-
Nice and Easy in Nice
After we arrived in Nice, it took a couple of days to recall why we’d chosen this French city as the final stop on our Nomad Year. Not because it was unworthy, but because the decision had been made so many months earlier, in a haze of spreadsheets, Airbnb filters, and planning malaise. Then we remembered. It was all about the sea. Charlotte spent childhood summers just down the coast in Cannes, and a part of her has never stopped longing for the warm, azure waters and temperate rhythms of the Côte d’Azur. Sure, the Pacific is stunning and a surfer’s dream, but nostalgia calls. Sisters. Questioning the haircuts? Join…
-
Stay Awhile in Lucca: Exactly What We Needed
Lucca was exactly what we needed. After months of running ourselves ragged with big-city itineraries and epic social gatherings (thanks and Happy Birthday, Linda!), this quiet, walled Tuscan town was the oasis of chill we were craving. Compared to everywhere else we’ve been, Lucca is tiny. Its intact medieval walls circle a historic center with only about 8,000 residents. Sure, there are many more folks outside the walls, but since we rarely venture out, we’ve decided they don’t count. Inside the walls, it’s all cobblestones, charming piazzas, and an irresponsible number of excellent restaurants for a place you can walk across in ten minutes. Truthfully, you could check off most…
-
Lucca for a Day or a Month: A Complete Guide
We loved our month-long stay in charming Lucca. To read all about our experience, click here. If you’re planning your own escape to Lucca, whether for a day or a month, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of it. Book a walking tour Start with a quick walking tour to get your bearings and a dose of local history. You’ll learn that Lucca is one of only four European cities with fully intact medieval walls. And how it’s the only city in Tuscany that managed to avoid being conquered by the Medicis (those walls did their job as a deterrent). And how the Lucchese used to…
-
4 Easy Day Trips from Bologna
Day trips from Bologna are almost too easy. This city makes an ideal base for exploring the treasures of Emilia-Romagna and beyond. During our month-long stay, we took side trips to Modena, Ravenna, Mantova, and Verona. We visited Modena alone three times. Not on purpose, and not our best planning. Each town offers its own distinct charm, history, and incredible food. Read on for the goods. Curious about the full story of our month living and working in Bologna? Start here. Looking for a deep dive into what to see, do, and eat in Bologna itself? Click here. sleek Italian trains First, a word about the trains Italian trains are…
-
Stay Awhile in Bologna: Tower Living in the City of Towers
This is the story of our month-long Stay Awhile stay in Bologna. For our guide to all the things to see, do, and especially eat in Bologna, click here. Photo cred to Sheri, who shared this from her Dolomites Backroads trip (note we have definitely accidentally killed a few Italians in our time) Arriving in Italy put a bounce in our step and a “prego!” on our lips. This is a country where everyone is effortlessly stylish, and the scooters are driven like they’re stolen. Where conversations unfold like theater—punctuated by animated hand gestures and words shouted with a passion signaling deep affection or, possibly, intense hatred. Where emotions run…
-
Wandering Bologna: A Complete Guide
Bologna: A Complete Guide. Our month in Bologna had as many layers as mamma’s lasagna—and we’re here to share every delicious bite. From iconic towers and bustling markets to scenic side trips. You don’t need a whole month to fall for Bologna. But we won’t lie, having the chance to slowly uncover this city was pretty sweet. Want the full story of our month living and working in Bologna? Start here. Curious about how our journey as Modern Nomads began? Go all the way back to the beginning here. First, a word about the city of Bologna itself. Bologna’s city center has ancient roots. First settled by the Etruscans in…
-
Three Packed Days in Granada
One of the reasons we picked Madrid as a place to live for a month was so we could hop down to Granada to visit our niece, Emma, who was deep into her semester abroad (and fluent in tapas and late-night clubbing by then). We hopped the three-hour train south for a long weekend, and she delivered 3 packed days in Granada. Perfectly full of sunshine, culture, and cheerful conversation. Granada is full of delightful surprises From the dramatic mashup of Islamic and Catholic architecture to cave-dwelling Flamenco and a robust tomato culture, Granada, like Islamic architecture, keeps you guessing what’s around the next corner (see how we worked that…
-
Nomads in Madrid: One Blackout, Two Flat Whites, and a Siesta
Here you will find the story of our month-long stay as modern nomads in Madrid. For a guide to all the things to do in Madrid, visit our post here (coming soon). Fitness as nomads in Madrid Having just wrapped up our last cycling class in a Spanish-speaking country, it feels like the right time to reflect on the absolute chaos it was. In this final class, Jesús—our instructor (in fitness, not faith)—spent an hour shouting commands in Spanish, often in complete darkness, leaving us with absolutely no idea what was happening. It’ll be interesting to see how the classes in Italy compare. Could they possibly be more chaotic? Maybe…
-
The Mexico City Edit: 7 Perfect Days
If you’re looking for the backstory behind our month-long stay in Mexico City, start with Part One of our CDMX series. But if you’re here for a curated Mexico City travel guide—seven perfect, mix-and-match days in one of the world’s most dynamic cities—you’re in the right place. We were lucky enough to spend a month exploring Mexico City as modern nomads, but we know not everyone has that luxury. So we’ve distilled our top experiences into one flexible week of food, culture, and adventure—designed to help you get the most out of your time here. In no particular order, here is our guide to 7 perfect days in Mexico City.…
-
Mexico City is Not the Mexico of Your Beach Vacation
This Mexico City nomad story shares the story of our month-long experience living in the heart of CDMX. Unlike Mexico’s famous beach destinations, Mexico City offers a cultural immersion that surprised and delighted us at every turn. Mexico City was the city we were most excited to spend a month in during our modern nomad year. With work keeping us tethered to east-of-California time zones, our options for adventurous destinations have been limited. CDMX promised something different—a break from the familiar. Mexico City nomad: First impressions Our arrival was underwhelming—Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez didn’t quite live up to the city it serves. But once we escaped the airport, the city…
