I’m wrapping up this month long trip to the states, as I get ready to head back to London later this week! It’s been a lot of relaxing at home. In fact, shortly after I hit publish on last week’s issue of TWITW, I started feeling under the weather. and sure enough, like so many other people have experienced lately, the COVID rapid test I took was positive. I’m very thankful that I was able to get boosted a few weeks ago, because my symptoms have been very mild. Unfortunately, my mom also tested positive (and she wasn’t boosted yet because a few weeks prior, she was under the weather with something else and had wanted to feel better before she got the shot). My parents getting COVID has been a threat that’s scared me since the beginning of the pandemic and there were a few moments this last week when my mom felt really, really terrible. It really scared me, but thankfully, we’re both feeling much better (aside from her energy levels still being low). I never wanted either of us to get COVID, but if we had to, I’m thankful we could be together (I know we both would have worried about the other if it happened when we were an ocean away!) and I’m glad I had already booked this to be a nice long trip home (by the time I fly back to London next week, it will be over 10 days since I tested positive so I should be in good shape to travel by then). Anyway, we’ve spent the last week watching a lot of TV + films (binging the new season of Queer Eye, the entire Harry Potter collection and just about every film Nancy Meyers ever directed). I’m thankful for this quality time together- even if the circumstances weren’t ideal.
If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 2.
TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES
Thinking of traveling solo in 2022? Check out this list of the best places for females to go (and what to do while you’re there).
AROUND THE WORLD
Can’t believe I’ve been away from London for almost a month! I’m excited to see the city again and am scoping out this list of things to do in January.
I have been addicted to the New York Times daily crossword puzzle, as well as Wordle lately. Both word games feel like a more productive use of your brain if you’re going to be on your phone (and they’re a lot of fun too!)
The world has felt grim lately, but these joyful photos from the National Geographic archives brought a smile to my face.
WEEKLY FAVORITES
Do you participate in selecting a “word of the year”? I love doing it every year and this article provides helpful instruction if you want to give it a go.
I’m moving flats this month (same building, just going one floor up to a bigger space with an office / outdoor terrace) so I’ve been in full nesting mode. A few things I’ve purchased/ had my eye on lately…
Penny Morrison is a London based designer with gorgeous global textiles and designs. I ordered a tablecloth (and have my eye on some dishes).
One of my best friends, Sarah, is a talented interior designer, and I’m so excited because she’s helping us design some custom some pillows for our sofa, as well as some pillows for the bedroom (we picked out the fabrics while I was home and I’m so excited for them to deliver!)
Hugo Guinness is a British artist I discovered while eating at The Wild Rabbit last year (I love his bold sketches and he’s known for his illustrations in The New York Times). I’m considering adding this, this and/or this to my existing gallery wall.
BONUS: MY travel plans for 2022
This time of year, clients and readers often ask where I’m planning (or hoping) to travel over the next 52 weeks. I thought it’d be fun to share my current list for both work and play (although, as all travelers must, I’m holding loosely to these plans as we see how the year unfolds…though I’m keeping optimistic!)
Atlas Adventures Trips
Paris in April (This one already sold out! The others will go on sale soon…)
London in May
Greece in June (we are likely doing 2 trips, as we already have enough alumni who are interested in this one to fill their own trip!)
Amalfi Coast in September
Ireland and/or Tuscany in October
Possibly more, but these are the focal points for right now!
Personal Travel (at least, planned thus far!)
Q1… TBD! I have such a busy travel schedule the rest of the year that I’m trying to use these first few months of the year to get settled in my new flat, keep my tennis lessons going, complete the next level of WSET and try to soak up enjoying a routine (something I miss when life gets so busy!) I may sneak away for a weekend, but will mostly stay put for now.
April: Before the Atlas Adventures crew arrives, I’m really excited to have some friends come to Paris the weekend before the trip starts for an early birthday celebration (since mine is happening during the trip). After that trip ends, I’m planning to head to Italy to do some hotel site visits before busy season kicks in.
June: Right in the middle of the 2 Atlas Adventures Greece trips, I’ll have about 10 days off in between. I haven’t decided if I’ll want to come back to London and sleep in my own bed for a bit, or if I’ll explore some other islands in Greece (if I do my boyfriend will come meet me- which would be fun!) After Greece, I’m off to Tuscany for a friends wedding -which I’m so excited for!
July and August are my “time off” from group trips, so I definitely want to find a balance: some time to rest and be home, but also some time to do personal travel. My boyfriend and I are trying to plan a hiking trip in Switzerland (and I have my eye on a few other places in Europe I may try to pop to during these months).
At some point (either March, May or in the summer) I want to do another trip home to the states to see my family and friends.
But the big trip that I’m hopeful for in 2022 is to New Zealand! My boyfriend has dual citizenship (his parents are British but he was born and raised in Auckland). We’ve been dating over 2 years now but because of the pandemic, I still haven’t been able to go back with him yet. His family usually splits their time between the UK and NZ (wherever it’s summer) and thankfully, they’ve managed to make it back to the UK this year…. but his sister is getting married in New Zealand later this year and we are really hoping conditions allow for us to go over for there a good month (not just for the wedding, but to have some time to explore his home country together). Since it’s such a long journey (literally, the farthest away place in the world from the UK!) we’d likely break the journey up and do a few days in Singapore or Dubai along the way. Keeping my fingers crossed…
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That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!
xx
Whitney
