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[Austin, TX, Apr 28, 2026] I had a little bit of free time during the day, so I decided to hop on over to the Blanton Art Museum. It was just a block over from the conference center and across the street from the Bullock Texas State History Museum, which I visited yesterday. I was surprised to learn that my admission was free. It turns out, the Blanton offers free admission every… Read More
Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve… Those are probably the top destinations most people think of when it comes to Portugal. But lately, the island of Madeira has been growing in popularity. It’s nicknamed “the Hawaii of Europe”, and for good reason. It’s a volcanic island just like the Hawaiian islands and it has a very similar climate and scenery. If you are a hiker who wants to check out the island but also… Read More
[Wrangell-St Elias National Park, Aug 1, 2025] We enjoyed a lazy morning in Kennecott since we didn’t have anything on the books until our mill tour at 11:30 am. At breakfast, we reconnected with a couple, Keith and Mary Kay, who we’d talked to the day before. They were going on a white water rafting tour. We didn’t envy them having to be out there with rain in the forecast. They seemed… Read More
[Cascais / Sintra, Portugal, May 16, 2025] A daytrip to Sintra tops the wishlist of many visitors to Lisbon. Its proximity to the capital, the magnificent architecture of its palaces and castles, and its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site all contribute to the draw. I would normally do a side trip like this on my own, but Sintra presented some unique challenges. Due to the palaces’ popularity, a timed entry… Read More
[Lisbon, Portugal, May 15, 2025] And just like that, our four days in Madeira came to an end and it was time to return to Lisbon for two more fun-filled days before going back to the US. Teddy and I caught the first flight out of Madeira, which was at the ungodly hour of 5:50 am. Besides being one of the cheapest options, the early flight allowed Teddy to make it all… Read More