Ron and Jaimi: Around the World in 9 months

Traveling and Volunteering the World in 2016

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John, one of Ron’s best buds, and his wife, Shawnee, came to hang with us in Tuscany! We stayed in the most beautiful villa on a vineyard near San Miniato.

We had an absolute blast eating, drinking and touring the country side with these two!! We rode tandem bikes in Lucca (beautiful), had private wine tastings, made our way to Florence where Ron navigated the narrow streets, layed by the infinity pool, and got lost in Siena;) 

Our trip has come to an end in the most perfect of ways: harvesting grapes on a small Tuscan vineyard. Maybe this is Ron’s new calling?! 

We can’t believe 9 months have come and gone. We are looking forward to our next adventure: planning our wedding!! 

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Rome was our next stop and we really thank Rick Steves for helping us maximize our time. We saw all the highlights, went on a food tour through Trastevere, went to the Vatican... then made our way to Positano.

If you make it to Italy, head to the Amalfi Coast. Positano was remarkable. Chic, beautiful, amazing pizza and seafood, beautiful boats... This is a “must return” town.

Traveling with Katie and Daniel was the best!! Let’s do a repeat, k?!

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ITALY (Aug 31-Sept 26)

One of my dearest friends Katie and her husband, Daniel, met us on the trip for two weeks!! We met up with them in Monterroso, Cinque Terre, after a few days in Venice (which is really beautiful). We spent a day hiking between Monterroso, Vernazza, and Riomaggiore. We probably started too late and were expecting something a bit easier, but it was a great workout with spectacular views, lunch at the top of a cliff overlooking Vernazza, and little treasures along the way (like men squeezing fresh lemonade and playing the accordion). The second day we hired a boat and coasted the length of the five towns--beautiful.

From there, we made our way to Florence, and were completely surprised to find the most beautiful of cities. We went on a wine tour through Tuscany and wish we had an extra day to explore the city. Be forewarned, if you want to go to a major cathedral in Italy, cover your shoulders and knees, ladies! Katie and I were denied entry. haha. Photo cred: Katie Dickman. Thanks babe!!

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Linz->Bad Ischl->Hallstatt->Vienna, AUSTRIA (Aug 25-31)

Once again we drove across the country: from Salzburg to Linz, down to Hallstatt and through the Alps to Vienna. Austria is a beautiful country! We absolutely loved exploring Linz for a day and passing the time with high tea. We wanted to stay in Hallstatt, but upon arrival, quickly found out all hotels/B&Bs have been booked months in advance. So, after a few hours of searching the area, we found a beautiful hotel in Bad Ischl. I think it was the perfect city for us: we stumbled upon folkloric music, walked the river, ran along the river, and Ron ate a meat salad (please ask him for details!). We made our way to the top of Dachstein Mountain for an ice cave tour and views from the 5-finger look-out, which were both spectacular. In the summer, a live pianist plays in the ice cave once a week (we missed it but thought it would be a unique experience for the first 15 minutes). After exploring, we made our way about 3 hours east to Vienna: a city with grandeur architecture, old patisseries, some wine tasting, friendly people, and a bomb ass Mexican restaurant!! We were so, so happy to have some spicy food and legit margaritas; a little taste of home:)

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MUNICH->BAVARIA->SALZBURG (AUG 20-25)

We drove the autobahn!!! Ron and I both reached 250km/h (~125mph) and we were being passed! Ha. Our two-seat convertible Mercedes was perfect to drive through Bavaria for a half-day to see Neuschwanstein Castle. 

From Munich, we made our wait to Salzburg: a city of beauty and history. We hiked to the fortress that dates back to 1100, where Jaimi shot a cross-bow and hit the bulls-eye. Twice. After a day of walking through the narrow streets, we found a micro-brewer and ate dinner at a beer-hall. It felt like we were back in Portland!

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Cont. WENGEN, SWITZERLAND (Aug 13-20)

Thank you Mom/Bev and Stubbs for graciously providing us with a week in Wengen, Switzerland!!! We had the most amazing time and hope you’ll join us one day! I’m not sure a town gets more picturesque than this: swiss alps, mountain view, deep valleys, cows in backyards, clean street (there’s only one main street in town), no cars, millions of hikes, and delicious fondue. 

We can’t wait to return!!

