Happy New Year! I’m just now catching my breath following the chaos of the last couple of months. Ever since Thanksgiving, it seemed to be one high stress moment after another. I had a COVID scare after being exposed just a week before my Atlas Adventures London crew arrived (thankfully, I dodged it and we had an amazing trip!) I also had to renew my UK visa (which thankfully, was approved without issue). And to top it all off, the surge of Omicron has meant last minute changes and cancellations for my clients who planned to travel over the festive season. I felt like I was limping to the finish line by the time Christmas rolled around, but I managed to make it back to the states healthy and safely, and I’ve thoroughly been enjoying a very restful couple of weeks soaking up time with family. I took a few weeks off social media, have been reading a lot (I read 2 books in 2 days last week!), made my 2022 vision board, and am so thankful for this time to rest and recharge before another year ahead. I’ll be stateside for another 10 days (nice long trip!) so probably won’t be sharing much until I’m back in London. Nevertheless, I wanted to kick off the new year with one of my favorite weekly traditions: “This Week in the World.”
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 the first week of 2022!
TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES
I enjoyed reading this list of The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022 according to Travel and Leisure.
I’m really bummed that Thailand's quarantine-free travel pass has been suspended due to Omicron concerns. My boyfriend and I were planning to go in March but we’ll probably hold off on planning for now until things improve.
One reason I’m staying in the states a bit longer? Air travel is a mess right now. Today alone, 2,100 flights have been cancelled (between Omicron cases surging and winter weather). Keep an eye on this if you’re traveling soon.
AROUND THE WORLD
I think everyone was sad to hear about Betty White’s passing. This article has some great animal organizations to support in her honor.
Speaking of devastation from natural disasters, my friend Brenna shared this incredible story of a friend of hers who lost everything in the Mayfield, KY tornadoes. They are raising money to help him (please read - it’s so inspiring!) You can learn more here.
WEEKLY FAVORITES
My boyfriend got me these sustainable hiking boots for one of my Christmas gifts (and they’re currently on sale). We are planning to do a trek in Switzerland this summer so after attempting many hikes in my running shoes, I’m really excited to break these in!
I know Christmas has already passed, but I was on a social media break when I first read this article and didn’t get a chance to share. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is one of my favorite Christmas movies and I absolutely loved this piece on why Mary Bailey is the real hero of the film.
I took a bath last night and found this “Relax in the Bath” playlist that was idyllic.
I treated myself to the New York Times cooking subscription this year and am already loving it! I have this recipe for Tofu and Bok Choy with Ginger-Tahini Sauce bookmarked to make this week.
I finally splurged on a much needed new carry on suitcase. I’ve had my eye on this one for years and finally pulled the trigger (although I got silver instead of black). So far I’m loving it, but will report back after it gets more use!
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That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!
xx
Whitney
