This Week in the World: Week 13

Hello! I’m back from a beautiful trip to Spain (pictured above!) and very excited about this week’s issue, largely because I've had my website redesigned! I'm also in the process of having an illustrator create a logo (coming soon!) and I switched to a new email provider as well. Things aren't complete just yet (this is phase 1 of the rollout) I'm still so excited to share it with you! Hope you love it as much as I do :)

This week also kicks off another season of Atlas Adventures trips! I'm heading to Paris on Friday with some friends to celebrate my birthday before the Paris crew arrives on Sunday to kick off another trip- can't wait to share along the way!

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 13.

TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES

• U.S. Passports Are Getting a Whole New Look!

• Will the cost of airfare skyrocket this year?

• Italy Announces Plan to Eliminate COVID-19 Restrictions — Here's What's Changing

• If you’re not following TSA on Instagram…you’re missing out.

AROUND THE WORLD

• Will the war in Ukraine lead the world into food shortages?

• Spring time is upon us! If you’re looking for the perfect wines to drink this season, look to the Loire Valley.

• The weather in London this last week has been glorious! To celebrate patio season being upon us, here are 19 of the best terraces in London.

• Electric cars are becoming the way of the future. In fact, the UK government vows 10-fold increase in electric car chargers by 2030.

• ‘What are the UN and EU for if not to care for refugees?’ asks food NGO in Ukraine

WEEKLY FAVORITES

• I added to my art collection this week with a painting from Alan Halliday / Camburn Fine Art. Halliday is a British artist who is based in the Loire Valley whose paintings are in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum; the Theatre Museum, The Museum of London as well as Oxford University colleges and the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, USA. I love the lightness and colors of his work - they make me so happy!

• I loved this list of life-changing books (I’ve read several and loved them all… adding the others to my ‘must-read’ list!)

• I need to place an ABLE order stat because so many of their shoes right now are beautiful! This sage green pair with a subtle heel, this chic sneaker and this sandal (which quite literally has my name all over it) are all perfect options for spring.

• I have my eye on so many of these sustainable Parisian dresses (I’m going into the shop tomorrow to see which ones are my fav!)

• Here’s what we’re making for dinner tonight: Cauliflower Shawarma with Spicy Tahini.

• “So much happens in restaurants.” I loved this love-letter to dining out!

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

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 31

Happy first day of August. I’m still sharing photos from Italy (even though I’ve been back in London for a week now). As much as I loved everything about our trip, it’s also been really nice to be back home to my routine and to be able to catch up on a lot of work. This month will bring a lot of travel in the weeks ahead, as I prepare to go back to the US to see family, friends and then head to Belize to host my next Atlas Adventures trip—I can’t wait! Until then, I’m very much enjoying some relaxing time at home.

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 31.

TRAVEL NEWS, UPDATES + INSPIRATION

• The U.K. has reopened (without quarantine!) to fully vaccinated Americans!

• UNESCO adds 33 new sites to its 2021 World Heritage list— have you been to any of them?

• Travel is especially chaotic right now. Here’s why you should work with a travel advisor.

• Have you had a flight recently be cancelled or delayed? Here’s what you should do.

• 11 of the prettiest small towns in Italy (I can vouch for the first two… need to get to the rest!)

AROUND THE WORLD

• Simone Biles was a popular conversation topic this past week when she opted to prioritize her mental health by withdrawing from her participation in Olympic events. I, along with so many, applaud her decision and am frustrated hearing those who have criticized her decision. I saw several people share that “Simone Biles probably won't hear your tweets about her "quitting" or "playing the mental health card" but your friends who struggle with mental health issues will”. This podcast episode is a great listen about how incredible she is. I highly encourage anyone, but especially her critics, to listen to this inspiring story.

• “King Richard”, film starring Will Smith, will tell the story of Richard Williams (Venus and Serena’s father) in cinemas this November— I’m so excited for this!

• In honor of London reopening to American travelers in August, here are 73 amazing things to do in my favorite city this month.

