Hej from home here in Copenhagen. Denmark is closed and on lockdown, like much of the world. Here schools and universities are closed. Public institutions shut. Food service only allowed for take out. What about where you are?
With travel suspended across the globe and new challenges of working from home and/or home schooling kids, your Faraway Files community hosts – Clare and I – have decided to suspend the weekly link up for awhile. But as we do all need community right now, we’d love for you to still reach out. Let’s support each other, engage and connect.
Come join the Faraway Files community Facebook group. Normally just a space to notify about link ups, let’s make it a place to chat and commune. Or stay in touch on Twitter, just use the #FarawayFiles. Stay tuned. This won’t be forever. And VERY soon, we’ll all gonna need some new travel inspiration. Cheers from here. Stay safe. And wash your hands. Have you seen the video of the cutest Italian nonna showing you how to be safe? Enjoy.
FAVORITES FROM FARAWAY FILES #156
Thank you to everyone who linked up last week. Here are Clare’s favorites. And if you missed them last week and are still craving travel content. Pop over and say cheers!
You can almost smell the evergreens in this beautiful post by Katherine of Brights Lights of America. Definitely wishing I could walk in these woods right now.
Or this one is a great guide to file away, 12 days in beautiful Borneo with Chimptrips. And plus? Cute baby animals. They help right now. Send me pics.
Or check out the unique Brimham rocks with Travel Junkie Girl. If you can still get outside where you are – soak it up!
Exploring Brimham Rocks in the Snow | Travel Junkie Girl
And last, an important one from Lorelei at California Globetrotter – this is a great guide on how to be a better tourist. Once we can all travel again!
Hi from Copenhagen! Here, it is officially springtime as of March 1. But it certainly doesn’t feel like it. There are little bulbs poking up through the ground, blooming with evidence and the light is lingering longer each day. It’s amazing how quickly we gain it back this month up here in Scandinavia. Sooner than we think, the cherry blossoms will pop and we’ll be picnicing in the park. I for one am ready. It’s been a dismally grey winter in Denmark. The worst in 150 winters, so they say.
How are your summer plans shaping up? Have them all planned out or has Coronavirus panic put you on pause? We have already had two major trips cancelled with concerns. Fingers crossed that the situation slows soon and those affected can return to some sense normalcy. Hoping you and yours are safe wherever you live. Wash your hands people!
FAVORITES FROM FARAWAY FILES #154
On a positive note, here are the brilliant posts that my co-host Clare, of Suitcases and Sandcastles, loved last week. Alex of My Life Long Holiday took us to Lyon, France and this French gem looks truly lovely.
Lucy from Kids of the Wild blog seems to have snowdrops popping up in her neck of the woods as well. Take a sensory walk and explore the grounds of Howick Hall Gardens.
And cheers to our former Faraway Files co-host Corey of Fifi + Hop blog who shared a wonderful post with everything you need to know about staying in an Italian agriturismo.
And this week, I’m flashing back and feeling nostalgic with a new post about an old road trip. Saddle up pardners, we’re riding west through Texas all the way to the Oregon Trail. Get ready for some stunning scenery and some serious Americana.
FARAWAY FILES TRAVEL BLOG COMMUNITY LINKUP #155
WANT TO JOIN IN?
Jump in! The water is fine! Faraway Files is a creative community of travel bloggers who inspire, engage and share each other’s posts. All participating hosts will read and comment on every post that participates in the spirit of the link-up. We will also share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favorite posts and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles.
HOW IT WORKS:
Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
The link-up will go live every Thursday at 8 am UK time (9 am CET) until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Oregon Girl Around the World and Suitcases and Sandcastles. Check Twitter #FarawayFiles to confirm who is hosting each week.
Link ups work best if everyone engages so please comment on each of the hosts’ posts and at least two to three others that take your fancy.
I’M HOSTING TODAY HERE ON OREGON GIRL AROUND THE WORLD
When we decided to move our family around the world, it was originally supposed to be a two-year life experience. It has since expanded to five years of this life lived abroad with our children graduating and growing up. I had a sense then of what the choice could expose us to in terms of travel opportunities and we were excited to explore Europe, both in Scandinavia and beyond. I had no idea how far beyond.
Last week I sent my eldest off to start his own travel adventures around the world. A swirl of emotions at once – joy, worry, grief, pride – as he checked into his plane. And then checked in again, as a spontaneous and unplanned strike of the security staff at Copenhagen airport made for a slightly sticky start to his itinerary. But made he did. All the way to Australia! And if you had told me five years ago that he would have the know-how, courage and savvy to spend three months traveling Australia and Asia after high school graduation, I might not have believed you. But here we are and how happy I am to know that we have sparked a love of travel and adventure in our son. Now help keep me distracted until we see him again! Time again for Faraway Files travel blog link-up. Share some stories with me!
→ PLEASE NOTE: The Faraway Files team will be taking a break for winter half-term school holidays next week and return on the 27th of February.←
FAVORITES FROM FARAWAY FILES #152
First, here are my co-host Clare – of Suitcases and Sandcastles blog – her favorites from last week’s community link up. Thank you to everyone who contributed, commented and shared each other’s posts.
This week I want to take you north of the Danish capital to one of the world’s best museums of art. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art isn’t actually in the state of Louisiana, it’s in Humlebæk Denmark. Set in an old villa on the water, it’s a beautiful setting and a brilliant day out.
Henry Moore | Reclining Figure No. 5
FARAWAY FILES TRAVEL BLOG COMMUNITY LINKUP #153
WANT TO JOIN IN?
Jump in! The water is fine! Faraway Files is a creative community of travel bloggers who inspire, engage and share each other’s posts. All participating hosts will read and comment on every post that participates in the spirit of the link-up. We will also share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favorite posts and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles.
HOW IT WORKS:
Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
The link-up will go live every Thursday at 8 am UK time (9 am CET) until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Oregon Girl Around the World and Suitcases and Sandcastles. Check Twitter #FarawayFiles to confirm who is hosting each week.
Link ups work best if everyone engages so please comment on each of the hosts’ posts and at least two to three others that take your fancy.
I’M HOSTING TODAY HERE ON OREGON GIRL AROUND THE WORLD
“The best-laid plans of mice and [wo]man may often go awry.” Do you know this quote? I just discovered that it is actually an adaptation of line in a Robert Burns poem “To A Mouse.” As it was recently Burns night in Scotland and for Scots the world around, it felt timely and apropos. If you ever receive an invite and have the chance to attend a proper Burns Night – do it. Here’s a toast to the lassies and laddies. And try the haggis. Cheers!
But what happens when your best-laid travel plans do go awry. What happens when forces outside your control impact itineraries and timing and whole countries? In our house, January has been filled with excitement and then subsequent trepidation over our collective upcoming travels. My eldest who has been working hard to save money for his gap year journey is to spend a month in New South Wales where brush fires have been ravaging. So we were checking the NSW rural fire service system daily for updates and warnings and have decided it is safe for him to keep his plans and hope his travel monies will inject some needed relief into the region.
The rest of the family was thrilled to meet up with him at the end of his tour of Asia to follow and booked tickets to touchdown in Beijing, China for five days and then continue on to South Korea for ten more days. We were beyond excited, researching what section of the Great Wall we’d all love to see and what kind of crazy food we would try in Seoul and beyond. But a little virus called the coronavirus is curbing our enthusiasm and causing much anxiety. So our new feed turns to updates from the CDC and CNN to see what we should do. Our thoughts are with the Chinese people who are living within quarantined regions that containment and healing comes quickly.
