close gates upon arrival, and no hiccups.
When I arrived in Frankfurt after my first flight, i got off the plane as quickly as possible because I knew I’d have to hustle. We arrived at Gate Z and the pilot had announced my next flight was at Gate A21. I took off, determined to make my connection. I arrived at the passport control line, looked to find the end to join the queue but couldn’t. It went so far down, past numerous gates. I couldn’t believe how many people were waiting to get through. Prepared, with my Italian passport in hand, I joined the queue for EU passports, standing 6th in line and made my way through in about 10 minutes. I headed to my gate and made my connection with tons of time to spare. The second connection was even easier and before I knew it, I had landed in Montenegro where I found the two mini Marias.
A frankfurter in Frankfurt. I couldn’t resist. Shame I wasn’t in Hamburg…
The airport was tiny and what should have been a pretty routine task of picking up our rental car took almost two hours. We were told they were washing the car.
Eventually, we were off and headed to Kotor. The drive was beautiful though at times a bit hairy. A horse, closed restaurants with great views and many hairpin turns and finally we arrived.
We found our Airbnb, settled in, had our welcome shot of Rakija and then headed out for dinner. We picked Kotor to be on Boka Bay and we were not disappointed. From the top of the mountains we’d see the bay and it was just as beautiful when we got down the mountain and were beside the water.
A welcome shot of Rakija and then we decided to explore. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner to end our first night and then it was off to bed as we had a full day already planned for the next day.
Pre-Rakija
Post-Rakija
We needed to be up and out early. I was going to be the first up and the first in the shower. Unfortunately my alarm didn’t go off. Nothing like sleeping in when you actually have to be somewhere. We were doing a day trip to the mountains and had to meet the group at 7. It was a rush to get ready, and then we made a few wrong turns along the way, but we made it just in time.
We met Igor and our group and set off for a long day in the mountains.
Our first stop was a photo stop to see Our Lady of the Rocks monastery from Perast. Two small islands, side by side, one with a monastery and one with a church. No visitors are allowed at the monastery but there are tours to take people to the church. The monastery made me think of Louise Penny and I could imagine Gamache going there.
Our next stop was to a viewpoint up the mountain. I knew Montenegro was going to be pretty but I am not sure I was prepared for the actuality. A country that is 70% mountains, with these beautiful bays… it is so pretty!
We headed to Floyd’s cafe in the mountains for a delicious breakfast. A most delicious cappuccino, a sandwich on fresh bread, some priganice (fried doughballs) with honey and a mushroom omelette and we were full and ready to take on the day. Igor had told us that there’d be snow in the national park so we needed to fill up for warmth. We took his advice and ate up!
We were driving and just as Igor started talking about snow we entered a winter wonderland. All of a sudden there was snow everywhere, as far as the eye could see. We headed to Durmitor National Park and Black Lake and it felt like I was back home! It reminded me of Banff. I didn’t have boots but as always, I’d come with a toque and a scarf so I trudged through the snow to get some photos. A delicious rosemary drink (i think the server meant raspberry) and then we were off to our next stop.
Are we having fun yet?
Tara Bridge had been under construction since last year so we weren’t allowed to walk across it but our bus driver worked something out with the construction crew and we were allowed to drive acoss slowly so we could take a look at the gorge. There was the “longest and fastest” zip line but unfortunately we were too early in the season to do it. Next time!
We headed back to Niksič for lunch where I enjoyed a delicious fish and a local beer.
Our last stop of the day was Ostrog monastery- high in the mountains, super twisty and winding roads. Mini, our bus driver, was amazing. He navigated the serpentine roads like an expert. He had to reverse a couple of times which was terrifying because it was at the worst turns and there wasn’t much road behind us. Along the way we passed pilgrims walking barefoot or just in socks up the stairs to the church high in the mountains.
When we arrived, we had to make our way through all the pilgrims who’d already arrived and set up their bedding. There were sleeping pads everywhere you turned. The service was just starting and we found ourselves in the middle of everyone, standing to pray.
There were two churches in the mountain, but we headed to the one at the top because it had no queue and it was amazing. We saw the ancient vines of the vineyard- the vines were growing from the rocks. The frescoes were so well preserved and the detail was beautiful.
After that it was time to head back to Kotor. Igor shared Montenegro’s history and then told us about some of the ways Montenegrins are seen by the other Balkan nations. They are tallest nation in the world. He said in the past they were second to the Netherlands but they have surpassed the Dutch and are now officially the tallest nation in the world.