• I love National Geographic and have so much respect for their reporting. I really appreciated this piece they did on why vaccines are highly unlikely to cause side effects long after getting the shot, as their science shows that even the most serious side effects for any vaccine, including COVID-19, occur within just a few weeks. A good read if you are apprehensive about the vaccine or know someone who is.

WEEKLY FAVORITES

• FAVORITE READ: I loved this piece on why “our biggest enemy is no longer climate denial but climate delay.”

• FAVORITE FINDS: While August is always one of the warmest month of the year, I always can’t help but to start thinking about the cooler temps right around the corner, so I’ve been eyeing some sustainable transitional pieces lately. Here’s what I’m looking to snag:

  • THIS ANORAK is sustainable, affordable and great for wet weather (which we have plenty of here in London).

  • THIS BAG is so timeless and elegant- I have had my eye on it for a while now.

  • THESE PANTS are made at a zero waste facility and look so comfortable- perfect with a tank and sandals in the summer or loafers and a cardigan as we enter into cooler temperatures.

• FAVORITE WINE: Ever since our trip to the Alto Adige region, I have been constantly craving an aromatic glass of Gewurztraminer (a popular varietal of this region). Highly recommend asking your local wine shop to recommend one to you (try to find one from Sudtirol specifically if you can) or you can order THIS ONE online.

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

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 24

Hello from Paros! (well, at least as I’m typing this). I am off to Santorini today to enjoy my last couple of days in Greece before heading home. It has already been such an incredible trip, especially these last few days! I had been to Santorini and Mykonos multiple times before (they are the most popular destinations for my clients too, so definitely need to have a good knowledge of both). And while I really love both of those islands, it has been such a treat to discover some of the other Cyclades like Naxos and Paros. I’ll share more about both in my newsletter, but they have impressed me so much and I absolutely plan on returning for longer trips!

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 24.

TRAVEL NEWS, UPDATES + INSPIRATION

• 7 of the top European countries to visit this summer (spoiler alert: Greece is one of them!)

• Regret never studying abroad? This new “study abroad for grown ups” is selling out fast.

• I enjoyed this piece called ”I Traveled to Cartagena During COVID-19 - Here's What It Was Like.”

• 9 tips for beginners visiting Italy for the first time (or, my favorite tip, book a consulting session with me to help you plan your trip!)

AROUND THE WORLD

• World leaders from the top global economies are currently gathering in Cornwall at the G7 to discuss matters including COVID-19 vaccines, strengthening the global public health, and financing climate action. Here is a recap of what has been happening.

• Speaking of the G7, Sir David Attenborough (an absolute legend!) addressed the leaders on the topic of climate change, informing them that “they are facing the most important decisions in human history as they seek to tackle climate change.”

• And speaking of climate change: I already fell in love with Paros these last couple of days, but this article about how they want to ditch plastic made me love it even more. I hope more and more destinations aim for goals like this.

• Juneteenth is just around the corner (June 19th). This NPR podcast titled “The History Of Juneteenth” is an insightful listen to add to your list this week.

WEEKLY FAVORITES/ GREECE TRAVEL STAPLES

• THIS HAT has been my go-to on this trip (have worn it almost everyday!) It’s great quality and made by one of my favorite sustainable brands.

• THESE SANDALS (pictured above) are made by one of my favorite sustainable brands. I’ve had them and loved them for years, and they are the ideal shoe for any warm-weather travel destination .

• THIS LOTION is perfect for a warm-weather vacation. It has addictive scent and a visibly tightening effect to the skin, plus a smoothing formula that adds a hint of shimmer to skin.

• THIS TRAVEL BAG is great for your carry-on liquids (TSA approved for airport security) but also great to throw in a beach bag to prevent some of your smaller items (like sunscreen, AirPods, etc.) from getting lost at the bottom of your bag.

• I’ve seen so many Grecian women wearing bathing suit tops like this, paired with long maxi skirts and it makes for such a nice transitional outfit while on the islands! I’m definitely in the market for one to replicate this look (the option linked is also sustainable).

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

xx

Whitney