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There’s a paradigm that we fall into as we approach mid-life. Our reality isn’t even remotely close to what we envisioned. It throws us through twists and turns, highs and lows. It can be both cruel and kind. We know that there are more days behind us than ahead of us. But it’s all ours, and we have the singular choice to either wither into obscurity or say “fuck it” and thrive. I’ll give you one guess which one I’m choosing. 😜

Even when the path is hard to see, understand, and filled with uncertainty, I’m proud of who I am, what I’ve overcome, and who I’m becoming. And that in itself grounds me. I’m learning some very hard lessons in trust and patience, but I know that I’m going to have to learn them — even if I have to do it kicking and screaming. And knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t want it any other way or have any different kind of a life. Growth is hard, but stagnation is far worse.

What I am certain of is that I have so many people, near and far, who love me. I’m one very lucky girl. That, and we live in a magnificently beautiful world, and I hope that my travels have inspired you to go see more of it (even if it means going alone!).

I’m grateful for every year I’ve been given. And if you’re a part of my world — thank you for being in it. ❤️ 45, LFG!

Lots of love and light,
Meg

In this post, you’ll learn about two more national parks I got to visit — Guadalupe Mountains & White Sands National Park. For those keeping score at home, they were my 3rd and 4th national parks along my trip, joining Hot Springs and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks.

Guadalupe Mountains NP, which is actually back in Texas, was only about 30 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns so I decided to visit both in the same day. I won’t bury the lead — this definitely was my least favorite park. It was “Texas pretty” if you get my drift. But it was easy to get in and out and had some cool historical places like Pinery Station, which was part of the Butterfield Overland Route — the first mail route from St. Louis to San Francisco. A very fitting place to write a postcard to my niece and nephew! The park is also home to the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak. Even though I was a little underwhelmed, I’m still glad I stopped and saw it!

The next stop was over to Las Cruces, back over in New Mexico. Now, I’ve traveled plenty of rural roads in my life. But the road from Guadalupe Mountains to El Paso was de-so-late. Like no gas station for 70 miles, SOS on the cell, and more flat, dusty land that you would ever see in your life. I made a habit of not letting my gas tank go below half, especially when I was out west, and it served me well. I was thrilled to get back to civilization in El Paso!

I chose to stay in Las Cruces, NM because it was close-ish to my 5th national park, White Sands. Las Cruces was a cute little town with vibrant murals and a few bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. My Airbnb wasn’t too far from the main drag so everything was in walking distance.

About an hour away was White Sands National Park, a place I’ve known about and wanted to visit for a LONG time. Back in 1995, the R&B group Boyz II Men filmed the video for their song Water Runs Dry at White Sands National Park. I have no idea why but I’ve always been so intrigued by WSNP so I had to make it happen. The park is located near Holloman Air Force Base and within White Sands Missile Base — super safe right?? 😳

It did NOT disappoint and 13-year-old Megan was geeking out! Most of the park was actually closed due to a fighter jet crashing in the park a few days before but I was able to enjoy the dunes that were open. Just like being at the beach with no water. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I loved it so much — it reminded me of home. I was able to do a “sand angel” and there were even people using sleds to slide down the dunes (though it didn’t look like they were having much success).

After I was done basking in the sand, I ventured out to a little town called Cloudcroft (elevation 8,670) that had been recommended. The drive up was ah-mazing! I had lunch at Cloudcroft Brewing Co., a little brewery and pizza place, and also stopped for an epic view from Lincoln National Forest.

So far, I was loving the Land of Enchantment yet still had three more stops to go — Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Four Corners and Gallup. And on May 6, I had officially hit my first 3,000 miles.

Love and light,

MW

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Needless to say, I’m still not in OKC nor did I fall off the face of the earth! The last five months have been a whirlwind — actually more like a good ole’ Oklahoma tornado or Florida hurricane.

I vastly underestimated the amount of time it was going to take to drive, explore, work and write. Turns out, I only had enough time and energy to do three. It was extremely important to me to continue and then eventually finish out this trip by living in the moment, staying safe on the road, and also staying employed so I could continue funding this whacky excursion. Just one of many learning lessons I discovered along the way I suppose. But I think that revisiting my trip now that I’ve had a chance to catch my breath and reflect will give me so much more retrospect and make the story even better for my extremely patient readers — a silver lining. Thank you in advance for understanding and I hope this explains my radio silence!

So before I continue on, just a quick life update. I’m back on Florida’s Gulf Coast, just a short 5-6 blocks from where I used to live. My city and zip code are different but how ironic that I drove over 11,000 miles all over the damn country and wound up right back where I started. Guess all roads really do lead back home. I’m the proud new owner of an awesome townhouse that I’ve been settling into since late July. I’ll share more about that story later on but I absolutely love my new place and finally have a home to call my own.

Amarillo, TX was where I last left you. I honestly can’t comprehend just how huge the state of Texas is — and I drove through the smallest part! My next stop was Carlsbad, NM where I’d be visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The hours and hours of driving through west Texas and countless miles of brownfields and oil rigs definitely numbed the brain a bit.

But I finally made it to Carlsbad — not a lot going on in the town with the exception of the national park crowd (that I became an official part of) and oil field workers. My great-grandfather was born in Carlsbad in the late 1800s, before New Mexico was even a state, so it was kinda cool to go back and see the place where he was born. His father and uncles were merchants in Binghamton, NY and ended up out in Eddy Co., NM because his father contracted tuberculosis and needed to be in a more arid climate. From what we understand, they set up their businesses out in Carlsbad but eventually returned back to NY at the turn of the century.

So if you haven’t heard about the Carlsbad Caverns, it consists of around 119 caves—formed 265 million years ago when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes. After getting some info from a local bartender the night before (best travels sources ever), I had two options to get down to the caverns. I could either take an elevator down 750 feet to the bottom or take a steep, 1.25-mile hike down through the cave’s natural entrance.

Since I was visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park that same day (only 20 minutes away), I opted to save some time and my legs and take the elevator.

I guess I really didn’t know what to expect but this place absolutely blew me away! Safe to say, it was the most unique park I visited on my entire trip. It was like a hidden underworld, with stunning rock formations, pools of cave water and a very walkable trail that went on for miles. And my photos simply do not do it justice.