Apparently it is also well-known that Montenegrins are lazy. Igor seemed surprised none of us had heard this before. He said there are 10 Montenegrin commandments for laziness. He shared a few:
If you see someone working, leave him alone because he might ask for help.
If you feel like working, just wait it will pass.
If you’re wondering why the population is low, some say it’s because of the mountains but the real reason is Montenegrins are just too lazy.
It was such a long day but it was awesome. It was just the right amount of outdoor time, information, eating and drinking, and relaxing on the bus.
After a long ride back to town, we decided we’d grab a mixed grill before heading home. And with that we were ready to call it a day. A pretty fantastic first day and a half, I’d say. S
ome peanut butter buttons, a cup of tea, a little knitting and Arsenal on TV and we were done.
Whenever I travel, I like to make a list of foods to try. I’m not the most adventurous eater and there are lots of things I don’t like but I’m usually willing to try things, especially if they are local, traditional or have a story behind them.
Years ago, I fell hard for the caipirinha – think mojito, but elevated. Memories of sipping them around a backyard fire still linger. So, arriving in Brazil, I was thrilled to taste the real deal, made with native cachaça… and at $2.50 a pop on Copacabana beach, I didn’t hold back.
The caipirinha is a Brazilian cocktail made with cachaça, sugar, lime, and ice. The drink is prepared by muddling the fruit and the sugar together, then adding the liquor.
Next up: empanadas, the ultimate street food staple across South America. Armed with research (thanks, pre-trip article!), I dove in… and quickly realized there were too many flavors to conquer. Still, the few I tried were a delicious start!
Ñoquis, or gnocchi as I know it, is not something I would normally eat. But give me a good story and a tradition and I will tuck in.
I think one thing that I have eaten in pretty much every country I’ve been to is a burger. Hamburguesas, chivitos…I was introduced to some interesting versions of the hamburger on this trip.
Most interesting was the national sandwich of Uruguay—the chivito.
The chivito is the national sandwich of Uruguay. Its importance in the country is on a par with hamburgers in the United States, fish and chips in the U.K., the Cuban sandwich in Cuba, and steaks in Argentina. This sandwich is not for the faint of heart or appetite, either.
The chivito combines beef, bacon, ham, and a fried egg for a hearty meal. Using grilled steak ensures delicious, smoky flavors that boost the sandwich’s taste. Salsa golf, a mix of ketchup and mayonnaise, adds a fun, tasty condiment.
Chivito
Inside the chivito
We also fell for the pancho, South America’s sassy take on the hot dog. But ‘just a hot dog’ it was not – these were surprising flavor bombs.
From Serargentino.com, where the history of the pancho is described, including its connection to Germany:
Here, the hot dog is eaten with seasonings like mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup and golf sauce. Some adhere hot sauce and sometimes it is adorned with the famous “rain of potatoes”
Panchos hidden under all that cheese
The choripàn is a type of asado sandwich with grilled chorizo. It is popular in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela. The name comes from the combination of the names of its ingredients: a grilled chorizo sausage and a crusty bread (Spanish: pan) such as a pan batido, baguette, or francés.
Choripàn with Fernet con coca
What would a blog post about food in Brazil/Uruguay/Argentina be without mention of asado?
The word asado is a multifunctional term that describes the method of barbecuing meat in South America, the meat itself, and the social event associated with the meal. Much like American barbecue, asado has a unique cooking method, cultural traditions, and specialty sauces that accompany it. Whether you’re incorporating traditional Hispanic foods into your menu or catering a barbecue, asados are comprehensive experiences that will delight guests. From its grill to its cultural roots, read on to discover everything you need to know about asado so you can host and prepare your own.
Last, but definitely not least (given the body count… er, consumption), were the alfajores.
Alfajores probably originated in the Middle East and reached southern Spain as far back as the 8th century when the Moors occupied the Iberian peninsula. The Spanish version of the alfajor then made its way to South America in the 16th century with the invasion of the Spanish conquistadors. The “modern” style of Argentine alfajores, similar to Lucila’s classic flavors, dates back to the late 19th century.
In Argentina, alfajores are usually enjoyed with family and friends gathered around the table sharing yerba mate tea (or coffee) and chatting about the day’s events. They are a perfect complement to a morning coffee or tea, as an afternoon snack or a stand-alone dessert.
