Veronica James's Blog, page 163

Why We Love a Good Christmas Market

We love Christmas markets! 

The festivities, the food, the comraderie, the glühwein – put it all together and we’ve got ourselves a great way to ring in the season!

But really — you ask — how different can they be? Surely one Christmas market is the same as the next? 

Our reply? Not by a loooooooong shot! … CONTINUE READING >>

The Good and Bad of Losing Control of the Holidays

This year marks a turning point for us.

We’ve fully handed over the Christmas planning process over to our adult daughters, led by The Piglet. We’re in full tell-us-where-and-when-to-show-up mode.

Don’t get us wrong, we feel comfy in The Piglet’s very capable hands, but it is weird. We hardly know what to do with… CONTINUE READING >>

Frankly My Dear, it’s Amsterdam!

Amsterdam has a reputation, but the hedonistic side of this city is just a small part of what attracts so many people.

For us, that aspect was a mere curiosity; the real allure is the entirely distinctive personality of this vibrant, energetic, aqua-centric city.

So did we stay out of trouble? Depends how you define trouble… CONTINUE READING >>

How the Anne Frank House Made Me Feel

The Diary of a Young Girl was the first coming-of-age story I’d ever read.

And it hit me hard for a number of reasons.

So, Anne Frank House was at the very top of my list of places to visit when we arrived in Amsterdam.

The house is the actual building where the Anne and her family –and four others — hid before they were betrayed and captured by the Nazis... CONTINUE READING >>

A Cruise of Amsterdam’s Canals

For an introduction to the canal system of Amsterdam, often called the Venice of the North, we hopped on one of the many tour boats for a guided cruise… CONTINUE READING or enlarge video>>

Let’s Do the Charleston!

We needed to escape the winter.

Veronica had never been to South Carolina, and we were both intrigued by the town of Charleston, so we headed for the coastal Lowcountry and discovered one of America’s most interesting cities… CONTINUE READING >>

In Search of the Worst Christmas Song of All Time

Just what is the worst Christmas song ever?

Our most recent family holiday get-together found us gathered around the radio listening to the all-Christmas music station. Many artists lent their joyous voices to our celebration, but things took a turn when a real clunker reared its ugly head.

This prompted a wildly fun discussion. Everyone offered numerous contenders.

See what we’ve come up with and be sure to put in your two cents… CONTINUE READING >>

We Had Our Minds Blown at Chichén-Itzá in Mexico

We did our best to keep our cool at Chichén Itzá.

We were privileged enough to be touring the mind-blowing site with an archaeologist, after all. We didn’t want to be uncouth.

Follow along with your GypsyNesters as we take into the surreal, surprisingly advanced and somewhat violent world of the ancient Mayans… CONTINUE READING >>

Advance Praise for Going Gypsy – and our (loss of) Words of Gratitude

We were planning on writing a post on how grateful we are to this group of distinguished people.

About how enormously thankful we are that they have chosen to read our book and share their thoughts.

But we can’t find the words to properly express the way we feel and, if you know us at all, you know that we have to be truly honored to be at a loss for words (we’re impossible to shut up!).

“Warm, funny, clever, and inspiring—makes you see the fun in… CONTINUE READING >>

Dispatch Two: North to the Arctic Circle by Train in Norway, A Live Blog

It’s snowy, it’s cold… it’s awesome!

Norway is amazing in the wintertime – and we are planning to see as much of it as we can, by train!

Follow us LIVE as we discover fjords, master painters, breathtaking scenery, strange food, amazing animals on our way to our to our ultimate goal – the Arctic Circle and the Northern Lights… CONTINUE READING >>