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A medical detour changed our itinerary, but it sharpened our belief in slow travel and why roaming creates better stories than any checklist. We close out season two by sharing a vivid sneak peek of our upcoming book on how to plan, budget, and savor longer stays without tour buses dictating your day. From an apartment steps from the Arno in Florence to a trust-the-chef feast in a tucked-away Venetian trattoria, we relive the small choices that turned into big memories—and the practical systems that made them affordable.

We walk through the core pillars of slow travel: choosing one meaningful focus per day, renting apartments with kitchens to cut costs and live like a local, and using trains and ferries to keep plans flexible. You’ll hear how a wrong turn near Livorno became a Mediterranean moment, why a spontaneous side trip to Lucca beat a packed itinerary, and how rain in Rome turned into a playful, poncho-clad wander across cathedrals, fountains, and welcoming neighborhood bars. We also tackle safety myths with grounded advice, from reading a city’s rhythm to staying present and letting common sense do more work than a lanyard ever could.

We’re taking a short break to finish the book and regroup for future travels, and we’d love your questions and stories as we write. Subscribe, share with a friend who wants more from their trips, and leave a review to help fellow travelers find the show.

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Our journey continues as we embrace "Plan B" - establishing a home base in Tennessee while still spending six to nine months a year abroad. This episode picks up our 10-week European adventure as we complete our circuit around Ireland, revealing both the magic and mishaps of extended travel.

From our stay in a rustic farmhouse near New Ross (complete with a creepy dirt-floor laundry shed) to exploring magnificent Kilkenny Castle with its vaulted long hall, every stop brought new discoveries. We wandered through charming pedestrian "slips" that resembled something from Harry Potter, witnessed dramatic coastlines at Hook Head Lighthouse, and encountered more swans than we could count in the seaside town of Bray.

The journey wasn't without its challenges, particularly when our carefully selected Dublin Airbnb turned out to be an unauthorized rental, leaving us stranded on the front steps with our luggage. This forced us to pivot to a hotel at twice the price - just one example of how travel requires flexibility and a sense of humor.

Dublin itself rewarded us with treasures like Trinity College's magnificent campus, the ancient Book of Kells (though seeing just a single page was somewhat anticlimactic), and the historic Dublin Castle. We even found time to enjoy a proper Irish meal of bacon and cabbage while avoiding the tourist-trap prices of Temple Bar.

As we reflect on our entire journey through Portugal, Spain, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Wales, we're reminded why we choose this lifestyle: "We travel not to escape life, but so that life does not escape us." Join us as we regroup at home base before planning our next adventure!

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The wild western coast of Ireland beckons with its dramatic cliffs, winding mountain roads, and villages where Gaelic still echoes through local pubs. Our adventure through this stunning landscape reveals both the tourist-filled hotspots and the authentic gems that make Ireland truly special.

Setting off from our base in Oranmore near Galway, we discover that sometimes the most celebrated destinations don't quite match expectations. Galway's Latin Quarter bustles with tourists but lacks the authentic charm we find in smaller towns. Meanwhile, the Cliffs of Moher deliver their promised drama—especially when viewed from the water—giving us a fresh perspective on these famous "Cliffs of Insanity" from The Princess Bride.

Nothing prepares us for the white-knuckle drive over Conor Pass on the Dingle Peninsula—a road so narrow that two-way traffic must negotiate with a rock wall on one side and a sheer drop on the other. Yet the panoramic views from the top make every tense moment worthwhile, revealing lake-dotted valleys and the expansive Dingle Bay beyond.

The true magic of western Ireland emerges in places like Kenmare, where we sit outside pubs surrounded by locals speaking Gaelic, and in Killarney National Park, where Muckross House and its magnificent grounds offer history and natural beauty without the crowds. We learn that Blarney Castle's famous stone might draw tourists, but it's the surrounding gardens that truly captivate.

Our most memorable discoveries often come unexpectedly—the massive St. Coleman's Cathedral in Cobh with its 300-foot spire, the remarkably preserved Charles Fort near Kinsale, and small seaside villages where authentic Irish life continues untouched by tourism's influence. These moments remind us that travel's greatest rewards often lie just beyond the well-trodden path.

Join us as we navigate Ireland's challenging roads, discover hidden treasures, and find that the heart of Irish culture beats strongest in its smallest towns. Whether you're planning your own Irish adventure or simply dreaming of emerald landscapes, our journey offers both practical insights and the inspiration to explore beyond the ordinary.

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jim@jimsantosbooks.com