Podcasts about travel stories

Send us a message!Welcome to the 1st of the year special episode. Alex & Annie are kicking off 2026 by looking back at the moments that shaped 2025, the lessons they're carrying forward, and the intentions guiding the year ahead.They share how the podcast evolved over the past year, including more on site recordings and conference conversations than ever, plus why storytelling is becoming a bigger advantage for vacation rental brands right now. You'll also hear Alex's personal announcement, perfectly timed for the Year of the Horse, and the top episodes of 2025 that listeners loved most.Episode Chapters:00:00 Welcome to the First Episode of 2026  01:05 Why This Annual Episode Matters  02:45 Reflecting on the Moments That Defined 2025  06:10 Taking the Podcast On Site and Into Conferences  08:50 Travel Stories, Italy, and Unexpected Highlights  13:20 What's Coming in 2026 for the Podcast  16:45 Words of the Year and Personal Intentions  27:30 Alex' Personal Announcement and New Chapter  35:50 The Top Episodes of 2025  52:10 Gratitude, Community, and Looking AheadWhat's your Word of the Year for 2026? Send Alex and Annie a message on LinkedIn. They genuinely want to hear what you're focusing on this year.✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully.Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value).

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: When New Year's Laughter Warms a Wintry Budapest Night Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2025-12-31-08-38-20-hu Story Transcript:Hu: Budapest télies hangulatban pompázott.En: Budapest was dazzling in its wintry atmosphere.Hu: A hópelyhek lassan szitáltak a városra, mintegy mesebeli tájjá varázsolva azt.En: The snowflakes slowly sifted over the city, transforming it into a fairy-tale landscape.Hu: A történelmi gyógyfürdők körül vidám zsongás hallatszott, ahogy mindenki a meleg medencék felé tartott.En: Around the historic thermal baths, a cheerful buzz could be heard as everyone headed towards the warm pools.Hu: Ezen a különleges napon, Szilveszter estéjén, Bálint, Eszter és Zsófia a gőzölgő fürdők felé indultak.En: On this special day, New Year's Eve, Bálint, Eszter, and Zsófia set off towards the steaming baths.Hu: Bálint szerette volna, ha minden tökéletes lenne.En: Bálint wanted everything to be perfect.Hu: Már napok óta tervezgette, hogyan tölthetnék ezt az estét.En: He had been planning for days how they could spend this evening.Hu: "Nyugodt, pihentető este lesz" - mondogatta magában.En: "It will be a calm, relaxing night," he kept telling himself.Hu: Eszter, Bálint energikus unokatestvére, azonban más terveket szövögetett.En: Eszter, Bálint's energetic cousin, had different plans in mind.Hu: Ő mindig szerette a spontaneitást, és sosem féltett hirtelen változtatni a terveket.En: She always loved spontaneity and was never afraid to change plans suddenly.Hu: Zsófia, a társaság csendes tagja, csak mosolyogva követte őket.En: Zsófia, the quiet member of the group, followed them with a smile.Hu: Számára mindegy volt, hogy mi történik, amíg jó barátai körében lehetett.En: It didn't matter to her what happened as long as she was in the company of good friends.Hu: Ahogy beléptek a fürdőbe, Eszter izgatottan javasolta: "Menjünk először a legforróbb szaunába!En: As they entered the bath, Eszter excitedly suggested, "Let's go to the hottest sauna first!"Hu: " Bálint egy pillanatra tétovázott, de Eszter már húzta is magával.En: Bálint hesitated for a moment, but Eszter was already dragging him along.Hu: "Mi baj történhetne?En: "What could go wrong?"Hu: " - gondolta.En: he thought.Hu: A szaunában forróság fogadta őket.En: In the sauna, they were greeted by intense heat.Hu: Az izzadtság patakokban folyt le róluk, de a hangulat emelkedett volt.En: Sweat was streaming down their bodies, but the atmosphere was exhilarating.Hu: Eszter váratlanul kitalálta, hogy próbáljanak ki egy különleges jeges szauna-rituálét.En: Suddenly, Eszter came up with the idea of trying a special ice sauna ritual.Hu: Bálint kissé aggódva követte unokatestvérét és Zsófiát.En: Bálint, slightly worried, followed his cousin and Zsófia.Hu: "Majd meglátjuk" - próbálta magát nyugtatni.En: "We'll see," he tried to calm himself.Hu: A jeges fürdő után hirtelen jött a baj.En: After the ice bath, trouble struck suddenly.Hu: Eszter véletlenül felrúgta a jeges vödört, amiből a víz mindhármukra borult.En: Eszter accidentally kicked over the bucket of ice water, which spilled onto all three of them.Hu: Az egyik fürdőző hangosan felnevetett, és hamarosan az egész szauna kacagásban tört ki.En: One of the bathers laughed out loud, and soon the entire sauna erupted in laughter.Hu: Még Bálint is, aki az elején nem találta viccesnek, mosolyogva felnevetett.En: Even Bálint, who hadn't found it funny at first, joined in with a smile and a laugh.Hu: Ez az apró, komikus baleset feloldotta az összes feszültséget.En: This small, comical mishap dissolved all the tension.Hu: Bálint rájött, hogy a tökéletes szilveszteri élmény nem a precíz tervezéstől függ.En: Bálint realized that the perfect New Year's Eve experience didn't depend on precise planning.Hu: Az igazi öröm abban rejlik, hogy azokkal van körülvéve, akiket szeret, és képes nevetni a váratlan pillanatokon.En: The real joy lay in being surrounded by those he loved and being able to laugh at unexpected moments.Hu: A nap végén, miközben a hó ismét szállingózott kint, a barátok vidáman és elégedetten hagyták el a fürdőt.En: At the end of the day, as the snow began to fall once again outside, the friends left the bath cheerfully and content.Hu: Bálint mosolyogva nézett Eszterre és Zsófiára: "Ez a nap sokkal különlegesebb lett, mint azt valaha is tervezhettem volna.En: Bálint looked at Eszter and Zsófia with a smile: "This day turned out to be much more special than I could have ever planned."Hu: "A fürdők fényei elhalványultak mögöttük, de szívükben tudták, hogy ez a nap a nevetésről, a szeretetről és az élet kiszámíthatatlan szépségeiről szólt.En: The lights of the baths faded behind them, but in their hearts, they knew this day was about laughter, love, and the unpredictable beauty of life. Vocabulary Words:dazzling: pompázottwintry: téliesatmosphere: hangulatsifted: szitáltakfairy-tale: mesebelilandscape: tájhistoric: történelmithermal baths: gyógyfürdőkcheerful: vidámbuzz: zsongássteaming: gőzölgőspontaneity: spontaneitáshesitated: tétovázottexhilarating: emelkedettritual: rituálétslightly: kisséworry: aggódvacomical: komikusmishap: baleseterupted: kacagásban tört kimystical: varázsolvacontent: elégedettenmoment: pillanatokonunexpected: váratlaninviting: fogadtadissolved: feloldottarealized: rájöttprecise: precízsurrounded: körülvéveunpredictable: kiszámíthatatlan

Fluent Fiction - Danish: New Year's Revelations: Journeys Begin in Nyhavn's Glow Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-12-30-23-34-02-da Story Transcript:Da: Det var en kold, klar nat i Nyhavn.En: It was a cold, clear night in Nyhavn.Da: De farverige huse langs kanalen var pyntet med lys, der glitrede i den frosne luft.En: The colorful houses along the canal were decorated with lights that glittered in the frosty air.Da: Folk i varme frakker travede hen over brostenene, og spændingen i luften kunne mærkes.En: People in warm coats trudged over the cobblestones, and the excitement in the air was palpable.Da: Det var nytårsaften, og byen summede af forventning til fyrværkeriet ved midnat.En: It was New Year's Eve, and the city buzzed with anticipation for the fireworks at midnight.Da: Kasper gik langs kanalen.En: Kasper walked along the canal.Da: Han trak vejret dybt og nød den kolde luft.En: He took a deep breath and enjoyed the cold air.Da: Han havde rejst over hele verden, men denne nat trak ham tilbage til København.En: He had traveled the world, but this night drew him back to København.Da: Det var længe siden, han havde vandret i Nyhavns gader.En: It had been a long time since he had wandered the streets of Nyhavn.Da: Pludselig stødte han ind i Lærke.En: Suddenly, he bumped into Lærke.Da: En gammel ven, en del af en tid han næsten havde glemt.En: An old friend, part of a time he had almost forgotten.Da: Hendes ansigt lyste op ved synet af ham.En: Her face lit up at the sight of him.Da: "Kasper!"En: "Kasper!"Da: råbte hun, og de omfavnede hinanden.En: she shouted, and they embraced.Da: De vendte hen mod bænkene ved vandet.En: They turned towards the benches by the water.Da: Kasper stirrede ud over det isede vand, der svagt bølgede under lysene.En: Kasper stared out over the icy water, which gently waved under the lights.Da: "Hvordan går det med dig, Lærke?"En: "How are you doing, Lærke?"Da: spurgte han.En: he asked.Da: Han kunne ikke undgå at bemærke hendes modne, sikre fremtoning.En: He couldn't help but notice her mature, confident demeanor.Da: "Det går godt," svarede hun med et smil, men Kasper kunne høre en længsel i hendes stemme.En: "I'm doing well," she replied with a smile, but Kasper could hear a longing in her voice.Da: Hun havde bygget en stabil karriere i byen, men noget syntes ubestridt inde i hende.En: She had built a stable career in the city, but something seemed unsettled within her.Da: Mens klokken nærmede sig midnat, talte de om gamle minder og vejene de havde valgt.En: As the clock approached midnight, they talked about old memories and the paths they had chosen.Da: Kasper fortalte om bjergene, junglerne, byerne han havde set.En: Kasper spoke of the mountains, jungles, and cities he had seen.Da: Lærke lyttede, fascineret men også tænksom.En: Lærke listened, fascinated but also thoughtful.Da: "Jeg har altid ønsket at se verden," sagde hun blødt.En: "I've always wanted to see the world," she said softly.Da: Da fyrværkeriet endelig begyndte, steg de farverige glimt op mod nattehimlen og lyste deres ansigter op.En: When the fireworks finally began, colorful flashes rose toward the night sky and lit up their faces.Da: I de halvt oplyste øjeblikke mødtes deres øjne.En: In the half-lit moments, their eyes met.Da: "Måske burde du tage imod denne chance," sagde Kasper over den buldrende lyd af fyrværkeri.En: "Maybe you should take this chance," Kasper said over the booming sound of fireworks.Da: Lærke nikkede langsomt.En: Lærke nodded slowly.Da: "Og måske burde du blive her lidt," svarede hun, hendes stemme var fast, men mild.En: "And maybe you should stay here a while," she replied, her voice firm yet gentle.Da: "Find et sted at høre hjemme."En: "Find a place to call home."Da: Fyrværkeriet eksploderede i et kalejdoskop af farver, og i dette øjeblik traf de deres beslutninger.En: The fireworks exploded in a kaleidoscope of colors, and in that moment, they made their decisions.Da: Kasper følte noget indeni ham falde til ro.En: Kasper felt something inside him settle.Da: Han ville blive her.En: He would stay.Da: Se, hvad København havde at tilbyde ham.En: See what København had to offer him.Da: Og Lærke, inspireret af Kaspers rejsefrygtløshed, besluttede at tage det første skridt.En: And Lærke, inspired by Kasper's fearless travels, decided to take the first step.Da: De planlagde en tur sammen, starten på hendes eventyr uden for det kendte.En: They planned a trip together, the start of her adventure beyond the familiar.Da: Nyhavn, som altid havde været der, stod som et symbol på deres nye begyndelser.En: Nyhavn, as it had always been, stood as a symbol of their new beginnings.Da: Mens de gik væk fra kanalen, hånd i hånd, vidste de begge, at deres liv netop havde ændret sig på denne kolde vinternat.En: As they walked away from the canal, hand in hand, they both knew that their lives had just changed on this cold winter night. Vocabulary Words:trudged: travedepalpable: mærkesanticipation: forventningbumped: stødteembraced: omfavnedemature: modnedemeanor: fremtoninglonging: længselunsettled: ubestridtapproached: nærmedefascinated: fascineretthoughtful: tænksomflashes: glimtbooming: buldrendefirm: fastgentle: mildexploded: eksploderedekaleidoscope: kalejdoskopdecisions: beslutningersettle: falde til rofearless: rejsefrygtløshedadventure: eventyrbeyond: uden forfamiliar: kendtesymbol: symbolbeginnings: begyndelserwandered: vandretdecorated: pyntetfrosty: frosnecanal: kanalen

Have you ever been on an aircraft and though "what is that smell?!" Well in today's story that we are revisitng, one poor passenger was at the nose end of a horrific whiff after a cabin crew member made some misjudgements about his comfort level!We're revisiting the story that won Ally a nomination for best blooper at the One Voice Awards USA 2025!If you like escaping into funny short stories, audio fiction based on true stories, or are just interested in the lives of those who work in aviation - this is the podcast for you!Send us a text! If you'd like a reply, please leave an email or numberWe would really appreciate it if you take 1 minute to leave a quick review. It really helps our podcast become more visible on all the platforms so we can reach more people! Thank you. Kaylie has written 6 other fictional novels about the lives of cabin crew! Amazon UKAmazon USABarnes and NobleSupport the showThe Red Eye Podcast is written by Kaylie Kay, and produced and narrated by Ally Murphy.To subscribe to the monthly newsletter and keep up to date with news, visit www.theredeyepod.com. Or find us on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok & Instagram @theredeyepod, for behind the scenes stories and those funny short stories that only take a minute or less!If you'd like to support the podcast you can "buy us a beer" and subscribe at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2310053/support, we'd be happy to give you a shout out on our newsletter!Ally Murphy is a former flight attendant, and a British voice over artist based in the USA, visit www.allymurphy.co.ukKaylie Kay is a flight attendant and author based in the UK. You can find more of her work at www.kayliekaywrites.comTo buy The Red Eye's first book click on the following links:Amazon UK Amazon USABarnes and Noble Other E Book Platforms

