Category Archives: Leaps (travel-related stories)

Happy Sixth Anniversary Looks and Leaps

by Wendy

We started the blog six Januarys ago. Posts have dwindled but I’m glad to have this record of past trips, especially during a pandemic. Some stories remind me of things I’d forgotten and bring memories into sharper focus, while others spark future travel inspiration. I look at a favorite photo of Madrid and think how fun it will be to walk into a bar where you stand shoulder to shoulder and choose tapas that are arranged on the counter and drink glasses of wine and practice Spanish with complete strangers. I read posts on London and feel optimistic knowing that sooner or later, our family trip will happen, and we’ll wander through museums and lively streets and navigate the underground and eat fish and chips in a pub. We will have beach and ski vacations and spring break and whirlwind weekends and visits with relatives and guests in our house and relaxing hotel stays and train travel. We’ll get there again.

Checking In

by Wendy

We aren’t checking in for flights or checking into hotels, just checking in during this strange situation. A blog could always be considered a form of social distancing, a way to connect with others and communicate over distance. So while we probably won’t have any new travel stories to share for awhile, I wanted to check in and send wishes that everyone is safe, healthy and well.

The other night Jack and I mixed drinks and looked through travel photos for about an hour. In our tiny office we traveled from Beaune to Logrono to London to San Sebastian to Paris to Reykjavik to Barcelona and beyond. Our cat prowled around wondering if his pet humans ever plan to leave the house. We reassured him and each other that this will one day be possible again. Dad has said a great trip is equal parts anticipation, participation and recollection – so two-thirds of that is still in play. We can relive and appreciate past travel. We can dream and look forward to future trips with family and friends, to favorite destinations and journeys to new locales. Take good care, everyone.

Happy Fifth Anniversary Looks and Leaps!

by Wendy

Looks and Leaps blog launched in January 2015. In honor of the anniversary, I am sharing just a few of my favorite posts from our family over the past five years, in no particular order, covering a wide range of travel destinations and topics. This has been a fun archive to create and has hopefully provided a little inspiration or entertainment along the way. 

Thank you to all writers and all readers! Continue reading →

Key West and More

By Joe

There is a worldly wonder when you wander to a barrier location in your travels. An excitement of seeing a stopping point that requires a change in your mode of travel if you want to continue. It brings to mind what decisions those before you made and how they breached the barriers brought before them. It’s part of what draws people to these places over and over. Cindy and I ventured a trip to one such place this year, one we had thought about doing for several years, Key West. We have been to the northern most point in the contiguous states in Washington so it is only fitting that we do the opposite. Continue reading →

Lines of London

by Wendy

Part of a trip is often deciding where you want to wait in line.

I think my Disney-loving family would agree, and I’ve marveled at their strategic planning of activities and rides, considering newness, popularity, and Fast Pass options. But this applies to any destination with beloved tourist attractions, as well as any big city.

You can avoid some lines by going off the beaten track, visiting during an off-peak season, or booking in advance. A few years ago, Jack, my parents and I strolled right past a long line for the London Eye because we bought tickets in advance. This method is effective but since it holds you accountable to a schedule, requires careful consideration. You don’t want to lose your timed spot because of travel delays, or feel like you’re rushing through your vacation. Continue reading →

Logistics of a Summer Trip to Spain, London

by Wendy

Planning a trip can be as daunting as it is exciting. Especially with budget and time-restrictions. Jack and I have had our share of successes and failures in booking the perfect getaway but we never give up, even when things get complicated. Here’s how we planned a recent holiday to San Sebastian, Bilbao and London. Continue reading →

Dickens Bar

by Wendy

We randomly chose to visit Cocteleria Dickens in San Sebastián in 2015, and deliberately in 2019. The bar feels vaguely 70s, with dark glossy wood, shiny brass, magenta walls, mirrors and candy-color cocktails with umbrellas and pineapple. It is known for serving some of the best, if not the best, gin and tonics. There is a collection of trophies and framed photos of famous people breezing by for a famous drink. Prices are high and thus the topic of scathing internet reviews, but we find the legendary Gin y Tonic Donosti soothes sticker shock. We perch on barstools and admire their creation, a strong and beautifully blended beverage to fortify weak Spanish skills for a chat with the genial bartender about the rare bourbon on display. We sip and accept snacks and briefly talk with the older gentleman presiding over bottles at the counter; he grins and points to a page in the extensive menu listing his awards. A woman rushes in with important information for him about a Woody Allen movie scheduled to shoot in a few days. He seems nonchalant, he’s no stranger to celebrities and he’s one himself, a renowned mixologist. We do not learn if Dickens Bar will be featured in the film, but its slightly mysterious, unapologetic worn glamour and proud alcoholic pedigree provides an interesting scenic backdrop, for locals or Hollywood or those on holiday.