So you can image how pissed I was to read that some dipshit dumped a bag of Cheetos and damaged the cave’s ecosystem. If Cheeto-gate doesn’t ruin it for everyone, please add this park to your travel list — it’s a must-see and made my top 5 of favorite places!

It’s also worth noting that I made a travel bucket list back in 2013 — and New Mexico was on the list. The feeling of checking it off list was really cool. Come to find out, I’d check off three more bucket list places before my trip would conclude. I hope I never stop surprising myself. :)

Until next time in the very near future and definitely not five months later…grateful for your patience and willingness to still learn about my travels!

Love and light,

MW

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Hope wherever you are in the world that Spring has finally arrived!

The next stops on my trip were to Oklahoma City, OK and Amarillo, TX. I was excited to cross over to Oklahoma and check another state off of my list (I’m now 35/50).

Many people were surprised when I said I was stopping by OKC — and honestly, it was one of the cities I was most excited to visit. First off, one of my favorite breweries is based there (Prairie Artisan Ales which I’ll share a bit more about below) and I had heard good things in general about OKC.

When I got to town, I knew the first thing I needed/wanted to see was the Oklahoma City National Memorial. I know it sounds depressing and morbid, but it’s one of those places, like the 9/11 Memorial and Pearl Harbor, that as an American, you need to see and pay respects to. And also, it’s a place I have an indirect tie to.

On that fateful day in April 1995, most of us recall the horrors of the OKC bombing. Even I as a 7th grader remember our teachers telling us what happened and subsequently seeing the images of the bloodied and battered victims and survivors on the news for weeks and months to come. Such an incredibly heartbreaking day for the people of OKC and our nation.

Fast forward to May 2001, after I finished my freshman year at Indiana State, members of the media flocked to Terre Haute, Indiana where the execution of Timothy McVeigh was going to take place. Nearly all of the major news outlets recruited students from ISU to help out with the on-site production. So there I was at 19 working for NBC News. It was an incredible experience and one that I’ll never forget (here are some pics that were taken on-site below… including one of me and NBC journalist David Bloom, who sadly passed away in 2003 in Iraq)

During that time, I heard the reporters share the narrative over and over again about the victims and the devastation that took place in OKC. But being so far away, you can’t fully grasp the loss of life and destruction. I know I didn’t — until now.

The memorial was so harrowing yet a beautiful tribute to the victims and survivors. I think the hardest thing to see was the rows of chairs (especially the small ones in honor of the children killed in the bombing). There was a memorial run that weekend and several runners were leaving their bibs on the chair in memory of the person who had passed. It’s hard not to shed a tear when you’re there but I highly recommend visiting if you’re able to.

I will say after exploring OKC, it reminded me a LOT of Indy! Great bars (including a fabulous rooftop bar called Obar at the Ambassador Hotel), breweries, restaurants, and lots of things to do including museums, sporting events, and concerts. I went to the downtown Arts Festival that weekend and got tickets to a Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors concert (where it was revealed that I had come from the furthest away!).

Then off to my crown jewel of breweries — Prairie Artisan Ales. I first picked up their Rainbow Sherbet Sour at Luekens in Dunedin (loved it) and then fell for their holiday Seasick Crocodile. If you’re into sours, you’ve got to try their stuff! I was so excited to visit the mothership — and the best part about traveling by car is that I could take some beers I can’t get at home with me on the road. :)

The area I loved the most in OKC was the Bricktown district. It’s home to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (voted one of the best ballparks in AAA), Bricktown Brewery, the Bricktown Water Taxi, and more. It reminded me a LOT of the White River area in Indy (maybe that’s why I loved it so much!).

Overall, I loved OKC — but my only complaint was that I didn’t think the people there were that friendly. They were nice enough but just not super warm.

Next stop was on to Amarillo. This was more of a low-key stop to catch my breath for a minute. Not a ton going on in Amarillo but the Route 66 stuff was neat, along with Cadillac Ranch, a collection of ten old buried Cadillacs that are now graffitied sculptures.

My next stops will take me further out west and take in some sights I’ve been really looking forward to seeing. :) As always, thank you for going on this journey with me!

Love and light,
MW

Well, I’ve been on the road for over a month now (time flies!) and needless to say, I’m traveling at a much faster pace than I’m writing. But that’s ok — I’m going at my own pace and still trying to find that happy balance between exploring, working, and resting.

Next stop was Little Rock, Arkansas.

I know what you’re thinking. WTF, Megan —Arkansas?? That’s the land of 20-whatever Kids and Counting, Walmart, and probably a ton of other stereotypes that I really don’t need to mention.

And to be completely honest, I had them too.

The Natural State really surprised me. Not only is it a REALLY pretty state, nestled in the Ozarks, Little Rock was actually a pretty cool town. I stayed in the SOMA area (South Main) which had really cute shops, restaurants, bars, and only one of two Purse Museums in the world (the other is in South Korea)! It was so neat to walk through and see all of the vintage handbags and accessories from the early 1900s to the 1990s. Although I did take a bit of offense when I saw the Rainbow Brite purse in the 80s case. Ugh.

Little Rock was definitely a low-key stop but I really enjoyed my time there!

One of the fun parts about meeting people in different cities is that you get the BEST recommendations. I’ve planned only my route and probably very little else. I was in the cutest shop, Pink Olive, getting my niece and nephew their postcard. The woman working told me I HAD to stop by Hot Springs and go to the Buckstaff Bathhouse.

For a little context, Hot Springs was the place to be at the turn of the century because of the healing properties of the mineral water in the 6 million-year-old hot springs. Bathouses popped up all over "Bathhouse Row” for specifically baseball players wanting to cure their “ailments” (mostly due to heavy drinking) and the hot mineral water was thought to have “boiled” out their impurities. [too easy, not going there. 🤣]

So off to Buckstaff I went — and it was quite an experience! I couldn’t take more photos for obvious reasons but for $40 the hot treatments felt great, especially after all of the driving I’d been doing. After I detoxed, I went and retoxed with a flight at Superior Bathhouse Brewery. The brewery, which is in an old converted bathhouse, uses the mineral water to make their beers. And I have to say, even up to this point in my trip, it’s been my favorite brewery thus far!

So in the words of Chris Stapleton’s song Arkansas “If you wanna get down, gotta get down to Arkansas.” It may just surprise the hell out of you, like it did me!

Next stop… OKC!