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: Santorini Treasures: Discovering Unique New Year's Gifts Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2025-12-27-23-34-02-nl Story Transcript:Nl: De zon scheen fel op de witte muren van Santorini, waar Thijs, Anouk, en Bram samen door de levendige straten liepen.En: The sun shone brightly on the white walls of Santorini, where Thijs, Anouk, and Bram walked together through the lively streets.Nl: De lucht was gevuld met de geur van rozemarijn en basilicum.En: The air was filled with the scent of rosemary and basil.Nl: De drie vrienden hadden een missie: de perfecte nieuwjaarscadeaus vinden.En: The three friends were on a mission: to find the perfect New Year's gifts.Nl: Thijs voelde zich een beetje zenuwachtig.En: Thijs felt a bit nervous.Nl: Hij wilde iets speciaals voor zijn familie mee naar huis nemen.En: He wanted to bring something special home for his family.Nl: Maar waar te beginnen?En: But where to begin?Nl: Overal om hen heen waren kraampjes met kleurrijke sjaals, handgemaakte sieraden en keramiek dat glom in het zonlicht.En: All around them were stalls with colorful scarves, handmade jewelry, and ceramics shimmering in the sunlight.Nl: Anouk was daarentegen vrolijk en gepassioneerd.En: Anouk, on the other hand, was cheerful and enthusiastic.Nl: Ze genoot van de drukte.En: She loved the bustle.Nl: “Kom op, Thijs,” zei ze, “laten we vragen wat Bram aanbeveelt.En: “Come on, Thijs,” she said, “let's ask what Bram recommends.Nl: Hij kent deze plek als geen ander.” Bram, de vriendelijke lokale winkelier, lachte en leidde hen door de smalle straten.En: He knows this place like no other.” Bram, the friendly local shopkeeper, laughed and guided them through the narrow streets.Nl: "Volg mij maar," zei hij.En: "Just follow me," he said.Nl: Zijn winkel was gevuld met bijzondere vondsten.En: His shop was filled with unique finds.Nl: Stuk voor stuk vertelde hij verhalen over de lokale cultuur en tradities van Santorini.En: Piece by piece, he told stories about the local culture and traditions of Santorini.Nl: Binnen in een kleine werkplaats spraken de kleuren en texturen voor zich.En: Inside a small workshop, the colors and textures spoke for themselves.Nl: Thijs hield halt voor een rek met prachtig handgemaakte vazen en aardewerk.En: Thijs paused in front of a rack with beautifully handmade vases and pottery.Nl: De gedetailleerde patronen leken wel stukjes van de zee zelf.En: The detailed patterns seemed like fragments of the sea itself.Nl: Hij voelde zich direct verbonden met deze kunstwerken.En: He felt an immediate connection to these artworks.Nl: Bram legde uit dat deze stukken waren gemaakt door een lokale kunstenaar, die elke vaas met liefde creëerde.En: Bram explained that these pieces were made by a local artist, who lovingly created each vase.Nl: Thijs wist dat hij de juiste keuze maakte.En: Thijs knew he had made the right choice.Nl: Hij voelde geen twijfel meer.En: He felt no doubt anymore.Nl: Deze vazen hadden de essentie van Santorini gevangen.En: These vases had captured the essence of Santorini.Nl: Met zorg pakte Thijs zijn aankopen in.En: With care, Thijs packed his purchases.Nl: Hij glimlachte, opgelucht dat hij iets unieks had gevonden, iets dat zijn familie oprecht zou waarderen.En: He smiled, relieved to have found something unique, something his family would truly appreciate.Nl: Anouk knikte goedkeurend en sloeg een arm om zijn schouder.En: Anouk nodded approvingly and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.Nl: "Je hebt het geweldig gedaan, Thijs," zei ze.En: "You did great, Thijs," she said.Nl: Toen de avond viel, liepen ze terug naar hun verblijf.En: As evening fell, they walked back to their lodging.Nl: De zee glinsterde in het maanlicht.En: The sea glittered in the moonlight.Nl: Thijs voelde zich anders, vol vertrouwen.En: Thijs felt different, full of confidence.Nl: Hij had geleerd dat vragen om hulp niet erg is.En: He had learned that asking for help is okay.Nl: Soms leidde het tot de mooiste ontdekkingen.En: Sometimes it leads to the most beautiful discoveries.Nl: Met de zekerheid dat zijn familie deze nieuwjaar een stukje Santorini zou proeven, keek Thijs uit naar hun gezichten als zij hun geschenken uitpakten.En: With the assurance that his family would taste a bit of Santorini this New Year, Thijs looked forward to their faces as they unwrapped their gifts.Nl: En Anouk, met een tevreden glimlach, wist zeker dat dit avontuur hen voor altijd zou bijblijven.En: And Anouk, with a satisfied smile, knew that this adventure would stay with them forever. Vocabulary Words:shone: scheenlively: levendigescent: geurbasil: basilicumenthusiastic: gepassioneerdbustle: drukteshopkeeper: winkelierguided: leiddenarrow: smalleunique: bijzondereworkshop: werkplaatstextures: texturenpottery: aardewerkdetailed: gedetailleerdefragments: stukjescaptured: gevangenessence: essentiepacked: pakterelieved: opgeluchtlodging: verblijfglittered: glinsterdeassurance: zekerheidunwrap: uitpakkenpurchase: aankopenrecommend: aanbeveeltconfidence: vertrouwenappreciate: waarderencrafted: creëerdeadventure: avontuurcheerful: vrolijk

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Santorini's Secrets: Discover the Art of Meaningful Gifting Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-12-27-23-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: सर्दियों की नर्म धूप में सजी-संवरी संटोरिनी की गलियाँ और बाज़ार खुशियों की रंगीन चमक से ओतप्रोत थे।En: In the gentle winter sunlight, the streets and markets of Santorini were brimming with the colorful glow of happiness.Hi: सफेद घरों और नीले गुम्बदों के बीच, एक नई पुरानी कहानी बन रही थी, और अर्जुन उसका अहम हिस्सा था।En: Amidst the white houses and blue domes, a new old story was forming, and Arjun was an essential part of it.Hi: अर्जुन, एक खुर्दबीन यात्रानी, जो नई जगहों की सच्ची कहानी और आत्मा को समझने की चाह रखता था, अपने दोस्तों के लिए यादगार नववर्ष के उपहार ढूंढ रहा था।En: Arjun, an avid traveler, eager to understand the true stories and essence of new places, was looking for memorable New Year's gifts for his friends.Hi: अर्जुन ने सोचा, "यहाँ हर चीज़ की अपनी पहचान, अपनी कहानी छुपी है।"En: Arjun thought, "Everything here has its own identity, its own hidden story."Hi: लेकिन जैसे-जैसे वो रंगीन दुकानों से गुजरा, उसकी आँखें अनगिनत विकल्पों से उलझ गईं।En: But as he passed through the colorful shops, his eyes were overwhelmed by the countless options.Hi: Bazaar में चमकती चीज़ों की इतनी भरमार थी कि कौन सा चुनें, यह तय करना मुश्किल था।En: The abundance of shining things in the bazaar made it difficult to decide what to choose.Hi: समय भी तेज़ी से बीत रहा था, शाम ढलने पर सभी दुकानों को बंद होना था।En: Time was also flying by; all the shops were to close as evening approached.Hi: तभी अर्जुन को एक कोने में एक बुजुर्ग माली दिखाई दिया, जो खुशबूदार हाथ से बना साबुन बेच रहा था।En: Just then, Arjun noticed an elderly artisan in a corner selling fragrant handmade soaps.Hi: अर्जुन ने सोचा, "यही सही वक्त है जानने का कि इन चीज़ों के पीछे की कहानी क्या है।"En: Arjun thought, "This is the right moment to discover the story behind these things."Hi: अर्जुन पास जाकर बूढ़े माली से संवाद करने लगा।En: Arjun went over and began conversing with the old artisan.Hi: उन्होंने बताया कि यह साबुन पारंपरिक रीतियों से बनाया जाता है, हर टुकड़ा सुगंध और मेहनत का धीमा संगीत बाड़ता है।En: He explained that the soap is made using traditional methods, each piece exuding the slow music of fragrance and labor.Hi: साबुन की हर गांठ में संतोरिनी के नीले समुद्र और सफेद बर्फ सरीखे मोतियों की याद समाहित थी।En: Each bar of soap encapsulated the memory of Santorini's blue seas and pearl-like white snow.Hi: अर्जुन की आँखों में चमक थी, लेकिन उसकी जेब में सीमित रकम थी।En: Arjun's eyes sparkled, but his pocket held limited money.Hi: उसने जल्दबाज़ी से कोई मामूली वस्तु लेने की बजाय, सही में संतोरिनी की आत्मा को अपनाने का फैसला किया।En: Instead of hurriedly buying some trivial item, he decided to embrace the true essence of Santorini.Hi: उसने साबुन का वो खास टुकड़ा खरीदा, जो उसकी दोस्तों के लिए एक सच्चा तोहफा था।En: He bought that special bar of soap, a true gift for his friends.Hi: बाज़ार के उजाले में सांझ ढलने लगी। अर्जुन ने अंतिम साँस तक महसूस किया कि उसने केवल एक वस्तु नहीं, बल्कि एक जज़्बा, एक कहानी खरीदी है।En: As the twilight began to descend on the bustling bazaar, Arjun realized he had purchased not just an item, but a sentiment, a story.Hi: उसे महसूस हुआ, असली महत्व एक छोटी सी चीज़ की सांस्कृतिक स्तुति और व्यक्तिगत पहचान में है।En: He felt the true significance lies in the cultural tribute and personal identity of a small thing.Hi: अब अर्जुन के पास उपहार थे, जो अपनी अनोखी कहानियों से उसके दोस्तों को भी सौगात देंगे, ठीक उसी तरह जैसे संटोरिनी ने उसे अपनी कहानियों से भर दिया था।En: Now, Arjun had gifts that would offer his friends their own unique stories, just as Santorini had filled him with its tales. Vocabulary Words:gentle: नर्मsunlight: धूपbrimming: ओतप्रोतessence: आत्माmemorable: यादगारidentity: पहचानabundance: भरमारfragrant: खुशबूदारartisan: मालीtraditional: पारंपरिकencapsulated: समाहितpearl: मोतीsparkled: चमकtrivial: मामूलीembrace: अपनानेheritage: सांस्कृतिकsignificance: महत्वtribute: स्तुतिdescending: ढलनेbustling: हलचलsentiment: जज़्बाoverwhelmed: उलझcountless: अनगिनतoptions: विकल्पोंbazaar: बाज़ारconversing: संवादmethods: रीतियोंlabor: मेहनतtwilight: सांझsignificance: महत्व

From street food to fine wine, this lively group conversation explores the rich, diverse, and often misunderstood world of African cuisine through the eyes (and appetites) of seasoned travelers, writers, and food experts. Our guests share personal travel stories, cultural insights, and memorable meals from across the African continent — from communal barbecue traditions and local produce to food safety tips, traditional breakfasts, and iconic flavors like Amarula and South African wines. The discussion highlights how history, colonial influence, geography, and local ingredients shape regional foodways, while emphasizing why the term “African food” barely scratches the surface. With stories ranging from home-cooked meals to adventurous street food encounters, this episode is a flavorful reminder that understanding a destination often begins at the table.

Fluent Fiction - French: An Unforgettable Winter Adventure at Mont Saint-Michel Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2025-12-25-08-38-20-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Mont Saint-Michel se dresse majestueux dans le froid hivernal.En: Mont Saint-Michel stands majestically in the winter cold.Fr: Ses ruelles pavées sont décorées de petites guirlandes lumineuses pour Noël.En: Its cobbled streets are decorated with small Christmas lights.Fr: Étienne, Lucie et Amandine marchent ensemble.En: Étienne, Lucie, and Amandine walk together.Fr: Le vent glacial effleure leur visage.En: The icy wind grazes their faces.Fr: Étienne tient fermement son appareil photo, prêt à capturer chaque coin mystérieux de l'île.En: Étienne holds his camera firmly, ready to capture every mysterious corner of the island.Fr: Il sait que ces photos seront les pièces maîtresses de son projet.En: He knows that these photos will be the centerpieces of his project.Fr: Mais, soudain, il ressent une démangeaison intense.En: But suddenly, he feels an intense itch.Fr: « Lucie, je crois que j'ai une réaction allergique, » murmure-t-il, une pointe d'anxiété dans sa voix.En: "Lucie, I think I'm having an allergic reaction," he murmurs, a hint of anxiety in his voice.Fr: Sa peau rougit et ses yeux commencent à gonfler.En: His skin turns red and his eyes start to swell.Fr: Étienne essaie de se concentrer, mais l'allergie s'aggrave.En: Étienne tries to focus, but the allergy worsens.Fr: Il respire difficilement.En: He has trouble breathing.Fr: Lucie, toujours prévoyante, sort rapidement une trousse de secours de son sac.En: Lucie, always prepared, quickly pulls a first-aid kit from her bag.Fr: « Prends ça, » dit-elle en lui tendant un antihistaminique.En: "Take this," she says, handing him an antihistamine.Fr: Sa voix est douce mais ferme.En: Her voice is soft but firm.Fr: Étienne avale le comprimé, reconnaissant.En: Étienne swallows the pill, grateful.Fr: Amandine, une guide locale, les regarde avec inquiétude.En: Amandine, a local guide, watches them with concern.Fr: « Je vais appeler de l'aide, » propose-t-elle, sortant son téléphone.En: "I will call for help," she suggests, taking out her phone.Fr: Même si elle connaît chaque pierre de Mont Saint-Michel, aujourd'hui, elle a un rôle différent : l'aider en cas d'urgence.En: Even though she knows every stone of Mont Saint-Michel, today, she has a different role: to assist in an emergency.Fr: Alors qu'ils attendent l'assistance médicale, Étienne ressent peu à peu l'effet du médicament.En: As they wait for medical assistance, Étienne gradually feels the effect of the medication.Fr: Lucie essuie doucement la sueur froide de son front.En: Lucie gently wipes the cold sweat from his forehead.Fr: « Merci, Lucie.En: "Thank you, Lucie.Fr: Et toi aussi, Amandine, » dit-il timidement, reconnaissant.En: And you too, Amandine," he says shyly, grateful.Fr: Après un moment, ils reçoivent la confirmation que de l'aide est en route.En: After a while, they receive confirmation that help is on the way.Fr: Entre-temps, l'antihistaminique agit.En: In the meantime, the antihistamine takes effect.Fr: Étienne reprend peu à peu ses esprits.En: Étienne gradually regains his composure.Fr: « Je dois terminer ces photos, » dit-il, une nouvelle détermination dans le regard.En: "I have to finish these photos," he says, a new determination in his eyes.Fr: Avec l'aide de Lucie et Amandine, il parvient à capturer les clichés parfaits du Mont Saint-Michel.En: With the help of Lucie and Amandine, he manages to capture the perfect shots of Mont Saint-Michel.Fr: Les décorations de Noël ajoutent un charme unique aux images.En: The Christmas decorations add a unique charm to the images.Fr: La journée se termine par un doux coucher de soleil, teinté de couleurs roses et orangées sur les pierres froides.En: The day ends with a gentle sunset, tinged with pink and orange colors on the cold stones.Fr: Étienne regarde les deux femmes à ses côtés.En: Étienne looks at the two women beside him.Fr: « Merci d'être là, » avoue-t-il avec un sourire sincère.En: "Thank you for being here," he admits with a sincere smile.Fr: Il apprend ce jour-là que demander de l'aide n'est pas un signe de faiblesse.En: He learns that day that asking for help is not a sign of weakness.Fr: Au contraire, c'est un geste de force et confiance.En: On the contrary, it is a gesture of strength and trust.Fr: Ensemble, ils rentrent à l'hôtel, le cœur léger et les souvenirs pleins de beauté.En: Together, they return to the hotel, their hearts light and their memories full of beauty.Fr: Mont Saint-Michel, en dépit du froid, lui a offert une leçon précieuse et des photos inoubliables.En: Mont Saint-Michel, despite the cold, has offered him a valuable lesson and unforgettable photos. Vocabulary Words:majestic: majestueuxthe cold: le froidthe cobbled streets: les ruelles pavéesdecorated: décoréesthe Christmas lights: les guirlandes lumineusesto graze: effleurerfirmly: fermementto capture: capturerthe centerpiece: les pièces maîtressesthe itch: la démangeaisonthe allergic reaction: la réaction allergiqueto swell: gonflerto worsen: s'aggraverthe first-aid kit: la trousse de secoursthe antihistamine: l'antihistaminiqueto swallow: avalergrateful: reconnaissantthe concern: l'inquiétudethe emergency: l'urgencethe medical assistance: l'assistance médicalethe medication: le médicamentto wipe: essuyerthe sweat: la sueurthe confirmation: la confirmationthe determination: la déterminationthe shot (photo): le clichéthe sunset: le coucher de soleiltinged: teintédespite: en dépit dethe weakness: la faiblesse

