AK Month-to-month Recap: Could 2026

I completely love Could — it’s the greatest month of the 12 months in Prague, in my view, and it’s among the best months to journey in Europe as nicely.

This month was principally spent in Prague, with every thing that I really like concerning the metropolis — meals festivals, mountaineering, superb eating, and exquisite views from in every single place. However then we added on six days in England to go to the cheese-rolling, discover Bristol, and amble via the Cotswolds for a number of days.

Let’s check out what I received as much as this month!

Locations Visited

• Prague, Srbsko, and Karlštejn, Czech Republic
• Henley-on-Thames, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Decrease Slaughter, Higher Slaughter, Cirencester, Tetbury, Bristol, Gloucester, Brockworth, Shurdington, Cheltenham, and Windsor, England

Highlights

A enjoyable journey to the UK that was very totally different from our ordinary visits. Whereas Charlie and I go to his household in London typically, we virtually by no means spend time in different areas of the UK, so it was good to go for six days and discover some locations in England we hadn’t visited earlier than.

We began within the Cotswolds, a area identified for its stunning stone cottages lined with ivy, stunning hikes, and picture-perfect storybook cities.

This was only a fast dip via a number of cities, and a few of my favorites had been Bourton-on-the-water (for the sweetness and waterside pubs), the Slaughters (for the quiet surroundings on the hourlong return stroll between them), and Cirencester (for the native really feel in the midst of a touristy area).

Subsequent up was Bristol, a metropolis within the southwest of England that appears to fly below the radar however has numerous passionate followers. Bristol is a college metropolis and it feels very youthful and a bit offbeat and artsy. I loved it very a lot.

However the largest spotlight of Bristol for us was consuming at Wilson’s, a Michelin-starred restaurant that was featured within the Apple TV+ collection Knife Edge. Guys, I’m not kidding after I say this is likely one of the greatest meals I’ve ever had in my life. It was stupefyingly good. And it was absurdly good worth for cash (78 GBP for a seven-course tasting menu).

I wouldn’t be shocked if our future journeys to London have Bristol tacked on initially or finish, simply so we will eat at Wilson’s once more!

The cheese-rolling! The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling was the primary purpose for our UK journey, and it was unimaginable attending to witness the occasion in particular person!

I wrote a full detailed publish within the expertise, so I received’t repeat myself right here. I’ll say that I had a blast, was very blissful to attend, however I doubt I’ll ever do it once more. The the reason why are within the publish.

Additionally, Charlie was very blissful this month as Arsenal received the Premier League for the primary time in 22 years! He truly stayed within the UK an additional week so he may go to the parade!

A number of good occasions in Prague. Charlie and I did two hikes this month — one to Velka Amerika, the “Czech Grand Canyon” near Karlštejn Citadel, and one in Divoka Šarka, which is throughout the Prague metropolis limits, not removed from the airport.

There was additionally a spicy and fermented meals pageant in Holešovice, the place we tasted and acquired so many cool meals from native makers, together with an especially spicy caramel corn that blew our minds (in addition to our faces off).

We additionally had our annual dinner at El Camino, certainly one of my favourite Prague eating places, which I believe is likely one of the greatest big day eating places within the metropolis and at all times delights. They’re a Spanish restaurant that pushes the boundaries of what you assume tapas will be.

Challenges

I had a bit of well being scare with Murray this month. He appeared sullen, he didn’t need to eat treats, he wouldn’t lookup after I referred to as to him, and he gave the impression to be respiration very quick, which is a scary symptom that may be very critical in cats.

So I took him to the vet — and one examination, two x-rays, two ultrasounds, and one spherical of bloodwork later, he was completely superb. In fact. He in all probability simply received a bit overheated.

The excellent news is that this new vet is a five-minute drive away, operates 24/7, and has a full English-speaking employees. There wasn’t even a wait on a Saturday afternoon.

Till now, we’ve been utilizing two vets: one a five-minute stroll from us who solely speaks Czech (so solely Charlie can talk, and even then, Charlie’s medical Czech is proscribed), and a crew of vets a 20-30 minute drive away who’re FIP specialists and had been the most effective for treating Lewis’s FIP 5 years in the past, however who at all times have an extended wait.

Additionally, the town of Gloucester, England. As somebody who’s a daily customer to Gloucester, Massachusetts, I used to be to take a look at its namesake and see its cathedral.

Nicely. The cathedral is sweet — the surface of it, at the very least (we didn’t go in as a result of a service was happening). However we had one phrase for the city itself: “Woof.” It’s fairly bleak. It was an entire waste of time, and I’m salty that we devoted about 90 minutes of our lives to getting there and exploring.

Belief me — if you happen to ever go to the cheese-rolling, skip Gloucester and go to the a lot nicer Cheltenham as a substitute.

Weblog Posts of the Month

How you can Attend the Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling — My full information to attending this loopy occasion as a spectator (or as a participant, if that’s your factor!).

What NOT to Do in Uzbekistan — I really like writing “what to not do” guides, and it is a must-read earlier than visiting Uzbekistan.

There’s So A lot To Love About Madrid — Madrid is really a metropolis for metropolis connoisseurs, and I actually need to get again there quickly!

Most Well-liked Reel on Instagram

Solo feminine journey within the Muslim world — what are males like? Each time I get again from solo touring in a Muslim nation, I inevitably get requested how the boys handled me. And truthfully? I get handled a lot better by then males than I do in western nations.

For extra dwell updates from my travels and funky movies, comply with me on Instagram at @adventurouskate.

What I Watched This Month

Nothing actually notable this month. I’m attempting to get via the ultimate season of Euphoria, however it’s arduous if you’re rolling your eyes a lot. I’m so glad Zendaya is lastly freed from this shitshow (however in fact I have to preserve watching to see what occurs).

And if you happen to’re searching for a silly however humorous comedy below 90 minutes, Charlie and I watched The Marketing campaign on Netflix (with Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis) on a whim and laughed SO a lot more durable than we anticipated to.

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 whole life till now!

In Could, I listened to albums quantity 68-51. Holy crap, I’m 90% via this challenge.

Favourite Discovery: Station to Station by David Bowie. I had by no means listened to this album earlier than, however “Golden Years” is certainly one of my favourite Bowie songs, and the remainder of the album has that very same vibe!

I’m a giant disco fan, and I really feel like a number of the greatest disco albums (like Marvin Gaye’s I Need You) don’t get characterised as disco as a result of they’re not the extra garish illustration of the style.

This album is the right 70s hybrid of rock and disco. The dance beats, the wild bass traces, the guitars, his plain vocals — I adored each little bit of it. This one goes into my rotation.

Different Favourite Discoveries: Aja by Steely Dan, Hounds of Love by Kate Bush, Stankonia by Outkast, Astral Weeks by Van Morrison.

Favourite Revisited Album: Darkish Aspect of the Moon by Pink Floyd. I used to be first launched to this album in highschool: the trainer of my musical theater class had a stroke, we received a long-term sub, and there have been no actual curriculum plans for the category, so we did probably the most random issues. And at some point we watched The Wizard of Oz with Darkish Aspect of the Moon.

And I watched these two collectively many extra occasions in faculty, and I actually grew to like the album. By now I do know it virtually by coronary heart. (Actually, certainly one of my trivia league’s questions the opposite day was to call three of the ten tracks on the album!)

I really like this album a lot — it genuinely appears like a musical, with the identical existential themes all through, and callbacks to earlier songs.

Plus, I really like songs with uncommon time signatures, in addition to songs with robust, distinctive bass traces, and “Cash” is the poster baby for each of these issues!

Different Favourite Revisited Albums: Speaking Ebook by Stevie Surprise.

Favourite Songs: “Keep” by David Bowie, “Working Up That Hill” by Kate Bush, “Humble Mumble” by Outkast and Erykah Badu, “Peg” by Steely Dan, “Tuesday Heartbreak” by Stevie Surprise, “Time” by Pink Floyd, “All Alongside the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix, “Paid in Full” by Eric B & Rakim, “Papa’s Received a Model New Bag” by James Brown.

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

Lowlight of the Month: I’ve mentioned many occasions that I’m not a fan of compilation albums being on this checklist, and this month included James Brown’s Star Time: a compilation album that was 4 hours and 45 minutes lengthy, making it the longest album on the checklist (and beating Merle Haggard’s Down Each Highway at 4:15!).

