Tony's enjoying Chicago, traveling there for Pokemon GoFest. I've had regular text messages and photos, and the pace sound hectic and exhausting. Interspersed with game play, they've been exploring the city (he's not spent much time there), eating and drinking well, and when he gets back, I'm sure he'll be exhausted.

I've been enjoying some solitude at home. Some late spring closet cleaning, doing a little writing, lots of reading (and listening to audio books), and packing for an upcoming trip. As much as I love the time home alone, I'm ready for Tony to get back home.

Ready for summer?

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Mary Jo & Tony

Have You Read (encore selection due to technical difficulties)

Driving on Water: The Seattle Floating Bridges There are only about 20–30 floating bridges in the world, depending on how you count temporary or smaller structures, and Washington State has four of them. Three stretch across Lake Washington right in the Seattle metro area, and the fourth connects the Kitsap Peninsula to the Olympic Peninsula via Hood Canal. Read story

A Wine Lover's Guide to Victoria, B.C. If you enjoy discovering local wineries when you travel, Victoria, BC is a lovely place to spend a day or two. Vancouver Island is home to more than 30 wineries, and Victoria is a practical spot to serve as your home base for exploration. The wineries here aren’t about big, showy production; they’re more about small-batch wines, relaxed tastings, and a coastal kind of charm. Read story

Sailing the Loire on Croisi Cruises (A Review) Cruising the Loire River is not like cruising the Rhine or Danube—and that’s exactly the point. The pace is slower, the scenery more understated, and the towns feel less polished and more lived-in. If you’re drawn to a more contemplative, rural side of France, it offers something refreshingly different. ​ ​ Read story

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Here's what else is going on:

Traveling: Costa Rica

I'm nearly finished packing for Costa Rica expedition with Kontiki Expeditions, and will be heading off tomorrow morning. I'll be on an eight-cabin small ship expedition in Costa Rica's seldom-traveled routes in its South Pacific. The focus is on ocean and beach conservation, fostering a deep connection with local culture and nature, all from the comfort of an environmentally mindful vessel. It's a great itinerary, and I'm looking forward it.

Reading: Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston

A tense, feverish thriller about two women’s lives that are forever intertwined when a murder threatens to expose them both.

Just started this book my the author of First Lie Wins (which I read a couple of years ago), and after just a dozen or so pages in, I've got the set up along with a myriad ways in can all go wrong. I'm not sure if it fits one of the challenge prompts or not.

Learn more about the book here, or check at your local library.

I've finished 64 books this year, fulfilling 22 prompts (nothing to check off from the past couple weeks).

You can take a look at all the books I've read so far this year here.

Want to join in the challenge? It's designed for travelers who like to read and readers who like to travel. It started as a simple project with friends, grew into a larger project with friends and friends of friends, and now we have a small community of travelers who love to read. It's self-paced, and while you can read what you want when you want, we hope the prompts encourage you to try some new authors and genres to your reading choices.

You can learn more about the challenge by signing up for our monthly newsletter here. Or join our spoiler-free Facebook group here.

Watching: Father Brown (BritBox)

Friends recommended the British period detective series based (loosely) on a short story series. The series is set in a fictional town in the Cotswolds during the early 1950s. The episodes are full of allegory and symbolism about big picture issues, and the show has grown on us.

We're currently watching season 3. With 13 seasons released, and a 14th scheduled, we've got a lot of Father Brown ahead of us.

More info here.

Listening: America's First Daughter (audiobook)

From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson's oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and constant companion in the wake of her mother's death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France.

I'm only a few hours into this 24+ hour audiobook about Thomas Jefferson's oldest daughter, Patsy. Deeply researched, including thousands of letters and original sources, I was intrigued by the story of the woman who served as the unofficial First Lady during her father's presidency. I'm listening to this for the reading prompt about an overlooked person in history.

Listen here.

Heads in Beds: The Banjaran (Ipoh City, Malaysia)

Located in Ipoh City, Malaysia, about two hours from Kuala Lumpur, The Banjaran is set in a valley surrounded by limestone hills and lush greenery. The all-villa property features geothermal hot springs, caves, and waterfalls, and you’ll be hard-pressed to decide if you want to wander the grounds (or scoot about in a golf cart), enjoy a geothermal or cave treatment, or relax in your villa.

I loved the open air living room that opened out onto a private pool, patio, and lounging area. The property offers lots of high end amenities and products, and you might find you never want to leave. Be sure to check out Jeff's Cellar or Bar. It's located in a limestone cave, a beautiful atmosphere.

Interested in booking The Banjaran? You may be hard pressed to get reservations during World Cup games (but always worth a try), but keep the hotel in mind for future Seattle trips.

If you're a DIYer, you can find info here.

Or, if you'd prefer to work directly with us for your travel booking, taking advantage of the many value-added perks we can help with at this hotel, get in touch via our dedicated booking email (most services at no fee).

In the Glass:

No new wines that we've sampled the past couple of weeks. We want to check out some new wineries, so if you have favorites, hit reply to this newsletter and let us know. We'll travel for wine.

4946 SW 329th Way, Federal Way, WA 98023

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