  This week on Traveling Culturati, we're diving into what's happening now and what's ahead in the world of travel. We kick things off with Travel News, covering the latest updates and stories travelers should have on their radar. Next, we explore Travel Stories and Trends for 2025, breaking down what's shaping how and where we travel in the coming year. We're joined by Sally Kertes, who shares insider tips on Christmas markets to start planning for in 2026, from festive favorites to must-visit destinations worth adding to your future travel list. We'll also have Ja'Vonne's Travel Minute and The Culture Report featuring host and travel pro Ja'Vonne Harley!

Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Reunions and Revelations Amidst Machu Picchu's Ruins Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2025-12-24-23-34-02-es Story Transcript:Es: El sol ardía intensamente sobre Machu Picchu, bañando las ruinas en una luz dorada.En: The sun burned intensely over Machu Picchu, bathing the ruins in a golden light.Es: Las nubes se desplazaban lentamente, creando sombras que jugaban entre las antiguas piedras.En: The clouds moved slowly, creating shadows that played among the ancient stones.Es: Mateo caminaba despacio, admirando el paisaje verde que rodeaba el sitio histórico.En: Mateo walked slowly, admiring the green landscape surrounding the historical site.Es: Inhaló profundamente, dejando que el aire puro llenara sus pulmones.En: He inhaled deeply, letting the pure air fill his lungs.Es: Allí, en aquel lugar mágico, estaba por reunirse con sus amigos de la infancia, Lucía y Carlos.En: There, in that magical place, he was about to reunite with his childhood friends, Lucía and Carlos.Es: Mateo, un maestro de historia dedicado, llevaba meses sintiéndose desconectado de ellos.En: Mateo, a dedicated history teacher, had been feeling disconnected from them for months.Es: Lucía, siempre en busca de nuevas historias, viajaba constantemente.En: Lucía, always in search of new stories, traveled constantly.Es: Carlos, sepultado por su trabajo en la ciudad, añoraba los días más simples de su juventud.En: Carlos, buried in his work in the city, longed for the simpler days of his youth.Es: La Navidad se acercaba, y esto parecía la excusa perfecta para reconectar.En: Christmas was approaching, and it seemed like the perfect excuse to reconnect.Es: Se encontraron en una parte abierta de la ciudadela, donde las terrazas verdes se extendían hasta donde alcanzaba la vista.En: They met in an open part of the citadel, where the green terraces stretched as far as the eye could see.Es: "¡Mateo!"En: "¡Mateo!"Es: gritó Lucía mientras lo abrazaba con entusiasmo.En: shouted Lucía as she embraced him enthusiastically.Es: Carlos llegó poco después, con una sonrisa que iluminaba su rostro.En: Carlos arrived shortly after, with a smile that lit up his face.Es: Juntos, formaban un grupo unido por viejas memorias.En: Together, they formed a group united by old memories.Es: La charla se animó mientras caminaban por las ruinas, pero Mateo sentía una tensión interna, un peso de antiguas discusiones que no le permitía disfrutar plenamente.En: The conversation livened as they walked through the ruins, but Mateo felt an internal tension, a weight of old arguments that didn't allow him to fully enjoy.Es: Las responsabilidades del trabajo también lo mantenían cautivo, dificultando su capacidad para estar presente.En: The responsibilities of work also kept him captive, making it difficult for him to be present.Es: Al llegar la noche, improvisaron una pequeña cena navideña entre las piedras milenarias.En: As night fell, they improvised a small Christmas dinner among the ancient stones.Es: Mateo miró a sus amigos, sus caras iluminadas por la luz suave de las linternas.En: Mateo looked at his friends, their faces illuminated by the soft light of lanterns.Es: Algo dentro de él decidió que era tiempo de hablar.En: Something inside him decided it was time to speak.Es: "Necesito decirles algo", comenzó, su voz apenas un murmullo que el viento se llevaba.En: "I need to tell you something," he began, his voice barely a murmur carried by the wind.Es: "He estado sintiendo cierta distancia.En: "I've been feeling a certain distance.Es: No solo entre nosotros, sino también conmigo mismo.En: Not just between us, but also with myself.Es: El trabajo me ha alejado de ustedes, y quisiera cambiar eso."En: Work has pulled me away from you, and I want to change that."Es: Carlos inclinó la cabeza, comprendiendo de inmediato, mientras Lucía le tomó la mano en un gesto de apoyo.En: Carlos tilted his head, understanding immediately, while Lucía took his hand in a gesture of support.Es: "Estamos aquí", respondió ella, con una calidez que traspasó las frías piedras.En: "We're here," she responded, with a warmth that passed through the cold stones.Es: "Este lugar no solo guarda historias, también puede ser el inicio de nuevas."En: "This place not only holds stories, but it can also be the start of new ones."Es: Mateo sonrió al ver cómo fluían las palabras sinceras, dejando que el pasado se desvaneciera como las sombras al caer la noche.En: Mateo smiled as sincere words flowed, allowing the past to fade away like shadows at nightfall.Es: Las historias del día dieron paso a risas, y sus voces resonaron con fuerza en los corredores de piedra.En: The day's stories gave way to laughter, and their voices resonated strongly in the stone corridors.Es: Con el cielo estrellado sobre ellos, una paz renovada envolvió al grupo.En: With the starry sky above them, a renewed peace enveloped the group.Es: Mateo comprendió que había algo más valioso que sus logros académicos: la conexión y el amor de sus amigos.En: Mateo realized there was something more valuable than his academic achievements: the connection and love of his friends.Es: Machu Picchu, con su majestuosidad silenciosa, había sido el escenario perfecto para sanar viejas heridas y abrir nuevas puertas.En: Machu Picchu, with its silent majesty, had been the perfect setting to heal old wounds and open new doors.Es: El reencuentro terminó con Mateo abrazando la calidez de la amistad recuperada.En: The reunion ended with Mateo embracing the warmth of the regained friendship.Es: Las antiguas ruinas susurraban cuentos de tiempos pasados mientras sus corazones se llenaban de promesas del futuro.En: The ancient ruins whispered tales of bygone times as their hearts filled with promises of the future.Es: Mateo había encontrado en ese paseo no solo historia, sino también un camino de regreso a lo esencial.En: Mateo had found not just history in that walk, but also a path back to the essential. Vocabulary Words:the ruins: las ruinasthe clouds: las nubesthe stones: las piedrasthe landscape: el paisajethe childhood: la infanciathe citadel: la ciudadelathe terraces: las terrazasthe shadows: las sombrasto inhale: inhalarthe historical site: el sitio históricothe lungs: los pulmonesthe youth: la juventudto embrace: abrazarenthusiastically: con entusiasmothe memories: las memoriasinternal: internathe tension: la tensiónthe responsibilities: las responsabilidadesto improvise: improvisarthe lanterns: las linternasa murmur: un murmulloto carry: llevarto tilt: inclinarto resonate: resonarthe corridors: los corredoresthe majesty: la majestuosidadto heal: sanarthe wounds: las heridasthe warmth: la calidezto whisper: susurrar

TISS is a weekly podcast where Varun, Kautuk, Neville & Aadar discuss crazy "facts" they find on the internet. Come learn with them... or something like that.This week, the boys are wrapping up this brilliant year with 'The best of 2025'To support TISS, check out our Instamojo: www.instamojo.com/@TISSOPFollow #TISS Shorts where we put out videos: https://bit.ly/3tUdLTCYou can also check out the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify and Google podcast!https://shorturl.at/hfQZXhttp://apple.co/3neTO62http://spoti.fi/3blYG79http://bit.ly/3oh0BxkCheck out the TISS Sub-Reddit: https://bit.ly/2IEi0QsCheck out the TISS Discord: / discord  Buy Varun Thakur's 420 Merch - http://bit.ly/2oDkhRVSubscribe To Our YT Channels:Varun - https://bit.ly/2HgGwqcAadar - https://bit.ly/37m49J2Kautuk - https://bit.ly/3jcpKGaNeville - https://bit.ly/2HfYlWyFollow Us on Instagram:Varun -   / varunthakur  Aadar -   / theaadarguy  Kautak -  / cowtuk  Neville -  / nevilleshahChapters:  00:00 Cold Open 00:23 Intro Packaging 00:32 Intro 00:48 Sad Aadar 01:33 Personal Recaps 01:57 Time Flying Faster 02:52 Varun's Life-Changing Year 03:12 Banksy Chronicles 06:27 Aadar's Yearly Recap 07:56 Kautuk's Yearly Recap 13:13 Bawa's Recap 13:48 Wild Maa Kasam Shows 16:00 The Boys & Ponds 18:25 Global Yearly Recap 19:45 L&T Founder & 72-Hour Workweek 21:23 Ragebait: Word of the Year 22:31 Dhruv Rathee & Dhurandhar 24:49 Weaponized Ragebait 27:07 Apology Trend 28:05 Slow Internet Content 28:45 Jan: Saif Stabbing 31:45 Feb: Latent Controversy 35:20 Mar: India Wins ICC Trophy 38:06 Apr–May: Pahalgam & Operation Sindoor 41:50 May: Gokhale Bridge & Mumbai Roads 45:54 June: Air India Plane Crash 47:54 July: Tariff Wars 50:48 Aug: Nothing Much 51:12 Sept: Nepali Gen-Z Protests 53:18 Oct: Diwali 53:30 Nov: Women's World Cup Win 55:04 Dec: AQI Trouble 58:01 Dec: Indigo Fiasco 59:42 Katy Perry in Space 01:00:29 Dec: The Messy Tour 01:00:54 Movies of 2025 Recap 01:01:08 Loving Dhurandhar 01:01:50 2025 Re-Releases 01:02:29 Top 10 Movies (India) 01:04:10 Sujeet Cinematic Universe 01:05:32 The Saiyara Sadness 01:10:02 Top-Grossing Hollywood Film 01:11:16 The Minesweeper Movie 01:11:56 #1 Movie: Ne Zha 2 01:14:10 Best Hollywood Movies 01:15:16 Aadar's Movie Taste 01:17:21 Top 10 Hollywood Films 01:18:29 OG Spy Catching Trick 01:20:59 Labubu Craze 01:21:48 Recession & Being Broke 01:23:14 Dubai Chocolate Trend 01:25:06 Short Trend Lifecycles 01:25:47 Matcha Obsession 01:26:50 Varun Loves Tofu 01:27:44 Mamdani in New York 01:28:41 Ozempic Trend 01:32:24 Power of Manifestation 01:35:12 Coldplay Kiss Cam 01:39:06 Taylor Swift Engaged 01:40:16 Psychedelic Mushroom Testing 01:42:46 Airport Betting on Venice 01:43:45 The Fighter Pilot 01:45:16 Travel Stories 01:48:25 Unstoppable Fart Machine 01:50:53 Outro 01:52:53 Post-Credit with BawaThumbnail - Anjali Handa

Festivus 2025 Episode 70: Show Notes Keywords Festivus, travel, airlines, loyalty programs, grievances, travel stories, miles, points, travel achievements, travel miracles Summary Our Annual Festivus Tradition continues! In this episode, we celebrate Festivus with special guest JT Genter, discussing our travel experiences. We air our grievances with airlines and loyalty programs, we share our feats of strength and celebrate our Festivus miracles. Break out your festivus pole and join us as we reflect on the past year. Key Points From This Episode: 00:00 Intros 03:53 Airing of Grievances 28:18 Feats of Strength 56:42 Festivus Miracles 01:11:44 Wrapping Up

In today's episode, we're revisiting a short story from last year - because it aired on Christmas Eve last year and didn't get the listens it deserved!This story is about Ally, who was destined to spend Christmas in Johannesburg with her slightly rubbish boyfriend who was also a flight attendant. She decided to try make the best of the situation and arranged for the crew to visit an orphanage to give the children there gifts. But she ended up with a whole new perspective on life.Being cabin crew around Christmas isn't the best. You're often alone in a hotel room whilst your family celebrate without you. So this episode is a reminder that no matter how you celebrate, every day on this planet is a gift - so make the most of every opportunity!If you like escaping into short stories, audio fiction based on true stories, or are just interested in the lives of those who work in aviation - this is the podcast for you!Send us a text! If you'd like a reply, please leave an email or numberWe would really appreciate it if you take 1 minute to leave a quick review. It really helps our podcast become more visible on all the platforms so we can reach more people! Thank you. Kaylie has written 6 other fictional novels about the lives of cabin crew! Amazon UKAmazon USABarnes and NobleSupport the showThe Red Eye Podcast is written by Kaylie Kay, and produced and narrated by Ally Murphy.To subscribe to the monthly newsletter and keep up to date with news, visit www.theredeyepod.com. Or find us on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok & Instagram @theredeyepod, for behind the scenes stories and those funny short stories that only take a minute or less!If you'd like to support the podcast you can "buy us a beer" and subscribe at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2310053/support, we'd be happy to give you a shout out on our newsletter!Ally Murphy is a former flight attendant, and a British voice over artist based in the USA, visit www.allymurphy.co.ukKaylie Kay is a flight attendant and author based in the UK. You can find more of her work at www.kayliekaywrites.comTo buy The Red Eye's first book click on the following links:Amazon UK Amazon USABarnes and Noble Other E Book Platforms

