This Week in the World: Week 10

Hello again. I’m back after a week of recalibration (though it still feels strange to be proceeding with “normal life” when a war is raging). I think everyone I know agrees that we’re all feeling a bit heavy and confused how to carry on given the circumstances…

I’m not in Rome again as the photo above may indicate (I’ve been back in London for a few weeks now). But when I was looking for a photo to use for the header image, which is usually a moment from my previous week, the only thing that felt appropriate was something that involved wine… because that’s what I’ve been living and breathing for the past 7 days.

I’ve always enjoyed wine, but when the pandemic began and travel came to a screeching halt, I became really interested in learning more about it (besides knowing I enjoyed drinking it). What started with online courses, virtual tastings and reading several books soon became completing certification courses through WSET: Wine & Spirit Education Trust, a globally renounced organization. I completed Levels 1 & 2 last year, and this past week I completed Level 3. This last course was incredibly intense (honestly, more strenuous than my Masters!) but I’m really proud of all the information I learned and how much time and dedication I put into completing this. While yes, I think it’s beneficial to my business (being able to incorporate wine tours and tastings into my group trips or offer more planning knowledge for my clients who may want to travel to wine regions) I think the bigger “win” for me was doing one of those things I always said would be fun to do. I know we’re all busy and schedules are different for everyone, but if you’re at a stage in life where you’re able to take a lesson or course simply because you’re interested in it… I think learning is one of life’s greatest luxuries and something you’ll always be glad you did. More about that in a minute…

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 10.

TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES

• Traveling to Italy Just Got Easier With Easing of COVID-19 Testing Requirement

• Electric planes are coming sooner than you think…

• Rising oil prices do mean higher airline ticket prices, but the link is not as direct as you think.

• What Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Means for Europe Air Travel

• Planning a trip this Spring? Here are the best places to go on holiday in May.

• How long will masks be required on airplanes?

AROUND THE WORLD

There’s a lot of heavy + important things happening right now… and I don’t claim to be an expert on any of them. Nevertheless, I’ve found these resources to be helpful learning resources and ways to give back where I’m able:

• How to help the people of Ukraine right now

• London’s restaurant scene is supporting Ukraine through #CookForUkraine fundraisers

• How To Support Trans Youth In Texas

• “What it’s like reporting live from Ukraine right now.”

• These podcasts have been really informative listens for me this week:

  • What Russians are being told about the war in Ukraine

  • Why Russia hasn’t defeated Ukraine

  • Zelenskiy: understanding his background

WEEKLY FAVORITES

• I love Brene Brown and listen to her podcast regularly… but this episode on free speech, misinformation and the case for nuance was an especially great one.

• If you’re also interested in learning about wine, WSET’s London school has tons of online courses (some are even free!)

• My boyfriend and I have been watching After Life on Netflix with Ricky Gervais and it’s SO good (makes you laugh, cry and have a heightened appreciation for what a gift life is).

• Spring is around the corner and I’m eyeing a few things from THIS COLLECTION that just launched…

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That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 8

I took a break from This Week in the World last week to fly back from Rome. It was such a fun weekend with some of my best girlfriends: a bit of work, a bit of play and a lot of great pasta! I shared some restaurant recos in the exclusive links I send at the end of every newsletter (if you’re not already receiving those, sign up HERE!) I’m excited to have a lot of travel coming down the pipeline in the weeks and months ahead: some to repeat destinations that are client favorites, and some to new destinations I’m excited to experience first-hand and share more about!

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 8.

TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES

• Travel’s theme for 2022? GO BIG.

• What is greenwashing and how can we avoid it when we travel?

• The 23 best Greek islands to visit in 2022

• France has dropped their COVID test requirement for vaccinated U.S. travelers.

• Meet Worldle, the name-that-country Wordle spinoff for Geography nerds

AROUND THE WORLD

• We had crazy weather in London this week as storm Eunice brought gale force winds…which lead to thousands of people tuning in to watch planes landing at Heathrow (myself included). I’m so glad I wasn’t flying that day!

• Many are on the edge of their seats waiting to see if Russia will actually invade Ukraine— hoping it doesn’t happen. I found this episode about “how Ukrainians feel about this perilous moment” to be helpful in understanding the situation in greater depth.

