Monthly Recaps

Monthly Recap: August/September

Okay, so I’m noticing a bit of a pattern here. Despite my best intentions, I only seem to get around to writing these “monthly recap” posts every other month. Well, rather than beat myself up about this, I’m just going to accept and embrace it.

And really, it’s not a bad thing, especially since August and September featured a big, cross-cutting trip to Finland, Estonia, and Russia! So in a way, it makes sense to just recap both months together (at least that’s how it goes in my head…)

So, here it is…

August/September 2018 Monthly Recap

Where I Traveled: Florida; Finland; Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Washington, DC.

Best Meal: An easy choice this month—the steak, cheese plate, and chocolate lava cake I had in Tallin at Rataskaevu 16 was mind-blowingly good. I’d go back again in a second!

Best Cultural Experience: Without question, the Hermitage. It’s hard to describe just how powerful an experience visiting this museum was, and even calling it a “museum” seems so inadequate. From the beautiful pastel-green exterior to the gorgeous white and gold staircase to the stunning art tucked inside every majestic room, it’s just a staggering experience. I’m so glad I finally fulfilled my decades-long dream of visiting Russia, and the legendary Hermitage in particular.

Best Read: Hope Never Dies, a book club selection, was my favorite read of the past two months. It’s a thriller in which Joe Biden and Barack Obama team up to fight crime and solve a murder in Uncle Joe’s native Delaware. Just go with it. In this political climate, it’s exactly what we need. I’m currently working my way through The Book Thief; much heavier, but I’m enjoying it as well.

Best of DC: Honestly, just having some time to relax in the city in September was great, as was hanging out at Eastern Market on a beautiful summer Saturday and eating all the free fruit and cheese samples. Sometimes, there’s no place like home!

What’s Next: I just got back from a great trip to California to visit friends (saving that for the October recap!) The rest of the month I’ll be here, volunteering for as many House and Senate campaigns as possible before Election Day on November 6^th. (Vote, vote, vote!) And of course, I’ll be planning some trips for 2019 (never too early….)

How was your September? Any fun upcoming trips planned?

DC, Eastern/Central Europe, Finland, Monthly Recaps, Russia, Scandinavia

Oct

2018

Monthly Recap: June/July 2018

Melissa Kaplan0

Wow, how is it possible it’s August already? This summer is flying quickly, but so far it’s been a great one. I have, however, fallen down a bit (well, totally) on my plans to do monthly recaps of my travels and experiences in D.C. So I’ve decided to combine the months of June and July into a single post, because a) I’m lazy like that and b) July was a pretty quiet month without much travel, so it makes more sense to do a two-month recap anyway.

Here, then, are the highlights of my June and July 2018:

June/July 2018 Monthly Recap

View of a mist-covered mountain outside Nairobi

Where I Traveled: Kenya, Florida, Washington, DC.

A majestic giraffe in Kenya.

My one big trip of this two-month period was to Kenya for a work conference. I’d been before, but this time I was lucky to have a full day at the end to explore Nairobi and its surroundings. I visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where I got a quick but wonderful glimpse of baby elephants at play; the Giraffe Centre, where I got to watch these enormous, majestic creatures eat, play, and strut around in nature; and a local bead factory, where we got to see how beads and ceramics are made. It was a wonderful day, and I hope to explore more of Kenya in the future—I know I’ll be back in East Africa at some point next year!

Best Meal/Best Drink: My friends and I visited Agua 301, a Mexican restaurant and bar in DC’s Southwest waterfront area. I’d been impressed with the upscale Mexican cuisine before, and it didn’t disappoint this time: my chicken empanadas and guacamole were both great. The frozen peach sangria is pretty amazing as well, so I’m awarding it this month’s Best Drink title!

Best Cultural Experience: This is an easy one: in July, I was fortunate enough to see Hamilton at the Kennedy Center! I didn’t know too much about the show going in (I deliberately didn’t listen to the songs beforehand, so I could be blown away on performance day), and I really loved the music, the actors, and the story itself. Learning more about Alexander Hamilton’s life, as well as that pivotal era in the formation of the United States, was fascinating to a history nerd like myself–and also, in these turbulent times, a powerful reminder of all our country has been through and survived. Not to mention that Hamilton’s frenzied efforts to write, create, and live his best life in the time he had on earth are incredibly inspiring; I am already working to incorporate these lessons into my own life, up my productivity, and to try and to learn new things as often as I can.

Best Read: I read a few new books these past two months. I enjoyed Dear Madam President, by Jennifer Palmieri, a former staffer on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Part memoir of the campaign and her own life, and part suggestions/recommendations for the first female president once she’s in office, it was a quick read with some valuable insights, and made me long, more than ever, for the day when the dream of a female American president becomes a reality.