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: The Snowman Stunt: A Christmas Card Adventure in Vigelandsparken Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2025-12-23-23-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Vigelandsparken lå stille under et tynt lag av snø.En: Vigelandsparken lay quietly under a thin layer of snow.No: Himmelen var grå, men til og med de dystre skyene kunne ikke skjule skjønnheten i de mange statuene.En: The sky was gray, but even the gloomy clouds couldn't hide the beauty of the many statues.No: Turister gikk rundt med kameraer, ivrige etter å fange noen minner av parken.En: Tourists walked around with cameras, eager to capture some memories of the park.No: Blant dem gikk Lars, klønete og morsom i sitt snømannskostyme.En: Among them walked Lars, clumsy and funny in his snowman costume.No: Han holdt et stort kamera og hadde en plan om å lage årets beste julekort.En: He held a large camera and had a plan to make the best Christmas card of the year.No: Lars elsket julen.En: Lars loved Christmas.No: Han hadde bestemt seg for at årets kort skulle være noe helt spesielt.En: He had decided that this year's card should be something completely special.No: Derfor hadde han på seg dette gigantiske, komiske snømannkostymet.En: Therefore he wore this gigantic, comical snowman costume.No: Problemet var bare at han nesten ikke kunne bevege seg.En: The only problem was that he could hardly move.No: "Det er så kaldt!En: "It's so cold!"No: " klaget Lars og viftet med armene.En: complained Lars as he waved his arms.No: "Og jeg kan nesten ikke se noe!En: "And I can hardly see anything!No: Hvordan skal jeg ta et bilde av meg selv?En: How am I supposed to take a picture of myself?"No: "Eva og Sven, hans lojale venner, lo og ristet på hodet.En: Eva and Sven, his loyal friends, laughed and shook their heads.No: "Du er sprø, Lars," sa Sven med et smil.En: "You're crazy, Lars," said Sven with a smile.No: "Men vi skal hjelpe deg.En: "But we'll help you."No: "Lars så seg rundt, håpet at en idé ville komme til ham.En: Lars looked around, hoping that an idea would come to him.No: Statuene så ut til å stirre tilbake, nesten som om de også moret seg over hans skumle situasjon.En: The statues seemed to stare back, almost as if they were also amused by his tricky situation.No: Til slutt fikk Lars øye på en sokkel uten statue.En: Finally, Lars spotted a pedestal without a statue.No: Kanskje, tenkte han, han kunne stå der og få det perfekte bildet?En: Maybe, he thought, he could stand there and get the perfect picture?No: "Kan dere løfte meg opp dit?En: "Can you lift me up there?"No: " spurte han Eva og Sven.En: he asked Eva and Sven.No: "Er du sikker?En: "Are you sure?"No: " spurte Eva skeptisk.En: asked Eva skeptically.No: "Det ser farlig ut.En: "It looks dangerous."No: ""Det vil bli perfekt!En: "It will be perfect!"No: " insisterte Lars.En: insisted Lars.No: Med mye latter og fomling fikk de løftet Lars opp på sokkelen.En: With much laughter and fumbling, they managed to lift Lars onto the pedestal.No: Han stilte opp kameraet på et stativ og satte timeren.En: He set up the camera on a tripod and set the timer.No: "Kom nærmere!En: "Come closer!"No: " ropte Lars til vennene sine.En: shouted Lars to his friends.No: "Vi skal være på bildet sammen.En: "We should be in the picture together."No: "De satte seg ved sokkelens kant mens timeren tikket ned.En: They sat by the edge of the pedestal as the timer counted down.No: Så kom øyeblikket.En: Then came the moment.No: Kameraet klikket.En: The camera clicked.No: Men idet Lars lener seg fremover, mister han balansen og faller rett av sokkelen og ned i snøen.En: But as Lars leaned forward, he lost his balance and fell right off the pedestal into the snow.No: Eva og Sven kunne ikke annet enn å le.En: Eva and Sven couldn't help but laugh.No: Lars lå i en snødrift, med snøhatt og kost i alle retninger.En: Lars lay in a snowdrift, with snow hat and broom in all directions.No: Det var langt fra det perfekte bildet Lars hadde sett for seg, men i det øyeblikket forstod han noe viktig.En: It was far from the perfect picture Lars had imagined, but at that moment he understood something important.No: De uventede øyeblikkene var ofte de beste, dem som ble minnet for livet.En: The unexpected moments were often the best, those that became memories for life.No: "Greit, dette er den beste julegaven," lo Lars, fortsatt liggende i snøen.En: "Okay, this is the best Christmas gift," laughed Lars, still lying in the snow.No: "En jul jeg aldri vil glemme!En: "A Christmas I'll never forget!"No: "Lars kikket opp mot statuene som fortsatt sto majestetiske og uforstyrrede.En: Lars looked up at the statues that still stood majestic and undisturbed.No: Han smilte, lettet over å innse at perfeksjon ikke alltid var nødvendig, spesielt ikke i julen.En: He smiled, relieved to realize that perfection wasn't always necessary, especially not at Christmas.No: Det ufullkomne fikk til tider en selvsagt plass i hjertet.En: The imperfect sometimes found a natural place in the heart. Vocabulary Words:stare: stirreclumsy: klønetegloomy: dystregigantic: gigantiskecomical: komiskepedestal: sokkellean: lenebalance: balansesnowdrift: snødriftmajestic: majestetiskeundisturbed: uforstyrrederelieved: lettetimperfect: ufullkomnecostume: kostymetripod: stativtimer: timerenskeptically: skeptiskamused: moretcapture: fangeeager: ivrigememories: minnercapture: fangeunexpected: uventedeclosure: avslutninggift: gaveloyal: lojalefumbled: fumletsnowfall: snøfalllaugh: leperfect: perfekte

In this episode, news editor Johanna Jainchill talks about how we review and select the stories in our annual Year in Review report, which looks at the biggest and most impactful stories of the year. And then she and host Rebecca Tobin talk about what made 2025 so unique, from "choppy" markets to how people booked travel, to Las Vegas' occupancy woes, to Southwest's business-model changes, to cruising’s destination island expansion -- and more. This episode was recorded Dec. 11 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.aflk.biz Related reports 2025: The Year in Review https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/2025-year-in-review See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin and yoga instructor Robyn Fitzpatrick share their stories about how they fell in love with this unique practice while travelling. You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠X: ⁠@becreativkev

Episode 69: Show Notes Trevor and Thomas are the ultimate travel friends, and part of what makes their trips so memorable is that they both maximize the journey as much as the destination! Today on Travel Stories, we are doing something a little bit different; we are breaking down the ins and outs of planning a guy's trip so that you, too, can make your next trip about the journey, not just the destination! In this episode, you'll hear all about how Thomas and Trevor decided where to go on this trip, some of their award searching strategies, the breakthrough that led to their location decision, and so much more! We delve into their lounge experiences before Thomas tells us about his disappointing trip home and the obstacles they faced with regard to hotel availability. They even talk about the three different award tickets they ended up with on this trip. Finally, our hosts tell us why so many of their trips are planned ‘at the last minute' and how they each use their miles differently. Thanks for tuning in! Key Points From This Episode: [01:04] Today's topic: what planning a guy's trip looks like and why we're talking about this. [04:24] Deciding where to go on this trip and how wide our aperture was for it. [08:19] The power of using multi-city codes on Seats.aero and how we do award searching. [12:35] The breakthrough that came from a Seats.aero alert and ultimately choosing Malta. [17:42] Their lounge crawl at London Terminal Three and their other lounge experiences. [19:19] An overview of the heartbreak they experienced when booking their trip home.  [23:45] The importance of looking at different currencies when booking trips.  [28:12] The obstacles that Trevor and Thomas ran into when booking hotels.  [36:51] How they ended up with three different award tickets on this trip.  [40:22] Some of the other trips we are planning and why there is always so much uncertainty. [43:00] Why the value of miles is so unique to the person and how we use them differently. 

Country singer-songwriter Mark Mackay joins The Travel Wins Podcast to share his journey through thousands of shows, iconic venues, and endless miles on the road.In this episode, Mark talks about:·         How travel influences his songwriting·         Staying authentic in today's music industry·         The stories behind songs like “Old Songs and Old Trucks”·         Balancing creative growth with staying true to your rootsIf you love American roots music, country-rock, and real conversations about life on the road, this episode delivers.

#195 - A bull charges, a crowd roars, and a young teacher in Mexico says yes to the ring. That same man later sleeps on a bare floor in Juarez with his dog, ships bags at night, and turns a sketch into a company people chase through airports. Meet Dave Munson, founder of Saddleback Leather, whose path blends risk, faith, and relentless craft into a life that refuses shortcuts.We dig into the moment he drew the first “Indiana Jones” bag, why strangers wouldn't stop asking for it, and how a $100 apartment, bus-station pickups, and stubborn standards turned into a brand with a 100-year warranty. Dave shares blunt truths on pricing and materials, the discipline behind quality control, and the sacrifices most never see—waiting to marry, choosing grit over comfort, and protecting a business from the quiet temptations of cutting corners. His leadership lessons are disarmingly personal: court your spouse, encourage everyone, and help others win. Success, he argues, starts at home.Faith threads through everything. Dave talks about praying boldly for “the coolest,” from a 1971 Land Cruiser rack to a headquarters built from compressed leather bales. He explains how purpose shapes operations—building a factory in Mexico, launching a homeschool program for employees' kids, reopening an English institute, and sponsoring students in Rwanda and Uganda. Travel becomes marketing with a soul: crocs tug-of-war on a bag, shark dives on a honeymoon, and a simple stopover hack that turns Africa routes into Morocco detours at no extra cost.We close by redefining adventure. Dave bans the word in branding and lives it instead: choose the unknown, trust that you'll figure it out, and let curiosity steer the map. If you care about craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, service, and stories that actually happened, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves quality over hype, and leave a review with your favorite takeaway—what bold step are you ready to take next?To learn more about Dave and maybe get yourself or a loved one a gift check out www.saddlbackleather.com and you can follow him on Instagram as well @saddlebackbags.Be sure and follow me on Instagram as well to see some clips from the show and to get to know the personal side of yours truly! Check out @journeywithjakepodcast. Want to be a guest on Journey with Jake? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Visit LandPirate.com to get your gear that has you, the adventurer, in mind. Use the code "Journey with Jake" to get an additional 15% off at check out. Visit geneticinsights.co and use the code "DISCOVER25" to enjoy a sweet 25% off your first purchase.

Fluent Fiction - Korean: When Dreams Brew: A Cozy Encounter in Seoul Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-12-11-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 따뜻한 겨울날, 눈이 포슬포슬 내리는 거리.En: On a warm winter day, snow was gently falling on the streets.Ko: 크리스마스가 다가오면서 서울의 거리는 반짝이는 조명으로 가득 찼다.En: As Christmas approached, the streets of Seoul were filled with sparkling lights.Ko: 커피 로스터리의 문을 열고 들어가면 따뜻한 공기와 커피 향기가 코끝을 간지렸다.En: Opening the door to the coffee roastery, the warm air and coffee aroma tickled my nose.Ko: 내부는 나무 기둥과 부드러운 조명으로 아늑한 분위기를 자아냈다.En: The interior, with its wooden pillars and soft lighting, created a cozy atmosphere.Ko: 즐거운 대화 소리와 크리스마스 음악이 흘러나와 마음을 편안하게 했다.En: The sounds of happy conversations and Christmas music played, putting the mind at ease.Ko: 민서는 바리스타 유니폼을 입고 일을 하고 있었다.En: Minseo was working in a barista uniform.Ko: 그녀의 마음속에는 항상 카페를 여는 꿈이 있었다. 하지만 현실은 그리 녹록지 않았다.En: She always had a dream of opening her own cafe, but reality was not so easy.Ko: 돈이 필요했고, 실패에 대한 두려움도 컸다.En: She needed money, and the fear of failure was significant.Ko: 오늘은 마음이 더 무거웠다.En: Today, her heart felt even heavier.Ko: 그때, 문이 열리고 한 남자가 들어왔다.En: At that moment, the door opened, and a man walked in.Ko: "지원아!" 민서가 큰 소리로 외쳤다.En: "Jiwon!" Minseo shouted loudly.Ko: 지우는 여행 작가로 일을 하던 친구였고 오랜 해외여행을 마치고 돌아온 터였다.En: Jiu, who was a travel writer friend, had just returned from a long overseas trip.Ko: 우연한 만남에 두 사람 모두 놀라며 반가워했다.En: Both were surprised and delighted by the chance meeting.Ko: "민서야, 정말 오랜만이다! 어떻게 잘 지냈어?" 지우는 따뜻한 미소로 물었다.En: "Minseo, it's really been a long time! How have you been?" Jiu asked with a warm smile.Ko: "응, 그럭저럭. 바쁜 하루하루야. 넌 여행은 어땠어?" 민서는 커피를 준비해주며 물었다.En: "Well, so-so. Every day is busy. How was your trip?" Minseo asked while preparing coffee.Ko: 둘은 커피 한 잔씩 들고 커피 로스터리의 한쪽 구석에 앉았다.En: The two took a coffee each and sat in a corner of the coffee roastery.Ko: 지우는 세계 곳곳을 다니며 경험했던 이야기를 들려주었다.En: Jiu shared stories of his experiences traveling around the world.Ko: 민서는 그런 지원이 부럽기도 하고 대단하게 느껴졌다.En: Minseo felt both envious and impressed by him.Ko: "나 요즘 카페를 열고 싶은데, 겁도 나고 어떻게 시작해야 할지 모르겠어," 민서는 조심스럽게 말문을 열었다.En: "I want to open a cafe these days, but I'm scared and don't know where to start," Minseo cautiously began to speak.Ko: "그럼 시작해봐. 넌 충분히 할 수 있어. 내가 마신 커피 중 네가 만든 커피가 최고야," 지원이 격려의 말을 했다.En: "Then start. You can definitely do it. Out of all the coffee I've had, the one you make is the best," Jiwon encouraged her.Ko: 지우 역시 고민이 있었다.En: Jiu also had his own concerns.Ko: "나는 다시 떠날지, 여기 머무를지 결정해야 해. 근데 이렇게 친구들과 함께 있는 게 좋기도 해."En: "I need to decide whether to leave again or stay here. But it's nice to be with friends like this."Ko: 문득 두 사람은 서로가 서로에게 영감이 된다는 걸 깨달았다.En: Suddenly, they both realized that they were inspirations to each other.Ko: 민서는 지원의 말을 듣고 조금씩 자신감이 생겼다.En: Minseo, listening to Jiwon's words, slowly started gaining confidence.Ko: "맞아, 작은 것부터 시작해보자."En: "Yes, let's start with something small."Ko: 지우는 마음의 결정을 내렸다.En: Jiu made a decision at heart.Ko: "그래, 나도 여기 더 있어보려 해. 네 카페 시작과 함께 이야기로 기록할 만큼 충분히 가치 있는 것 같아."En: "Yes, I want to stay here longer. Starting your cafe seems worthy enough to record as a story."Ko: 배경 음악이 커피 로스터리 안을 감싸고, 밖의 겨울 공기는 차가웠지만 두 사람의 마음은 따뜻했다.En: The background music enveloped the coffee roastery; although the winter air outside was cold, their hearts were warm.Ko: 민서는 작은 목표를 가지고 나아가기로 했고, 지원은 고향에서의 삶을 기록하기로 했다.En: Minseo decided to move forward with a small goal, and Jiwon decided to document life back home.Ko: 그날 이후 민서는 작은 카페 계획을 시작했으며, 지우는 민서의 이야기를 대한민국 사람들에게 전달하는 글을 썼다.En: From that day onward, Minseo began planning her small cafe, and Jiu wrote about Minseo's story to share with the people of Daehanminguk.Ko: 서로의 꿈과 속마음을 나눈 두 사람, 이제는 한층 더 믿음을 쌓아갔다.En: Having shared their dreams and innermost thoughts, the two built a greater trust.Ko: 이렇게 민서와 지원은 각각 자신들의 길을 찾고 있었다.En: Thus, Minseo and Jiwon were each finding their own paths.Ko: 그들이 만든 새로운 길은 그들이 함께 나눈 대화 속에서 시작되었다.En: The new paths they created started from the conversations they shared together.Ko: 그리고 그 길은 이전보다 훨씬 더 활짝 열린 듯 했다.En: The road seemed much more widely open than before. Vocabulary Words:gently: 포슬포슬sparkling: 반짝이는roastery: 커피 로스터리aroma: 향기pillars: 기둥atmosphere: 분위기barista: 바리스타fear: 두려움heavy: 무거운delighted: 반가워했다experiences: 경험envious: 부럽다impressed: 대단하다cautiously: 조심스럽게encouraged: 격려concerns: 고민realized: 깨달았다inspirations: 영감confidence: 자신감worthy: 가치 있는document: 기록하다background music: 배경 음악enveloped: 감싸다innermost thoughts: 속마음trust: 믿음paths: 길conversations: 대화widely open: 활짝 열린approached: 다가오면서tickled: 간지렸다

