Here we are, three months later...well, three months and two days. Sitting here in Istanbul, a place we weren't even originally planning on visiting, has made it clear that western society norms that we have been so used to will soon be behind us. That does sound a little dramatic. Istanbul is extremely lovely and after being here for just shy of 24 hours I know we will be loving our 10 days here.

Looking back over the last three months it is fun to think of how slow, yet fast everything has happened. Dublin was only back in September but it already feels like it was last year! In this post, I want to do a little retro and show some highlights. I'll share some misfortunes in another post.

Highlights:

• Priority Pass. Words can't describe enough how awesome having Priority Pass lounge access has been for airport travel. On average you're allowed to stay in the lounges at the airport for around 3 hours and boy do we take advantage of it. The lounges have all varied from size and offerings but at the least, they have comfortable chairs, free internet and best of all free food and beer.
• Driving in Ireland. Driving in Ireland was one of my early anxiety points. After a few days though Laura and I were communicating like pros with her on navigation and me at the helm. Though it ultimately was a highlight I would be lying if I said I was sad to finally drop it back off at the rental.
• Harry Potter Studio Tour. It felt a bit like Disneyland for movie lovers and Harry Potter lovers alike. A lot of care went into this attraction and it definitely shows.
• Having a day at Stonehenge with H. I wasn't sure how much we would like it as I've heard a variety of feelings about it from people. Being out there walking around these large structures right next to you was an awesome experience. Plus with H having the kids guide he could hear fun facts and then teach me which he thought was pretty awesome.

• The Vasa Museum in Stockholm. This is a whole museum devoted to one ship that sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628. It was underwater and in the right conditions for so long that once they finally rose it up it was miraculously well preserved. No other ships exists quite like it and you really do get up close to it.

• The Berlin Wall. While staying on a boat hostel for a week may have lead to some cabin fever we did get to stay next to the largest preserved stretch of the Berlin Wall which is now known as the Eastside Gallery. I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would.
• Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. While incredibly touristy and something I had been to in the past the surrounding land of Southern Bavaria was breathtakingly beautiful. Even though we didn't go inside we still thought it was a wonderful experience.

• Prater Park in Vienna. This was such a cool huge park. From giant tire swings to walking trails to a full blown amusement park. We could have easily gone here every day while we were in Vienna. Speaking of Vienna, go, go now. It is such a lovely city and one that we will for sure return to.
• The Bavarian beer. Ohhhhh the Bavarian beer. I'm a pretty easy to please beer drinker but those Dunkels are out of this world. I'll take another liter please!
• The sea organ in Zadar. Zadar was another of those places that almost didn't happen but I'm so glad did. Watching the sunset with the boats going by and the organ playing its tune from the waves will be a true memory.

• The food in Italy. When we first made it to Rome I was in shock of exactly how far away we were from the city. Not close, not close at all. BUT, what it did give us was a restaurant down the street from our apartment called La Ruota and it served a giant bowl of the most fabulous Carbonara that I have ever experienced, maybe the best pasta period that I have experienced all for around $7. This is a true townie restaurant down to everyone staring at you as you walk in but the hospitality was fantastic. Top that off with $4 jug of wine from the fridge and you sir/madam have a repeat customer, and repeat customers we were. In my opinion, the best Italian food is just simple, non-pretentious, made with honest ingredients and is comfortable with itself. To this day I dream of that Carbonara. Mwah.
  - special shoutout to the pizza of Italy. No surprise to anyone I'm sure but like above, pizza should just be simple, honest and non-pretentious and cheap to be great. It was all of that and more.
  - sorry, one more shoutout to the coffee as well. Once again it hit all of the key criteria listed above. Plus, our apartment came with an espresso maker and I started to feel pretty cool by the end of the two weeks using it. It will be on my list to purchase when we return stateside.

• Friends and Family. Seeing friends in England, Finland, Germany, and Italy to spending a few days with Laura's parents in Barcelona. This was always a huge part of what we wanted to accomplish with our time in Europe and it made the time spent much more memorable.
• Old town Girona. Our friend who lives here mentioned on arrival that we could see the entire city in a day and get from one end to the other in around 30 minutes. While you would think it would make a boring city it was anything but. We ended up spending around 10 days there and it was exactly what we needed. Very relaxing with a ton of diverse, affordable and amazing restaurants. It was the old Jewish quarter that wins many hearts including ours. Set over a labyrinth of narrow alleyways it is easy to get turned around but all you need to remember is head down to get to the river or up to get to the wall. Such a beautiful city that we are eager to return to in the future.

• The Eiffel Tower in the fog. Try to hear me out on this one. Yes, the Eiffel tower is very cliche as a highlight but it was the nighttime fog that really brought it to another level. At some angles, it looked like an evil building but still, one cant argue the romanticism that the giant tower brings.

And here we are, as I sit here writing this with a view of Asia out my window its got me thinking quite a bit at what is in store for the next three months. Certainly a lot of challenges along the way but I'm sure more highlights than lowlights.

Thanks for getting to this point with us. See you in the next one!

-Jonathan