Surprise! I’m back on the blog for a minute to get your tips and recommendations for my grand European adventure.

Green Card renewal now firmly in hand, I am once again FREE to travel. My goal is to absorb the vibe of each city, immerse myself in the day-to-day, meet locals, explore “it” neighborhoods, and most especially check out the art, culture and restaurant scenes in each city.

• My travels start in May in LONDON (8 days), then on to PARIS (12 days), ROME (10 days), ISTANBUL (8 days), and BERLIN (10 days). The specific itineraries for each day are ambitious but they aren’t set in stone. They do, however, provide a framework and lots of options. I’ll be staying in Soho Houses in each city.
• From Berlin, I head to Oslo to catch the Bergensbanen train to Bergen which is where the fantastic journey to the Faroe Islands begins. But I must say I am almost as excited about the 7-hour train trip as I am about the Faroes. The train is Northern Europe’s highest railway and includes some of the most beautiful landscapes in Norway. And it goes through 180 tunnels!
• SO HERE’S WHAT I WOULD LOVE YOUR HELP WITH: Please review my itinerary for the cities you are familiar with and let me know if I’ve included anything that is a total dud or if there’s anything I’ve overlooked and simply must add. Also, would appreciate specific recommendations on public transportation in each city and any insights on how cashless each city is these days. And finally, if you have any friends in those cities who you think might enjoy being treated to dinner or cocktails by a stranger from New York in exchange for some insidery tips about their city, please let them/me know.

Scroll down for my draft itinerary. If you just zero in on the cities you’ve been to lately it shouldn’t take but a few mins. Appreciate your help in advance!

Good Morning and Hello Friday!!

• Venice was POWERFUL. I’ve been trying to figure out exactly why I ended up feeling so completely content and fulfilled on this trip. I’ve traveled to a myriad of amazing places but something about Venice (the beauty, the vibe) was in perfect harmony with how I’m feeling about my life at the moment. Every day as I wandered around this beautiful city I felt grateful to be able to take in all the city has to offer from its architecture to its canals, the art, the food, and the overall gioia di vivere of the Italian people.
• Some of the joy is, I’m sure, the result of being able to travel internationally again (first time in over 2 years). But I was also keenly aware of how fortunate I was to be in a position to plan such a beautiful and indulgent trip for myself.
• Much gratitude also to my amazing travel agent, Pablo Cruz, who planned perfect flights and hotels. And to my Venetian friend, Kiki, for joining me for 2 days, helping me get the lay of the land.
• This was my first time back at the Biennale since 2013. It was WONDERFUL to again take it all in while roaming the Giardini and the Arsenale.
• Much has changed for travelers to Italy over the last 10 years. All for the better in my opinion (see below).

Please scroll down for more on Venice, the green card situation, and my next major trip. I’ll be looking for recommendations and tips.

Good Morning & Hello Friday!

• I’m back in NYC but still daydreaming about Bozeman (also this is the first time I’ve covered the same city two weeks in a row but hey, when you’re as cool as Bozeman, that happens!).
• A few facts: Bozeman is tiny with only 56,250 residents (up from 37,300 in 2010). The population skews young (median age is 28) but seems even younger because of all the MSU students in town. Only 10% of the population is over 65. From what I saw, no matter the age, all the locals are outstandingly fit and outdoorsy!
• Bozeman is in the midst of an entrepreneurial boom. Everyone I chatted with was enthusiastic about the opportunities, from my Afghan immigrant Uber driver to the building contractor I met at Plonk (the hip wine bar in town) to designers and creatives – some making techy outdoor gear (Evergoods), some creating gorgeous one-of-a-kind cowboy hats!
• John Mayer calls the area home. I had no idea until the gazillionth person asked me if I was in town for John Mayer’s concert. I did a little research and discovered that he’s been a resident of Paradise Valley (near Livingston, a 30 min drive from Bozeman) for over a decade. When the recent floods devastated his community, Mayer helped out with a fundraising concert.

And with that, please scroll down for some of my favorite spots in one of America’s coolest towns.

Good Morning & Hello Friday!!

• Bozeman has been wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to celebrate my birthday. People are super friendly, everyone is incredibly fit and outdoorsy no matter their age (inspiring!). It’s a very clean city (no litter and no dog poop even though EVERYONE seems to have at least one dog).
• I’ve not heard a single siren although a cop did drop by the lobby of the hotel yesterday to ask the front desk if they had seen “this guy” and to alert them should he come by the hotel. I also witnessed two campers-ful of homeless guys set up residence on the pristine sidewalk of Main Street (they said they had been “busking” around the country for the last 4 years). They had (been?) moved on by early the following morning.
• MSU students are also piling back into town. Things have gotten very lively on the streets. And with parents in tow, restaurants are fully booked as well.
• Next week’s post will focus on highlights of my time here including best restaurants, best stores, must-dos/sees. My itinerary got me off to an excellent start but it’s been made exponentially better by the people I’ve met, especially at restaurants. Sitting at the bar always elicits the best local tips and Bozeman has been no exception.

And with that please scroll down for the sights and sounds of Bozeman.

Good Morning & Hello Friday!!

• There is a Green Card update. It’s not what I had hoped for but progress nevertheless (#1).
• Mega travel plans are in the works — at least through the first half of 2023 (#2).
• And the most fabulous pre-birthday dinner celebration. It may possibly be my best birthday ever (#10 below). Turns out getting older isn’t as bad as *they* say! Definitely more aches and pains but if you’ve still got your wits about you, it can also be pretty cool! Everyone’s situation is different but for me, as I’ve gotten older, my life has become way more spontaneous, exciting and fun!

And on that note, please scroll down for this week’s Top 10.