• Paris is planning to implement a ban on most cars in the city by 2024.

• Queen Elizabeth is releasing her own sparkling wine to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee— I can’t wait to try this!

WEEKLY FAVORITES

• I just ordered THIS DRESS for my trip to Spain in a few weeks— it felt like the perfect dress for spring and summer travels!

• I’m not a parent, but I absolutely loved this post by my friend Jess on “10 Tips for Getting Out with a Baby” It’s so encouraging to see her and so many of my friends who are parents still living their lives and having fun (something society often tells us becomes a thing of the past when you enter parenthood…I refuse to believe that has to be true!)

• Adding this list of podcasts about Black history to my listening queue.

• I am staying at one of my bucket-list hotels in April, and while searching it on Google the other day I came across this article showcasing the home of the hotel owners…how gorgeous!

• I finally found a London therapist (something that been on my to do list ever since I moved here!) It feels great to be back in this regular practice and I already appreciate her fresh perspective. A couple weeks ago she introduced me to the concept of masculine and feminine energy, or yin and yang, which I’ve found to be highly fascinating— which do you most identify with?

• I love how joyful and colorful this cozy Stockholm apartment is!

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That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 6

It’s a cozy Sunday at home today after a full weekend. I went to Eataly’s Wine Fest on Friday (followed by dinner and more wine tasting at my friend Victoria’s with our wine club (or the Bacchic Society, as we call ourselves more formally). Yesterday I went to my first football game in England, which was a really fun experience in itself (but was also cool because it was at Crystal Palace’s home field, which is where they filmed all the “home” scenes for AFC Richmond in Ted Lasso!) After a Crystal Palace victory, and sitting outdoors all day, my boyfriend and I went for a curry at a local spot near us and today are enjoying coffee on the couch in pajama and listening to the rain. I love when weekends are well rounded like that: fun activities, time with people you love and time to relax/recharge. I hope your weekend has had time for the things you love too.

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 6.

Quick reminder: our greece trips go on sale tomorrow! Get on the e-mail list to be the first to register and claim your spot.

TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES

• New Zealand revealed their border reopening dates over the course of this year (my boyfriend and I are keeping our fingers crossed all goes well so we can make over there for a few weeks at the end of the year.)

• Morocco is reopening to tourists again starting tomorrow! To get you excited, here are some of the most beautiful travel photos of Morocco.

• Bali also reopened to vaccinated tourists this past week. Here’s what you need to know.

• Norway too reopened and dropped quarantine for all travelers.

• If you love Wordle and travel like I do, there's now a version of the game…but with airport codes!

AROUND THE WORLD

• It’s officially February, which means it’s Black History Month- a great time to both check in on your anti-racism efforts, but also to pause and acknowledge the Black community and their contributions to American history at large. Here is a curated list of books to guide anyone and everyone in recommitting to Black liberation.

• I really enjoyed this article about Influencers who are quitting Instagram. While I still enjoy sharing on the app (granted, with some hard boundaries I set for myself) I think many creators are feeling this more and more. For that reason, I’m so appreciative of those of you who subscribe to my newsletter and support my business in ways that let me use the app for fun without total dependency - so thank you so much for that:)

• The Beijing Olympics started this last week. Here are the rivalries to watch.

• Queen Elizabeth just announced that when Charles becomes King, she wants Camilla to be referred to as Queen (rather than Princess, as she would have been up until this announcement). Some thoughts on that HERE.

WEEKLY FAVORITES

• I had a call with my friend Tanisha, who is a wine educator in Paris, this week. We are working together to create a special day trip to Champagne for the girls coming on our next Atlas Adventures trip and she is a wealth of knowledge about wine (and Paris!) She also offers guided wine tastings around Paris so if you’re visiting anytime soon, be sure to check out her site and hire her!

• Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Regardless of whether you’re single or have a partner, I personally love a cozy night: having a decadent meal, a great bottle of wine and a fun playlist. My boyfriend and I are eyeing this list of the best Valentine’s Day meal deliveries in London !)

• When you hear someone speak about “New World” or “Old World” wines… there is more you can expect than simply the country it came from. This article explains it nicely.

• I love the simplicity and timeless elegance of this house in London.

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That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney