AK Month-to-month Recap: March 2026

After two quiet months at house in Prague, whereas dwelling by means of one of many coldest winters we’ve had in years, it was time for one thing higher.

A little bit of sunshine. A bit of heat. And a little bit of time within the South of France.

Right here’s what I acquired as much as in March 2026!

Locations Visited

• Prague, Czech Republic
• Toulouse, Narbonne, Montpellier, and Marseille, France

Highlights

A enjoyable and foodie journey to southern France. Charlie and I take one another on journeys for our birthdays, and as quickly as we discovered that Les Grands Buffets existed, that’s what he wished to do for his!

And with three of our pals in tow, we flew to Toulouse, had a decadent night time on the buffet in Narbonne, spent just a few nice days in Montpellier, and completed up in Marseille.

Toulouse was a revelation — and it rapidly grew to become considered one of my favourite cities in France! Toulouse is concerning the dimension of Prague, with simply over a million residents. Nevertheless it feels so chilled out by comparability.

Toulouse seems to be totally different from each different metropolis in France, due to the pinky-red bricks of the buildings within the metropolis. There are tons of cute little eating places and boutiques all over the place, and I’d genuinely come again right here simply to buy and eat. Town has an ideal vibe, too. I can see why folks wish to dwell right here.

The buffet expertise at Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne was unbelievable — considered one of my high foodie experiences, ever, and we already wish to return sooner or later.

I’ve already written a full put up concerning the buffet expertise, so I gained’t repeat myself right here.

I’ll solely share that we ate SO a lot scrumptious meals, and for 65.90 euros per particular person, we acquired incredible worth, at the least double and even triple the worth of what we’d have paid for that a lot meals in a daily restaurant. When you’re a foodie traveler or a French meals fanatic — or particularly a cheese freak — you must make an effort to go as soon as in your life.

Subsequent up was Montpellier. Montpellier is a small college metropolis within the south, and it felt a bit like a child Paris on the Mediterranean, due to its Haussmann structure with just a few palm timber poking out right here and there.

We ate nice meals in Montpellier, particularly after hitting up the markets and bakeries. The eclairs at Maison Bonnaire had been particularly memorable. Total, I feel this is able to be an ideal metropolis to spend per week in when you should recharge. Simply go for strolls, go to the seashore, eat good meals, and repeat.

And we completed our journey in Marseille…and I’ll put that within the “Challenges” part. You’ll quickly see why.

A pleasant and productive journey to Berlin. Charlie and I went to Berlin to attend ITB Berlin, the most important journey commerce present on this planet. Oddly, this was the primary yr we each went.

The present was profitable for us each, with plenty of good conferences. And we acquired to spend time with plenty of our blogger pals, together with some I hadn’t seen in a few years.

On our remaining night time in Berlin, we went to see Belle & Sebastian with our pals Daryl and Mindi. They performed their first album, Tigermilk, and sounded simply pretty much as good as they did 30 years in the past. The venue, Metropol, was actually cool — it type of felt like a freaky church.

I’m comfortable so as to add that this was the primary live performance I’ve been to of an artist I found in my Rolling Stone 500 albums problem. How superior is that?

Charlie and I joined a trivia crew in Prague! I all the time really feel like I can’t be a part of a crew or any type of common exercise due to my journey schedule, however our good friend Jamie invited us to hitch, and that is the right answer — you merely volunteer to hitch on the times you may make it. There’s no strain to point out up each week.

Our crew performs the identical pub quiz every week on Monday nights — Prague’s hardest quiz, in actual fact. A few of the questions will genuinely stump you, particularly the cryptic questions.

Nevertheless it’s been going effectively. I’m loving working along with a crew of recent pals. And the primary week we joined, we truly gained!

And in case you’re questioning, Lewis the cat is STILL being very snuggly with me. Final month, Lewis began climbing into my lap virtually daily. I’m comfortable to report that he’s nonetheless doing it. Generally Charlie and I’ll sit on both aspect of the sofa and battle for Lewis’s affections.

Challenges

Marseille was a little bit of a bust. We knew we’d solely have a day and night there, and because it was a Sunday, we needed to take a 2.5-hour bus from Montpellier to Marseille, fairly than the practice that runs the opposite six days of the week.

And as soon as we acquired there, it was raining — a chilly, intense rain that got here down in sheets. And in case you’ve been to the Mediterranean within the low season, you realize that they don’t have any clue the right way to warmth something correctly. Individuals had been consuming outdoors in tents, shivering of their heavy coats.

However we made the very best of it! We discovered a restaurant with the heater blasting subsequent to the open entrance door, then we grabbed a desk at Les Grandes Halles du Vieux-Port, an indoor meals corridor with numerous nice eating places. We spent the afternoon consuming seafood and ingesting rosé earlier than selecting up some Savon de Marseille (town’s well-known cleaning soap) and heading to our lodge.