Fluent Fiction - Catalan: Unexpected Delights: From Retreat to Chocolate Treat Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ca/episode/2025-12-10-23-34-02-ca Story Transcript:Ca: En Jordi va arribar a Montserrat amb un somriure d'orella a orella.En: En Jordi arrived in Montserrat with a smile from ear to ear.Ca: Li havia explicat a tothom que estava decidit a participar en una cata de xocolata ben especial per Nadal.En: He had told everyone that he was determined to participate in a very special chocolate tasting for Christmas.Ca: Això sí, la seva vena despistada el va portar, sense voler, a un retir espiritual.En: However, his absent-minded nature unwittingly led him to a spiritual retreat.Ca: Les muntanyes de Montserrat es mostraven esplèndides, cobertes amb un vel lleuger de neu, creant un paisatge majestuós.En: The mountains of Montserrat appeared splendid, covered with a light veil of snow, creating a majestic landscape.Ca: Quan va entrar al centre de retir, l'ambient era de calma absoluta.En: When he entered the retreat center, the atmosphere was one of absolute calm.Ca: El Jordi, amb la seva bufanda vermella, va preguntar a la recepcionista si allà es trobava la sala de la cata.En: Jordi, with his red scarf, asked the receptionist if the chocolate tasting room was there.Ca: La noia, amb un somriure comprensiu, li va assenyalar una porta a l'esquerra.En: The girl, with an understanding smile, pointed to a door on the left.Ca: En Jordi, sense dubtar, hi va entrar.En: Without hesitation, Jordi went in.Ca: Els participants estaven asseguts un darrera l'altre, en silenci.En: The participants were seated one behind the other, in silence.Ca: Una dona, la Marta, es va aixecar al mig de la sala, i va avisa a tots de mantenir-se en silenci durant tot el procés.En: A woman, Marta, stood up in the middle of the room and notified everyone to remain silent throughout the process.Ca: En Jordi, un xic confós, va pensar que era una introducció especial.En: A bit confused, Jordi thought it was a special introduction.Ca: Se sentia intrigat pel que estava a punt d'experimentar.En: He felt intrigued by what he was about to experience.Ca: Durant mitja hora, va intentar mantenir-se en el silenci.En: For half an hour, he tried to remain silent.Ca: Cada minut li semblava etern.En: Each minute seemed eternal.Ca: Els sons del vent a fora l'habitació li recordaven el fred de l'hivern.En: The sounds of the wind outside the room reminded him of the winter cold.Ca: A poc a poc, va començar a preguntar-se quan arribaria la xocolata.En: Gradually, he began to wonder when the chocolate would arrive.Ca: De sobte, un dels participants, en Pere, sense voler, va deixar caure una campana de meditació.En: Suddenly, one of the participants, Pere, accidentally dropped a meditation bell.Ca: En Jordi, incapaç de controlar-se més, va esclatar en rialles.En: Jordi, unable to control himself any longer, burst into laughter.Ca: El so va ressonar amb força entre les parets de la sala.En: The sound echoed loudly between the room's walls.Ca: Per un moment, tothom va quedar en silenci, sorprès.En: For a moment, everyone was silent, surprised.Ca: Però l'humor del Jordi va ser contagiós, i poc a poc, els altres van començar a riure també.En: But Jordi's humor was contagious, and slowly, the others began to laugh too.Ca: Marta va somriure i va proposar canviar el pla: "Què us sembla si convertim aquesta sessió en una cata de xocolata improvisada de Nadal?En: Marta smiled and suggested changing the plan: "What do you think about turning this session into an impromptu Christmas chocolate tasting?"Ca: "Tots van estar d'acord, encantats per la idea.En: Everyone agreed, delighted with the idea.Ca: La Marta va treure unes rajoles de xocolata dels seus bosses i les va repartir.En: Marta pulled out some chocolate bars from her bags and shared them.Ca: La sala es va omplir de rialles i de les olors dolces de la xocolata.En: The room filled with laughter and the sweet aromas of chocolate.Ca: En Jordi va descobrir que a vegades, les sorpreses de la vida podien ser ben dolces i inesparades.En: Jordi discovered that sometimes, life's surprises could be very sweet and unexpected.Ca: Així, va marxar de Montserrat amb un record càlid i una nova lliçó.En: So, he left Montserrat with a warm memory and a new lesson.Ca: Descobrir humor i alegria en llocs inesperats era una forma infal·lible d'aconseguir enlluernar les seves vacacions d'hivern.En: Finding humor and joy in unexpected places was an infallible way to brighten up his winter vacation. Vocabulary Words:retreat: el retiratmosphere: l'ambientreceptionist: la recepcionistaspiritual: espiritualveil: el velmajestically: majestuosamentintroduce: introduirintrigued: intrigatmediation bell: la campana de meditacióunwittingly: sense volerparticipant: el participantchocolate tasting: la cata de xocolataear to ear: d'orella a orellamajestic: majestuóslaugh: riuresilence: el silencisession: la sessiósurprise: la sorpresabreeze: la brisaspontaneous: improvisatsweet aroma: les olors dolcesdelighted: encantatinfallible: infal·libleabsent-minded: despistatunexpected: inesperatmemory: el recordlesson: la lliçóhumor: el humorechoed: ressonatunderstanding smile: un somriure comprensiu

Follow Bianca - https://www.instagram.com/biancacristovao/ If you love the show and want to support us, join our growing community on Patreon to see what we're giving for $5 a month! JOIN OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/teatime42069 Send your stories to TeaTimeStories42069@gmail.com Watch Harper-Rose's set here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eNpjjGZHLY&t=110s Watch Gabby Lamb's set here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7oOYWgK598

Today I'm joined by James from the Winging It Travel Podcast, and we dive into his completely unplanned, absolutely wild trip through Lebanon.From wandering into “red-zone” neighborhoods to hearing gunshots in Tripoli, visiting a Hezbollah museum, and being welcomed with next-level hospitality… this episode is everything travel should be: surprising, human, messy, emotional, and unforgettable.We also talk about:Why “winging it” can make your travel stories richerHow James has explored the world while working full-timeWhat it really means to become a digital nomadThe power of seeing places for yourself instead of trusting the news Gunshots in Tripoli, Hezbollah museums, incredible hospitalityTo Find James:Podcast: Winging It Travel PodcastProduction Services: wingingitproductions.comInstagram: @wingingittravelpodcastMy arabic playlist: "Yalla"Text for a shoutout! Support the showWant your episodes early? Sign up HERE to the newsletter. You will get episodes a week early!Connect:Instagram: @culturecultshowEmail: culturecultshow@gmail.comSend in your best travel story to share on the podcast via voice message or email:culturecultshow@gmail.comTo Help Aseel Escape Gaza:Follow her and support her on Instagram! : @aseel_dentartDonate to her Go Fund Me ( ANY amount helps)To Help Sally Escape Gaza:Follow her and support her on Instagram!: @sallyhjeerDonate to her Go Fund Me ( ANY amount helps)

The Matt Kim Podcast: Homeless Machete Giveaway, Trump Endorsements, and Central CastingIn this episode of The Matt Kim Podcast, Matt Kim and his co-host Peter Satton dive into a series of controversial and provocative topics. The discussion begins with the idea that the world is a show and everything, including political figures, is staged — a notion famously declared by Trump. They boast about their track record of being consistently right about various issues. The podcast covers a range of subjects, including an update on Matt's life, observations about American entitlement at resorts, and the behavior at buffets. They then jump into heavier topics, such as the ongoing U.S. involvement in Venezuela, characterized as a regime change mission for oil resources, and criticize the military-industrial complex. They touch on domestic radicalization, false flag events, and whether America is more dangerous than other countries like Mexico. This episode also explores the manipulation of social media platforms by foreign entities, the controversial endorsement by Trump in Miami's mayoral race, and a humorous analysis of Trump Vodka and the potential upcoming Trump Phone. The show wraps up with a talk on homelessness, Japanese internet memes about America's fentanyl crisis, and the idea of arming the homeless with machetes. Enjoy this unpredictable mix of humor, satire, and critical social commentary.Timestamps02:14 Travel Stories and Observations03:03 American Entitlement at Resorts07:41 Cultural Critiques and International Travel11:28 Venezuela Conflict and US Involvement17:08 Radicalization and Domestic Issues24:14 Mass Shootings and Gun Violence in America42:14 Social Media Manipulation and Foreign Influence51:38 Marjorie Taylor Greene's Resignation and Trump's Reaction53:17 Candace Owens and the Conspiracy Theories54:42 The Entertainment Value of Political Figures58:30 Online Gambling and Its Legal Issues01:06:10 Trump's Various Business Ventures01:16:25 The Political Landscape and Trump's Endorsements01:31:10 Homelessness and Controversial Solutions01:36:09 International Perception of America's Drug Crisis====================================Support the show~Join the Free Thinker Army!https://www.patreon.com/c/freemattkim====================================The ONLY VPN that can't spy on you.https://vp.net/mattHang out here~!soj.ooO https://soj.ooo/Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4rC0QxBD1eRPKMHIIpL0vA/joinDonate!https://www.mattkimpodcast.com/support/FREE THINKER ARMY DISCORD:https://discord.gg/2juHnR6DPzTELEGRAM EDIT ZONE:https://t.me/+IV-skn-OXyw1MTcxFollow Matt!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattattack009/Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreeMattKimRumble: https://rumble.com/c/FreeMattKimTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freemattkimFollow Peter on X:Twitter: https://x.com/AgilePeterBusiness Inquiries Please Email mattkimpodcast@protonmail.com

Ready to fall asleep under the stars? Join Geoffrey as he tells you about the time a campfire debate over who built Machu Picchu swept him and his friends onto the path of time. Their journey carried them deep into the Andes, where they hiked the Inca Trail, watched the city come alive in its full glory, and listened to the gentle whispers of the mountain spirits beneath the stars. This sleepy tale will have you drifting off in minutes. This is Part 80 of The Falls series - but don't worry, you can jump in anytime.  Love Night Falls?

Fluent Fiction - French: A Noël Encounter: Serendipity in the Heart of Paris Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2025-12-02-23-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le ciel de Paris est gris en ce jour d'hiver.En: The sky over Paris is gray on this winter day.Fr: L'air est froid et rempli de l'esprit de Noël.En: The air is cold and filled with the spirit of Noël.Fr: La cathédrale Notre-Dame, majestueuse et imposante, se dresse au cœur de la ville.En: The cathédrale Notre-Dame, majestic and imposing, stands tall in the heart of the city.Fr: Des lumières festives éclairent ses tours et de doux chants de Noël résonnent en écho dans les rues.En: Festive lights illuminate its towers and soft Christmas carols echo through the streets.Fr: Thibault est un passionné d'histoire.En: Thibault is a history enthusiast.Fr: Il passe quelques jours à Paris pour découvrir ses trésors architecturaux.En: He is spending a few days in Paris to discover its architectural treasures.Fr: Il porte un manteau épais, un guide à la main.En: He wears a thick coat, a guidebook in hand.Fr: Il rêve de comprendre chaque arc, chaque sculpture de la cathédrale.En: He dreams of understanding every arch, every sculpture of the cathedral.Fr: Son programme est serré.En: His schedule is tight.Fr: Il veut tout voir.En: He wants to see everything.Fr: Elodie est une artiste.En: Elodie is an artist.Fr: Elle habite Paris depuis toujours.En: She has lived in Paris all her life.Fr: En ce moment, elle recherche l'inspiration pour sa prochaine peinture.En: At the moment, she is seeking inspiration for her next painting.Fr: Noël à Paris, avec ses lumières et ses traditions, semble parfait pour cela.En: Christmas in Paris, with its lights and traditions, seems perfect for this.Fr: Mais aujourd'hui, elle a du mal à créer.En: But today, she is struggling to create.Fr: La magie échappe à son pinceau.En: The magic eludes her brush.Fr: Elle décide de visiter Notre-Dame pour changer d'air.En: She decides to visit Notre-Dame for a change of scenery.Fr: À l'intérieur de la cathédrale, l'atmosphère est sereine.En: Inside the cathedral, the atmosphere is serene.Fr: Des visiteurs se rassemblent autour de la grande crèche.En: Visitors gather around the large nativity scene.Fr: Thibault choisit d'explorer la cathédrale à son rythme.En: Thibault chooses to explore the cathedral at his own pace.Fr: Il veut ressentir l'histoire, capturer chaque détail.En: He wants to feel the history, capture every detail.Fr: Elodie, quant à elle, s'assoit sur un banc.En: Elodie, meanwhile, sits on a bench.Fr: Elle observe les enfants fascinés par la scène de la Nativité.En: She observes the children fascinated by the scene of the Nativity.Fr: Soudain, dans leur exploration silencieuse, Thibault et Elodie se rencontrent.En: Suddenly, in their silent exploration, Thibault and Elodie meet.Fr: Ils se retrouvent côte à côte devant la crèche.En: They find themselves side by side in front of the nativity scene.Fr: Thibault remarque les couleurs vives que porte Elodie.En: Thibault notices the bright colors Elodie is wearing.Fr: Ils commencent à discuter.En: They start to talk.Fr: Ils parlent de l'art, de l'histoire, du charme de Noël.En: They discuss art, history, the charm of Christmas.Fr: « La cathédrale est magnifique », dit Thibault.En: "The cathedral is magnificent," says Thibault.Fr: « Oui », répond Elodie, « elle est inspirante, mais parfois cela ne suffit pas.En: "Yes," Elodie responds, "it is inspiring, but sometimes that's not enough."Fr: » Ils échangent leurs inquiétudes.En: They share their concerns.Fr: Thibault partage son envie de connaître l'histoire, mais aussi son besoin d'être plus spontané.En: Thibault shares his desire to know history, but also his need to be more spontaneous.Fr: Elodie parle de son blocage créatif.En: Elodie talks about her creative block.Fr: La conversation continue, fluide et naturelle.En: The conversation continues, fluid and natural.Fr: Ils découvrent qu'ils peuvent s'aider.En: They discover that they can help each other.Fr: Finalement, ils décident de se revoir.En: Finally, they decide to meet again.Fr: Thibault propose de montrer à Elodie d'autres sites historiques de la ville.En: Thibault proposes to show Elodie other historical sites in the city.Fr: En échange, Elodie promet de l'initier à la scène artistique locale.En: In return, Elodie promises to introduce him to the local art scene.Fr: Une amitié commence à naître.En: A friendship begins to form.Fr: En sortant de Notre-Dame, le sourire aux lèvres, Thibault réalise que Paris a bien plus à offrir que ce qui est inscrit sur un itinéraire.En: As they leave Notre-Dame, smiling, Thibault realizes that Paris has much more to offer than what is listed on an itinerary.Fr: Elodie retrouve l'espoir et l'inspiration grâce à cette rencontre imprévue.En: Elodie finds hope and inspiration through this unexpected encounter.Fr: Sous le ciel parisien, ils s'éloignent, chacun enrichi par l'autre, prêts à vivre de nouvelles aventures au cœur de la ville lumière.En: Under the Parisian sky, they walk away, each enriched by the other, ready to experience new adventures in the heart of the Ville Lumière.Fr: Noël apporte parfois des cadeaux inattendus, et la magie peut se cacher dans les détails.En: Christmas sometimes brings unexpected gifts, and magic can be hidden in the details. Vocabulary Words:the sky: le cielthe spirit: l'espritmajestic: majestueuseimposing: imposantethe heart: le cœurfestive: festivesto echo: résonnerthe history enthusiast: le passionné d'histoirethick: épaisthe guidebook: le guidethe arch: l'arcsculpture: sculpturethe schedule: le programmethe artist: l'artisteinspiration: l'inspirationto struggle: avoir du malelude: échapperthe atmosphere: l'atmosphèreserene: sereineto gather: se rassemblerthe nativity scene: la crècheto fascinate: fascinerto notice: remarquervivid: vivesthe charm: le charmemagnificent: magnifiqueinspiring: inspiranteconcern: l'inquiétudecreative block: le blocage créatifto discover: découvrir

La Dolce Vita on her mind always, Carol loves exploring Italy - from the snowy mountains of the Dolomites to the beaches of Puglia. Traveling Italy has become a passion that's taken her to private palazzi and the hills of Piedmont and she joins us to share her favorite moments and what keeps pulling her back to bella ItaliaJoin us on tour: untolditalytours.comRead the full episode show notes here > untolditaly.com/301NEW! - the Untold Italy app - access our entire podcast history ad free and searchable - DOWNLOAD FOR iOS  •  DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROIDThe app is FREE to download and check out our Milan guide and general travel content. Upgrade to PREMIUM  for a one time fee to access Rome, Florence, Venice, Sorrento, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia, Tuscany, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Veneto, Lombardy, Campania, Lazio, Puglia, Abruzzo, Calabria, Umbria, Molise, Sardinia with much more to comeSupport the showSubscribe to our mailing list and get our FREE Italy trip planning toolkit - subscribe hereNeed help with your trip? Check out our Trip Planning ServicesJoin us on tour. Browse our Trip scheduleFollowSubstackInstagram • Facebook • YouTube Editorial InformationThe Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast Editing, Audio Production and Website Development by Mark Hatter. Production Assistance and Content Writing by the other Katie Clarke 

"Live the journey as faithfully as you can"  

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: Chasing Dreams: An Arctic Adventure Under Polar Skies Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2025-11-26-08-38-20-nl Story Transcript:Nl: De lucht boven de uitgestrekte Arctische toendra was grijs en zwaar.En: The sky above the vast Arctic tundra was gray and heavy.Nl: Onder de koude hemel liepen Bas, Sanne en Dirk voorzichtig over het knarsende sneeuwtapijt.En: Under the cold sky, Bas, Sanne, and Dirk cautiously walked over the crunching carpet of snow.Nl: Het was begin december, en de koude wind sneden hen in wangen en handen.En: It was early December, and the cold wind bit at their cheeks and hands.Nl: Toch was de sfeer goed, want over een paar dagen zouden ze Sinterklaas vieren.En: Nevertheless, the mood was good because in a few days they would celebrate Sinterklaas.Nl: Bas was opgewonden.En: Bas was excited.Nl: Hij wilde een foto maken die zijn leven zou veranderen.En: He wanted to take a photo that would change his life.Nl: Hij had ooit gelezen over een prestigieuze fotowedstrijd en droomde ervan de perfecte foto van een ijsbeer met haar welpen te maken.En: He had once read about a prestigious photography contest and dreamed of capturing the perfect photo of a polar bear with her cubs.Nl: Sanne hield haar notitieboekje klemvast.En: Sanne held her notebook tightly.Nl: Ze was gefascineerd door de gewoonten van deze prachtige dieren.En: She was fascinated by the habits of these magnificent animals.Nl: Dirk, hun gids, keek op zijn kompas en leidde de groep verder.En: Dirk, their guide, checked his compass and led the group further.Nl: Hij wist dat het weer snel kon veranderen.En: He knew the weather could change quickly.Nl: De ijzige vlakte leek eindeloos stil en verlaten.En: The icy plain seemed endlessly silent and deserted.Nl: Er was alleen hun ademhaling en het zachte gekraak van hun stappen.En: There was only their breathing and the soft crunch of their steps.Nl: Maar de stilte bedekte een rijkdom aan leven.En: But the silence masked a wealth of life.Nl: Hier, in de koudheid, wisten ze dat ijsberen op zoek waren naar hun volgende maaltijd.En: Here, in the cold, they knew that polar bears were searching for their next meal.Nl: Sanne wees plots in de verte en riep: "Kijk daar!"En: Sanne suddenly pointed into the distance and shouted, "Look there!"Nl: Verre op een ijsrichel zagen ze een ijsbeer met twee nieuwsgierige welpen.En: Far away, on an ice ridge, they saw a polar bear with two curious cubs.Nl: "Dit is het moment," fluisterde Bas opgewonden.En: "This is the moment," whispered Bas excitedly.Nl: Hij pakte zachtjes zijn camera en zocht de beste hoek.En: He gently took out his camera and searched for the best angle.Nl: Sanne en Dirk hielden hun adem in.En: Sanne and Dirk held their breath.Nl: Maar net toen hij wilde klikken, begon de lucht te veranderen.En: But just as he was about to click, the sky began to change.Nl: Donkere wolken kwamen opzetten, gevolgd door wind die sneeuwvlokken om hun hoofden liet dansen.En: Dark clouds rolled in, followed by wind that sent snowflakes dancing around their heads.Nl: De sneeuwstorm begon.En: The snowstorm began.Nl: "Bas, we moeten terug," riep Dirk, zijn stem bijna verloren in het huilen van de wind.En: "Bas, we have to head back," called Dirk, his voice almost lost in the howling wind.Nl: Bas wist dat het gevaarlijk was, maar zijn droomfoto was zo dichtbij.En: Bas knew it was dangerous, but his dream photo was so close.Nl: Hij besloot te blijven.En: He decided to stay.Nl: Met een snelle beweging zette hij zijn camera klaar en richtte op de ijsberen.En: With a swift motion, he set up his camera and aimed at the polar bears.Nl: De sneeuw wervelde, en de wereld leek voor een moment stil te staan.En: The snow swirled, and the world seemed to stand still for a moment.Nl: Bas klikte een paar keer en toen besefte hij dat de storm hen niet lang veilig zou laten.En: He clicked a few times and then realized the storm wouldn't keep them safe for long.Nl: Ze haastten zich terug naar het kamp, de wind aan hun zijde.En: They rushed back to the camp, the wind at their side.Nl: Binnen bij het warme lichtje van de kachel dronken ze warme chocolademelk.En: Inside, by the warm glow of the stove, they drank hot chocolate.Nl: Bas keek naar zijn camera.En: Bas looked at his camera.Nl: "Ik denk dat ik het heb," zei hij.En: "I think I've got it," he said.Nl: Sanne en Dirk glimlachten, opgelucht dat ze veilig waren.En: Sanne and Dirk smiled, relieved that they were safe.Nl: Op de avond van Sinterklaas was het kamp gevuld met de geur van speculaas en de warmte van gezelschap.En: On the evening of Sinterklaas, the camp was filled with the scent of speculaas and the warmth of companionship.Nl: Terwijl ze hun cadeautjes uitwisselden, begreep Bas iets belangrijks.En: As they exchanged gifts, Bas understood something important.Nl: Het ging niet alleen om die ene foto.En: It wasn't just about that one photo.Nl: Het waren de herinneringen, de spanning en het samen zijn met Sanne en Dirk die deze reis speciaal maakten.En: It was the memories, the thrill, and being together with Sanne and Dirk that made this journey special.Nl: Hoewel de sirene-roep van de competitie sterk was, wist Bas dat de reis zelf de echte prijs was.En: Even though the siren call of the competition was strong, Bas knew that the journey itself was the real prize.Nl: En zo, in de essentie van de Arctische kou, was de warmte van vriendschap en gedeelde ervaringen zijn grootste schat.En: And so, in the essence of the Arctic cold, the warmth of friendship and shared experiences was his greatest treasure. Vocabulary Words:vast: uitgestrektetundra: toendracarpet: sneeuwtapijtprestigious: prestigieuzecontest: fotowedstrijdcub: welpenfascinated: gefascineerdmagnificent: prachtigecompass: kompassilent: stildeserted: verlatenwealth: rijkdomridge: ijsrichelwhispered: fluisterdeangle: hoekhowling: huilenswift: snelleswirled: werveldesiren call: sirene-roepmemories: herinneringenthrill: spanningsolitude: eenzaamheidcompanionship: gezelschapessence: essentietreasure: schatphotography: fotografiecapturing: vastleggenguide: gidsflurries: vlokkenstove: kachel

We kick things off with their origin story in Las Vegas before diving into how they built a channel that's equal parts inspiration and problem-solving. If you've ever tried to choose between eight near-identical resorts or wondered whether a river cruise beats an ocean ship, this conversation delivers real answers. Meet Victor and MJ! Victor takes the lead on nature and specs, MJ brings luxury taste and practical comfort, and together they explain how two strong creative visions learned to collaborate without losing what makes each voice distinct.Check them out at: victorandmj.comand some of their other adventures here:https://www.facebook.com/share/16f9DEfDak/https://youtu.be/JHdqGGpjpzE?si=S2JeXUdY_uCE-CXCThe heart of the episode beats in the bush. Their Zimbabwe tales include mobile camping under lion calls, walking safaris with expert guides, and the moment they stumbled upon a pangolin—the elusive, highly trafficked mammal few safari veterans ever see. It's the kind of surprise that reframes why we leave home: to be humbled, awed, and changed. From there, we look ahead to South Africa: Cape Town's winelands, Boulders Beach penguins, and the Garden Route—less hyped than the Big Five, but overflowing with scenery, food, and culture worth your time.Along the way, they unpack ocean vs river cruises, the value of first-hand hotel comparisons, and why travel agents should actually travel. You'll also hear how MJ left corporate life, how Victor traded the repair shop for a camera, and how they're building a smart, pet-friendly campervan with Starlink so they can research the U.S. with the same care they bring abroad. Ready to plan smarter and roam braver? Follow Victor and MJ on YouTube, then subscribe to the show, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more travelers find their next great story.Please support our show by shopping through Eagle Creek: https://alnk.to/gVNDI6N and/or feel free to donate to:http://paypal.me/TheROAMies And it means the world to us when you subscribe, rate and share our podcast. Alexa and RoryThe ROAMiesFollow us at:http://www.TheROAMies.com@The ROAMies: Facebook and Instagram YouTube and X.

Hospital Stories, Travel Stories, mga kwento ni Lola sa Aklan, at iba pang mga kwento galing kay Quev.Thank you uli Quev & Drew sa pag share ng mga kwento nyo.Thank you rin sa ating past guest na si JP para sa referral.Kung meron ka ring mga kakaibang hospital experience at gusto mong ikwento yan sa podcast, pwede mo yan email sa  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠paranormalsph@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kung type nyo naman i chat nalang ang mga experience nyo, pwede kayo pumasok sa Discord Server ng podcast, i-click lang ang invite link:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/YWF4BpS4gQ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kung sakali at first time mong makinig sa podcast at may ka-office kang kagaya ni Joms, suggestion ko ay magsimula ka sa Episode 1:⁠⁠⁠⁠EPISODE 1 The Unexpected Visitor⁠⁠⁠⁠Kung di nyo pa nabalitaan, meron tayong episodes na Deep Dive, English and Tagalog, mahahanap lang yan sa YouTube:English - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcg83FW_a91KrMPaZK-9AkbDNNDS0venx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tagalog - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcg83FW_a91KpB4E63SE1nG_Bm7IGkgd4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you enjoy this kind of conversation, you might want to subscribe :D ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Do you want to support the podcast? You can help keep us going by giving us a cup of joe! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com/paranormalpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can also support us on Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/paranormalpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We have different tiers for supporters, from the general support to early access, to joining us on the calls way in advance. No pressure, just additional help for us :) The Para Normal Podcast. Engineered and Produced by f90 Productions Rate and Review our show on Spotify, Pocket Casts, and Apple PodcastsFor brand partnerships, advertisements, or other collaboration opportunities with our podcast, please contact our management team at ⁠⁠⁠info@tagm.com⁠⁠⁠Enjoy. 

