This Week in the World: Week 18

Happy Sunday, and Happy Greek Orthodox Easter to those who celebrate! My friend Victoria (who is half-Greek) is hosting a celebration in her garden later today for a few of us and I’m excited to embrace her culture while dining on some delicious Greek food! Being outdoors here in London is becoming nicer and nicer everyday, especially now that the beautiful wisteria is blooming!

If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 18.

TRAVEL NEWS, UPDATES + INSPIRATION

• June 9th is the set date that Americans can start visiting France again.

• Flights to Europe are more expensive than they used to be. Here are 13 affordable places to visit in Europe (both cities and countryside) to keep your trip within budget.

• Another country to add to your list: Americans will now be able to travel to Spain starting in June.

• Africa’s Elephants are in peril—but could travel help protect them?

• Delta is back to selling 100% of the seats on their flights, which means gone are the days of always having an empty seat next to you (sigh).

AROUND THE WORLD

• It is absolutely heartbreaking to see what is happening in India right now. Here are some ways to help and where you can donate to help those in crisis.

• Scotland’s election is this week (6th of May) where Nicola Sturgeon is up for re-election. I enjoyed this podcast on how if she is re-elected, it would likely mean another referendum for Scottish independence.

• The days are getting longer and warmer here in the UK (and American travelers will likely be able to visit without quarantine soon!) Here are 7 glorious outdoor spots to enjoy a cocktail and enjoy the sunshine here in London.

MISCELLANEOUS

• It may sound silly, but I’m so excited I got a UK credit card this week! (Fellow expats will understand why this feels like quite an accomplishment!) Since I was already a US Amex cardholder, I had no issue opening the British Airways Amex here in the UK. If you spend £20,000 each year, you also receive a companion voucher (and if you apply using this link, you will receive 9,000 Avios points if you spend £1,000 in your first 3 months).

• Are you keen to build your wine cellar but don’t know where to start? One of my favorite wine shops in London, Barry Brothers & Rudd has a great program where you can pay as little as £100 per month to have experts build and store your cellar. It’s a simple way to build a collection of wine perfectly tailored to your taste, and you can “cash out” to collect your wine at anytime. I think it’s such a smart idea and am considering starting one myself!

• Plastic gets to the oceans through over 1,000 rivers (way more than what we originally thought). Here’s what you can do to help.

• Can you have alcohol after the COVID vaccine? (The question all wine enthusiasts are asking right now).

• 6 documentaries on sustainability that will make you think twice about what you buy.

WANT ALL OF THIS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX?

BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!

That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 12

Hello again, and thanks for joining me to read another issue of “This Week in the World”. It is officially spring (as of yesterday) and London’s blooms are out in full force! It’s certainly made my walks more enjoyable when unassuming corners suddenly look like this. This change in seasons is ushering in a lot of planning for the brighter days ahead (I know I’m starting to make my own travel plans…including an Atlas Adventure announcement coming soon!) I also mentioned last week that I’ve seen a surge in travel planning inquiries, so be sure to contact me for a consult (more HERE) or watch my online courses if you’re in need of some assistance.

If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 12.

TRAVEL NEWS, UPDATES + INSPIRATION

• Did you just get vaccinated? Here are 5 tips to plan your first ‘vaxication’

• Data Shows a Summer Travel Surge Is Coming. Will Airfares Surge, Too?

• Work From Abroad in These 15 Countries Welcoming Long-Term American Travelers

• Are you starting to make plans for future travel? Make sure to check out my online courses for a lot of helpful information to help you get started with destinations like Rome, Paris, Amalfi Coast, Greece, London, the south of France, the Italian Riviera, Amsterdam, Ireland, Portugal and more.

• 17 of the prettiest villages in Greece

• These Organizations Are Working With Communities to Make Tourism More Sustainable

• Do you have a fear of flying? Here is how science and psychology can help you overcome it.