Love and light,
MW

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After my epic stop in Asheville, it was time to start heading west (and also catch up on my rest!). My next stop was the Country Music Capital of the World, Nashville, TN. I’ve driven through Nashville plenty of times with my family when we would drive to Florida but had never visited as an adult.

My first stop was at the iconic Bluebird Cafe for my niece, Avery. When I told her that I was stopping by Nashville her first question was “Aunt Meg, are you going to the Bluebird Cafe? That’s where Taylor Swift played!” So I couldn’t let my Swiftie-loving girl down. Even though I got there way before they opened, I STILL didn’t get in for open mic night. Ugh, fail. But I think Aves still got a kick out of the quick video I sent her from her requested location.

Next was heading down to Broadway, home of the honkey tonks. I stopped by Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Acme Feed & Seed, Friends in Low Places (Garth Brooks’ bar) and Rippy’s. It was cool to see but I think if you go you need to really, really, really like country music and really, really, really like to get shitfaced. I like country music but I don’t love it. And getting shitfaced…well, I still had to work that week. So there’s that.

Speaking of, I did discover the art of working at bars! Usually, coffee shops are my jam but I was able to get some work done at YeeHaw Brewing Company / White Duck Taco Shop and Hopsmith Nashville. Both were awesome spots and workday-approved.

Overall, I’ve got to admit, I didn’t love Nashville and think it’s overhyped. I think it’s got an identity conflict — it wants to be old school and original country but also new and trendy. Can’t make up its mind. And it was LOUD everywhere from the construction to the coffee houses. I didn’t hate Nashville but I didn’t love it either. But nonetheless, I’m glad I stopped and found this out for myself! The whole point of traveling right?

Next up was an overnight stop in Memphis. Admittedly, I really misjudged the Home of the Blues. I hadn’t heard great things and almost drove past it. Honestly, I wish I would have spent one less day in Nashville and one more in Memphis. First off, the people in Memphis were SO nice! I stayed downtown at the Hu Hotel, which had an incredible rooftop bar that overlooked the Mighty Mississippi. The sunset was gorgeous and rivaled the ones in Florida (almost!).

The next day, I had some work meetings in the morning but luckily had a late checkout. Before I left town, I knew I had to check out the iconic Beale Street. It did NOT disappoint! Beale Street was so authentic and just had an awesome vibe to it. I would have loved to stop in some of the clubs when the live music was going but unfortunately, I had to move on. But I would definitely visit Memphis again, even just for a day or two.

So far, the travels have been pretty smooth! My car is hanging in there like the badass she is. I’m getting more into a groove of working, driving, and exploring — even if it means taking meetings at a gas station parking lot or a random Subway (thank God for my cell hotspot!). That’s the beauty of being a digital nomad / remote worker — I just need my laptop, internet, and a power outlet and the world is my oyster. :)

Next up is the Natural State of Arkansas!

Love and light,
MW

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I can’t believe it’s been almost three weeks since I’ve been on the move. Florida feels a million miles away and so far the travels have been smooth and uneventful. Still trying to get into the groove of balancing work, exploring, and driving but I’m doing the best I can to figure it out.

So onto Stop #3: Asheville, NC. Before visiting, I had heard nothing but great things about this quirky little town. Now I know exactly why!

But before I dive in, here’s a little backstory for you — and why travel is the ultimate connector of people. Last year when I was traveling in Porto, Portugal with my friends Ann and Paula (the PortuGALS) and I went on a wine tour of the Douro Valley. On that tour, we met Glen and Chuck, who lived in Asheville. As you can see from the photos below, it didn’t take us long to become friends with the wine-loving group!

I kept in touch with Glen and Chuck (a la Instagram) and while I was planning my road trip, I reached out to let them know I’d be stopping in Asheville.

And that’s where the magic begins.

All weekend was pretty much the “Glen and Megan Show.” (Chuck was out of town for work). We hit up the town and lived our BEST life! We may have even snuck into a rooftop bar grand opening and snapped a few pics with a fox mascot head (and also may have gotten busted by Mr. Foxman himself, who wasn’t amused with our antics). 🤣 Needless to say, there was absolutely zero lack of fun.

I made a stop at the revered Biltmore Estate, which was so gorgeous. The home was astonishing and the gardens were immaculate. I loved the solarium and now want to have one of my own someday. Major inspo! And the winery was also so stunning. The long tunnel into the tasting room was so cool!

The one thing that Asheville doesn’t lack are bars, craft breweries, and restaurants. And as the unofficial ambassador of Asheville, Glen took me to all the best spots. Green Man Brewery, Burial Brewery, Antedote, and The Times, just to name a few.

We were just getting ready to wrap up our weekend of fun but were inspired to stop by The Orange Peel, a local music venture, and see what band was playing that night. Well, none other than The Wallflowers — which made these two old millennials waaay too excited. To top it off, even though it was a sold-out show, we got in for free (two other people had their tickets scanned but had to leave). Boom!

This is why I love to travel so much. The incredible people you meet unexpectedly, the experiences that you ordinarily wouldn’t have, and the massive amounts of FUN you have along the way.

A MILLION thank yous to Glen for showing this girl a phenomenal time! Truly, this trip was magical because of his kindness and hospitality. I told him he needs to start an Asheville tour company - 10/10 would recommend!!

I’ll most definitely be seeing Asheville again soon! ✨

Love and light,
MW

My trip has officially launched! After getting my Highlander all packed up, putting a few more things in storage, and saying my “see ya laters” to my friends, it was finally time to hit the road.

I decided to shave off some driving time on Saturday and drive up to Jacksonville, FL, and stay the night on Friday evening. Really good decision! The next morning, I drove to Savannah where I went for a delicious brunch at Husk Savannah (thanks for the recco Carrie!) and to walk around for a bit. My big goal for this trip is to visit places I’ve never been before, but I made an exception for Savannah. It’s a stunning city and since I was driving right by it, I had to make a quick stop.

My first official stop was Charleston, SC. I’ve flown into Charleston for family visits but have never actually spent time in the city. The city is very old and rich in American history – and very rich monetarily as well, with both old and new money. The colonial buildings and cobblestone streets give the city such amazing character and the food scene is incredible. I stayed at a hostel in Charleston and while the building was old and just ok, my roommates, Sarah, Lily, and Jenn, were so sweet and I had a good time chatting with them on the old second-floor porch.

Two of my favorite places that I ate at were Chasing Sage and Poogan’s Porch (thanks for the recco Kim!). Next door to Chasing Sage was a really cool tap room called the Guilded Horn, where I met some nice people from New Jersey and Connecticut, all of whom worked in marketing, and a very cool bartender named Hannah. Meeting new people is by far my favorite thing about traveling. You hear other people’s stories, where they’re from, why they’re passing by, etc. and it just fascinates me. Good thing I’m not an introvert! Charleston was cool and I’m glad I made the visit — but decided I’m not Southern, civilized or rich enough for this town. LOL!

After my first weekend on the road in Charleston, I headed to stop number two, Wilmington, NC - but not before making a quick stop in Myrtle Beach, SC for lunch with my cousin Kyle! I’m so glad we got to reconnect and share a meal - thanks Cuz! :)

Wilmington wasn’t originally on my list of stops. But when I hear multiple people speak highly about a place, that’s a sign I need to go.

Wilmington was SUCH a cute town with a chill vibe without being too edgy or pretentious. Great restaurants, coffee shops, and bars— all very walkable. The riverfront area was also fantastic. My Airbnb host, Lindsey, was so awesome

On a work note, I even got to meet a new member of our ad agency team, Riley, who’s based in Wilmington. We had a great time going to a few spots she recommended.

Wilmington is such a great town and I really enjoyed my time there! Hope you will put it on your travel list someday. :)

Overall, the travels have gone pretty smoothly! My driving pace was a bit on the aggressive side (over 1,000 miles less than a week) and was a little tricky juggling work with check-out/drive times. But I’m making it work the best I can. All I can do is learn, give myself grace, and listen to my mind/body to know when I need a little extra rest.

Stop number three took me to Asheville, NC — and this place deserves a post of its own. Stay tuned!

Love and light,
MW

I’m also so incredibly grateful for all of the amazing friends I made at “The Commons” and memories that we all had together. From pool shenanigans to pre-golf cart parade parties and everything in between, they all made this a special place to live. I love you all so much!

My girls Ann, Erica, Paula and Kimm also had a big surprise for me on our last Wine Wednesday together for a while — an infinite amount of travel supplies! I told them if all else fails, I can run a roadside convenience store out of the back of my car! They were so sweet to think of me and make sure I was well-prepared for my trip. ❤️

I love my Florida life, my golf cart, the sunshine, and my friends who are like family. But now it’s time to step away for a little bit, spread my wings, and see more of our beautiful country. By the time my trip concludes (if all goes to plan) I’ll have visited all but three states — with Alaska, Hawaii and Connecticut remaining (CT whaaa??? So random, I know.).

So wish me luck and hope you’ll follow along! Mile zero starts in 3…2…1.

Love and light,

MW

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I set off on my Portuguese adventure. Not going to lie, there are days when I’d kill for a tasty glass of Vinho Verde along with a cod dish with fresh bread and olive oil. Ah, foodie heaven.

Since I posted last, I’ve added two new stamps to my passport having visited Germany in November and Costa Rica just last month. I’ve got a highlight rewind in the works for both trips that I’ll post later, not to bury the lead with my next adventure!

So here it goes…

Since my trip to Portugal, I’ve been feeling an unsettling restless and the need for a change. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life very much here in Dunedin along with my friends, the sunshine, and my golf cart. When I was recovering from gallbladder surgery this summer/fall, the pull for a change started screaming at me pretty loudly. Until the idea of a cross-country road trip hit me poolside like a ton of bricks — and I knew I had to follow my intuition. As many moments of joy and amazing memories I’ve had and continue to have here, Dunedin also represents a very painful time in my life that can, at times, be really difficult to continue healing/recovering from. But I’m doing my best. :)

So off I go in mid-April across the U.S.! I’m so excited to visit states and cities, I’ve never been to (so far, I’m at 32/50 states). The golf cart will remain in excellent care until I return (thank you Greg and Ann!). And of course, I’ll write about the cities I’ll visit, cool things I get to do, favorite booze and brews spots, and the challenges I’m certain I’ll face along the way. The first leg of my trip will take me from Florida up through the Carolinas out to Arizona, with many fun stops planned in between. Hope you’ll join me along the way!

Also, I’ve renamed my publication Belong To Where You Are…for a very fitting reason.

I’ve found home in a to-die-for slice of New York-style pizza on the Jersey Shore. I’ve found home planting flowers and my vegetable garden at my house in Lancaster, NY in the springtime. I’ve found home screaming my head off during a Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy. I’ve found home driving my beloved golf cart around on a gorgeous, sunny day in Dunedin, FL. I’ve found home as I meander through the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute. I’ve found home walking the Lake Ontario waterfront in downtown Toronto. I’ve found home going for drinks with my bestie, Ash, at the local Elks Lodge in my hometown of Sullivan, IN. I’ve found home connecting with and in the presence of such incredible friends — old and new, near and far. And certainly, I’ve found home during the holidays, special occasions, visits, and vacations with my family, no matter what and where we celebrate.

You can belong to more than one place. And who knows? Maybe I’ll belong to another special place I haven’t even been to yet. I’m so excited about the trajectory of my life both personally and professionally and know this adventure is going to be awesome.

More to come! :)

Love and light,
MW

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Needless to say, I’m back in the USA and have been for a few weeks now. Truth be told, I’ve really struggled to find the words to really encapsulate this entire experience and have needed some time to let it sink in. Apologies for the delay.

So let’s rewind back to April 4, shall we?

Originally, I was supposed to fly from Lisbon to Washington, DC, and then onto Indy, to spend Easter with my family, then back to Tampa. In a crazy unexpected turn of events, my flight to DC was delayed causing me to miss my connection to Indy. So instead, I had to connect in Toronto, of all places, then onto Indy – and this was the only viable option to get me to the Hoosier state around the same time.

I had very complicated feelings about returning to Toronto, a city I once considered my second home and loved very much. I hadn’t been back since my old life blew up and never thought I could or would even want to ever go back. The ghosts of my old Toronto life made their presence known as I was navigating the subway in Lisbon and felt the city-going version of myself re-emerge. It stung the heart a little. But the universe is a funny little shit sometimes so I think that diversion was trying to tell me that I could handle it. And as strange as it felt when I arrived, I did.

In the name of self-care, I decided to upgrade my ticket to business class and fly like a priss on the eight-hour flight to Toronto. I had originally covered my original ticket back home with points so I didn’t mind the upgrade charge. Just the lounge access (complete with free food and drinks!) and expedited security line itself were worth every penny. And I could have easily been on that plane another eight hours. It was fabulous.

When we finally arrived in TO, I breezed through U.S. customs to make my flight to Indy (shoutout to Global Entry!). Fortunately, my layover was around two hours so I didn’t have to stay put in the Great White North too long. Plus at that point, my jet lag was starting to set in so I was really getting too tired to give my awkward, kinda-sorta second homecoming too much thought. I just didn’t have the mental energy.

And just like that, I was back home in the USA! My fam and I had a great time over Easter, complete with countless silly face selfies and loads of Portugal souvenirs auntie-style. It was fun teaching Miss A and Mr. E how to give a family toast in Portuguese – “À nossa” meaning “To ours” and show them pics of my trip.

After five days in Indy, it was finally time to head TF HOME! I’ve had a lot of people ask me if I was ready to come home or if I was sad to leave Portugal. The answer is both. I missed my friends, my golf cart, the warm Florida breezes, the epic sunsets, and more. And honestly, I could rattle off a whole list of things I’m missing right now about Portugal. But in the end, I belong here in the Sunshine State… at least for right now.

I want to give a special shoutout to the lovely lady below – my incredible friend and neighbor, Jen. She was the keeper of all things Megan while I was gone, getting my mail, keeping my garage/golf cart keys, starting my car, picking me up from the airport, etc. Thanks to her, I had so much more peace of mind leaving my life behind for a while. She is one of the BEST humans I know and I’m so so lucky she’s in my life!! Love you Jen!

Through it all, I was never scared. Nervous? Yes. Anxious? Yes. Thinking I had lost my mind? Definitely. But never scared. I think when you go through a tremendous amount of shit that you think should kill you, nothing (or very little) scares you.

Even though this experience had been on my heart and mind since 2016 and was a long time in the making, I will never have to wonder what it’s like to travel/work abroad for an extended amount of time. I will never have to wonder if I can survive and thrive with only myself to rely on in another country. I will never have to daydream about it but remember my time there with a full heart and an extraordinary amount of gratitude.

I also want to give you all the biggest, heartfelt “obrigada” for following me along on this adventure. Your comments, messages, and encouragement kept me going and meant the world to me.

So, even though this will certainly not be my last post (I’ll be writing some follow-ups and recommendations), I leave you with this:

In the end, all of us will look back on our lives and say one of two things…

“I wish I had” or “I’m glad I did”.

I am beyond “glad I did”… the question is what can’t I do now? :)

Amor e luz (love and light),
MW

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My first stop during the week was to Pink Street, which didn’t disappoint! I had to take some pics for my niece, Avery, who LOVES pink and all things colors. There was a crew that was giving the street a fresh coat of paint which made it really pop and kept people off the street which was better for photo ops. The umbrellas reminded me of the Artisan district in Dunedin which is all umbrella-lined as well.

I took Thursday off to really hit up the city with a pro! My Toronto friend Arash was kind enough to connect me with his cousin-in-law Pifus. He was SO much fun to spend the morning with!! We had a blast hitting up the city including Lisbon’s oldest building, Se Cathedral, São Bento Palace (Portugal’s Parliament building), and the Ponte 25 de Abril (April 25th) Bridge. However, neither of us was a fan of the glass floor on the observatory deck.

We also hit up lots of iconic Lisbon street art, including the artist who created Obama’s “Hope” portrait.

The weather was gorgeous in the afternoon so after I took the ferry across the Tagus River to Almada where I went to lunch at one of Lisbon’s most Instagrammable restaurants, Ponto Final. It was out of this world good. I strolled around a little bit after I was done eating and took in some of the sights from across the river.

Then in the blink of an eye, it was my final weekend in Portugal (how??). I didn’t have any plans on Saturday and Sunday other than to round out my to-see list and go on a sunset cruise on the Tagus River on Saturday night. I started in the city center and hit up the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo (or the Architecture Museum) which had stunning open-air ruins and cool artifacts.

Then, I ventured on the metro north to an awesome neighborhood called Príncipe Real (where I would totally want to live if I were to live in Lisbon!). I visited the Botanical Garden of Lisbon and the Mercado Biológico do Principe Real (an amazing weekly farmers market). It was an incredible area and I loved spending time there.

Then the next biggie on my list was to ride the iconic Lisbon yellow trolley! It was very vintage and fun with its wooden interior and plank floors.

Later that evening, it was time for my sunset cruise…except there was no sunset as the weather didn’t cooperate at all. :( But we had some cool views of the city and the bridge from the river. And there was wine - so there’s that. Guess I’ll need to wait to get back to Florida!

Since Monday was my official last full day in Lisbon (and I still had to work), I wanted Sunday to be my bougie dinner night. I came across this incredible place on Instagram called Rocco and it just might have been my favorite meal in Lisbon. The entire gastro bar is filled with bottles and bottles of wine (what I think heaven looks like!). I had fresh oysters from northern Portugal and they were amazing.

Usually, I’m not a fan of photos of myself. But this pic that the hostess snapped is an exception. I remembered all of the emotional turmoil I was going through this time last year and that the one thing I wanted more than anything in this world was to just be able to “breathe easy” and feel even a little bit at peace. It took a while but judging by this photo, I think that time has finally arrived. Finally.

The Portugal finale is coming up next…

Amor e luz (love and light),
MW

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My Saturday morning was spent visiting Livraria Bertrand, the world’s oldest operating bookstore (since 1732!), the Elevador de Santa Justa (another iconic structure in Lisbon), Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcantara, and Parque Eduardo VII.

Then we went over to Belém (pronounced like “blame”) where I got to have the OG Portuguese sweet treat, the Pastéis de Belém. This delicacy was invented in 1837 by the monks that lived in Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. They eventually passed over the recipe which to this day is top secret. Fun fact is that the pastéis de natas that Portugal is well-known for are actually a knock-off version of the pastéis de Belém so no other place in the world can say they make them. Trademarking at its best.

Next, we stopped at Belém Tower, another iconic Lisbon structure, which used to be an old prison. The prisoners were kept in the basement so when high tide came in… well, not so great for them.