As the photos prove, we went all in on the stand-alone dessert option, determined to crown the most scorable alfajor. Cookie, dulce de leche… could it get any better?
My favourite of all!
Argentine food is renowned for its beef, so I indulged in asado at every opportunity – and it lived up to the hype! The dulce de leche was just as divine, whether it was drizzled over ice cream, layered in cakes, or devoured straight from the spoon. Italian influences shone through in classics like the milanesa and ñoquis, which were absolute treats. Of course, no trip is complete without a few misses, and mine were flan and Yerba mate (though based on the photo, I’m not sure I really missed out by not trying the mate)– guess I’ll just have to go back for seconds.
Mate
As I bid adiós to South America, I’m left with a full belly and a full heart, already planning my next culinary adventure. Until next time, hasta luego, amigos… and pass the alfajores!
I wish someone had given me that advice at the start of the day.
The last full day of the trip started with a morning wander around the cemetery in Recoleta. This was the first public cemetery in Buenos Aires, inaugurated in 1822. I love a good wander around a cemetery, and this is a good cemetery so I was really looking forward to checking it out. Some of the mausoleums were well-kept, while others had broken windows and plants growing inside through cracked concrete. You could see the coffins inside some which startled me. Some had stairs that led down to more coffins. A couple had doors cracked open which added to the mood.
Some had stairs leading down…
My favourite was the tomb of Liliana Crociati de Szaszak—the statue was beautiful and so was the poem from her father. When I read the story about her, it made me appreciate it even more.
26-year-old Liliana Crociati de Szaszak (1944–1970) was in Innsbruck, Austria on 26 February 1970, when her hotel was struck by an avalanche, killing her. Her tomb was designed by her mother in the Neo-Gothic style, in sharp contrast to the other tombs in the cemetery. Adjacent to the tomb stands a dais adorned with a plaque containing an Italian-language poem by her father, and topped by a life-size green bronze statue of Crociati de Szaszak in her wedding dress, by sculptor Wíeredovol Viladrich. Following the death of Crociati’s dog Sabú, a bronze statue of the dog, also by Viladrich, was added, with Crociati’s hand resting on the dog’s head.
I should have taken more notice when my camera battery died halfway through. Little did I know this was a predictor of how the day might play out. Luckily my phone was charged (for once) so I switched over.
We decided after all the walking the day before that we would get back on the hop-on hop-off bus to go back to places we had yet to see or wanted to revisit. What we didn’t realize was that once we hopped off, we would not be able to hop back on so easily.
We disembarked to go to Café Tortoni, the oldest café in the city where people like Borges sat and had coffee. Unfortunately the wait was hours long and we had places to go and things to see. We headed to Librería de Ávila, the oldest bookstore in Buenos Aires, possibly the oldest in the Americas. A quick pop into the Farmacia de la Estrella, constructed in 1895, and some of the nearby churches.
We stood at stop #5 and watched as more than 7 buses pulled up, (we stopped counting), told us they were full and pulled away again. Finally a bus pulled up with space for 2 and we were off again. Normally I would have been happy to walk along but the money, the time… what an exercise in patience.
There were things to revisit and souvenirs that stuck in our minds from the day before so we headed back to El Caminito. Back on the bus and over to Puerto Madero and then it was time to call it a day. Our last full day in South America was probably the best weather day (only 27 degrees)—I think it was the first day of the trip that I wasn’t sweaty!
Some lessons learned during my first trip to South America:
Avoid walking on wet patches on sidewalks—there is usually a dripping air conditioning unit above.
Uber is not always reliable—more times than not our ride was cancelled at the last minute.
Don’t buy a Sube card for the subway. After my last comments about being able to figure out metros around the world, we didn’t take one ride on the Subte. Finding someone who sells the Sube card is HARD and even when you do get a card, no one seems to know where to load money on it.
Hop-on Hop-off bus—a great way to see all the neighbourhoods of the city but plan your stops well. And pack your patience. Trust me!
Postcards are easy to find, stamps not so much and mailboxes the hardest. I am returning home with postcards that have stamps on them but didn’t get mailed.
And just like that, my first adventure in South America has come to an end. Not sure what I expected but it has been a great trip, a wonderful experience and I am excited to explore more.
How are you? It’s been so long! Remember me? Remember when I used to write in you all the time? I used to tell you about the weather and about how there wasn’t much going on to write about.