AROUND THE WORLD

• Spain to launch trial of four day work week

• 22 Fantastic London Music Festivals Happening In Summer 2021

• 7 Lessons Learned From the Happiest Country in the World

• These 9 Luxury Train Routes in Europe Feel Straight Out of an Old Movie

MISCELLANEOUS

• I used to be a terrible sleeper until I regularly started taking these daily drops before bed (they are currently 22% off, and another 15% off if you're a new customer and use code BLONDEATLAS at checkout!)

• 7 Concrete Ways to Do Your Part for the Asian American Community Right Now

• 7 People Making Sustainability and Social Justice a Priority in Science, Wine, Tourism, and Beyond

• I am excited to listen to some episodes from this list of “The 14 best podcasts to listen to in 2021” on my walk this week!

WANT ALL OF THIS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX?

BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!

That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 9

Outfit Links: Jacket, Sweater, Jeans, Bag, Shoes

Welcome to another issue of “This Week in the World!” We had some optimistic news about the weeks ahead here in the UK this past Monday (more about that in the links below) so I’m finally starting to make some plans! Between nail appointments, buying museum tickets and planning some domestic weekends away… it’s so wonderful to feel like normalcy is inching closer by the minute. Not to mention, travel planning has picked up significantly— I think we’re all so excited about the hope that lies ahead!

If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 9.

TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES:

• Big news for us Londoners this week! The UK has announced dates to lift restrictions on dining, travel, and nightclubs.

• If you’ve been plugged into travel news during the pandemic, you’ve probably heard the term “vaccine passport” or “immunity passport” more than once. Here are 5 things to know about IATA’s Travel Pass app right now.

• With travel stalled for the past 10 months, its sustainable comeback has been a popular topic. Here are some of the many sustainable initiatives that have been started during the pandemic, awaiting the return of travelers.

• I really enjoyed listening to this discussion around immunity passports and what travel could soon look like (plus major trips people are starting to plan!)

AROUND THE WORLD:

• I always love anything James Corden does, but it was especially fun to watch his latest video featuring Prince Harry! The whole thing felt so refreshingly human.

• I loved this list of 10 eating and drinking rules that Italians live by.

• Should school meals be meatless? This is a hot debate in France at the moment, as Green mayor’s decision to serve lunches sans meat turns into heated beef among ministers and MPs.

• London’s West End will be turned into a huge outdoor dining area this summer (and I am so excited about it!)

• These six European cities are going green in 2021 (we love to see it!)

• Three excellent International Women’s Day events coming up in London (and online!)

WEEKLY FAVORITES:

• FAVORITE READ: I loved this piece from the NYT about why tea might be the perfect drink for the pandemic malaise. If you’re willing to splurge on £25 shipping, you can even get your tea and biscuits directly from Fortnum & Mason: one of the most iconic stores in London that’s loved by locals and tourists alike. Which brings me to…

• FAVORITE PURCHASE: I recently topped up some of my favorite Fortnum and Mason items (they’re one of the few shops still open during lockdown since they are largely comprised of food items). Whether you’re placing an online order or making a list for when you come to London, here are some of my “musts”:

  • Teas: Rose Pouchong, Fortmason & Countess Grey.

  • Biscuits: Rose, Piccadilly Lemon Curd, & Chocolate Orange Afternoon Tea.

  • Condiments + Spreads: Fig Cheese Spread, Chef’s Truffle Honey, Blood Orange & Rose Petal Marmalade, and Dill & Mustard Sauce (great on salmon!)

• FAVORITE WATCH: I take my WSET exam tomorrow so I’ve been watching a lot of wine-related videos to sharpen my knowledge. A few of my favorites have been Jancis Robinson’s YouTube videos (especially the ones from the 90s- they’re a real vibe) as well as the “A closer look” series on different varietals from the Somm streaming network. If you want to learn a bit more about wine these are some helpful starting points.

• FAVORITE FIND: I purchased a version of this picnic basket last year and used it so much (and am excited to start using it again soon!) With outdoors being the safe play during a pandemic, now is a great time to invest in a nice picnic basket.

WANT ALL OF THIS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX?

BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!

That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney