Each of the last few years Jay and I have been lucky enough to take a big family vacation with my family. We are spread out across the world and all busy with our jobs, so it feels like a small miracle we’ve been able to make it happen. This year we met up in Athens, Greece for a cruise across the Black Sea visiting cities in Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia. For Jay and I, the vacation started a day

Getting to Split from the United States is a lengthy and expensive trip, so we haven’t had many guests. This May was an exceptional month because we had two sets of guests: first my family and then my Aunt Christina and her friend, Jean. Aunt Christina and Jean were here for just three days (following a pilgrimage in Italy), but every day they were here we got to see or do something new.

Our move to Croatia was hardly a precisely calculated plan. Jay and I carefully decided to move abroad, but the fact that we ended up in Split, Croatia was more a combination of random coincidences and blind luck. Croatia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, so I feel very lucky that I ended up living here and I always wish I could share the experience with more of the people I love.

This was probably the most relaxing Christmas I’ve ever had. Christmas Eve we got dressed up, went into town, had lunch with our friend, Paula, and walked around enjoying the decorations and carolers. We came upon a group of guys singing Silent Night (in Croatian) a cappella. They had beautiful voices and the small alleyway seemed to magnify their voices.

Wednesday, November 25: For me, the snorkeling is the best thing about Sharm El Sheikh and Naama Bay. Hundreds of colorful fish swam around us yet somehow none of them ever touched us. Only one other time in my life (in the Caribbean) have I swam with so many different and colorful fish. Most places you need to take a boat to arrive at great snorkeling, but there was a reef only about 50 yards

Sunday, November 22: This morning we arrived in Luxor. Luxor is home to the Valley of Kings and Queens and it is full of temples and tombs. Today we visited Karnak and Luxor Temples. Honestly, all of the temples are starting to run together in my head. They feel kind of like churches in Europe; most of them are beautiful