Later that evening I went on a food tour of Alfama (the district where I stayed) and like the tour in Porto, it didn’t disappoint. We visited several hidden gem spots and tried amazing traditional Portuguese foods (my favorites were the octopus salad and cheeses). I even discovered my post-retirement plans – selling liquor shots on the street like these old ladies! Or maybe my Dunedin wine girls and I can start doing that now.

The next day, I was off on a Jeep tour to Sintra, which is about a half an hour from Lisbon on the coast. Sintra is a magical place with gardens, forests, castles, and palaces, one of which inspired many Disney movies. One of the coolest structures there was an inverted tower.

We also saw several cool cliffs, beaches, and lookout points including the most western point in continental Europe. The tour group was really fun and we topped off the day with a shot of Ginja, a Portuguese cherry liquor.

By Sunday I was completely wiped but saw so many amazing things around Lisbon. The more time I spent in the city, the more it grew on me. Part three coming up…

Amor e luz (love and light),
MW

I’m going to be honest, Lisbon and I didn’t exactly get off to a great start when I arrived. My Airbnb is in Lisbon’s oldest district called Alfama, which is just down the hill from Castelo de S. Jorge (or St. George’s Castle). Back in the day, Alfama was built with the intention of making it difficult for enemies to invade the castle so the streets were made very narrow and like a maze. Very old and very confusing.

Fast forward to the present day, not even Google Maps could out-enemy my way through this place. That, pared with the fact I was lugging my really heavy suitcase up really steep cobblestone streets (no weight requirements on the train - what could go wrong??) AND there was construction all around the area, made the whole start to my last leg a total aggravating shitshow. I have no chill when it comes to not knowing my way around (and when I screw myself by not exactly packing light).

I finally made it to my Airbnb, sweaty and pissy. My place is in an old building that was totally built for short people (no offense to short people) complete with small doorways and steep, short stairs. So when you’re almost six feet tall…good times! And once again, my suitcase was the bane of my existence as I was forced to lift it from the bottom up to get it up the stairs. I would have loved to see the video/audio footage of that epic effort.

I eventually got settled into my place (which is at best the size of a dorm room) and calmed down for a hot minute. I went back out to pick up some groceries (and wine!) then went to dinner. The Alfama area is actually really cool, despite my initial aggravation. It has tons of quintessential character, charm, and history.

The next day, my main goal was to get my work operations up and going. It was tough getting back in the swing of things after a super fun week off in Porto with the PortuGALS. I will give Portugal a TON of credit for its telecommunication connectivity. I haven’t had a single issue since I arrived with my wifi or my phone data (I purchased a monthly international plan which has been worth every penny!). My internet was way better in the middle of the ocean in the Azores than it is in Dunedin.

Since I’m still working on Eastern time, I had a few hours to kill before getting back to the grind. I found the cutest coffee shop where I saw many digital nomads working at “computer-only” tables. Yes, there are tables where computers aren’t allowed. I made the mistake of sitting at the said table by accident and was asked to move. WTF. So after the passive-aggressive computer scolding, I learned my non-American lesson and this place has actually become one of my favorite places to work.

I also went out on my “lunch” (really, dinner) break to the Tagus River waterfront and onto Arco da Rua Augusta and Praça do Comércio, two of Lisbon’s most iconic landmarks.

The thing about Lisbon is that it’s a big city (but not too big - 750k people) with LOTS to see. We had plenty of time in Porto to just wander around and see the sights on our own, plus it was a much smaller city. My plan was to take a couple of tours upfront, get a lay of the land and then go back on my own if I wanted to. My first jaunt was a quick two-hour historical tour in a TukTuk that I went on in the morning before work. We visited Lisbon Cathedral (or Sé de Lisboa), Ruins from the 1st Century (fun fact: Lisbon is the 2nd oldest city in the world after Athens), the first ever drainage system created by humans, Santa Luzia viewpoint, Senhora do Monte, and lots of cool street art.

And all this happening only three days in. My first weekend would be even more jam-packed but I was relieved that Lisbon was eventually easing up on me (well, except for my legs from climbing all the hills!) and we’re getting along just fine now. :)

Until part two…

Amor e luz (Love and light),
MW

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We rounded off our PortuGALS trip on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, which consisted of more eating and drinking – rinse and repeat. Had brunch at this great spot right by our Airbnb called Maria Limao where we had the cutest Easter-inspired lattes ever.

Next, it was off to an area across the Douro River from Porto called Gaia, which had some really cute shops and port wine cellars. Since we were going on a wine tour the next day, we opted to just crush a bottle on a rooftop in honor of our first Wine Wednesday abroad. The weather was spectacular as was the view of Porto from across the river!

Later that afternoon, we met up with a group and did a Porto food tour that had been recommended to me. We hit lots of off-the-beaten-path places, including the Bohelo Market and Porto’s oldest operating restaurant, ate all the food, and drank all the wine before ending the night with a port tonic and espresso martinis.

This was also a fun find at the bar… duel toilets. LOL

The next day, we got up bright and early to start our Douro Valley wine tour. It took about an hour and a half by van to get there from Porto but it was well worth it. The Douro Valley was stunning, and the wine/food was incredible as was the boat ride we took down the Douro River. And our tour group was SO much fun – we had a blast with some cool new people!

Our final day together on Friday was really special. I had met an awesome American couple while on a tour in the Azores, Merideth and Mark, the week before who lived just outside of Porto. Merideth sent us lots of Porto recommendations, which were extremely helpful, and was also kind enough to invite us to their village of Crestuma for some sightseeing and lunch. We met some of their awesome friends from South Africa and devoured a truly authentic Portuguese lunch. While we were there, we also met a wonderful Portuguese woman named Maria Fatima. She had dreamed of becoming a fado singer when she was growing up but her father forbid it. So now, she sings to the people in the restaurant. Incredible! It was also her birthday so we also sang her “Happy Birthday” in English. We had a blast!

We only had a few remaining to-dos on the list that we checked off in one swoop. Paula had to try a Porto delicacy called a Francesinha - basically a high-calorie meat sandwich. Ann and I split the vegetarian version and it was pretty good! We also hit up a historical and iconic spot called Majestic Cafe for one last bottle of vinho blanco.

We absolutely had the time of our lives! I’m so, so grateful to have these two amazing friends who were willing to fly across the pond and spend their Spring Break with me. We all agreed that the last few years had been tough for all of us for different reasons so it was nice to experience some much-needed joy and fun. Plus, it was really great to see some familiar faces right at the halfway point of my trip so the timing was perfect. Love you girls!

I had one more night in Porto so I went to a spot right across the street, éLeBê Entreparedes, where I saw a quote on the wall that I loved:

“We love perfection because we can’t have it; we would loathe it if we had it. The perfect is inhuman because the human is imperfect.”

And just like that, it was time to depart Porto and head south to Lisbon. Porto is an absolutely incredible city - stunning architecture, amazing food/wine, beautiful views, and lots going on. I absolutely LOVED it.

Rather than flying, I decided to take the train from Porto to Lisbon – best decision ever! The trip was only three hours but it went really fast and I got to see more of the Portuguese countryside. For a business class ticket, with Wifi, plug-in, LOTS of legroom, and a single seat by the window, it was only 45€. No bag weight limit, no security hassles, no delays – so so easy! I’ll take the train over flying any day of the week.

Next up… Lisbon!!

After the cliffsides, we Ubered back and had a little retail therapy for our real European sports outing later that night  – an FC Porto soccer/football match! None of us know shit about soccer but I was advised by a few people to go for the experience. We also stumbled across a cool little market that had lots of jewelry, cork accessories, and the neatest bags made of old records, radios, TVs, etc. I also popped another postcard in the mail for my niece and nephew that was made of actual cork!

Before we knew it, it was time for these super sober soccer fans to head to the big match – FC Porto vs. A.C. Milan! If it tells you anything about how deep our soccer fandom runs, we had our own version of tailgating that took place on our terrace and with wine. Hey, we tried! At least our little soccer scarves looked cute.

The experience was really eye-opening considering I’ve been to more than my fair share of stadiums and sporting events. First of all, there’s really no “fan experience” other than the soccer match itself and maybe the mascots. Even the concession options are barebones (with cheap beer so yay for that!). The fans weren’t sitting down and getting up every five seconds which was a nice change from American sporting events. They also kept the opposing team’s fans in a little corner in the nosebleed seats (and I think Lucus Oil Stadium should totally copy this amazing idea). And people loved to smoke during the game too. In the stadium. So strange.

I’ve got to give major props to the fans – they were INTO it from the beginning all the way until the end. Cheering, chanting, and paying attention the entire time. They were literally there for the love of the game. It was awesome. FC Porto ended up losing but we had a blast at our first real “football” game. :)

Lastly, trying to leave the stadium to get back home became a shitshow. We ordered an Uber and then couldn’t find him. We tried to take the metro and got on the wrong train going in the wrong direction. Finally, we just got off at the next stop, ordered another Uber and made it back in just time to run into the mini-mart to grab our hangry asses some frozen pizzas and junk food for dinner before it closed (which we would all regret later). That was the only mishap of our trip, which was actually pretty impressive, all wine considered.

Part 3 coming up…

Amor e luz (love and light),
MW

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I hopped on a quick two-hour flight from Ponta Delgada to Porto last Saturday, got my bag with no problem, and settled into our Airbnb, which is right near the city center. I arrived in town a day before the rest of the Porto Wine Mafia so I was able to hit the supermarket and get a lay of the land before they got to town.

The first thing that struck me about Porto is how it’s a smaller town yet LOTS going on all at the same time. There were countless bars, restaurants, cafes, shopping, etc. yet, it’s not got the hustle and bustle of a large city. The energy and vibrance of the city are infectious. And I quickly became obsessed with the blue and white tiles that were the city’s staple design element.

The girls made it to Porto on Sunday and I had wine and cheese waiting on them (which we polished off in record time). That night, we went to dinner and then stumbled upon a cool craft brewery, where we met a super cute doggo named Feliz who was wearing a raincoat. He quickly became our new best friend. :)

On Monday, I had kept it an easy “wild card” day in case the girls needed to sleep off the jet lag. They were both like “screw that.” LOL! We walked ALL over the city – our first stop getting a breakfast consisting of Pastel de nadas, a traditional Portuguese pastry, and a few strong coffees. Then we hit up Sé Catedral do Porto, which was stunning (and no, the walls somehow did not start bleeding when we all walked in).

Next, we did the most American thing ever…went to McDonald’s. But this wasn’t just any McDonald’s – it happened to be the fanciest one in the world. The building used to be an old cafe that went out of business. McDonald’s wanted to purchase it but rather the owners leased it so the stained glass, chandeliers, and other original elements couldn’t be removed. It was gorgeous. Another fun fact is that in Europe, fast food chains, such as McDonald’s, Burger King, etc. serve beer. So obvs, we had to.

After our fancy McDonald’s experience, we explored more of the city and stumbled upon the coolest park that had a bar in the middle called Base. The weather was gorgeous and we had a great time crushing a bottle in the sunshine (I’m guessing you might be sensing a theme). This was one of our favorite places to visit.

Then we strolled around the Mercado do Bolhão, which had just been renovated. They had every kind of produce, cheese, wine, fish, charcuterie, candy, and flower stand you could imagine. It was awesome. We grabbed a few glasses of wine (for only €2 each!) and a cheese platter and parked it on the steps, where we also met a few Americans from North Carolina, Georgia, and St. Pete of all places. Small world!

That night, we went to dinner at a hidden gem Portuguese restaurant called Almada Terrace (which was fantastic), followed by stops to a bougie spot called The Royal Cocktail Club and a 500-year-old church that’s now a bar called Capela Incomum.

And that was just day one – I’m tired from just recapping the day! We saw SO much and had a blast tearing up the city. Porto was already exceeding our expectations. Part two coming up shortly…

Amor e luz (love and light),
MW

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Relva, population 3,006 (smaller than my hometown) is a quaint, sleepy little town with only a few restaurants, two cafes, a grocery store, pastures of cows, and plenty of winding dirt roads. But they’ve also got some incredible hiking trails  – including one that leads down to the Fonte Da Rocha (or the Rocha Fountain) that still has 15th-century clothes-washing basins, which are some of the oldest in the Azores.

After huffing and puffing my way back up the trail from the fountains (they’ve got one hell of an incline), I checked out some other spots around town.

And if not ONE hiking trail was enough, I ventured off to my SECOND hiking trail of the day, not knowing that it would make my legs toast because of the MUCH steeper incline. My only motivation to finish was because I had to pee and the bathrooms were at the bottom. But it was well worth the sweat and even more huffing and puffing.

