AK Month-to-month Recap: October 2025

Ah, October, probably the greatest months of the 12 months. The month started in Madagascar with a couple of days in Nosy Be earlier than flying to Prague, heading to Piemonte for a weekend, and coming again to get pleasure from the remainder of the autumn colours.

I’m thrilled to be having fun with a couple of weeks of quiet earlier than I hit the street once more.

Let’s check out the month!

Locations Visited

• Nosy Be, Madagascar
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Alessandria, Asti, Monforte d’Alba, Barolo, Bra, Alba, Castagnole delle Lanze, Biella, Occhieppo Inferiore, Baveno, Meina, and Arona, Italy

Highlights

Two bonus days in Nosy Be! Nicely, that happened as a result of my flights had been cancelled a 3rd time, and Air Austral couldn’t get me on a flight till 48 hours later. Extra time with my pals, and two extra nights at the perfect resort? Certain!

After experiencing the unrest in Antananarivo, there was quite a lot of uncertainty within the air about what would occur subsequent. I used to be extremely relieved to land on EU soil in Réunion — to not point out getting out 10 days earlier than there was an precise coup.

A weekend journey to Piemonte. Charlie and I went to the Italian area of Piemonte for an extended weekend. In case you’re in search of precise fall vibes in Italy in October, Piemonte is without doubt one of the finest locations you possibly can go.

We spent two nights in Monforte d’Alba and one night time in Biella, driving round and principally exploring the Langhe area of southern Piemonte. We bought to get pleasure from vineyards streaked with gold, fairly little cities, and copious white truffles on the menu!

I additionally had some wine (my first alcohol since beginning 75 Arduous in June) and…I don’t assume I like Barolo anymore? That was my favourite!! I feel I’m extra into Barbera d’Alba now.

Both method, it was so good to be in Italy (our solely go to this 12 months), absorbing the stress-free vibes. Once we weren’t coping with automobile craziness, that’s.

Enjoyable instances in Prague. Fall is fairly grey right here more often than not, however the temperatures are pretty, and it’s an important month for getting out and exploring.

I found two new nice eating places this month. Bistro Habibi is a comfortable little Jordanian restaurant run by Jordanian and Palestinian homeowners. The mezze had been large, intense, and scrumptious — and the meat fatteh blew our minds.

(Be aware that there are a couple of locations with the title Habibi in Prague — that is the one on Vratislavova.)

Mexická is a high-end and artistic Mexican restaurant that places their very own spin on quite a lot of dishes. We had quite a lot of uncommon tacos, however the true standout was a dessert: pineapple cooked in caramel sauce with vanilla ice cream.

I’m grateful that there are a handful of nice Mexican eating places in Prague. I nonetheless love Alebrijes for typical Mexican meals, however Mexická is enjoyable for one thing completely different.

Challenges

The electrical automobile follies. Charlie and I had QUITE an journey with our electrical automobile rental in Italy! We had solely rented an electrical car for one UK journey so brief that we didn’t even have to cost it. And let me say that WE WERE NOT PREPARED.

We landed at Milan Malpensa, and by the point we bought to the town of Alessandria, 75 minutes away, our battery was already two-thirds depleted.

Seems completely different electrical automobiles deal with freeway driving in a different way — and on our Peugeot, it chewed up the battery FAST. So we determined to keep away from the autostrada for the remainder of the journey (unhappy for me, I really like the Italian custom of insulting the autostrada machine after it says “arrivederci”).

Now, this was in all probability naive on my half, however I assumed you would discover a charging station, swipe your card, plug your self in, and cost. It was NOT that simple. Many of the chargers require you to have a longtime account on their very own app, and apps range.

Moreover, it’s powerful to search out charging stations in Italy through Google Maps, as the knowledge is usually incorrect. So we signed up for the Plentitude app, which has quantity of charging stations in Piemonte.

Nevertheless, in a traditional instance of Italian disorganization, Plentitude at the moment can’t create new accounts with non-Italian cellphone numbers, and it takes about three enterprise days to create a brand new account. (Amazingly, we may name in and communicate to a human who informed us this.)

You understand how a lot I really like Italy, however that is the sort of stuff that occurs on a regular basis and IT DRIVES ME CRAZY. Only a full lack of effectivity.

So we had been capable of create a visitor account that may tide us over by the weekend, however as a result of Apple Pay was “coming quickly,” (come on, Italy, is it REALLY that tough to implement Apple Pay?!), we needed to manually fill out tons of non-public and fee data within the app earlier than every cost.

Not one of the chargers charged at a price they marketed — if it had been “as much as 12 kh,” it could cease at round 6-8. That will have been a problem with our particular car mannequin. Moreover, to our consternation, our car didn’t have a wire that might accommodate the super-fast chargers.

We survived — and we additionally had a really good weekend! Let’s not overlook that! However I’ve realized quite a lot of issues going ahead that I need to share with you.

