We are freelance journalists/photographers/hotel scouts residing in Malta. We explore, photograph, and write about cities, small towns, villages, farms, and ranches domestically and internationally.
Noyo Harbor: Mendocino Coast’s Undiscovered Sweet Spot
PUBLISHED 07/09/24 BY Wander With Wonder
Noyo Harbor, the only deep-water port between San Francisco and Eureka, sits at the mouth of the Noyo River as it enters the Pacific Ocean. Situated about 170 miles north of San Francisco, the beaches are uncrowded, with no condo in sight. The windswept coast is a well-known bucket list destination.
But there is a place few visitors discover—Fort Bragg’s Noyo ...
28 Days on Gozo: A Insider’s Guide to Malta’s Lush Historic Isle
PUBLISHED 06/01/24 BY INTERNATIONAL LIVING
With this guide, you can leisurely explore Gozo’s landscapes, villages, and historical landmarks. We provide recommendations for shopping, dining, and relaxation. Over the four suggested weeks, you can immerse yourself in the authentic Gozitan culture, make friends, and explore every corner of the island. It assumes your home base is Nadur.
Why We Moved to Malta
International Living asked us to make a video showing why we moved to Gozo, Malta. We show and tell you why we are now Digital Nomad residents in the Republic of Malta in the middle of the Mediterranean.
Bourbon Tasting — Become A Master At Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House
PUBLISHED 07/03/24 BY Mary & Kevin Travel
Bourbon Tasting — Where do you start if you have over 250 bourbons to choose from? “I recommend starting with the A’s.”, advises Austin from Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House.
A Love Letter To Gozitan Food
PUBLISHED 06/19/24 BY Mary & Kevin Travel
Gozitan Food — The serene lido was far below the limestone terrace, where an outdoor cafe was shaded from the midday Mediterranean sun by white umbrellas. Our table above a sheltered cove overlooked the impossibly blue Mediterranean...
Valletta Malta—5 Reasons It’s Worth Visiting
PUBLISHED 10/10/23 BY Very Valletta
VALLETTA, MALTA — It’s late evening. Pjazza Tritoni is quiet. Only a few people are on their way through the gates of Valletta, walking through the square to their boutique hotel, apartment, or boat. The lights of Tritons’ Fountain beckon as it splashes, trickles, and sprays a light mist in the soft evening breeze...
Hever Castle: Live Like a King, Golf Like a Lord
PUBLISHED 05/30/24 BY Mary & Kevin Travel
HEVER CASTLE – KENT — A hunting party rides into camp across a lake through the rising morning mist. Red and blue tents are assembled. Meat is roasting on a spit. Food and wine are abundant. Fletchers’ ready bows, arrows, and quivers. A king and his queen arrive on horseback with their entourage.
Imagine the scene surrounding Hever Castle in the 1530s. This castle, steeped in history, witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, making it a captivating destination for history buffs. It was the c...
St Ermin’s — A London Hotel With A Past
PUBLISHED MAY 20, 2024 BY MARY & KEVIN TRAVEL (Where Mary Gos)
St Ermin’s Hotel has witnessed a lot of history. Much is stealthy, unclear, and unknown. St Ermin’s is said to be the birthplace of modern espionage. If only the walls could talk.
Why We Chose to be Digital Nomads
PUBLISHED MAY 20, 2024 BY INTERNATIONAL LIVING
Who Are Digital Nomads?
Digital nomads come from all walks of life; there is no one-size-fits-all answer to what kind of person becomes a digital nomad. However, they share a common trait: the desire for location independence and the freedom to work anywhere worldwide.
Ireland’s Last Remaining Traditional Irish Cap Workshop
PUBLISHED 02/14/24 BY Mary & Kevin Travel
Hanna Hats Turns 100! Sixteen-year-old David Hanna rode a bicycle from Belfast to Donegal Town, Ireland (120 miles) to apply for a tailor’s apprentice position. He was hired and eventually bought the company.
Scouting The Baltic States
PUBLISHED 05/09/24 BY Mary & Kevin Travel
In August, we are scouting the Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It’s only May, but we are researching and planning our 30-day scouting trip to The Baltic States in August 2024.
10 Reasons Malta Just Might Be Europe’s Best-Kept Secret
Malta is a sun-drenched island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean, often overlooked in favor of its more well-known neighbor, Italy.
Our Try-Out Year in Gozo, Malta
PUBLISHED 03/26/24 BY INTERNATIONAL LIVING
We sat on our terrace overlooking the Gozo Channel, the islands of Malta and Camino, and the green terraced farms below. Clink! “Happy Gozo try-out year.”, I said; Kevin repeated the toast.
January 11, 2024, marked one year since we officially moved to the village of Nadur, on Malta’s little sister island, Gozo...
My favorite beaches in Malta
PUBLISHED 03/04/24 BY TRIPADVISOR
No matter the season, you can’t go wrong with a beach day in Malta—a sunny island nation with more than 30 beaches. From the main island of Malta to Gozo (where I live), I’ve tried them all. Some shores are rocky, some are sandy, some are crowded with sun worshippers, some are blissfully remote and empty. Here are my favorites.
Mary Charlebois, Nadur, Malta
Bulgaria: Could This Be Our Next Nomadic Retirement Home?
PUBLISHED 02/11/24 BY INTERNATIONAL LIVING
A sunny fall Sunday on Knyaz Aleksandar Boulevard was like Paris 30 years ago. Along the wide, tree-filled, pedestrian-only street in Plovdiv, couples, friends, and families sit at umbrellaed sidewalk cafes conversing, sipping coffee, munching banitsa, and enjoying the last sunny days of autumn.
Flower shops and marquees dotted the thoroughfare with vivid blooms. Small retail shops bordered the boulevard. Street vendors selling clothing, jewelry, leather g...