Year 2: Zee Travels Around the World

Our second trip around the world has now come to a close.  We made it another 8 months and visited an additional 15 countries, so our total came to 20 months of nomadic living and 31 countries visited.  Just like last year, we wanted to summarize our travel story through Zee’s eyes. See here if you didn’t have a chance to read up on who Zee is and his first year of travel abroad with us.

Iceland

Round 2 started in chilly Iceland.  We only had four days, but we absolutely fell in love with this breathtaking country.  Zee enjoyed frolicking in the wide-open spaces with his cousins, the Icelandic horses.

Zee also got to play on a black sand beach and climb around gorgeous waterfalls.

Geysers, glaciers, gigantic fissures, waterfalls, natural thermal spa pools, black sand beaches, lava tunnels, and volcanic formations created an unbelievable natural playground, making Iceland one of Zee’s favorite countries.

Denmark

We spent 10 days in Copenhagen, and Zee had to sit still for a bit of culture.  However, he was rewarded “Lovgren-style” with one of the country’s famous pastries, the Danish, after a tour of Frederiksborg Castle. 

We also spent 4 days on a quiet Danish island called Æro.  We enjoyed strolling around the quaint town of Æroskobing, but Zee’s favorite part was biking through the countryside and picnicking on a bluff above the ocean.

Zee also wanted to point out one thing to all my friends who are big haters and make fun of me for liking Smirnoff Ice.  In pretty much every country that we went to, Smirnoff Ice was readily available in bars, grocery stores, everywhere.  Apparently, the world loves some Smirnoff Ice.  Enough so, that many countries, such as Denmark, have created knockoffs, such as Shaker Ice.

Sweden

We spent a week in the popular Swedish vacation town of Kalmar.  We cruised the island of Öland to explore the windmills, lighthouses, and ancient Viking burial grounds.  We also sampled the local specialty kroppkaka “body cakes” (potato dumplings with meat filling topped with lingonberries and cream) at Arontorp’s Kroppkakor.  Back in town, Zee enjoyed exploring the 12^th century Kalmar Castle and picnicking by the sea.

We also spent a week in Stockholm and toured the old town, harbor, Nobel Museum, and iconic city hall.  Zee, preferring the outdoor activities in Scandinavia, was most excited about the boat ride through the archipelago and hiking around the remote islands.  We found another great picnic spot on a giant granite boulder overlooking the harbor on Grinda Island.  Seeing a trend yet?

Finland

We took the overnight party cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki.  The highlight was the famous Scandinavian smörgåsbord complete with the proper six courses: herring and boiled potatoes, other fish dishes, salads and cold cuts, meats, cheeses, and desserts.  In Helsinki, we bored Zee by admiring the iconic architecture of this 2012 World Design Capital.  His favorite stop was the islands of Suomenlinna, an 18^th century sea fortress and nature area with artillery and defense walls to explore.

Estonia

We only had a few days in Tallinn but were quickly spellbound by the charming medieval town.  This short stop added some Baltic flair to our travels through the Nordic countries, and we really enjoyed the change of pace in the cuisine and atmosphere.  Architectural highlights included the mostly intact town walls with sections dating from the 13^th century complete with 26 pointy red-roofed watchtowers, the spires of the Lutheran churches overlooking the harbor, and the Russian Orthodox Cathedral with its onion domes.

Norway

Just like Iceland, Zee was in heaven in Norway with more wide-open spaces filled with awe-inspiring waterfalls and fjords to hike and gallop around.  Norway is pure eye candy.  We took the “Norway in a Nutshell” route to visit the Sognefjord by scenic railway, cruise boat, rigid inflatable boat, and a winding bus route.  We also did tons of hiking around the Sognefjord as well as the famous Preikestolen trail over the Lysefjord.

Our drive around the Hardangerfjord introduced us to the unique Norwegian apple orchards that look more like vineyards hugging the shoreline.

Zee loved the fresh-made apple juice, and we were really impressed by their cider.  We had no idea Norway made outstanding ciders!

Of course, we had to stick with our Scandinavian trend of lots of picnics while hiking and road tripping around Norway.  We found the Norwegian version of Zee’s favorite bacon-flavored EasyCheese and enjoyed yet another picnic in a park overlooking the picturesque town of Bergen.

Lefse, the traditional Norwegian flatbread, was by-far our favorite picnic item though, especially when smothered in a layer of butter and sugar or cinnamon/sugar.

Portugal

After almost 2 months touring around the Nordic countries, we made a cultural switch and headed to the Iberian peninsula.  We started in Lisbon where we quickly learned that this country does not get enough credit for its amazing cuisine and beauty.  Zee has a bit of a sweet tooth, so his favorite local specialty was the Portuguese egg tart.  He enjoyed watching me and Jimmy debate which bakery made the best one.

For Zee, the king of all the egg tarts comes from the bakery where this pastry originated, Pasteis de Belem, in 1837.  I was frankly a little disappointed in Zee for siding with Jimmy.

Zee loved the fairytale vibe at Quinta da Regaleira, a palace in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Sintra.  From this tower, Zee eyes the Portal of the Guardian that leads to hidden tunnels and a subterranean tower.  Oh, the adventure!

We also spent time in Porto and the Douro Valley.  We knew we were going to love tasting all the port wine, but the beauty of the Duoro Valley absolutely blew us away.  Zee enjoyed relaxing on the balcony of our room at the wine estate overlooking the Duoro River.