I also have been doing a lot of re-reading of favorite novels this summer, and it’s been incredibly rewarding (I love a good re-read; so many books are actually more rewarding the second—or third, or fifth—time). Two books that I devoured once again, and highly recommend to everyone, are Atonement by Ian McEwan and The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood—both are brilliantly written works of historical fiction focusing on the 1930s and 1940s with fascinating female lead characters. They’re also quite heartbreaking tales, but don’t let that deter you: they’re well worth reading if you haven’t already.

Best of DC: I’d have to say Hamilton wins this category as well; I always love a visit to the Kennedy Center, and this one was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

What’s Next: August is off to a fantastic start already, and it should only get better: I’ve got a friend in town next weekend (excuse to go to all the nice DC restaurants and hang out in Georgetown!), then I’m flying to Florida to celebrate my parents’ 50^th (!) anniversary! And then in late August, my big adventure of the summer: a trip to Finland, Estonia, and St. Petersburg! I can’t wait to share more of my adventures when I return in September!

How has your summer been so far? Any exciting plans for August?

Africa, DC, Kenya, Monthly Recaps

Aug

2018

Monthly Recap: May 2018

Melissa Kaplan0

Happy June! And welcome to a brand-new feature of my blog: the Monthly Recap!

I read a lot of travel blogs, and I have to admit I really enjoy the monthly (or weekly) recap posts some bloggers do. I’ve been thinking about starting a similar series for a while, but I held back because I wasn’t sure I’d have enough interesting material to fill it, or that anyone would want to read about my life outside of travel. But then I realized 1) this is my blog and I should write whatever I want; 2) it will encourage me to post more regularly and keep track of the fun things I’m doing; and 3) since I really enjoy reading these updates from bloggers I don’t know, who’s to say that those reading my blog won’t enjoy reading these updates from me?

And I’m starting off on a high note, as May was a particularly great month for me in terms of travel (featuring my first international trip in a year and a half!) as well as welcoming summer with a few fun DC traditions. So, here it is: my first-ever Monthly Recap!

National Gallery, London

May 2018 Monthly Recap

Where I Traveled: London, Paris, Versailles, New York City, Washington, DC.

I began the month in the best way possible: with a week in London and Paris! I also visited Versailles for the first time (verdict: it’s certainly impressive and I’m glad I went, but it was a bit of a hassle and I probably will never go again. At least it’s checked off the bucket list!) Then I was in New York City for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it two-day work trip in the middle of May.

Best Meals: Without a doubt, the prize here goes to my favorite Parisian restaurant, Le Relais de L’Entrecote, where I enjoyed steak and frites to cap off my three days of eating very well in the city. I also enjoyed the food at 28-50, a posh wine bar in London where I sampled Icelandic specialties of lamb hot dog with French fries (American, yet not really…I love it), as well as several varieties of wine.

Best Drinks: The hot chocolate l’africain at Café Angelina in Paris was, naturally, the winner in this category.

Cafe Angelina hot chocolate!

Best Cultural Experiences: It’s hard to narrow this down in a month that saw me visiting the Louvre and the Musee D’Orsay in Paris, but I’m going to give this award to the National Gallery in London, which reclaimed its spot as one of my favorite museums in the world. I hadn’t been there so long that I’d forgotten just how impressive their collection really is, and how beautifully designed the building is as well. And unlike the amazing Parisian museums, it’s free! I promise never to return to London without paying a visit.

Best Read: I’ve just begun The Restless Wave by Senator John McCain. I’m three chapters in and really enjoying it so far, particularly his perspective of the 2008 presidential campaign.

Best of DC: I don’t want to neglect my hometown in these recaps! This month kicked off the annual tradition of Jazz in the Sculpture Garden—weekly Friday evening summer concerts held outdoors at the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden. These are hugely popular and I got there early to snag a spot on the grass for myself and my friends. We had a great time, crowds and lack of foresight to bring a picnic blanket notwithstanding. I also took advantage of a free afternoon before the concert to visit the National Gallery of Art and check out some of my favorite European painters, including a new exhibit on Cezanne portraits (which to be honest, I just stumbled on).

What’s Next: This month I’ll be in Kenya for a week for work, and hoping to fit in a little time on my last day to do touristy things. I’m also beginning to plan my August European vacation in earnest (more details to come soon!)

So, what did you think? Are you a fan of monthly recap posts, or are they just ridiculously self-indulgent narcissism? (Please pick the first option). What exciting things did you do in May?

DC, France, London, Monthly Recaps, Paris, Travel Musings, US travel

Jun

2018