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WENGEN, SWITZERLAND (Aug 13-20)

Most magical place on earth! We fell in love with Switzerland and can’t wait to return some winter season. We hiked everyday for 3 hours with a vertical incline of 2,000+ feet. It was fantastic and challenging and beautiful. We saw many a glacier, saw avalanches, walked through cow pastures high in the Alps, took a train up to 11,400′ to Jungfraujoch (couldn’t go outside because it was a whiteout), drank Evian from the tap, and ate fondue! Switzerland is the best. So fresh and so clean. 

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MIJAS, SPAIN (July 26-August 2)

Mama Mags graciously gifted us a week in Mijas, Spain, where Ron and I, Mama Mags, Gisela (her dear friend/”third daughter”), and our dear friend, Leslie, all gathered in a very Spanish home with a pool just 20 minutes from Malaga. Purely by coincidence, Gisela’s Aunt, Uncle and two cousins live in Mijas! We had quite the treat of being shown around the mountain village and beach towns by locals: we ate paella and sardines at the beach (very typical), had a four-hour dinner that ended at midnight in the heart of Mijas, were graciously hosted to a typical Spanish bbq at the family’s home and it was delicious! Including tortilla espanola, gazpacho, gambas, fantastic ham (as was commented) from pigs that are fed hazelnuts, lots of local wine, wonderful conversation and phenomenal views. 

Leslie, Ron and I took a day-trip to Granada to visit Alhambra (a palace dating back ~1,000 years). Turns out, Granada is REALLY hot during an August day. We decided not to wait in the extremely long line and walk around the city a bit more. We were impressed with our two and a half hour drive there and the amount of olive groves. The mountains and vistas were beautiful. 

The following day, the three of us took a nice hike up above Mijas that lent a stunning view of the surrounding area and Mediterranean sea. We were surprised by the amount of development and population of these “little” towns. 

The week was filled with lots of sangria (if you need a recipe, let me know. I received complements by a Spaniard, so I think that gives me credibility;), laughs, lounging, great food, warm and welcoming people and an unforgettable time together. 

Thanks again Mom!

And Leslie, thank you so much for coming to Spain!

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Continued...

PARIS, FRANCE (July 18-26)

Here are more pictures from our Parisian tour. 

We fell in love with the Palace of Versailles. Tried escargot and liked it! Thought about returning to Moulin Rouge for a second time because we had so much fun. My mom and I went on a dessert tour through St. Germain and purchased some of the finest (and most privileged) chocolate in the world, along with lemon tarts, opera cakes, seasonal macarons and champagne, of course. (Take me back!) And toured the Louvre for three hours. Just enough time to see two exhibits;)

Paris is such a magical city. 

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Paris, France!  

Ron’s dad and Jaimi’s mom joined us for a week in Paris.  

We saw all the main highlights:  Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Arc, Versailles, a river cruise, Musee de l’Orange, Moulin Rouge, and so many great dinners.  

Ron (or Rene in French as Maggie started calling dad!) and Maggie treated us to an incredible engagement dinner on the rooftop of a museum that has a one-of-a-kind view of the Eiffel Tower.  We saw the daily lighting of the Tower at dusk.

Myself and Jaimi each took our mom or dad for a special day.  I took dad on a bike ride around the city, and Jaimi and her mom spent their day at a wedding dress boutique!

All told, dad’s pedometer had us walking over 55 miles during the week.  Between walking, Uber, and the Metro, we think we covered every square mile of Paris....but so much more to explore in this incredible city and we will for sure be back.

After a week, we said goodbye to Paris.  Next country: Spain!

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Continued...

FRANCE: CHAMPAGNE to NICE (JULY 4-18) 

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FRANCE: CHAMPAGNE to NICE (JULY 4-18)

We spent two weeks driving from: Paris to Reims, exploring Champagne country; making our way south to Beaune and Beaujolais in Burgundy; exploring Lyon (loved Mama Shelter); watching two days of Tour de France in Montpellier; catching part of the Tour in Mont Ventoux; staying at a beautiful B&B in Caderousse (La Bastide de Princes); exploring old Roman ruins and tasting amazing Cotes du Rhone and Chateaneuf du Papes in Rhone; and ending in Nice.

Our two weeks were filled with some of the most gorgeous countryside, spectacular food, crazy delicious and inexpensive wine, personal wine tastings in vintners’ homes, gracious and hospitable French people, super smooth and quiet freeways where everyone drives at least 100mph, and too many stories to write down on the blog. Some of which include celebrating Ron’s birthday in Champagne and Burgundy with champagne (and wine) tastings and a 7-course dinner in the Abbaye de Maizieres, originally owned by the Monks of Maizieres Abbey from 1301 until the French Revolution. Historical, beautiful, intimate...everything we love.