In tonight's bedtime story with Karissa, we return to the lush Caribbean island of Nevis for Chapter Two of The Midnight Gardener. Let the warm breezes, tropical landscapes, and gentle storytelling carry you into a deep, restful sleep. Join Sleep Wave Premium ✨ in just two taps! Enjoy 2 bonus episodes a month plus all episodes ad-free and show your support to Karissa. Upgrade via our show page on Apple, or via this link for all other players ➡️ https://sleepwave.supercast.com/ Love the Sleep Wave Podcast? Please hit follow & leave a review ⭐️ How are we doing with Sleep Wave? Click here to let us know

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Finding Courage in Kyoto: Haruto's Heartfelt Quest Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-11-24-08-38-20-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 京都の秋。En: Autumn in Kyoto.Ja: 鮮やかな紅葉が街を彩り、伝統的な日本建築が現代の景色と調和している。En: The vibrant autumn leaves color the city, and the traditional Japanese architecture harmonizes with the modern scenery.Ja: 高校生の春人は、学校の遠足で京都を訪れていた。En: Kokoosei Haruto was visiting Kyoto on a school trip.Ja: 彼は新しい場所を探検するのが好きだが、実は迷子になることと一人になることに少し恐れていた。En: He liked exploring new places, but he was a little afraid of getting lost and being alone.Ja: いつも妹のことを考える優しい兄である春人は、この旅で病気の妹にぴったりな土産を見つけようと思っていた。En: Haruto, a kind brother who always thinks of his younger sister, wanted to find a perfect souvenir for his sick sister on this trip.Ja: クラスメートたちと一緒に嵐山を訪れた。En: He visited Arashiyama with his classmates.Ja: 美しい竹林と大きな天竜寺を見学した。En: They toured the beautiful bamboo forest and the large Tenryuji Temple.Ja: 空気は冷たく、秋の香りが漂う。En: The air was chilly, carrying the scent of autumn.Ja: しかし、時間はあまりなかった。En: However, there was not much time.Ja: バスはすぐに出発する予定だった。En: The bus was scheduled to depart soon.Ja: 春人は決心した。En: Haruto made up his mind.Ja: 少しだけグループを離れ、自分の直感に従って特別な土産店を探すことにした。En: He decided to leave the group for a bit and follow his instincts to search for a special souvenir shop.Ja: 「妹に喜んでもらいたい！」そう思いながら、彼は人ごみを抜けて商店街に向かった。En: "I want to make my sister happy!" With that thought in mind, he made his way through the crowd towards the shopping street.Ja: 狭い道を進むと、小さな店を見つけた。En: As he proceeded down a narrow path, he found a small store.Ja: 店の入り口には「京みやげ」と書かれた看板がかかっていた。En: A sign at the entrance read "Kyo-miyage."Ja: 中に入ると、水引の置物や色とりどりの和蝋燭が並ぶ。En: Upon entering, he was greeted by displays of mizuhiki ornaments and colorful Japanese candles.Ja: 春人は心をときめかせながら、店の奥にある手作りの人形を見つけた。En: With his heart pounding with excitement, he found handmade dolls in the back of the store.Ja: それはまさに妹が喜びそうな優しい表情の人形だった。En: It was a doll with a gentle expression, just the kind that his sister would be thrilled to see.Ja: 「これだ！」彼は心の中で叫んだ。En: "This is it!" he exclaimed to himself.Ja: 人形を購入してふと気がつくと、時間がほとんどなかった。彼は急いでバスの集合場所に戻らなければならなくなった。En: Realizing he was running out of time after purchasing the doll, he had to hurry back to the bus meeting point.Ja: 京都の街は複雑で、迷路のようだったが、春人は自分を信じることにした。En: The streets of Kyoto were complex, like a maze, but Haruto decided to trust himself.Ja: 彼は地図を使わず、来た道を覚えながら、早歩きで駅へと向かった。En: Without using a map, he remembered the way he'd come and briskly headed towards the station.Ja: 慌てた気持ちを抑え、足を早める春人。En: Suppressing his anxious feelings, Haruto quickened his pace.Ja: ついに、クラスメートたちが集まるバスが見えた。En: Finally, he saw the bus where his classmates were gathering.Ja: 「よかった…間に合った！」心の中で安堵のため息をついた瞬間、バスの扉が開き、友達のユキとマイが手を振っているのが見えた。En: "Thank goodness... I made it!" He breathed a sigh of relief in his heart as the bus doors opened, and he saw his friends Yuki and Mai waving at him.Ja: 「すごいね、春人。君、どこに行っていたの？」ユキが笑顔で尋ねた。En: "Wow, Haruto, where did you go?" Yuki asked with a smile.Ja: 春人は妹に買った人形をそっと見せた。En: Haruto quietly showed the doll he had bought for his sister.Ja: 「この土産を探してたんだ。」En: "I was looking for this souvenir."Ja: 友達らと並んでバスに乗り込む春人は、知らず知らずのうちに少し自分を信じることができるようになっていた。En: Boarding the bus alongside his friends, Haruto found himself able to believe in himself a little bit more.Ja: 京都の秋の空はどこまでも高く、澄んでいた。En: The autumn sky over Kyoto was endlessly high and clear.Ja: 気づけば、自分の中に新しい勇気と自信を見出した春人。En: Haruto realized he had discovered new courage and confidence within himself.Ja: 彼はこれからも、もっと自分を信じて歩いていこうと心に誓った。En: He pledged to continue believing in himself more as he moved forward. Vocabulary Words:vibrant: 鮮やかなharmonizes: 調和しているexploring: 探検するsouvenir: 土産scheduled: 予定proceeded: 進むnarrow: 狭いbriskly: 早歩きsuppressing: 抑えanxious: 慌てたgathering: 集まるwaving: 手を振っているalongside: 並んでinstincts: 直感chilly: 冷たくentrance: 入り口bamboo: 竹林maze: 迷路expression: 表情ordeal: 試練exclaimed: 叫んだartefact: 工芸品unfamiliar: 見慣れないornaments: 置物thrilled: 喜ぶself-belief: 自信pledged: 誓ったperception: 認識complex: 複雑turmoil: 混乱

Episode 68: Show Notes Keywords Mediterranean cruise, Delta One, travel experiences, family travel, cruise ports, Royal Caribbean, Allure of the Seas, travel tips, Barcelona, Sorrento, La Spezia, cruise, European cruising, cruise dining experience, service recovery, Mediterranean ports, travel tips, Emirates flight, travel inconveniences Summary In this episode, Trevor shares his recent family trip to Europe, highlighting their experiences flying Delta One, cruising on the Allure of the Seas, and exploring various Mediterranean ports. The conversation covers the challenges and joys of traveling with family, the dining experiences on the cruise, and the unique adventures in cities like Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Sorrento. Trevor reflects on the importance of planning and balancing exploration with relaxation during family travels. Key Points From This Episode: 01:54 JFK's Delta One Lounge 09:11 Getting to Barcelona 12:44 Onboard the Allure of the Seas after its drydock 17:25 Ports of Call 30:15 Civitavecchia is not very close to Rome 38:14 Allure of the Seas Entertainment 45:14 Main Dining Disappointment 55:18 Why Med Cruises Make Sense 01:00:04 A quick hop to Milan on a Singapore Fifth Freedom Flight 01:03:21 Acqui Terme Overnight and Milan Touring 01:07:45 Protests in Milan 01:12:40 Emirates Fifth Freedom Flight Home and Wrapping Up

Gav might be in Egypt but it takes more than a £1,000, six-hour EasyJet flight seated beside a sweet racist Scottish granny to stop the man from fulfilling his pod duties. So from the luxury of a personal business suite inside a “palace” the boys get back to work, talking Scotland's making the World Cup, Kneecap's unbelievable hospitality and the “page one” ATG headliners.Get your tour tickets here - https://www.seetickets.com/tour/2-promoters-1-podWe go again, every Thursday morning.

Alice goes on a trip and--brace yourselves for a shock--it doesn't go the way she'd hoped.Check out our new True Crime Substack the True Crime Times Check out our other show The Prosecutors: Legal Briefs for discussion on cases, controversial topics, or conversations with content creators.Get Prosecutors Podcast Merch Join the Gallery on Facebook Follow us on TwitterFollow us on Instagram Check out our website for case resources: Hang out with us on TikTokSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of GMH, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk break down a lineup of stories shaping the hotel and travel landscape.

Fluent Fiction - French: Chasing Rainbows: A Lavender Voyage in Provence Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2025-11-19-23-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Les champs de lavande s'étendaient à perte de vue, teintés de violet et de doré sous le soleil d'automne.En: The lavender fields stretched as far as the eye could see, tinted with purple and gold under the autumn sun.Fr: Émilie, Guillaume, et René, trois amis, avaient entrepris un voyage pour admirer les dernières floraisons de la lavande avant l'hiver.En: Émilie, Guillaume, and René, three friends, had embarked on a journey to admire the last lavender blooms before winter.Fr: La Provence, avec ses paysages pittoresques, promettait une aventure mémorable.En: La Provence, with its picturesque landscapes, promised a memorable adventure.Fr: Émilie, avec ses yeux brillants d'excitation, disait, "Regardez ces couleurs !En: Émilie, her eyes bright with excitement, said, "Look at these colors!Fr: C'est parfait pour mon exposition."En: It's perfect for my exhibition."Fr: Elle était impatiente de capturer la beauté des champs dans son carnet de croquis.En: She was eager to capture the beauty of the fields in her sketchbook.Fr: Guillaume, plus réservé, tenait le plan de l'itinéraire dans ses mains.En: Guillaume, more reserved, held the itinerary map in his hands.Fr: "Il faut respecter le programme," insistait-il.En: "We must stick to the schedule," he insisted.Fr: René, quant à lui, souriait mais restait pensif.En: René, on the other hand, smiled but remained thoughtful.Fr: Un dilemme était dans son esprit : accepter une offre d'emploi stable ou suivre sa passion pour la musique.En: A dilemma was on his mind: to accept a stable job offer or to follow his passion for music.Fr: Le ciel, autrefois ensoleillé, commençait à se couvrir de nuages menaçants.En: The sky, once sunny, began to fill with threatening clouds.Fr: La pluie semblait inévitable.En: Rain seemed inevitable.Fr: Émilie proposa de quitter la route principale.En: Émilie proposed leaving the main road.Fr: "Faisons un détour, découvrons l'inconnu," suggéra-t-elle.En: "Let's take a detour, discover the unknown," she suggested.Fr: Guillaume hésita.En: Guillaume hesitated.Fr: Il aimait l'idée de nouveauté mais craignait de se perdre dans ces routes peu familiales.En: He liked the idea of novelty but feared getting lost on these unfamiliar roads.Fr: René, inspiré par l'énergie d'Émilie, acquiesça d'un signe de tête.En: René, inspired by Émilie's energy, nodded in agreement.Fr: Ils bifurquèrent vers un petit sentier qui serpentait entre les collines.En: They turned onto a small path winding between the hills.Fr: Quelques gouttes d'eau tombèrent, puis une pluie battante les força à chercher refuge.En: A few drops of water fell, then a heavy rain forced them to seek shelter.Fr: Heureusement, ils trouvèrent une petite auberge dans un village pittoresque.En: Fortunately, they found a small inn in a picturesque village.Fr: À l'intérieur, les habitants les accueillirent chaleureusement.En: Inside, the locals welcomed them warmly.Fr: Autour d'un feu qui crépitait, les villageois partagèrent des récits sur l'histoire de la région et son influence artistique.En: Around a crackling fire, the villagers shared stories about the region's history and its artistic influence.Fr: Guillaume, malgré son penchant pour l'organisation, apprécia cet interlude imprévu.En: Guillaume, despite his penchant for organization, appreciated this unexpected interlude.Fr: "Parfois, la beauté est dans l'incertitude," murmura-t-il.En: "Sometimes, beauty is in the uncertainty," he murmured.Fr: René, nourri par les histoires locales, trouva le courage de poursuivre son rêve.En: René, nourished by the local tales, found the courage to pursue his dream.Fr: "Je vais saisir cette chance, suivre la musique," se dit-il intérieurement.En: "I will seize this chance, follow the music," he said to himself silently.Fr: Quand la pluie cessa enfin, un spectacle majestueux les attendait dehors.En: When the rain finally ceased, a majestic spectacle awaited them outside.Fr: Un arc-en-ciel vibrant s'étirait au-dessus des champs de lavande, transformant le paysage en une scène magique.En: A vibrant rainbow stretched over the lavender fields, transforming the landscape into a magical scene.Fr: Le trio, émerveillé, resta un long moment en silence.En: The trio, in awe, remained silent for a long moment.Fr: Émilie captura le moment dans son carnet, Guillaume sourit à l'imprévu, et René se sentait plus léger, prêt à suivre sa voie.En: Émilie captured the moment in her sketchbook, Guillaume smiled at the unforeseen, and René felt lighter, ready to follow his path.Fr: Ce voyage, avec ses détours et ses surprises, avait transformé chacun d'eux.En: This journey, with its detours and surprises, had transformed each of them.Fr: Émilie apprit la patience et l'art de travailler ensemble, Guillaume découvrit la beauté de la spontanéité, et René trouva le courage de suivre son cœur.En: Émilie learned patience and the art of working together, Guillaume discovered the beauty of spontaneity, and René found the courage to follow his heart.Fr: Leurs liens, comme les champs de lavande, étaient plus forts et plus précieux que jamais.En: Their bonds, like the lavender fields, were stronger and more precious than ever. Vocabulary Words:the fields: les champsthe lavender: la lavandestretched: s'étendaientthe autumn: l'automnethe journey: le voyageadmire: admirerblooms: les floraisonspicturesque: pittoresquesmemorable: mémorablethe exhibition: l'expositionthe sketchbook: le carnet de croquisthe itinerary: l'itinérairethe dilemma: le dilemmeinevitable: inévitablethe detour: le détournovelty: la nouveautéunfamiliar: peu familialesthe path: le sentierwinding: serpentaitthe shelter: le refugethe inn: l'aubergewelcomed: accueillirentthe villagers: les villageoisthe fire: le feuthe tales: les récitsnourished: nourriceased: cessathe rainbow: l'arc-en-cielspectacle: spectaclemagical: magique

Never a dull moment traveling with Daniels.

