We’ll still be updating here every once in awhile but be sure to follow us on Twitter @dentonmd and @andrearenee. I’m also blogging at The Flying Salmon so stop by and say hello!

Anyone have any good Seattle-based musts that we need to check out? Let us know in the comments!

Happy holidays,

Andrea and Mike

This Sunday we’ll be flying to Barcelona for the last hurrah of our trip. On Tuesday, we’ll board a flight and arrive at JFK just in time for dinner. So what then? Has our alarm clock jolted us awake and thrown us back into the “real” world? I’d like to think not. There will definitely be struggles upon our return, first and foremost, the lack of jobs, income and housing. Our bills will inevitably be where we left them, unpaid and waiting in our email inboxes. But I’m willing to bet that this next phase will be an adventure too. There may not be endless amounts of free time to stick our toes in the sand or to spend the afternoon walking around snapping pictures but there will be new streets to discover and new friends to meet. In fact, this trip has taught me something that I certainly wasn’t expecting – that there are different kinds of discovery that can only come from deep relationships and late nights over dance parties or bottles of wine or great conversation. I suppose this is something I always knew but never fully appreciated until I came half-way across the world. Above all, this trip has made me realize that no location can ever replace people. Don’t get me wrong, I most definitely love traveling, especially the way that it forces you to think about things, to take a moment to breathe, to walk in someone else’s shoes for awhile. I don’t think that there will ever be a part of me that says no to a trip but I’m excited to have a home base again, taking it day by day and working a little at a time for the next amazing adventure.

After a re-route from Washington D.C. to Chicago, we arrived in Amsterdam around 9:30AM. Unfortunately, I’ve fallen a bit under the weather in the last 36 hours but I’m stocking up on liquids (tea and Vitamin C) and spending my first foreign night tucked under the covers at our gracious host’s house. Upon arrival we met Dmitri and Alex, Michael’s cousins, who have opened their homes to us without hesitation. A big shout out to them for their hospitality!

First impressions of Weesp, the town we’ll be staying in for our Amsterdam adventures:

We’ve only been here a few hours so stay tuned for more!

Next up: Downtown Amsterdam and a family reunion…

A few formalities:

Adios! See you soon!

Mike wrote a post a few weeks back on what he was going to miss about the city but I think it took me leaving to fully realize my list:

1. Taco Truck: This Astoria gem quickly became one of my favorites when I moved to 30th Avenue last year and remained a staple of my weekly diet until the end. In fact, it was my last meal in New York and will be on my list of musts every time I go back. Needless to say, I’ve craved it multiple times. (El Rey Del Taco is located @ 30th Ave and 33rd St. in Astoria. The truck is there Tuesday – Sunday from about 7PM – 3AM)

2. Amazing Local Music: Every night in NYC, hundreds of unknown artists take the stage all around the city for the chance to pick up a few new fans. At Rockwood Music Hall, a new musician goes on every hour and while the audience might not love every band, chances are they’ll at least like one or two of them. You might be thinking, “Unknown bands play in my hometown all the time. What’s the big deal?” The difference is that you rarely discover your next great obsession at the neighborhood bar. In New York, your new obsession is right around the corner, any night of the week. (Listen to my latest and most persistent musical obsession, Railbird)

3. Hidden Deliciousness: Just as easily as you can find new music in New York, you can also find unassuming incredible food. Taco truck was definitely one of those unassuming finds and so are places like Oasis, La Sirene and Ali’s Kabob Cafe. Obviously there are thousands of restaurants in New York that deserve this title and that’s the whole point. You never know where you’re going to stumble into and to me, that’s better than the convenience of an Applebee’s anyday. Even if you have a bad experience, it’s still going to be an experience!

4. Novelty Food Stores: This is the last food related one, I promise! Because of the sheer number of people in NYC, restaurants are able to focus on one thing, do it well and succeed. My favorites are Pomme Frites and S’Mac. If you have the chance to check out either, I highly recommend doing so. Because they only have one specialty, they’ve perfected it and it shows.

5. Weird Stuff: New York is home to a bunch of weirdos. Whether it’s crazies on the train or experimental art, things in New York need to be outrageous to get anyone else’s attention. The weirdness isn’t for everyone but it’s part of what makes New York feel special to me. It’s also nice that no one cares how you walk out of your front door on a hungover Sunday morning. That sense of anonymity will definitely be missed.

6. Our Friends: Above all, I’m really missing the insanely awesome friends that I’ve made in New York. They’re my lifeline and I’ve left a piece of myself with each and every one of them. I can’t thank them enough for every experience we’ve had together and I hope they know that I can’t wait to see them again.

Have you ever moved from a city you love? What do you miss most?

Don’t you love our logo? We think it’s pretty rad and in our very first shout-out, we’re giving props to Stephanie Henlen, the designer that gave the ninjas their look. Want her to create some magic for you? Send us a note and we’ll put you in touch with her.