I positively wish to return to Marseille and expertise town correctly. There are direct flights from Prague, so perhaps an extended weekend in late spring or early fall someday…

After which I acquired meals poisoning. It hit as soon as I used to be house, about 24 hours after we had our seafood extravaganza in Marseille. (Charlie and Nick had been tremendous, so I’m considering it might need been a foul oyster.) Fortunately it wasn’t a violent type of meals poisoning — simply nausea and abdomen cramps for 3 days.

Lastly, Les Grands Buffets is NOT a simple place to make content material. I type of had that feeling getting in, so I caught to simply doing fast telephone photographs and movies fairly than bringing out the great digicam or video digicam.

However if you wish to make Truly Respectable Content material at Les Grands Buffets, I like to recommend you e-book a number of seatings, as a result of the night time goes by FAST and also you in all probability can’t eat what you wish to eat *AND* make content material about it.

On high of that, the lighting is dim, and it’s loud and crowded. So simply know that. I assumed I’d share that as a head’s up for different content material creators.

Weblog Posts of the Month

What’s It Actually Wish to Journey to Madagascar? — An enormous, detailed recap about why this nation, whereas so difficult at instances, is completely price it.

Les Grands Buffets — Value It or Not? A Detailed Evaluate — Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne, France, is an epic French buffet and considered one of my favourite meals experiences I’ve ever had. However wouldn’t it be price it for you?

Most Fashionable Publish on Instagram

Madagascar shouldn’t be for everybody. My first video from Madagascar! I posted this video on Instagram and on TikTok.

Whereas Madagascar is an unbelievable vacation spot and I cherished my time there, it’s completely not a vacation spot for everybody. And even most vacationers. It’s essential ask your self various questions.

What I Watched This Month

Actuality Examine: Inside America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin on Netflix. This documentary examines the legacy and hurt of America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin, and interviews most of the folks concerned.

I solely watched Prime Mannequin sometimes again within the day, however I did see among the extra memorable episodes (just like the one the place they made them as much as be totally different races!). And thru a 2026 lens, WOW. This present was MESSED UP they usually did some really horrific issues.

The worst was getting the fashions and a gaggle of native males extraordinarily drunk, then one woman who was blackout drunk ended up hooking up with one of many males. She has no reminiscence of it. This was all filmed. And the subsequent day, and for years after (!), the present shamed her for dishonest on her boyfriend — when she was a sufferer of sexual assault who couldn’t probably consent!

It additionally made me consider Under Deck: Down Underneath Season One, when one member of the crew tried to sexually assault one other crew member, a girl who was blackout drunk, and 1) the movie crew stopped it and a couple of) the assaulter was kicked off the boat instantly and fired the subsequent morning. I’m glad instances have modified and we’re in a position to see an assault for what it’s.

I additionally watched numerous Season 2 of Paradise this month. I completely cherished Season Considered one of Paradise, however I’m unsure I’m loving it as a lot this season. I feel it is perhaps the affect of The Pitt — I really like the hyper-realism of that present.

And Paradise, as with the present runner’s final present That is Us, there are numerous overwritten monologues, unusual coincidences, and manipulative emotional moments. Unsure I’m into that anymore. Make extra exhibits like The Pitt!

Lastly, I noticed Challenge Hail Mary in IMAX, and it is perhaps my favourite IMAX expertise I’ve ever had. The film is incredible and flies by, and it’s superbly filmed and so trustworthy to the e-book. An absolute pleasure, and so uplifting. One which may be very a lot price seeing within the theater.

What I Listened To This Month

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

In March, I listened to albums quantity 112-93. Not a giant month for listening.

Favourite Discovery: Supa Dupa Fly by Missy Elliott. WHAT A GREAT HIP-HOP ALBUM. What I really like about Missy’s music is that it feels so timeless. She all the time makes futuristic-sounding music with none of the cheesiness that weighs down different rappers. You could possibly have made this album right now and it wouldn’t have sounded dated in any respect.

That is an unbelievable album for dancing, grooving, driving, and simply vibing. Every little thing on the album has a selected perspective, however the songs are various and every have a special sound.

Missy and Timbaland had been a match made in heaven (and nonetheless are) — however I feel she deserves extra respect on her personal, each as a rapper, a singer, and a producer.

Different Favourite Discoveries: When the Pawn… by Fiona Apple, Goodbye Yellow Brick Highway by Elton John, Computerized For the Individuals by R.E.M., Take Care by Drake, Management by Janet Jackson, Courtroom and Spark by Joni Mitchell.

