Lifestyles

Getaway with Soleil: Melbourne

               In 2016, I recommended “indulging in the slow side of the local culture” if you happened to be sick while traveling. As I was then, so I was in Melbourne this past week. Obviously, contextually, a lot has changed since my Adventures in Auckland. It’s different being sick while you’re hanging with your family… Continue reading Getaway with Soleil: Melbourne

Lifestyles

Getaway with Soleil: Phillip Island

               If you’ve been wondering where the detailed accounts of my travels have been, look no more. Unfortunately, as with many adventurers of old, I was beset with fatigue and a mysterious illness that kept me away from my writing—but not from exploration. While my journey to Phillip Island and the seaside community of Cowes… Continue reading Getaway with Soleil: Phillip Island

Lifestyles

Getaway with Soleil: The Sunshine Coast

               I’ve already waxed poetic about the ocean, putting my feet in the cold water for the first time in years, but I still can’t get over how magical this trip has been. Since early 2020, I’ve rarely left Reno and stuck close to home. This year, however, I’ve gone to multiple countries, a horror… Continue reading Getaway with Soleil: The Sunshine Coast

Lifestyles

Getaway with Soleil: A Wedding in Montville

               Until now, all of the weddings I’ve attended have been family or family adjacent. I’ve been a flower girl, a guest book officiant, a slideshow creator, and more. Throughout my life, I was present when mothers, cousins, and family-in-heart tied the knot. However, I’ve somehow missed out on that essential experience of being a… Continue reading Getaway with Soleil: A Wedding in Montville

Lifestyles

Getaway with Soleil: Brisbane Part 2

Typically, one of the hallmarks of a romantic getaway is the time spent together. The meals you share, the places you see, the experiences you have. However, just as important, is the reality—especially for long distance couples—of the every day. When you’re separated by borders or oceans, it’s easy to let time together feel like… Continue reading Getaway with Soleil: Brisbane Part 2

Lifestyles

Getaway with Soleil: The Gold Coast

            I have reached the point in this holiday where it always seems as if I’m unpacking and simultaneously packing a suitcase. The benefit of traveling with multiple destinations, especially a new country, is the chance to see more places. The downside is how rushed everything can feel and a certain kind of sameness that… Continue reading Getaway with Soleil: The Gold Coast

Lifestyles

Getaway with Soleil: Brisbane Part 1

               For a good chunk of my relationship with Soleil, I’ve been psyching myself up for a trip to Australia. That seems to come with the territory of dating someone from the country. However, for many Americans, Australia seems to have a unique reputation. Dangerous animals and attacks such as sharks, crocodiles, jellyfish, and snakes.… Continue reading Getaway with Soleil: Brisbane Part 1

Lifestyles

Getaway With Soleil: Auckland Part 3

            In a novel, the action after the climax tends to wrap the story up quickly. Lovers reunite. Sometimes there’s a wedding or a funeral. Bodies are buried. Mysteries are revealed and criminals arrested. In a vacation, however, especially a prolonged holiday, the lull between destinations tends to be a little less interesting. While this… Continue reading Getaway With Soleil: Auckland Part 3

Lifestyles

Getaway with Soleil: A Night at The Cordis

            Most of the time, my accommodations fall cleanly into the ‘affordable’ category. On family road trips, we’d sometimes stay in Best Westerns or Motel 6s: pools rarely open, itchy comforters, views of small towns or open fields, free cable TV, and reasonable pricing for a night between here and there. My current holiday will… Continue reading Getaway with Soleil: A Night at The Cordis

Lifestyles

Getaway with Soleil: Auckland Part 2

               Here’s what you’ve missed so far on my holiday: Soleil and I took off from Vancouver for a trip through Auckland and Australia. We’ll meet each other’s families, eat so much food, and see the sights. So far, we’ve sampled some heart-warming Buddhist rice, sighted adorable animals at the zoo, and survived dark tunnels.… Continue reading Getaway with Soleil: Auckland Part 2