We’re still watching and waiting and anticipate adapting our plans – although not without financial loss and a less compatible time to go. Have you had travel plans impacted by forces unseen? Perhaps a tsunami or hurricane or closed borders beyond your control? How did modify or reconcile your route? I’d love to know. This is a first for our family to fathom something so big.
FAVORITES FROM FARAWAY FILES #150
So maybe we’ll look at traveling to one of these destinations instead for now. These were Claire of Suitcases and Sandcastles, my Faraway Files co-host’s favorites from last week. Thank you to all who linked up.
Maybe we should go to London for one of the many shows and exhibitions on this year. Thanks to Scarlett from Diary of a Londoness for this great guide and inspiration.
Or maybe we could consider checking out any one of these beautiful European castles collected by Lorelei of Caliglobetrotter. There are so many to fulfill any fairytale fantasty! I picked this shot of the Heidelberg Castle and old bridge as we loved this quick stop last year on our grand European summer road trip.
Vaucluse Dreamer shares that maybe we can experience a taste of Asia in our European backyard. Check out tea time and the ancient Japanese artefacts on display in Aix, France
And last, but not least – Usha of Le Coin des Bobby blog shares her interrailing journey to European Christmas markets. I could definitely be down for a train ride to gluhwein.
This week I’m remiscing about our wonderful winter break trip across the Baltic to the capital of Latvia. Lovely Riga is really worth a visit, full of interesting culture and a pretty impressive collection of vintage cars including some cult classics. You can see them all and more on display at the Rīgas Motormuzejs, Riga Motor Museum – come take a virtual drive with me.
FARAWAY FILES TRAVEL BLOG COMMUNITY LINKUP #151
WANT TO JOIN IN?
Jump in! The water is fine! Faraway Files is a creative community of travel bloggers who inspire, engage and share each other’s posts. All participating hosts will read and comment on every post that participates in the spirit of the link-up. We will also share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favorite posts and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles.
HOW IT WORKS:
Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
The link-up will go live every Thursday at 8 am UK time (9 am CET) until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Oregon Girl Around the World and Suitcases and Sandcastles. Check Twitter #FarawayFiles to confirm who is hosting each week.
Link ups work best if everyone engages so please comment on each of the hosts’ posts and at least two to three others that take your fancy.
I’M HOSTING TODAY HERE ON OREGON GIRL AROUND THE WORLD
Hello travelers! Cheers from dreary Denmark, where I may have gone ahead and already booked a whole lot of escapism this year. How about you? Do you have your 2020 mapped out by month? I suddenly do. At least through August.
We’re heading to China and South Korea for easter, so if you’ve ever been – I’d love to hear your tips and what we should taste. It will be our first trip to Asia, so we’re all super excited. We’ll also be back on the West Coast in California and Oregon to spend time with our far away family and friends which we’re also looking forward to.
FAVORITES FROM FARAWAY FILES #148
For those of you who haven’t got your calendar sorted, pop over to some of Clare’s favorites from last week with lots of great ideas to get your travel juices flowing. Thanks to all who linked up and cheers to the following writers.
I’m still writing and reminiscing about the south of France from our 2019 summer road trip. Come see why I think the Languedoc region is a perfect destination to consider.
Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard
FARAWAY FILES TRAVEL BLOG COMMUNITY LINKUP #149
WANT TO JOIN IN?
Jump in! The water is fine! Faraway Files is a creative community of travel bloggers who inspire, engage and share each other’s posts. All participating hosts will read and comment on every post that participates in the spirit of the link-up. We will also share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favorite posts and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles.
HOW IT WORKS:
Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
The link-up will go live every Thursday at 8 am UK time (9 am, CET) until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Oregon Girl Around the World and Suitcases and Sandcastles. Check Twitter #FarawayFiles to confirm who is hosting each week.
Link ups work best if everyone engages so please comment on each of the hosts’ posts and at least two others that take your fancy.
I’M HOSTING TODAY HERE ON OREGON GIRL AROUND THE WORLD