About us

My husband and I have always had a strong desire to travel and explore the world.

We are Lithuanian-Americans, both born in the US to parents who came to the United States after WWII due to the Soviet occupation of Lithuania. Although we were raised in America, our Lithuanian-American culture has always defined our identities. We spoke the language at home from birth; attended Lithuanian cultural summer camps; were members of various folk dance groups and ethnographic ensembles; studied at Lithuanian Saturday schools; and actively participated in the Lithuanian American Community chapters in the cities we lived in.

After getting married in 2006, we moved to Mexico City with our children, who were 1 and 3 years old at the time. We all became fluent in Spanish and developed a deep appreciation for the country and its people, broadening our cultural knowledge and experiences. Our children were defined as "third-culture kids" (TCKs), meaning they were raised in a culture different from their own.

In 2008, we moved to Istanbul, where we lived for 3 years. During our time there, we formed new friendships and had the chance to travel extensively within Turkey and to other countries. When we returned to the USA in 2011, we continued to travel whenever vacation time permitted. Some of our adventures included a safari in the Maasai Mara, a sailing trip to Croatia, and hikes in the Austrian Alps. 

In 2023, our kids were at university in NYC and we had the chance to retire early and travel. We decided to seize the opportunity and sold our home in DC. Our summer home in Cape Cod became our base in the US. We got Portuguese retirement visas (under a program that is now extinct,) packed several suitcases, and flew to Lisbon. We found a furnished apartment to rent in a lovely area near a large park, and have been thoroughly enjoying our exploration of Lisbon and the rest of Portugal.

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During the year, quite a few of our friends and relatives have visited. Besides taking them to our favorite restaurants, museums, lookout points, shops, kiosks, wine bars, and historical sites, we have traveled with them to other areas of Portugal, including Porto, the Douro Valley, and the Algarve. Other friends have also been calling and asking for ideas on where to stay and visit. So, here it is! This site is our attempt to put together travel tips and recommendations, along with reflections on some of our experiences of living and traveling abroad. We hope you enjoy it!