A Life of Travel: Last Minute Flight to Lisbon, Luggage Recommendations, e-SIM update...

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I’m on a flight from Lisbon to the USA right now and it's time for a travel newsletter…

📆 update

This has been another one of those stretches where the only constant is the need to pivot.

After the difficult decision (but only option) to cancel my Iraq tour due to the regional situation, I found myself with a sudden gap in my schedule and that familiar question: Where next? In the end, I booked a flight from Accra, Ghana to Lisbon, my reliable reset location whenever I have some time between trips.

Lisbon worked out well this time around. I filled the days with long walks by the water and through Estrela Park, catching up with friends and of course, working. I even managed to get out of the city for a weekend near Sesimbra to celebrate a friend’s birthday. And I might have sung some karaoke as well. Maybe.

But the movement doesn't stop for long. As this newsletter is sent out, I’m on a flight to the US. I need to take care of some life admin stuff - renewing my passport, doctor appointments and so on. Of course, I’m also very much looking forward to visiting with family and seeing a few friends.

So, to begin with, North Carolina here I come!

Luggage Recommendation?

So, my Samsonite Ecodiver 76 liter luggage barely lasted two years. I know I travel a significant amount but this is still disappointing as the wheels started to bend and the material is ripped in several places. I’m officially in the market for a new medium-sized checked bag, and I’m looking for something that can withstand the beating of constant travel.

Do you have a luggage recommendation? If you have a bag that has survived years of heavy use and you truly swear by it, please hit reply and let me know!

What I’m Reading

In the middle of all this transit, my science-fiction streak continues. I finished reading Exiles by Maison Coile, which I enjoyed, about 3 crew members stuck in a destroyed station on Mars. Now I’m onto the heavier Blindsight by Peter Watts. It’s a complex read about a diverse group making contact with an alien entity with themes that focus on the nature of consciousness. So far, I’m hooked.

Many people are surprised when they ask me for book recommendations. I almost never recommend anything travel-related because, truthfully, I don’t read many travel-related books. It’s most likely because I’m traveling all the time so when I do sit down to read, I prefer to have my mind focused on other topics.

E-Sim Update!

These days, I rely almost entirely on eSIMs for a data connection when I travel. They’re downloadable SIM cards that give you instant data as soon as you land. You can get them for individual countries, entire regions or even global coverage.

For years, I used Airalo. They’ve always been reliable, easy to use and their customer service is solid.

But recently, a friend put me onto a site called MobiMatter, and I’ve been using it ever since.

They’re essentially a marketplace for eSIMs from multiple providers, and the prices are often significantly cheaper. I recently paid $13.50 for 20GB covering Rwanda and Uganda for 30 days. Even better, they often sell the exact same Airalo eSIMs for less than Airalo itself.

Same product. Lower price.

If you use eSIMs, it’s definitely worth checking out.

With my Wandering Earl Tours, I aim to offer the most unique and rewarding small-group adventures out there. These trips are all about flexibility and genuine connection, offering an incredible, unbeatable way to experience the world's most fascinating corners!

Destinations: Bhutan, Vietnam, India, Japan, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Iceland, Mongolia, South Africa, Mauritania and more!

👉 Check out our 2026 and 2027 departures here!

🌐 around the globe

🗺️ MapTap
Geography game alert - you see a world map, it asks you to tap as close as you can to a specific city. It’s called MapTap. Good luck!

🎥 All the Great Cinemas
From historic movie palaces to modern architectural gems, this list showcases theaters around the world where the setting is just as memorable as the film.

⏱️ The Rise of Micro-cations
Short on time? This piece explores how travelers are making the most of 24-hour trips, turning quick escapes into meaningful experiences.

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan’s Tigers
An ambitious conservation effort is underway to bring wild tigers back to Kazakhstan, with tens of thousands of trees planted to restore their habitat.

📍 Middles of Nowhere
One traveler set out to reach the most remote, hard-to-define points on Earth, the true centers of isolation. It’s an unusual mission and late last year he completed the feat.

🇨🇳 China’s Long Escalator
This one is just odd. China continues to push the limits of infrastructure, now home to the world’s longest outdoor escalator.

🗺️ where in the world?

A big congratulations to those readers who guessed the location of the photo in the previous newsletter! Here’s who guessed correctly:

Martin, Dorota, Joanne, Steve and Mari

The location is the unique, fully-mirrored Maraya Concert Hall, located a short distance away from AlUla, Saudi Arabia. While we couldn’t go inside on the day we were there, just walking around the outside of the building made for such a curious and memorable experience out there in the stunning desert!

This week’s image:

It’s time to guess…where was the below photo taken?

If you have a guess (the more specific the better), click reply and let me know. Anyone who guesses correctly will be mentioned in next week's newsletter 😄 

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Thank you so much for reading!

Derek
(my middle name is Earl)

WanderingEarl.com

Affiliate links: Some links above may be affiliate links in which I earn a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase. I only promote products/services that I genuinely use and love myself.