It’s not like that is the one James Brown album on the checklist. There are three. Rolling Stone selecting to place an album that lengthy on the checklist is taking the piss and making me really feel aggravated whereas listening to it. And I say this as somebody who likes James Brown! (“James, how did this all start–” “LIVING IN AMEEEERICA!”)

Random Music Ideas: I really like when an album reveals you little Easter eggs from different songs. I had by no means actually listened to Eric B & Rakim earlier than, however I observed a number of origins of references from 50 Cent’s songs, together with the road “Test-check out my melody,” which made me exclaim, “Oh, so THAT’S 50’s favourite rapper!”

One thing else price noting: I observed that there was a dearth of ladies arising, and turns however there aren’t any feminine musicians on the checklist between quantity 56 (Liz Phair’s Exile in Guyville) and quantity 33 (Amy Winehouse’s Again to Black). That’s a giant hole.

*Disclaimer: QUITE A LOT of the musicians featured on this checklist are problematic in varied methods — there are even two murderers within the combine. I’m taking a look at their music solely from an influential perspective.

What I Learn This Month

Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden (2025) — Belle Burden thought she had a robust household life. She got here from BIG generational wealth (Vanderbilt household), went to Harvard, turned a lawyer, married a colleague named “James,” and stopped working to be a stay-at-home guardian to their three youngsters.

She emptied her trusts to purchase their Manhattan residence and their summer season dwelling on Martha’s Winery, and her husband was the only real earner and supervisor of their funds. For years, they appeared to have a stunning household life. Then out of the blue, she found he was having an affair and he determined to depart her (within the scary early days of the pandemic!), cease actively parenting apart from the occasional dinner, and take as a lot of her cash as he may.

Now. Rather a lot has been mentioned about this guide: most of it about Burden’s wealth and that she was by no means going to be destitute after this divorce. Actually, I assumed I wouldn’t benefit from the guide, as a result of who can relate to somebody that wildly rich?

Oh, however I beloved this guide and I’m able to experience into battle for Belle as a result of HER HUSBAND, WHOSE REAL NAME IS HENRY, FUCKING SUCKS. It is a memoir about how her husband financially conned her for many years. How your accomplice of a long time can turn into a stranger in a single day.

I believe this guide is so vital for girls to learn. It’s VITAL to know each element of your funds, even when your partner handles the monetary stuff. If somebody with that cash and that training can get conned, it will possibly occur to anybody.

It was additionally stunning listening to how some individuals handled her. When she instructed individuals her multi-millionaire husband was attempting to take sufficient cash that she’d should promote each properties, and solely pay the naked minimal of kid help when she had been a stay-at-home guardian for almost 20 years, males would virtually at all times snort and say, “Oh, he’s enjoying hardball.” THE FUCK?! The place is the comedy on this, sir?

Additionally, who chooses to decide out of parenting?! Who has as a lot wealth as he does (guess what, he made tens of millions a 12 months and he or she had no concept) and decides to get a two-bedroom residence and use one of many bedrooms as an workplace so his youngsters received’t have the ability to sleep over? ONCE AGAIN, YOU FUCKING SUCK, HENRY.

Anyway, I beloved this guide. You must learn it.

Coming Up in June 2026

This month, I’m heading to the States to see my household! I’ll be in Massachusetts more often than not, and will probably be visiting New York for a number of days as nicely.

Previously, I’ve tended to overschedule myself on my Stateside journeys, so I’m making an effort to maintain issues much less bold this time round.

However June is SUCH month in New England, and I need to absorb the sunshine, the seashores, the lobster rolls.

I’ve been doing a whole lot of lengthy walks these days right here in Prague, so I need to do two VERY lengthy walks — I need to stroll the Emerald Necklace in Boston (a community of related parks all through the town), and I need to stroll the whole size of Broadway in Manhattan.

Each of those walks are all-day undertakings, however I’m wanting ahead to them!

And on the finish of the month, I’ve a ticket to see Ricky Martin in Prague. I splurged on seat and I can’t wait to sing my lungs out to “No person Desires To Be Lonely”!

What are your plans for June? Share away!