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OurGreatBigExplore
Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. -- Mary Oliver
Greetings from Everywhere!
We Hatch a Great Big Plan
We're headed out on an adventure. For the next five years, if all goes to plan, we will make our way very slowly around the world. We're hoping to live like locals, take a month or two or three to really explore each place we go. We hope you'll share in the adventure by following along. We promise to share the highs and lows of this travel lifestyle, with enough detail to help others who want to try it out.
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By the Numbers: Prague, Czechia
Prague is beautiful. Really really beautiful. It's got much more green space than I expected, and we really enjoyed the parks and gardens...
rainespencer
Sep 4, 20242 min read
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By the Numbers: Rouen, France
25 days in Rouen France on a 4K budget -- did we make it?
rainespencer
Aug 13, 20242 min read
28 views
0 comments
Two Weeks in Luang Prabang, Laos
Laos isn't on a lot of people's travel plans. Frankly it wasn't on ours either. But our son pushed, saying that it was cheap, beautiful and
rainespencer
Jun 17, 20242 min read
51 views
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By the Numbers: Siem Reap, Cambodia
we blow our budget in Siem Reap
rainespencer
Jun 4, 20242 min read
31 views
0 comments
By the Numbers: Bangkok, Thailand
I loved Bangkok. I want to go back for more, even though we stayed a full month there. The food is amazing, and CHEAP, and everywhere....
rainespencer
May 4, 20241 min read
52 views
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Macedonia - Ohrid vs Skopje
We went to Macedonia, because our son said we really shouldn't miss it. I encourage you to add it to your itinerary if you are in the...
rainespencer
Nov 6, 20233 min read
26 views
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Year 1 - Review
Year in Review We sold everything we owned except what fit into a 10x10 storage unit and left Baltimore on 9/30/2022. Since then we have...
rainespencer
Oct 7, 20233 min read
61 views
2 comments
By the Numbers: Saranda, Albania
This was a very different destination for us. There is very little of note in Saranda, with the exception of Butrint. It's more a...
rainespencer
Oct 1, 20231 min read
44 views
0 comments
By the Numbers: Podgorica, Montenegro
Reviews aren't kind to Podgorica. I've seen it described as boring, as a black hole, dull, uninteresting. I guess it depends on what you...
rainespencer
Sep 2, 20231 min read
44 views
0 comments
What makes a great place? - Bill's view
Bill has created a spreadsheet that has his criteria for what makes a great place. Take a look...
rainespencer
Aug 16, 20231 min read
27 views
2 comments
Eight Days in Belgrade
I'll be honest. We went to Belgrade because we had to exit the Schengen zone and save a few days for a trip later in October. That, and...
rainespencer
Aug 2, 20231 min read
16 views
0 comments
By the Numbers: Marseille, France
France is expensive. We knew that before we went, so no surprises here. Marseille is a fun city, lots to do, lots of day trips nearby....
rainespencer
Jul 24, 20231 min read
46 views
0 comments
Catching Up - Cuenca, Part 1
I'm going to do something unforgivable in a travel blog and skip over day four of our road trip south. We saw wonderful things-- notably...
rainespencer
Jul 10, 20235 min read
15 views
0 comments
Love Letter - Seville
Dear Seville, If it weren’t for the heat, I would still be with you. I really believe that. I’m sorry -- I just can’t stay anywhere I...
rainespencer
Jul 6, 20231 min read
19 views
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Lisbon - A love letter
Dear Lisbon, I do miss you. I think of you often, and the time we shared. Your beauty – the hills, the river, the architecture and art....
rainespencer
Jul 6, 20231 min read
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0 comments
By the Numbers: Seville, Spain
We did okay in Seville, budget-wise. We had a wonderful time in a beautiful city. We ate out once a day in a restaurant, usually having a...
rainespencer
Jul 1, 20231 min read
68 views
2 comments
By the Numbers: Lisbon
Our budget for our travels is $4k per month, which covers rent, food, transportation, utilities, sight-seeing, entertainment - basically...
rainespencer
Jun 4, 20232 min read
63 views
0 comments
Road Trip, Day 3: Banos
Banos (full name: Banos de Agua Santa) is a town of c. 15,000 permanent residents in the middle of Ecuador. I use the term permanent,...
abba-dingo
Apr 12, 20232 min read
24 views
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By the Numbers: Cuenca vs Baltimore
We loved living in Baltimore. We just went back for a 3 week visit. Still love it, but three weeks was enough to convince us our logic...
rainespencer
Apr 1, 20231 min read
97 views
0 comments
What's next?
So far, we've been on a 4 week road trip around the USA, spent a month in Mexico City, two months in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico,...
rainespencer
Mar 24, 20231 min read
18 views
0 comments
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