1. In case you’re renting an electrical automobile, have a strategy to cost it in a single day. Whether or not that’s lodging that has a charger (if you happen to can reserve it, even higher!), or staying in an enormous metropolis with numerous chargers, it would make your life far simpler if you happen to can cost in a single day. Our first two nights had been in a small city with no chargers, which meant we needed to cost by day.

2. Heading someplace busy? Say, Alba for the white truffle honest? You’re not getting a charger. They’ll ALL be taken. Don’t financial institution on having the ability to cost close to a well-liked occasion.

3. Do your analysis on electrical automobiles and select one that’s suited to your sort of driving, particularly if you happen to plan on doing numerous freeway driving. Then once more — the automobile rental individuals will provide you with what they provide you, so typically you possibly can’t plan for that.

Let me be clear that I’m so grateful that electrical automobiles have develop into common, and they’re much higher than gasoline automobiles in the long term. We hope to get a plug-in hybrid when Charlie is prepared for his subsequent automobile.

However at this cut-off date, the infrastructure is just not fairly the place it must be in some areas. Will probably be sometime. It isn’t but. Positively not in rural Italy.

Pushing it too exhausting with health. My largest private mistake of the month was leaping again into my ordinary energy routine, no modifications, after almost a month away.

It felt good within the second. Then I used to be in INCREDIBLE PAIN for about 5 days. Let this be a lesson to you — if you happen to’ve taken a break from energy coaching, raise lighter than ordinary in your first day again and see how your physique takes it!

I additionally needed to cope with a chilly for a couple of week of the month. Enjoyable instances.

Weblog Posts of the Month

The Reality About Visiting Paris in Winter (Good and Unhealthy) — Paris is one among my favourite cities to go to within the winter — and now, greater than ever, contemplating that it’s the one time you possibly can have a peaceable setting on the Musée d’Orsay.

26+ Enjoyable Issues to Do in San Sebastián, Spain — This little metropolis within the Basque Nation is without doubt one of the finest food and drinks locations I’ve ever visited — however even when that isn’t your factor, there’s loads so that you can get pleasure from!

19+ Cool Issues to Do in Bilbao, Spain — I used to be shocked at how a lot I beloved Bilbao, and the way livable I discovered it as a metropolis. Listed here are some nice methods to spend your time right here.

Most Well-liked Reel on Instagram

I went to Mauritius for a three-day taster journey — and I’m completely tremendous if I by no means return. Is {that a} signal of a foul journey? In no way — I feel my journey was an enormous success.

You possibly can see this video on Instagram or on TikTok about what occurs if you notice a sure vacation spot is NOT for you.

Trend Second of the Month

I don’t assume I’ve shared my beloved raincoat right here earlier than — and I’m sporting it loads currently as a result of, nicely, Prague in October.

This raincoat is from Rainsisters, a small firm run by three sisters in Latvia. They take advantage of stunning raincoats you’ve ever seen.

I gained’t mislead you, they’re expensive. However sporting this wonderful, purple flower-covered coat brightens my days SO a lot, and I’ve had it for greater than a 12 months and the fee per put on is all the way down to $7.24, and I do know it has at the least a couple of extra years of wear and tear forward of it!

A number of of my pals have requested if they need to get one, and I’ve informed all of them the identical factor: get one in a cool sample. Don’t get a plain black coat that goes with every little thing. The cool patterns are what make these coats head-turners.

And as a Latvian American, I’m glad to assist a small enterprise in Latvia!

What I Watched This Month

Platonic Season 2! I really like this Apple TV present a lot and I really feel like so few individuals watch it or speak about it! It is a comedy starring Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne about two finest pals of their 40s and the varied hijinks they stand up to.

This is without doubt one of the funniest comedy sequence on the market, and I really like how there’s ABSOLUTELY ZERO romantic stress between the 2 leads. Simply taking that fully off the desk opens it up for extra plot traces.

Additionally having fun with Nice British Bake Off this time round. Although I want there weren’t such an apparent front-runner. It’s extra enjoyable when it could possibly be anybody.

What I Listened To This Month

I’m listening to all 500 of Rolling Stone‘s 500 Best Albums of All Time, which I’m having fun with immensely. I’m loving discovering new artists and listening to albums I’ve someway missed my total life till now!

In October, I listened to a smaller quantity than ordinary — albums 227-210. Listed here are the highlights:

Favourite Discovery: Ray of Mild by Madonna. It appears odd to incorporate it right here as a discovery as a result of it got here out once I was in highschool and I can sing together with three or 4 songs.

However listening to the album in full for the primary time, I admire it so deeply. Each tune has this underwater/digital feeling, and these are among the finest vocals she’s ever recorded. It’s a very nice mixture. It made me want I had truly picked this up in highschool.