Spain

Bad weather, a broken down rental car, and severe traffic delays bummed Zee out for much of our time in Spain, so he wasn’t in the mood to pose for any pictures.  One of our favorite stops was El Soplao cave in Cantabria, and we weren’t even allowed to take pictures there.  Another highlight from our road trip across northern Spain was the unbelievably delicious pintxos in the Basque region, especially in San Sebastian.  We continued to eat lots of pintxos/tapas when we reached Barcelona because Zee’s grandma Olga came out for a visit, and we wanted her to have the full tapas experience.  Jamón ibérico de bellota, basically fancy ham from black pigs that eat only acorns, was one of Zee’s favorites.

We sampled a variety of different types of jamón at the food stalls in Mercado de La Boquería, the famous food market.  Barcelona is a beautiful city with Gaudi’s unique architecture, white sand beaches with brilliant blue waters, and an exquisite Gothic church, but Zee was all about the jamón.

Costa Rica

After 3 months in Europe, we reversed course and made a quick stop back in Florida for a wedding, volleyball reunion, and trip to Universal Studios with family, before heading to Costa Rica for a week. Costa Rica was full of adventure including snorkeling, white water rafting through jungle and gorges, and kayaking in the ocean and along small rivers in search of wildlife.

We spotted howler monkeys and sloths up in the trees.  Zee snuck up behind this raptor to get a better view.

Along with the adventure, we also relished leisurely walks on the beach and relaxing with some tropical drinks and good food.

Argentina

After a short stint in Central America, we headed to South America for a long stop in Argentina and then a short stop in Chile.  We started the adventure with steaks, Malbec, alfajores, and Tango in Buenos Aires.  We even spent a day with the gauchos at an estancia in the Pampas.  Zee’s favorite part of Argentina was all the natural beauty.  Words just can’t describe the magnificence of Iguazu Falls, the largest waterfall system in the world with 257 individual falls stretching over 2.7 kilometers.  Zee was mesmerized by the section called Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat) where nearly half of the river flows through a long, narrow chasm.

The deafening roar, the cold spray, and the brilliant rainbows make a spectacular scene where you can hear, feel, and see the power of this magnificent natural wonder.

After the lush jungles around Iguazu Falls, we changed landscape dramatically and headed to the province of Salta to explore the high-altitude, arid landscape with its unbelievable array of colors and textures.  We saw unique geological formations and panoramic views everywhere we went, and after winding through the Andes Mountains through dramatic passes, we made it to the gleaming white Salinas Grandes.

From the salt flats and mountain ranges in Salta province to the rainforest around Iguazu Falls to the open plains of the Pampas, Zee was blown away by the diversity and beauty of the landscapes in Argentina, and he can’t wait to go back to explore the glaciers and blue lakes of Patagonia.

Chile

Our friends, Jeff and Dhruv, came to visit us in Santiago.  We had a blast exploring the wineries around the Casablanca region with them, but Zee had to stay home because he was under-age.  He was disappointed that his Chilean highlight was the seat of the president, Palacio de La Moneda.

Easter Island

We continued our adventures with Jeff and Dhruv on Easter Island.  The history, the mystery, the beautiful seascapes, the impressive Moai, the part Ironman/part Hunger Games Birdman culture, and the amazing company made this one of our favorite places.  The giant Moai leave you speechless.

We went to many sites multiple times because we just couldn’t get enough.  We even did a horseback ride to the remote side of the island where time has stood still.  Trying to imagine how these multi-ton statues were transported around the island from the rock query without wheels, large animals, or cranes is mind-boggling.  Zee thinks that he has a long-lost relative that was a powerful, famous figure on the island that may have assisted in these efforts.  I wonder what gave him that idea?

Bora Bora

The most beautiful lagoon in the world…totally lived up to the hype!

We had an amazing week relaxing on one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world, snorkeling in turquoise waters with sharks and rays, and watching the sun go down while sipping on Tahiti Drink.

The lagoon sparkles in many gorgeous, unbelievable shades of blue, and lush green mountain peaks rise up behind it…words just can’t do justice to this tropical paradise.

New Zealand

We toured the north island of New Zealand for two weeks.  Some of the highlights included wine tasting on the island of Waiheke, hanging out in Hobbiton and in the shadow of Mt. Doom, and enjoying the beautiful beaches and rock formations of the Coromandel peninsula.  We celebrated Jimmy’s 40^th birthday in Rotorua, a geothermal wonderland with geysers, silica terraces, bubbling mudpits, and natural hot springs for a soothing soak.

We celebrated my I’m-not-quite-40-yet birthday biking through vineyards and wine tasting in the Martinborough region near Wellington.

Australia

Zee loved Australia because of all the new friends that he made there.  The koalas were cute and friendly but a bit too sleepy for Zee’s youthful energy.  The emu made Zee nervous.  Hopping around with the kangaroos was definitely Zee’s favorite activity.

We celebrated the Christmas holiday in Melbourne and then spent a few days exploring the Great Ocean Road.  The rainforests, ocean views, and rock formations along this famous coastal route did not disappoint.

Laos

We made Chiang Mai, Thailand our home base again for our final month of travel to relax, enjoy the cuisine, and visit a couple places that we missed during our first stop in Thailand, such as Chiang Rai and Laos.  We hopped on a short flight to visit Luang Prabang, Laos for a few days.  We loved the quaint town with numerous sparkling Buddhist temples and scenic eateries along the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers.  One of the highlights for Zee was splashing around in the turquoise-colored pools of the Kuang Si waterfall, which is a multi-tiered waterfall surrounded by lush forest just a short drive from Luang Prabang.

And with that…our second loop around the globe is finished.  We are looking forward to a new adventure as we relocate to England.  We can’t wait for the opportunity to travel throughout the UK and Europe on long weekend trips while having all the comforts of our own home again.  Nomadic life has been good to us, and we are very grateful for the many amazing adventures we’ve had these past 20 months.