We arrived into Nice two days after the horrible attack. We walked the promenade and we were amazed and reassured by the resiliency of the people of Nice and the human spirit, as people began to go about their daily lives and not let fear paralyze them.

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (June 11-14)

We’re ENGAGED!!! After a camel ride into the sunset and a romantical private dinner on our back patio, Ron asked me to marry him with a bespoke ring he had made in Bali<3 I have never felt so much love in my heart for someone and I cannot wait to marry him and make him mine! <3 <3 <3

We happened to visit Dubai during Ramadan, a period of time when it’s prohibited to eat or drink in public from sun-up to sun-down. Fortunately, we were staying in a resort on a private reserve that offered food and water all day long, but going into the city was a bit different. All restaurants are closed during the day and you could actually be fined if caught even drinking water. Fantastic cultural experience. 

Burj Kalifa, the tallest building in the world, can be seen from 50 miles away (that’s a Jaimi fact, but seriously, it’s soooooo tall)!! We saw the indoor ski slopes and you were transported to a ski chalet, not unlike Timberline Lodge. Everything is large and opulent. Oh, and if you’re Emirate, the government gives you a house and $20,000 for getting married! Not a bad deal. And they pay no taxes. Ever. #oilmoney They also have zero crime. Please notice the gold dress and necklaces displayed in a window in the gold market. There are no cameras, no security guards, nor security windows. The dress is worth about $35M alone. #ifoundmyhappyplace

Al Maha, where we stayed on a desert conservation reserve, was a resort we will visit again. It was so incredibly beautiful!! With orxy and gazelles lounging in front of our door, we felt worlds away from civilization; it was a welcomed finish to the end of our first leg of our round-the-world-tour.

It’s home with the pups for two weeks and off to Europe!

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First Class on Emirates Airlines....thank you Alaska Airline Mileage Plan!  Only regret, we should have taken more than one shower.  

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This is quite the montage of pics. Here we are in Koh Yao Noi, Thailand, Hong Kong with Dennis and Lori, Ubud, Bali, and Singapore with Shane!! Too many stories to fit into this one post. But suffice it to say, we loved it all and would return to each place in a heart beat.

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ISAAN, THAILAND Cont...

Guys. Sorry it’s taken so long to add this post but Tumblr has not wanted to upload photos very easily.. but here are the last of our time volunteering in Northern Thailand:) On our last day of classes, we were surprised with presents and cards from students--they literally handmade envelopes for our cards, drew us photos and Mook (one that showed up to class morning and afternoon) painted me a little dog and gave me a tiny gold doll because she knows it’s my favorite color. <3  We were then presented with a traditional Bicee ceremony to bring our soul back to our body for safe travels. Each person wraps a string around our wrists and wishes the bad spirits away and then wishes us something personal for us, like safe travels, or happy life, good health. The day brought us to tears because our hearts were full of love. It is a day we will never forget.

Our host family is pictured above. Bea, on the far right is the mother of Pianpa and Dragon and her sister, Fai, is the second-in on the left. They are two of ten kids, but they are the ones that have returned to their childhood home to take care of their mother. One of their sisters, Somai, has been living in Japan for ten years and is now moving to the US with her American husband, so she happened to come for a last visit while we were volunteering. Somai brought lots of great energy to the house and spoke great English so we were able to learn quite a bit more about the family and the town. Because she’s a yoga instructor, we were also able to practice yoga twice a day for the majority of our stay--we were very grateful, especially since working out outside is not an option (for cultural and environmental reasons). They treated us like family and we became accustomed to Bea’s cooking (well me more so than Ron), playing with Dragon (board games or at the river), going to the market in another town, and teaching English to them every night for an hour, which even included a quick tutorial in self-defense! Since there is no “man of the house”, Bea and Fai feel vulnerable in the town, which is why they rarely venture out of the house. We felt the need to teach them (and the kids) a few basics in protecting themselves. They are simply very kind and good-hearted people, but if I have learned anything on this trip, people are survivors and I am certain this family will continue to be happy and love their lives--no matter their situation or circumstances. We definitely learned as much as we taught during these three weeks.