Favourite Revisited Album: Nothing revisited! Every little thing was new to me this month. I feel I listened to When the Pawn… a couple of times as a youngster.

Favourite Songs: “Limp” by Fiona Apple, “You Don’t Wanna Fuck With Me” by Missy Elliott, “Once I Consider You” by Janet Jackson, “Me Myself and I” by De La Soul, “The Ballad of Danny Boyle” by Elton John, “Automotive on a Hill” by Joni Mitchell, “Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones, “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight” by R.E.M., “Asking For It” by Gap.

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.

Random Music Ideas: Because the record ticks down, there are fewer and fewer artists launched for the primary time. The one newcomers this month had been Tv, Gap, The Allman Brothers Band, Drake, and Missy Elliott.

*Disclaimer: QUITE A LOT of the musicians featured on this record are problematic in varied methods — there’s even a assassin within the combine. I’m their music solely from an influential perspective.

What I Learn This Month

Grownup Braces: Driving Myself Sane by Lindy West (2026) — Lindy West’s husband Aham advised her he was going to be polygamous and she or he needed to both settle for it or finish their relationship. She didn’t need it. Aham had not one however two secret girlfriends. So she determined to go on a solo journey throughout the US to see if she may deal with being alone. On the finish of the e-book, she determined to start out relationship Aham’s girlfriend. And now they’ve been in a triad for years.

I’m a giant Lindy fan, and the e-book itself is admittedly good in numerous methods. I really like her voice and her humor, and the elements about journey had been the strongest elements of all, even when I didn’t essentially agree along with her on numerous issues. I cherished how she wrote about Florida, of all locations, particularly the Forgotten Coast and that complete lesser-known area of Florida.

However there are numerous alarming issues about her relationships in each this e-book, and its aftermath.

I wrote quite a bit about this in my e-newsletter final week, and I’m not going to repeat myself. However I’ll say this: since this e-book got here out, it’s clear to me that Aham has been publicly humiliating Lindy for a very long time now, and has been emotionally abusive not solely to her, however random ladies (together with author Scaachi Koul, who wrote a bit on the e-book).

I need her to get away from Aham, as a result of she deserves a lot, significantly better. However I’ve the sensation that each one this discourse goes to make Lindy double down.

Challenge Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) — Center faculty science instructor Ryland Grace wakes up from a coma on an area shuttle and may’t bear in mind why he’s there. Quickly, he remembers that the solar is dying, and that scientists on Earth have despatched him there to discover a answer. However quickly after arrival, he discovers one other ship, an uncommon ship the likes of which he’s by no means seen — and realizes that he’s not alone.

It was my high precedence to learn Challenge Hail Mary earlier than seeing the film, partly as a result of I assumed Weir’s first novel, The Martian, was a significantly better e-book than a film. I devoured it in 48 hours! I adored this story and the way it became a buddy comedy. It virtually follows the plot of a typical romantic comedy, solely it’s platonic. Extra uplifting sci-fi!

I’ve heard the audiobook is nice, too, however I selected to learn it as a result of I figured I’d zone out on the extra science-y elements. You couldn’t go unsuitable with both.

Coming Up in April 2026

This month I’ve a giant journey deliberate — I’m touring solo to Central Asia! It is a new area for me and one I’ve wished to cowl from the angle of a solo feminine traveler.

I’ll be visiting Kazakhstan first, principally basing in Almaty, with an in a single day journey to Charyn Canyon, Black Canyon, Moon Canyon, Lake Kaindy, and Kolsai Lake. Subsequent I’ll fly to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and journey by practice to Samarkand, then Bukhara, then Khiva, earlier than flying again to Tashkent. Whereas in Samarkand, I’ll be doing a day journey to the Seven Lakes of Tajikistan.

If all goes based on plan, these will likely be nations quantity 97, 98, and 99 for me.

In Uzbekistan, I’ll be making an attempt out plenty of artful actions and diving into their textiles. They’ve among the greatest silks on this planet, and beautiful traditions relating to embroidery, pottery, and wooden carving. I even have a photograph shoot deliberate in Samarkand.

I do know lots of people are apprehensive about touring in the mean time, so I wish to share why I’m snug touring right here at the moment. First off, these nations in Central Asia are extraordinarily protected for vacationers on the whole, and solo feminine vacationers particularly. I’ve performed plenty of analysis and talked to pals who journey right here usually.

Secondly, these nations are by no means concerned at any time when violence or battle kicks off within the Center East. Life has been persevering with as typical in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

And at last, I’m not flying by means of the Gulf. I’m flying Prague-Frankfurt-Almaty on the best way there and Tashkent-Istanbul-Prague on the best way again, which is an itinerary that enables me to keep away from flight disruptions.

I’m actually excited to share Central Asia with you.

Any plans for April? Share away!