Whereas going by this problem, I’ve come to understand a small collections of albums that sound completely from a selected second in time, but additionally are so timeless they could possibly be from immediately. Ray of Mild is a kind of, together with The Diary of Alicia Keys, Rihanna’s ANTI, Mary J. Blige’s What’s the 411?, Daft Punk’s Random Entry Reminiscences, and Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1841.

Different Favourite Discoveries: “Layla and Different Assorted Love Songs” by Derek and the Dominos, “Positively Possibly” by Oasis, “Wild is the Wild” by Nina Simone.

Favourite Revisited Album: The primary album I ever purchased for myself was TLC’s CrazySexyCool. I used to be 10 years outdated. And I’m so pleased with my musical style as a 10-year-old, as a result of it’s quantity 218 on the highest 500 albums immediately!

And whereas this album would possibly sound a little bit bit dated immediately, it’s an unimaginable power. These women had been absolute magic collectively, and this album paired them with the perfect producers that made them such an enormous a part of the 90s. A fantastic mixture of R&B and hip-hop. I’ll always remember the bizarre “Horny” interlude.

RIP, Left-Eye. I can’t think about what she would have given us in music if she hadn’t died so younger.

Favourite Songs: “Dwell Perpetually” by Oasis; “Why Does Love Obtained to Be So Unhappy?” by Derek and the Dominos; “Glaciers of Ice” by Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Masta Killa; “Pal of the Satan” by Grateful Useless; “Oh Yoko!” by John Lennon; “That’s All I Ask” by Nina Simone.

Get the playlist: I’m making a playlist of my favourite songs from the five hundred albums — most one per album — on Spotify. You possibly can hearken to it right here.

Lowlight of the Month: I’ve talked a couple of instances about how New Wave is the style that simply irritates me each time I hear it. And one of many bands I get pleasure from least within the style is Pleasure Division (together with again once they had been New Order). This month I listened to their album Unknown Pleasures and it gave me…completely nothing. It’s uncommon for an album to offer me nothing.

Additionally, I really like Ray Charles and admire his affect, however placing on a 53-song compilation album on this checklist and it doesn’t even embrace “Hit the Street, Jack” or “Georgia on my Thoughts”? Come on!

Random Music Ideas: This month I listened to John Lennon’s Think about on October 9 — what would have been his eighty fifth birthday. What a coincidence. I had no concept till I noticed Paul McCartney publish about it on Threads.

Different nice music this month: This month a brand new album got here out that blew me away: Lily Allen’s West Finish Woman. THIS ALBUM IS FUCKING STUPENDOUS. I’ve been yelling at everybody I do know to hearken to it.

It’s a chronology of every little thing that occurred after she caught her husband cheated, and it’s so weak, so uncooked, one thing that so many ladies can relate to — but the songs are ABSOLUTE BOPS. Simply a lot enjoyable and a pleasure to hearken to.

Give this album a hear. It’s SO good.

Coming Up in November and December 2025

This month, it will get thrilling!! Charlie and I spending the primary few weeks of the month at dwelling, then making a fast weekend journey to London to see his household and hopefully a few of our pals, too.

And on the finish of November, we will probably be off for a month — beginning with 4 weeks within the Caribbean! Charlie has a tricky time with the darkish days of December, and recommended we spend the month someplace sunny.

We’re flying into Curaçao for a couple of days, then heading to Barbados for a couple of extra.

Subsequent up we’re doing a weeklong small ship cruise with Star Clippers, who’re internet hosting us. I’m not a big ship cruise individual, however I’ve beloved the small ship expeditions I’ve performed to Antarctica and Jap Canada, so I’ve been desperate to strive a small ship within the Caribbean.

That is a tremendous little ship that may sail with actual sails — and you’ll even climb as much as the crow’s nest! And the perfect factor about small ship cruises within the Caribbean is which you can go to the less-visited ports that aren’t sufficiently big to accommodate megaships.

Our cruise itinerary begins in Barbados and visits Tobago Keys and some random islands within the Grenadines; St. George’s, Grenada; Kingstown and Bequia, St. Vincent; Fort-de-France, Martinique; and Marigot Bay and Soufrière, St. Lucia, earlier than returning to Barbados.

After the cruise, we are going to fly to Dominica for six days, adopted by St. Martin (the French aspect) for 3 days earlier than catching a flight dwelling to Boston for Christmas. We’ll be spending time with my household and pals in Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont.

All the Caribbean locations are new to me besides St. Martin (and even then, I solely noticed the Dutch half of the island on a quick shore tour years in the past). Nations quantity 92-96 will probably be Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Lucia, and Dominica. Closing in on 100!

I’m fairly certain that I will probably be skipping the November recap attributable to my busy schedule, and as a substitute doing a joint November-December recap, so don’t anticipate to see it till January. Identical with the “better of the 12 months” posts this 12 months.

And naturally, since this can be a lengthy journey, our beloved cat sitter will probably be returning to stay at our condominium and handle Lewis and Murray. All three of them adore one another.

Have an important vacation season!

What are you planning for November and December? Share away!