That night, my legs and ass earned a treat so I went to eat at a place called Saca-Rolhas Taberna. This was hands-down one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to  – so good that I ate there three times. All of their fish is caught that day, their garlic bread is the best I’ve ever had, and the service was excellent.

And of course, the sunsets were spectacular (when it wasn’t raining).

Then, in the blink of an eye, it was time to pack up and head to my next stop… Porto! São Miguel Island FAR exceeded my expectations. The people, food, wine, and overall vibe were incredible!

I beg you, please add the Azores to your travel list. It’s an easy flight from either JFK or Boston, it’s super safe, the people are amazingly friendly, the food/wine is out-of-this-world good, the prices are super reasonable (for now) and of course, the scenery is indescribable. This place stole my heart and I absolutely can’t wait to come back!

Now, onward to Porto!

Amor e luz (love and light),
MW

On Sunday, I took one last guided tour around the northern and western parts of the islands to the more iconic spots on São Miguel (like the images that pop up when you do a Google search for “the Azores”). To my pleasant surprise, I had the same tour guide as my last tour. He was awesome and made the day even better.

Our first stop was the town of Ribeira Grande, which is on the northern coast. The town has some incredible architecture, including gothic-style churches. The church pictured below with the darker-colored tower was constructed out of limestone (which is a softer stone… also found in southern Indiana, of all places). The bells they wanted to install were so heavy, that they were afraid the limestone structure would eventually crumble. So they decided to construct the bell tower out of lava stone found here in São Miguel, which is one of the strongest stones in the world.

Another really fascinating fact was that the stone tiles in front of the church (picture below accompanied by my feet) were individually cut by hand to form this insanely unique surface. That sounds like the shittiest most backbreaking job in the world…

Next, we stopped at a nearby stunning double waterfall. There are no shortages of waterfalls here but I can’t say I’ve ever seen one like this one. Stunning!

Then, we headed to one of the most iconic places in São Miguel – Lagoa de Fogo, or “Lake of Fire.” It was named Lake of Fire because back in the 1500s when the volcanos would become more active, the area around the then-crater would catch fire. The crater eventually filled with rain water, thus being known as Lagoa de Fogo.

We were lucky to get such an awesome view of Lagoa de Fogo because due to its high elevation, it’s not always visible due to dense cloud cover. The sightseeing gods were on our side and we were able to get some epic pics!

Before we knew it, it was time for lunch! More amazing food. More phenomenal Vinho Verde (green wine - which I found you can get in the U.S. when researching “for a friend”). More local liquor. This time we tried pineapple and passion fruit liquors – and of course the mack daddy honey moonshine that separates the women from the girls (and again, challenge gladly accepted). I even taught our tour guide the phrase “down the hatch.” He loved it!

I will say one thing…the Portuguese LOVE to drink at lunch. Even during the workweek. And not just one drink – like a whole bottle of wine. It’s really impressive. They even serve beer at fast food places like Burger King or McDonald’s. Wild (and I’m totally here for it).

After lunch/afternoon happy hour, we headed to another of São Miguel’s most iconic spots – Lagoa das Sete Cidades or “Lake of Seven Cities.” The lake actually looks like two separate lakes - one blue (top) and one green (bottom). That’s because the green lake is more shallow and the algae give it the green color (hard to see in my pic because of the cloud cover.

Legend has it that when the King of Portugal came to visit, he brought his daughter  – a blue-eyed princess who unexpectedly fell in love with a green-eyed shepherd. The king had betrothed her to another back on the mainland and forced her to end it with the shepherd. So it’s believed that she cried enough tears to fill the blue part of the lake and the shepherd cried enough tears to fill the green part of the lake. Our tour guide kept referring to me as the blue-eyed princess from this tale. Boy if he only knew.

On another note, our tour group was so much fun! There were people from the U.S., Ukraine, Germany, and Spain. Meeting people from different places is one of my love languages so I had a blast with my new friends. :)

We hit up a few more scenic spots before heading home…

And at last, after an incredible day, I caught my first sunset in my new spot. Not quite like the sunsets at home (especially sans golf cart) but still gorgeous.

The more I see of and experience São Miguel, the more I love it. The best way to describe it is if Hawaii and Iceland had a baby. Volcanoes, waterfalls, streams, cliffs, and its own unique vibe. This place is so very special. ❤️

Amor e luz (love and light),
MW

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The second excursion I went on, last Tuesday, was a nighttime hot springs tour and it didn’t disappoint. There is a lot of volcanic activity on São Miguel Island which produces sustainable thermal energy. The thermal water found in the Furnas Valley is high in minerals giving it a sulfur smell. We stopped to see some of the springs before hitting the thermal pools.

Then, we stopped for dinner at a local restaurant that was prepared beneath the ground utilizing water vapor originating from Furnas volcano geysers (Cozido das Furnas). All the ingredients are placed in a pot, which is placed and buried in the ground next to the Furnas boilers, with an average cooking time of five hours. And paired with, you guessed it – more wine.

After dinner, it was on to the thermal pools! I have to admit, I didn’t take many photos out of fear that I’d drop my phone in the pools. That would have been epically bad. The group of people who were on my tour were mostly from the U.S. and also from Malta. They were absolutely awesome and we're all friends on the ‘Gram now, following each other’s travels.

The thermal pools were made up of several individual pools so you could hop around to different spots. The best tip I received from a work contact was to take a bathing suit that you didn’t mind getting ruined. This is because the water is heavy in minerals and iron and can stain your suit. The Airbnb’s also have darker colored towels they wanted you to use specifically for the thermal pools for that reason as well.

Even though it was a bit rainy and we couldn’t see the stars, the excursion was an amazing experience!

I spent the last few days in PD just working and trying to get out as much as I could. The weather didn’t cooperate much but when it did, I hit the town. It was so freeing to just wander the streets aimlessly and take it all in. The food and wine have been out of this world amazing. I may come home 20 pounds heavier but I truly don’t care. And the people in PD are also extremely friendly. This is a town I could get used to!

My next stop takes me to the little town of Relva, which is about 10 minutes west of PD (on the other side of the airport). I’m excited to call this place my home for the next week as I wrap up my time in the Azores. One last tour tomorrow of the West End…

Amor e luz (love and light),
MW