We’ll begin our nomad life right back in our old stomping grounds, the Pacific Northwest.  There are a few options for the specific location of our AirBnB or VRBO, but we’ll be relatively close to daughter Meghan and her family in Cle Elum. In fact, our return date coordinates with our oldest grandson’s state track meet and high school graduation. 

Our new worlds journey starts in the first of two new-to-us Southeast U.S. destinations. We’ll be lodging in the Cannonborough District at the Jonathan Jasper Wright Inn, within blocks of coffee shops, Lowcountry eateries, and craft breweries. Plenty of Civil War history (the good, the bad, and the ugly) around these parts, and we’ll both be reading Erik Larson’s Demon of Unrest in the weeks before arriving.

Now, this town has been on our wish list for a decade or more! Our AirB&B loft is at higher elevation and was unaffected by Hurricane Helene and the flooding French Broad River, and we’re sure they’ll appreciate the tourist dollars we can bring their way. Fingers crossed our Orlando-based best friends can join us here for a few days.

The Iron City of Pittsburgh is the new habitat for daughter Kylene and her family, and they’re eagerly crafting a list of must-go-do-eat-drink for us. We’ll stay in a hotel near their new home in Mt. Lebanon. Both Nancy and I had business trips to this City of Bridges, but never got to enjoy much of its culture, nor any of its 50+ breweries. (Dancing Gnome, anyone?)

After a quick stop near Philadelphia to see brother Eric & family, we’ll hop the Aer Lingus redeye to Dublin, and immediately leave by rental car for Galway. Our AirBnB just west of the Latin Quarter will provide walking access to a couple dozen dining/drinking/music venues. And we’ll take excursions into the midlands of Ireland a couple of the days.

After a quick stop near Philadelphia to see brother Eric & family, we’ll hop the Aer Lingus redeye to Dublin, and immediately leave by rental car for Galway. Our AirBnB just west of the Latin Quarter will provide walking access to a couple dozen dining/drinking/music venues. And we’ll take excursions into the midlands of Ireland a couple of the days.

Guinness. ‘Nuff said.

Though I’m sure we’ll check out the Jameson Whiskey Experience on behalf of my favorite Irishman, Commodore “Thumbknuckle” Chuck McMillan. And people tell me there’s this area called the Temple Bar that’s worth checking out.

Guinnness. ‘Nuff said.

Though I’m sure we’ll check out the Jameson Whiskey Experience on behalf of my favorite Irishman, Commodore “Thumbknuckle” Chuck McMillan. And people tell me there’s this area called the Temple Bar that’s worth checking out.

We’ll puddle jump  the Irish Sea to London, then drive 3 days to Glasgow by way of Oxford, Ludlow, Liverpool, and Keswick. I’ve been warned about the narrow roadways, but we’ll take our time and stop at various tourist traps along the way.

For reasons of which I’m not completely sure, Nancy and I get a kick out of the urban hip Moxy brand hotels by Marriott. We’ll stay at one in Glasgow as we explore the city for a couple of days.

And so begins the long-anticipated journey into my Scottish Gordon Highlander roots. Our week in northern Scotland will include castles and museums and graveyards, oh my. Not to mention tastings at a gazillion Speyside whisky distilleries.

Three days of exploring the Whisky Trail. My mouth’s already watering. And of course there’ll be that half-hour drive to Keith and the Brewmeister Brewery for my 35ml measure of Snake Venom, the world’s almost strongest beer at 67.5% ABV. (I’ll have my shy dram of the official strongest – 88 Brewery’s Beithir Fire @ 75% ABV – while were in Edinburgh next week.)

This’ll be fun! We’ll be lodging at the Brewdog Kennels and Brewery. I discovered these young Scottish brewers via their TV show more than a decade ago and even invested a few shillings in their Kickstarter-ish fundraising campaign for their first U.S. brewery location in Columbus, Ohio. I even met one of them at their pub in Camden. Anyway, more fun Scottish antics await us.

The Fringe!! I’ve heard about it for years, and recently best friend Stan’s daughter Gabe offered hilarious stand-up comedy at the 2024 festival. We’ll immerse ourselves in plenty of artsy festivities, and go to a museum and a castle and several other old Scottish places. And I’ll try to talk Nancy into one more whisky experience. “Really, Glenn? Another one?”

This’ll be a quickie, just a 2-day pitstop on our way to Tuscany.  We’ll bus and train from the Rome airport to our AirBnB right next to the Rome Termini rail station, where we’ll be catching the train to Florence. Our lodging will put us within an hour’s walk of Vatican City and all the usual highlights in between. We know this Jubilee year will overrun the city with tourists, but the people watching should be fantastic.

Our Tuscany target is Siena, but we know that we couldn’t let my half-Italian wife scooch through Firenza without at least a look-see. We secured a great VRBO just off the Piazza della Signoria.  I’m sure we’ll be kicking ourselves for not staying longer, but Siena awaits.

Three days before we arrive in Siena is the renowned Palio di Siena in the Piazza del Campo. We kinda did that on purpose. Sounds wonderfully chaotic and wall-to-wall peopled, but not so much our cup of grappa. After 2 weeks here, we’re planning a 4-5 day exit excursion to Montalcino (Brunelo wine), Pienza (Pecorino chesse), Montepulciano (d’Abruzzo wine), and Ravenna (Nancy’s family lived 90+ years in Ravenna, Ohio).

Three days before we arrive in Siena is the renowned Palio di Siena in the Piazza del Campo. We kinda did that on purpose. Sounds wonderfully chaotic and wall-to-wall peopled, but not so much our cup of grappa. After 2 weeks here, we’re planning a 4-5 day exit excursion to Montalcino (Brunelo wine), Pienza (Pecorino chesse), Montepulciano (d’Abruzzo wine), and Ravenna (Nancy’s family lived 90+ years in Ravenna, Ohio).

Our 5 weeks in the boot of Puglia begins just east of Foggia in the gorgeous town of Vieste, a frequent destination for some of Nancy’s Italian cousins. We’ll be staying on the Corso Lorenzo Fazzini in the heart of downtown, but plan several day trips throughout the Gargano Peninsula.

Our final stop in the center of the Puglian heel will focus on what we’ve been told is the best food in Italy. So sad for us, right? More later.

Not sure where we’ll be yet for this final month of our 180 days.