January 6, 2021. Everyone had placed such hope on the promise of a new year. Saying good-bye to hellacious 2020 and hello to the potential for change in 2021. Surely, life had to get better, right? Little did we know.

It was a day to go outside. The C&O Canal in the Carderock Recreation Area was the destination. Turns out, we also discovered the Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac River. As much as I love winter and long for a beautiful peaceful snowfall, we embraced the warm December day and headed out on the backroads of Maryland.

It has been one hell of a ride, this year known as 2020. As the relentless year begins to draw to a close, I feel the need to share a few quiet thoughts on the lessons I’ve (we’ve) learned in this unbelievably trying time. As a rule, I purposely do not intertwine our brand with our personal outlook on life, but the occasional exception to the rule can often be cathartic.

There are a few places in this life that beckon us back again and again. Longwood Gardens is one of those places. And, when the fountains are dancing to the music of the Beatles, I’m not sure it gets any better.

Before we talk about Good Eats in Porto, let’s talk about how this year known as 2020, a.k.a. the year from hell, has kept the world sheltering in place. And, while so many countries are now breaking out and starting to move again, the US, is still tied down. Actually, we can travel to Portugal because we maintain our Portuguese residency, but neither one of us has the inclination to take on an international flight.

The Persian Rug. While in Iran, we spent time in the City of Kashan. It is the city in which Abi was born and where many of his relatives still live. We were graciously invited to the home of his Aunt Nahid. She has the gift of weaving extraordinary Persian rugs.

Travel shaming, is it a thing? Is it a natural emotion born out of … out of what? Envy, economics, frustrations, illness, sadness, manipulations, where did it come from?

You know how it is when you tell yourself you really shouldn’t have that third piece of chocolate, and then all you want more than anything else in life is that piece of chocolate? That’s what it feels like, in my mind, to have a passport collecting dust and being told we can’t leave the country. Nope, not even to pop up to Toronto, Canada to visit family. When someone tells me I can’t do something, it becomes the one thing I want more than anything. Is it just me?

The subtropical weather of New York City makes it a fun place to visit any time of the year. The multitude of New York attractions gives visitors a glowing first impression of a fast-paced environment. Millions of people are walking from all directions in and around the city. The neon lights of Times Square keep the city going 24 hours 7 days a week. Major airlines offer direct flights to the city that never sleeps. Plan for a business or pleasure trip.

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Well, it’s not so much a secret, maybe more of a confession given the current state of affairs. I’m having a tough time finding the motivation to put fingers to keyboard these days. Given that there is still an international ban on US travelers, it would seem likely that not too many people are dreaming of faraway places. Although, there are definitely people out there finding a way to change the scenario of their lives as RV sales rise.