Collected Journeys

Sharing stories of travel and reflection.

Collected Journeys memorializes our travels, discoveries, sometimes misadventures, but always learning moments.

I invite you, curious readers, to peak into the inspirations and people we meet in this wild world.

So, sit back, relax, and be my virtual sidekick. Life is too short to sit on a shelf.

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Following the North Star

Minnesota Bound A serendipitous opportunity presented itself in the form of an invitation to a Minnesota wedding setting in motion overdo...

Jun 21, 20245 min read

Homecoming

I am My Father's Daughter I found a pair of overalls in Sweden, while searching through other people's stuff at a thrift store and it...

May 9, 20247 min read

Ali Babas Cave or Pandora's Box

Like a two year old child, everything demands attention at Le Terme. Warmer days work their magical elixir rapidly accelerating spring. ...

Apr 9, 20246 min read

Routines

Being at rest is a difficult state for me. I am endeavoring to slow our new experiences to an adagio so that life's sweet musical notes...

Feb 29, 20245 min read

Intermission

There is a gratifying series on Netflix called Detectorists about 2 friends from Essex who dream of unearthing Saxon treasure on local...

Jan 23, 20245 min read

The Dating Game

House Hunting is a bit like The Dating Game. Remember the series? The host Jim Lange would introduce the bachelorette to 3 bachelors...

Nov 29, 20234 min read

Scandinavian Syndrome

An intermission in the theater of house hunting brought me, myself and I, to Sweden to care for our Grandcats, Pico de Gato and Kiwi,...

Nov 3, 202312 min read

39 Beds and Counting..

My brother Joe calls and always asks "where are you today?' It’s comforting to hear my brothers voice. It also brings up a thought, “no...

Aug 22, 20236 min read

Empires

Prague - Czechia Prague is always a destination favorite with every traveler. What makes this city so appealing? I can state the usual:...

Jul 21, 20236 min read

Church, Old Town, Castle, Museum: Repeat

I'm not sure where on this train journey of our lives the realization hit us, (probably when Kenz and Diane pointed it out), that every...

Jun 28, 20237 min read

Arriverderci and Dobro Jutro

For one glorious month we enjoyed all the various flavors and colorful shades of Italy. Italian language, just as pasta, varied from...

Jun 2, 20238 min read

Heading to the Heel of Italy

During my Junior College years at Monterey Peninsula College Mr. Nada, the language lab director, used to advise us to learn these 4...

May 13, 202311 min read

The Way of the Lodging

The Easy Jet flight delays due to heavy fog were no ones fault but Zeus. Easy Jet refuses to be held responsible for the Zeus meddling. ...

Apr 25, 20235 min read

Time Marches on...

The Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin in the shape of a harp. A symbol originally assigned to the emerald isles by Henry VIII, more...

Apr 3, 20234 min read

February-Ticket to Ride

We will soon be hitching up the horse and cart, going back to the continent, new language, new rules, different strike schedules. March...

Feb 7, 20235 min read

Bristol

Bristol offers so much more than just a visit to the local Ikea and Costco. It is a diverse port city where the Avon River meets the...

Jan 11, 20234 min read

Aah, Awe

The essence of Home involves feelings, relationships, routines, and predictable patterns of interaction. Home is also significantly...

Jan 11, 20235 min read

The King's Gambit

God Bless the Queen. Long Live the King! We heard a bit of that for a few weeks. Here on the island, daily life stopped after the Queen's...

Oct 10, 20225 min read

The Stottrup Family Reunion-Return to Silver Falls: the Sequel

Reunion The Stottrup Family Reunion attracted members from as far away as Sweden, England, Iowa and Minnesota and as close as California...

Sep 1, 20224 min read

Our Halcyon Summer Days

5 years ago I arrived in Paris partaking in a 2 year European experiment. Bidding adieu to friends and family, exhausted from...

Jul 22, 20225 min read

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