Today’s the day. After 110 days in Europe, we’re finally on our way back to Canada. We’re excited, we’re tired, we’re sad, we’re happy, we’re thankful for having had this special time of adventure as a family.
Today, you get a quick post that puts all the work on you, dear reader.
I’ve had a variety of questions come in about our trip, and while I’ve tried to answer them in the comments, it would be nice to pull everything into one central blog post/series.
I’m planning to do a Q&A roundup in the coming weeks, so now’s your chance—what burning questions do you have about our trip??
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Safe travels! Thank you for sharing this grand adventure with us !
Ha. I’m an oversharer and blog readers bore the brunt of that 🙂
Safe travels home. How amazing it will feel to sleep in your own bed. It’s been so fun to read about your travels! I have two questions, how did you plan your days out? You often seemed to visit many places in one day as if you were on a perfectly planned walking tour. Were there specific books or websites you used for planning? How did you do it I am in awe!! And, total change of topic you mentioned way back before you left you have a kid who struggles with letter formation and spelling – so do I. Anything that has helped? Thank you!
Great questions and I will make sure to answer both of them in an upcoming post!
Have a wonderful trip home, Elisabeth!
I hope the journey back is smooth and that it feels good to be back in your own space again.
Thanks, friend! It’s hard to believe we’re back on Canadian soil!
Safe travels!
You mentioned at some points that Belle or Indy needed some quiet alone time – how did you communicate around this? As in, did you check in with them, was this something you thought about beforehand etc? I’m interested as we’re looking at longer travel (3ish weeks) next year and this might be needed!
Also, I think you mentioned Indy sleeping on the sofa in the living room – how did that work with your and John’s evenings?
Thanks.
Great questions and I’ll follow-up with more details on both in the next week or two!
Safe travels and happy re-entry!
It might be fun for each of you to choose a single moment that you’ll remember forever and ever. Safe trip home, and happy re-entry into “normal” life. You’ll all be happy to see your friends!
Yes! My bestie is coming to pick us up at the airport in a few hours (we were supposed to fly direct to Halifax but ended up having to connect through Toronto so we’re getting in a few hours later than expected).
Godspeed!
You’ve stayed in big cities on your travels- what are the advantages there compared to your hometown?
Do you think this adventure will make your family more adventurous/bold/confident in the long run?
Thank you for giving us this European virtual tour!
Thanks and I LOVE both of these questions. They’re so insightful and I’m already thinking through my answers!
Have a safe trip home!
Safe travels, my friend! xoxoxo
Oooh here’s a question, best coffee or pastry? Where was it and what was it?
LOVE this because I LOVE thinking about food. I will have to ponder this and I might have to cheat and give a few answers!!!
Traveling mercies to you and your family, Elisabeth!
Is there one locale that all of you hope to visit again?
I definitely have an answer to your question (it’s a yes, and I’ll get more specific in a future post).
Wow what an adventure! Safe travels home. I hope the trip back to Nova Scotia is boring and routine and that your bed feels like home when you get there.
What were the moments/ habits/ routines that you had that made your trip feel like home on the road? And what were the moments that most felt like you were in a foreign country.
I would love to hear stories about any memorable people you met or who helped you along the way or interactions that you had.
Also – I’m all about the packing! I would love a packing deep dive and post-mortem. Especially for the kids (if they’ll let you!)
Transit is one place I always hope for things to be BORING. Mostly, it has been. Our flight got cancelled, but thankfully we were re-routed automatically. So we’re getting home about 4 hours later than expected. All things considered, that’s not too bad!
I will follow up about all these things in a future post (or two).
Aren’t you glad you left the polka-dotted jumpsuit at home? (because I want to say “told you so!”)
Are you sick of your clothes and can’t wait to get reacquainted with your wardrobe at home?
Is there anything you wish you had done differently—packing, sightseeing, length of stays, amount of countries, anything?
Ha. I AM glad. I don’t think I would have worn it much at all.
I’ll answer all the rest of the questions in a future post <3
What is everyone’s favorite souvenir that they picked up?
I will have to think on this on myself and will poll the kids and report back.
I’m excited that you’re on your way home!!! It also feels kind of surreal- like I almost can’t imagine you back in Nova Scotia now! I guess my question would be kind of along the lines of…. what were your top favorite experiences? And, looking back, is there anything you wish you’d done differently?
SAFE TRAVELS!!!
I can’t believe it either! It literally feels unbelievable.
Ohhh. Great questions. I’ve been pondering both things and will write… a lot about both things in due time.
Wishing you a safe and easy return home and good luck settling back in. If you had to move from Nova Scotia permanently and settle in one of the countries you visited which would it be and why? More controversially, you will be aware of the trope that Britain is “broken”. Based on what you saw while you were here, and on the continent, and your normal life in Canada, what truth, if any, is there in this idea?
That IS controversial, but I am prepared to tackle it.
We’re almost home. Just about to board our final flight. Hooray.
Safe travels! I imagine there is a bit of sense of relief to be returning home but that is influenced by my extreme need for comfort/familiarity/routines.
I’d love to know your top 1-2 places you visited and the bottom 1-2!
There is definitely relief. I’ve been calling it sadness, but I honestly think it’s more like fear? Or uncertainty. It’s been such a big thing on the horizon for the last 6 months and an organizing force to everything and now it’s done. Feels a bit like completing a marathon and then wondering what’s next?
But I am excited to settle back in and am feeling very grateful.
Have a safe trip home! And I hope the transition back to your home life will be an easy one… although I’d expect it to take a little bit of readjustment.
My questions would be: which place felt most foreign and which place felt closest to home? Also, did you have a “highlight” that stands out above all else?
I’ll be curious to see what the adjustment feels like vs. shorter trips we’ve taken (when I always feel the adjustment acutely).
Safe travels! My question – do you have a most memorable sushi dinner of the trip?
Ha. A GREAT question. We do love sushi. I have an answer that almost answers your question, but you’ll have to stay tuned.
Thanks, i will be very interested in your opinions on both questions.
Your family’s adventures are so inspiring! If you were to do it again, but instead make it a 6 month adventure, what would you differently?
I will be back with an answer 🙂
First time commenter but I’ve been loving the trip reports! I’d love a recap listing where you spent the 110 days in order! And if there are any locations in particular that you think would work well for a solo non-driving traveler. Specific, I know haha.
Oh! I can easily answer the first, and can’t wait to think through the second and discuss on the blog.
Safe travels Elisabeth. I’d like to know what the biggest differences were in travelling for an extended period compared to your previous European trips. Was it the same but longer or did you do things differently?
Thanks! We are home.
Will be back another time with my thoughts…
Thank you for sharing your trip with us! Like others, I’m interested in your favorite/least favorite places of the trip. I also have another question. We have a tween and teen and have been wanting to do a first family trip to Europe. It would be more of the 2 week variety, not such an epic adventure as yours. We are a family that loves nature and adventure. That being said, I wonder if from the places you visited, what would be your recommendations for a first family trip to Europe? My husband and I have been to various places in Europe long ago, but this would be a first trip for the kids.
I can’t wait to think through and answer these questions!!!
If you could do a similarly paced trip (with or without kids), what’s another continent/region you’d want to visit? AND, after doing this trip, DO you want to do something similar elsewhere, even if it’s way down the road?
Awesome question, Sara! Will answer it soon!
I hope your travels home were safe and uneventful. I suppose the only question I would have had would be: Would you do it again?
But honestly, I’m fairly certain I know the answer to this. 😍
I think I know what you’re guessing the answer would be, and you’d be right 🙂