Albania, Albania, you border on the Adriatic. – Coach in Cheers When we told my parents we were headed to Albania, my mom had to use an atlas to figure out where it was. So for anyone else who only knows the country from the Cheers song played to the tune of “When the saints … More Where’s Albania?
You have good days, you have bad days. But you never have a boring day. – John Kennedy “Is it always so cold here?” I asked the Albanian taxi driver as he took us to our new apartment. “This? No, this is only for today. And tomorrow. Maybe the day after. But next week will … More The one with the miserable day
The human animal differs from the lesser primates in his passion for lists. – H. Allen Smith After nearly three months on Ikaria during the off-season, we’ve compiled Reid & Robie’s Top 10 things to do when the island’s not packed with sunseekers. But first, an Honorable Mention: Keeping track of our neighbor’s herd was … More Ikaria Top 10
More isn’t always better, Linus. Sometimes it’s just more. – Sabrina Many full-time travelers move every month. They arrive in a new city, find a grocery store and one or two restaurants, stroll the streets near their apartment, see the sites, take a daytrip, then leave. They don’t stay long enough to make friends with … More What being homeless feels like
Individuals that arrive at your doorstep as strangers leave as friends. – Greek saying The Trojan War wasn’t fought over Helen. It launched when Paris violated the terms of Greek hospitality, and in defiling the code of generosity and reciprocity, he committed the only unpardonable sin. To the ancient Greeks, welcoming a guest was a … More Where hospitality is demanded by the gods
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. – Socrates Our time in Greece was truly special, from exploring the island of Ikaria where we spent the majority of our time, to revisiting Athens after 29 years, exploring Mykonos in the off season and seeing the port city of Patros. This magical country … More Gallery of Greece
May the road rise up to meet you and the wind always be at your back. – Irish blessing Despite Americans’ appropriation of Cinco de Mayo, few nations adopt another’s holidays. Outside the home country, national holidays tend to be small affairs. Americans on Corfu for the Fourth of July may burst into an off-key … More When the big blue marble turns green
Every step is a destination. – Anonymous I promised my sister that on Ikaria I’d begin training for the Camino. But with the journey still ten months away, how in shape did I want to get? Besides, on a mountainous island everything Robie and I did involved a hike. Buying groceries meant a trek to … More Training for the Camino
You are what you eat. So don’t be fast, cheap, easy or fake. – Homer One of the best things about our roving retirement is the food. And not just the amazing cuisine we get to try, but the chance to recreate delicious dishes and add them to our repertoire. In Liverpool Robie and I … More Pork, cheese and ouzo – the new winter classic
The people you surround yourself with influence your behaviors, so choose friends who have healthy habits. – Dan Buettner Robie and I didn’t set out to age in reverse, on Ikaria it just happened. Ikaria is a blue zone – one of only five in the world – where people regularly live longer than average. … More Where people forget to die
Reid & Robie 