Today when I was walking I saw all these torn up scraps of paper on the road. They made me think of you. How many January 1 entries have I made? Just like all those other times, as this new year starts I am thinking about all the new (and sometimes forgotten) habits I want to develop in this coming year. I have missed you, so let’s try again!
Remnants of someone’s diary on the street
These benches look like discarded furniture all along the sidewalk but they are concrete.
Dear Diary,
It’s the first day of a new year—2026. Today was a cooler day, only 29 degrees. Yesterday was hot, and when I say hot, I mean really hot. It was 39 degrees. I was sweating in places I didn’t know I could sweat.
Because it was New Years Day, we weren’t sure how many things would be open so we had planned to just wander. And wander we did! We walked over 12 km today- from Recoleta to Retiro, through Montserrat, then through San Telmo and on to Boca. Oh, Diary, my feet were tired by the time I got back home but what a way to start a new year. I love walking and I love exploring.
Nothing much happened during those twelve kilometres. I took pictures. I ate some things. At one point a lady came up to me to tell me it was dangerous to walk around her neighborhood with my camera out so I put it away. It’s funny because I had just made the comment that I hadn’t felt uneasy at all in Buenos Aires. Oh well. I appreciated her comment and it reminded me to be cautious. Dear Diary, do you think sometimes I am too trusting? I don’t think I am.
Here are my pictures. These are all the things I saw in Buenos Aires on the first day of 2026. Hope you like them.
Because it’s the beginning of the year, a lot of people are talking about changes they are going to make. Sometimes I find that inspiring. Sometimes I find it intimidating. Some people seem to be doing so much. Here is a list of things I think I want to start doing this year.
A weekly highlight jar. I don’t want to have to search my memory for the good things that happened at the end of the year so I am going to write one thing down each week that was the highlight of the week. That should be easy.
A nightly day dump. Not quite as it sounds, each day I am going to journal: 1 thing that took too much effort, 1 thing that helped me get through the day and 1 thing that I am proud of. This seems easy but I bet this one will be challenging for me.
“If I’m being honest…” Once a week, I am going to write one sentence that starts with this. That’s it. Just write it down. I am not sure I am honest with myself enough. I think this could be a big one. Maybe if I write things down it will inspire some change.
Make daily lists again. I love lists, dear Diary. Remember how many I used to share with you? All the times I listed the changes I wanted to make, or the things I wanted to try? I still have some of those lists…maybe I should check them in case there is something to cross off!
Thats a lot, eh dear Diary? But I think I can do it. It’s getting late now so I should go to bed. I’ll try to write to you again tomorrow. Sleep well, dear Diary. xo
This year started off a bit rocky so I was determined not to end the year the same way. For once I planned my New Year’s Eve—something I haven’t done in a long time.
Each year, as one year ends and another begins, I reflect on the year, trying to remember all the good things that happened. It’s funny though how often the not-so-good moments are the ones that come to mind first—for me, anyway. This year I decided to reflect not just on memories but by going through my photos to see all the wonderful things that actually happened—the things I chose to capture, and the people I have shared these moments with. What a year it has been! Some of the highlights as I scroll through my photos—I visited 11 countries, 8 for the first time, saw James in concert, saw Oasis in concert!!, got my motorcycle license and spent quality time each month with people I love.
I started the year with some uncertainty but feel I am ending it with clarity. Sometimes I need to remove myself completely or put myself right in the centre of things to gain perspective. Lighter, and ready to embrace change and new experiences, I am excited to celebrate the end of 2025 and welcome 2026.
The planned event to end 2025 combined a few things I love—meeting new people and having new experiences and good food and wine. I booked a 9-course tasting menu at Fogòn Asado, recommended in the MICHELIN Guide Argentina 2024/2025. Sooooo exciting!
And here is a taste of the evening and tasting menu- what an experience! There were Americans, Danish, British and us!
I attempted to make my hair less crazy, though it was 39 degrees out today, and 32 when we headed out at 8pm
Welcome drink with gin and something
Ember-roasted eggplant , ricotta cheese with fresh herbs
Ironed provoleta cheese, grilled pear in torrontés reduction
Molleja, roasted tomatoes and ginger sauce
Morcilla, quince and apple chutney, chorizo, ember-roasted bell pepper, griddle-baked bread
Memoir of a Wannabe World Traveller 