A Life of Travel: 10 days in Sicily to 1 month in Da Nang, Vietnam!
Derek Baron
June 25, 2024
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It's Tuesday and it's time for a travel newsletter...
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Today I’m sitting in a cafe in Da Nang, Vietnam. After running out of days in Europe’s Schengen Zone (where I can only stay 90 days out of any 180 day period), I needed a location where I could just be.
The goal was to get into a routine for 4-6 weeks, take a break from moving around so much and focus on things such as work, going to the gym, self-introspection and some social activities.
Da Nang is that place and after 10 days, I’m already in that routine, and enjoying it thoroughly. Besides, with a beach view like this in front of the hotel where I’m staying, I think I chose well.
Changing notes…
Prior to Vietnam, I was in Sicily.
And it was as close to a perfect trip as it gets!
The day we hiked up the Rocca di Cefalu, a large rock mountain that sits at the back of the coastal town known as Cefalu, is a good example.
We climbed along the path, sometimes made of stone steps, sometimes just dirt. We wound around the switchback trail and after 30 minutes of semi-sweating in the late afternoon sun, we arrived at the top.
At first it seemed there wasn’t much up there but we were happy to have done some hiking. But then, a few minutes later, success!
We randomly took another path and soon ended up with this view:
Even happier with the hike, as we walked back down to town, one thing was clear. It was time for a good old fashioned Italian evening.
We began with a Campari spritz along Piazza Garibaldi, watching the townsfolk go about their business.
This was followed by a trip to one of the best pizza places in town (Pizzeria Fermento 2.0 - and it was SO GOOD). After devouring two delicious pizzas, we naturally followed it up with homemade tiramisu.
And then, it was time for a long stroll through the picturesque lanes of Cefalu, right along the waterfront and into various neighborhoods, in order to burn off those pizzas.
After one hour of wandering, and because this was Italy, we continued the evening at History Pinsa, a famous local focaccia eatery where we sat down for an incredibly tasty second dinner. I loved every single bite of my freshly made focaccia with mortadella, stracciatella cheese and pistachio!
Sometimes I need to go to Italy, stuff my face with delicious food, drink some wonderful wine and soak up the inviting atmosphere of a country that focuses so much on enjoying these simple aspects of life.
Over the course of 10 days in Sicily we traveled to Palermo, Trapani, Cefalu, Taormina and so many villages in between. I was relaxed, happy, healthy and each day was as fulfilling as could be.
And while Italian bureaucracy stops me from buying one of those 1 Euro homes that are for sale throughout the country, taking time out each year to enjoy the Italian lifestyle is a therapy that I am more than happy to sign up for!
Do you have a destination that provides you with that same feeling?
wandering earl tours
2024
Almost all trips for this year have sold out but I’ve now added two new exciting adventures - Wander Across the Balkans and Iraq: The Cradle of Modern Civilization!
If you’re still looking for a getaway over the next few months, have a look at these two magical experiences :)
2025
With new departures to Cuba and Mauritania (the first ones sold out!), trips to Vietnam, Jordan, Morocco, Romania and more, be sure to check out the excellent 2025 small group trips we have in store!
help the galgos!
If I ever get a dog (or two), I would 100% adopt a galgo (aka Spanish Greyhound). While on a trip to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria many years ago, I saw one for the first time and instantly knew I had found my perfect dog.
These lovable hunting dogs are found in Spain. However, for some reason, they are not fully protected by animal rights laws and as a result, once hunters have no use for them, they are often abandoned and mistreated.
Luckily, there are several organizations that rescue these galgos and try to find permanent homes for them somewhere in the world. It’s incredible work and I follow a few organizations on social media every day to see what’s happening.
Three of these great organizations are:
SOS Galgos - Facebook | Instagram | SOS Galgos website
112 Carlota Galgos - Facebook | Instagram | 112 Carlota Galgos website
Greyhounds in Motion - Facebook | Instagram | GIM website
As you can imagine, rescuing and saving these dogs costs a lot of money. And with the lack of legal protection, more and more adorable galgos are in need of help all the time.
So, I highly recommend taking a look at the social media accounts above and seeing the excellent work being done! If you fall in love with these beautiful dogs as much as I have, I hope you’ll consider sending a small donation. Anything helps!
around the globe
Bourdain Day
Today is Bourdain Day, a day that celebrates the birthday and wisdom of the late Anthony Bourdain. In honor of that day, here are some of his most truthful and powerful words about travel.
Airline Compensation
Last week, new Department of Transportation rules in the US require airlines to provide “automatic cash refunds to passengers for canceled and significantly delayed flights.” It applies to domestic flights that are delayed more than 3 hours and international flights, from the US, that are delayed more than 6 hours.
Walkable Cities
Florence, Italy was named Europe’s most walkable city but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of great destinations that are easy to get around by foot!
Most Dangerous Hotel
Would you stay at Frying Pan Tower? It’s an eco-tourism destination (sort of) located on an old oil rig turned into a lighthouse turned into a hotel (sort of) that sits 32 miles off the coast of North Carolina. A long weekend stay from Thursday to Monday costs a mere $1950.
Rewarding Ferry Rides
I did not think this article would be interesting but before long, I found myself wanting to take most of these beautiful ferry rides around the world that are mentioned!
All the Weather
The website Ventusky definitely provides the most detailed weather information you can find about any destination in the world. And along those lines, here’s a list of the hottest and coldest countries in the world, with Burkina Faso being the hottest!
Siquijor
One of my favorite destinations in the Philippines, the island of Siquijor is a tropical paradise with a strong cultural foundation based on witchcraft and magic. It has a very different vibe than other islands in the country.
China visas
Somehow I ended up on this incredibly extensive Wikipedia page that details China’s complicated visa policies. There’s even a warning at the top of the page that says “This article may be too long to read and navigate comfortably.”
where in the world?
A big congratulations to Martin, Grace, Mark, Kevan, Alex, Gym, Andrew, Suzanne, Michael, Elisabeth, KK, Don and Inanc for correctly guessing the location of the photo in my previous newsletter!
The photo is of the jeepney vehicles in Manila, Philippines, more specifically, in the Las Pinas area of the city. These vehicles are used as a type of public transportation throughout the country as you can get in and out of the vehicle wherever you need.
This week’s photo:
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)
Travel Insurance: My personal recommendation for affordable and reliable travel insurance is Safety Wing. It was created by travelers, for travelers, and it's rapid growth in popularity is well-deserved.
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