Welcome to the van as we dig up travel stories from the DEPTHS of Reddit! Abby (of Hooks.and.hops) joins us to discuss traveling air fryers, solo expeditions, and obvious vacations with second families. Buckle up and enjoy this week's laid-back conversation! Noah and Noodles here! We want to extend a heartfelt thanks to every listener of Backroad Odyssey. Your support fuels our passion and inspires us to keep sharing stories and discover overlooked locations. Follow each adventure visually at:https://www.instagram.com/backroadsodyssey/

Today we unpack what it really means to work and travel—whether you're living out of a rooftop tent or being a travelling as a  "slowmad" tune in for honest insights, travel fails, and must-know resources if you're living the van life, a digital nomad lifestyle, or on your next backpacker adventure.

Check out Comic-Con: The Cruise @ ComicConTheCruise.com/WeirdScience Use code WEIRD to get $250 off your cabin!  Check out the talent: https://comicconthecruise.com/talent/   Support Jared's Comic Book https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/-jtl/athena-goddess-of-thunder-issue-1 Gabe's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@comicalopinions Gray's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2NfSPGZ5OFcek6Baw3iQQw SuS Records: https://www.youtube.com/@SusRecordsCEO Jared's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ComicsLeague Jared's Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3jv6I2edZ8lpc02gJEHw3e?si=cb5f48a6f8d84add Stork's Podcast: https://besottedgeek.podbean.com/   Join us on Friday Nights @ 7:15 PM EST on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@WeirdScienceComics when we do the Absolute show LIVE!  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeirdScienceComics This Week's Patreon-Exclusive Spotlight Show is Immortal Legend Batman #3 & Flash #26 Listen to the Spotlight Podcast by signing up to our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/weirdscience   0:00:00 - Intro 0:15:04 - Batman #3 1:00:20 - Retro Book of the Week - Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #13 (1956) 1:40:57 - Adventures of Superman: Book of El #3 2:27:13 - Gotham Academy: First Year #2 3:04:44 - Batgirl #13 3:28:56 - Birds of Prey #27 3:51:20 - Next Week's Books FOLLOW WEIRD SCIENCE COMICS Twitter:  https://twitter.com/WeirdScienceDC  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/weirdscience DC Comics Review Site: https://bit.ly/WeirdScienceDC Marvel Review Site: https://bit.ly/WeirdScienceMarvel   SUBSCRIBE TO WEIRD SCIENCE COMIC PODCASTS:  DC Comics Podcast iTunes - https://apple.co/47jNeme Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2XzDALI Stitcher - https://bit.ly/45XPtKS   Marvel Comics Podcast iTunes - https://apple.co/3u1xxSh Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3QJFAfe Pandora - https://bit.ly/3Qq5cwd YT - https://bit.ly/WeirdSciencePodcasts

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: From Beachcomber to Treasure Hunter: Lars' Unlikely Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2025-11-07-23-34-02-nl Story Transcript:Nl: Lars stond op het rustige strand van Sunny Beach.En: Lars stood on the quiet beach of Sunny Beach.Nl: De zon scheen zwakjes op de golven.En: The sun weakly shone on the waves.Nl: Het was herfst, en hoewel de drukte weg was, hield de plek nog steeds haar charme.En: It was autumn, and although the crowds were gone, the place still held its charm.Nl: Lars was naar Bulgarije gekomen om te ontspannen, maar het avontuur lokte toch.En: Lars had come to Bulgaria to relax, but adventure called.Nl: Op een dag, terwijl hij langs de kust wandelde, ontdekte hij iets vreemds in het zand.En: One day, while he was walking along the coast, he discovered something strange in the sand.Nl: Een fles, bedekt met algen en met een verkreukeld papier erin.En: A bottle, covered with algae and with a crumpled paper inside.Nl: Lars' hart begon sneller te kloppen.En: Lars' heart began to beat faster.Nl: Een oude boodschap!En: An old message!Nl: Misschien wel een schatkaart, dacht hij hoopvol.En: Perhaps a treasure map, he thought hopefully.Nl: Hij rende terug naar zijn vrienden, Sanne en Mick, die lui in de zon lagen.En: He ran back to his friends, Sanne and Mick, who were lazily lounging in the sun.Nl: "Kijk!"En: "Look!"Nl: riep Lars enthousiast, terwijl hij de fles met zijn bevindingen omhoog hield.En: Lars exclaimed enthusiastically, as he held up the bottle with his findings.Nl: Sanne wierp een blik op de fles.En: Sanne glanced at the bottle.Nl: "Het is vast gewoon rommel," zei ze, onverschillig.En: "It's probably just trash," she said, indifferent.Nl: Mick knikte instemmend.En: Mick nodded in agreement.Nl: "Kom op, Lars.En: "Come on, Lars.Nl: Geniet van de zon, geen oude verhalen."En: Enjoy the sun, not old stories."Nl: Maar Lars kon de verleiding niet weerstaan.En: But Lars couldn't resist the temptation.Nl: Hij moest weten wat er op dat papier stond.En: He had to know what was on that paper.Nl: "Ik ga naar de stad om hulp te zoeken," besloot hij, vastberaden.En: "I'm going to the city to seek help," he decided, resolutely.Nl: In het dorp vond hij een kleine boekhandel.En: In the village, he found a small bookstore.Nl: Daar ontmoette hij Ivan, een lokale historicus.En: There, he met Ivan, a local historian.Nl: Ivan was meteen geïnteresseerd.En: Ivan was immediately interested.Nl: "Dit kan belangrijk zijn," zei Ivan.En: "This could be important," Ivan said.Nl: Samen vertaalden ze de boodschap: een oude tekst met aanwijzingen naar een verborgen kamer bij een oude ruïne aan de kust.En: Together, they translated the message: an old text with clues to a hidden room near an ancient ruin by the coast.Nl: Terwijl Sanne en Mick genoten van hun strandtijd, volgden Lars en Ivan het spoor van aanwijzingen.En: While Sanne and Mick enjoyed their beach time, Lars and Ivan followed the trail of clues.Nl: Ze verkenden ruïnes en onderzochten oude kaarten.En: They explored ruins and examined old maps.Nl: Na verloop van tijd vonden ze het: de ingang naar een vergeten kamer vol oude relikwieën.En: Over time, they found it: the entrance to a forgotten room full of ancient relics.Nl: Het nieuws verspreidde zich snel.En: The news spread quickly.Nl: De lokale autoriteiten kwamen om de ontdekking te beschermen.En: The local authorities came to protect the discovery.Nl: Lars voelde een immense voldoening.En: Lars felt immense satisfaction.Nl: Zijn gedurfde zoeken had iets waardevols opgeleverd.En: His daring search had yielded something valuable.Nl: Hij deelde trots foto's en verhalen online, tot grote verbazing van zijn vrienden.En: He proudly shared photos and stories online, to the great surprise of his friends.Nl: Toen Lars naar huis terugkeerde, voelde hij zich veranderd.En: When Lars returned home, he felt changed.Nl: Hij had zijn liefde voor avontuur herontdekt en besloot dat zijn volgende reis opnieuw een historische ontdekking zou worden.En: He had rediscovered his love for adventure and decided that his next trip would again be a historical discovery.Nl: Het avontuur had hem geroepen, en Lars was klaar om te luisteren.En: Adventure had called him, and Lars was ready to listen. Vocabulary Words:quiet: rustigeweakly: zwakjescharm: charmeadventure: avontuurcoast: kustdiscovered: ontdektecrumpled: verkreukeldenthusiastically: enthousiastindifferent: onverschilligtemptation: verleidingresolutely: vastberadenbookstore: boekhandelhistorian: historicusclues: aanwijzingenhidden: verborgenruin: ruïnerelics: relikwieënyielded: opgeleverdimmense: immensedaring: gedurfdesurprise: verbazingrediscovered: herontdektsatisfaction: voldoeninglounging: lagenweakly: zwakjeshopeful: hoopvolmap: kaartentrance: ingangancient: oudetreasure: schat

Episode 67: Show Notes When longtime traveler Michael Rubiano arrived in Kathmandu, he expected another bucket-list trip built on miles, status perks, and curiosity. Instead, he found himself trapped in a city on fire. In this unforgettable Travel Stories episode, Michael retraces how a points-fueled getaway turned into a life-threatening crisis as political protests erupted across Nepal. He shares the eerie calm before the chaos, the moment hotel staff fled the kitchen, and the tension of watching fires burn from his 14th-floor room. Michael also reflects on the experiences that shaped his calm under pressure, what it was like being in a hotel under lockdown, his harrowing trip to the airport, and how he navigated the escalating danger. From the professionalism of Hyatt staff who sheltered guests, to the quiet fear of watching smoke rise from his window, his story reveals how trust, adaptability, and human kindness can carry us through the unexpected. Tune in to hear about Michael's unbelievable experience and a powerful reminder of how fragile and profound travel can be. Key Points From This Episode: [00:42] Introducing Michael Rubiano, the concept of a MegaDo (an in-person gathering of travel aficionados), and the type of trips they do together. [04:13] An overview of Flyertalk, its history, and how it was created for flyer communities. [08:01] Reaching lifetime elite status, Michael's first experiences of MegaDos, the most valuable loyalty programs, and how being on the West Coast influences his travel choices. [15:52] What drove Michael's decision to travel to Nepal, including Hyatt loyalty incentives and his four travel principles. [20:14] He explains his route via Cathay Pacific and how Nepal fit all his travel criteria. [24:29] Arriving in Kathmandu and reflections on privilege and safety abroad. [29:56] Michael's experience exploring Kathmandu, getting a feel of the city, and taking a flight over the Himalayas, before the crisis. [36:23] A timeline of the protests in Nepal: Michael recounts the start of the unrest, how the protests quickly escalated, fires erupted, and curfews began. [45:59] Michael's hotel lockdown experience, the escalating crisis, and his mindset throughout. [51:53] Preparations to evacuate and his detailed planning of what to carry and what to leave. [58:29] Rebooking his flight, his failed attempts to leave, and his tense journey to the airport. [01:10:50] The exceptional support shown by the Hyatt staff during the crisis, the relief Michael felt when he was in the air, and his surreal experience in Bangkok. [01:13:16] Reflections on the human side of travel and how crises like these reshape your perspective. [01:19:34] Learn about Michael's work as a luxury travel advisor and how to get in touch. Quotes: “[A MegaDo] is a gathering of frequent flyer aficionados talking about miles points and going behind the scenes in places that you don't normally get to see in an airplane, in an airport, in a hotel.” — Michael Rubiano [03:51] “I've been lots of places, not everywhere, but lots of places, and I'm always seeking the new and the novel.” — Michael Rubiano [18:03] “I get an email from the STEP program, saying, ‘Beware that there are protests in the southern part of the city, near Parliament, and you might want to avoid the area.' Okay, I wasn't anywhere near there. I was in the southwest part of the city. I wasn't getting involved in any protests.” — Michael Rubiano [40:58] “In the protests that were taking place on that Monday, — 19 people were killed, which set everything ablaze.” — Michael Rubiano [42:30] “A mob mentality takes on a life of its own. What started out as protests about corruption and nepotism and lack of job opportunities, lack of economic opportunity blew up, and all of a sudden you don't know which end is up.” — Michael Rubiano [48:53] “In my mind, if hotel staff are bolting out of the kitchen, I'd better get up back to my 14th-floor room. That is the first time that I said, ‘Okay, the danger is getting close to home.'” — Michael Rubiano [49:59] “When I went down to breakfast the next day at the hotel, I made sure to take my backpack, because what happens if something happens and I can't get back up to the 14th floor? So that backpack went with me everywhere.” — Michael Rubiano [58:14] “The hotel staff of the Hyatt Centric [were still] taking care of us when they had their own families and other worries to be concerned with. They were always making sure that we had food. They were still doing room service!” — Michael Rubiano [01:11:07] Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Michael Rubiano email Michael Rubiano on Instagram Flyertalk The Flight Deal Hyatt Centric Cathay Pacific Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X The Milenomics Podcast Network

Wing it with Randy and Caly as they dive into a mix of random and unexpected RV questions! From the best (and worst) campgrounds to favorite road trip snacks, “neighbor from hell” stories, and items you can't RV without, this episode is packed with laughs, road wisdom, and real-life RV adventures.Subscribe to RV Destinations Magazine at https://RVDestinationsMagazine.com and use code PODCAST20 to save 20% on your subscription today!

This week, the girls are reading off your horrors while traveling — but first, they make some predictions for their 2025 Spotify Wrapped (spoiler: the mom era is definitely showing in the charts). They reflect on the end of tour season, sharing heartfelt thank-yous to everyone who helped make the live shows such a massive success. Then it's time for the main event: your travel horror stories. From international mishaps and near-kidnappings to being trapped on a flight with a full bladder and nowhere to go, these tales will have you laughing, cringing, and double-checking your itinerary before your next trip.// WHAT WE ARE WEARING/MENTIONING // https://shopmy.us/shop/whatwesaidpodcast SHOP OUR MERCH: https://shop.dearmedia.com/collections/what-we-said !!! FOLLOW US !!!INSTA: @WHATWESAID, @JACIMARIESMITH, @CHELSEYJADECURTISTIKTOK: @CHELSEYJADECURTIS, @JACIMARIESMITHYOUTUBE: WATCH WHAT WE SAID, CHELSEY JADE, JACI MARIE// SPONSORS // Betterhelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/WHATWESAID today to get 10% off your first month.Columbia: Head to columbia.com to get your hands on an Amaze Puff jacket—they'retough on cold, soft on you.Winx: Head to hellowinx.com/WWS for 50% off Winx @ Walgreens. Squarespace: Go to Squarespace. com for a free trial, and when you're ready to launch, squarespace.com/WHATWESAID to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.Vivrelle: Go to www.vivrelle.com and apply for a membership today using code WHATWESAID for your first month of membership FREE - the code will also allow you to skip the Vivrelle waitlist.Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join the boys as they discuss some lesser known "time slip" cases that they found.Visit patreon.com/mysteriousbrews today and become a "BrewsCrew" member. You will receive weekly episodes early, Patreon exclusive episodes, and a sense of pride for helping your two favorite basement dwelling idiots. If you can't find it in your heart to contribute monthly, then head over to Apple iTunes and leave the boys a 5-star review.

Mens Room Question: What is your messed up travel story?

Mens Room Question: What is your messed up travel story?