Congratulations! | Today is your day. | You’re off to Great Places! | You’re off and away!
Last year we followed the advice of the great travel director Dr. Seuss and took off—with brains in our head and feet in our shoes—to explore great places. And the wonderfully wise children’s classic seems to be a perfect place to kick off this exploration of the “places we saw” in 2025.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (1990) by Dr. Seuss is the beloved and well-known children’s book that is a favorite for graduates of all ages, as well as for those exploring life’s ups and downs. In colorful and playful poetry it reminds us that we have agency: “You have brains in your head | You have feet in your shoes | You can steer yourself | any direction you choose.” But I was also reminded in re-reading this classic that Dr. Seuss doesn’t sugarcoat life. Early in the story the reader is flying high, leading the whole gang, topping all the rest.
“Except when you don’t. | Because, sometimes, you won’t. | I’m sorry to say so | but, sadly, it’s true | that Bang-ups | and Hang-ups | can happen to you.
You can get all hung up | in a prickle-ly perch. | And your gang will fly on. | You’ll be left in a Lurch.”
There will be ups and downs in life. There will doldrums, or even periods of despair. Because “Out there things can happen | and frequently do | to people as brainy | and footsy as you.”
But that’s how we grow as humans.
“And when things start to happen | don’t worry. Don’t stew. | Just go right along. | You’ll start happening too.”
That’s the joy of travel. Of life. When things start to happen, we “start happening too.” I was fortunate in 2025 to see many places new to me and to revisit some friends I hadn’t seen in years. Pieces of those travels and lessons learned along the way were captured in MORE TO COME. Here are my stories about the places we’ve seen over the past twelve months.
HOLLAND AND BELGIUM
The transformational power of place, art, and story — A Holy Week visit to the Cathedral of our Lady in Antwerp.
Tulipmania — Nothing says Spring in Holland quite like tulips, but there is a history lesson here as well.
The enduring beauty and utility of the windmill — The Mill Network at Kinderdijk is one of The Netherlands’ most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Pausing to think is how we sanctify time — No one leaves Amsterdam’s Portuguese Synagogue unmoved.
Exploring the Dutch waterways — A light wrap-up and overview of some of the places we visited on our April National Trust Tours trip to Holland and Belgium.
Traveling in order to be moved — Travel can change us. Here are three instances of times where I was moved during our visit along the Dutch waterways.
GREAT JOURNEY THROUGH EUROPE
Seeking the beautiful and awe-inspiring — Thoughts on my good fortune late in life to see magnificent and elemental things.
Telling the story in a most delightful way — Lucerne, Switzerland is a photographer’s delight.
The beauty and challenges of our landmarks — Sacred spaces seen on our trip in Europe key both individual and collective memories.
Our journey through Europe — A light overview of some of the places we visited on our Great Journey Through Europe tour.
IRELAND
Healing begins within . . . — Seeking some moods or intimations of places inside yourself that you never ordinarily see.
May the wind always be at your back . . . but not too much wind — Photographs and music to remember our most recent visit to the Emerald Isle.
FRANCE
Châteaux, cathedrals, cuisine, and charm — Photographs and historical notes from our visit to the Loire Valley.
Life in song — A moving and meaningful production of “Ariodante” at the Palais Garnier in Paris.
I love Paris in the fall — Views from twelve days in Paris.
OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO!
We have two National Trust Tours expeditions set for the first half of 2026. In February and March we’ll sail the Indian Ocean from Mahe Island, Seychelles to Madagascar. In May, we’ll journey to three countries—from northern Africa to the Iberian Peninsula—on an 8-night cruise that goes from Casablanca to Porto and Andalusia.
Come join us! Just bring those brains in your head and feet in your shoes.
More to come . . .
DJB
Photo of Cologne Cathedral by Nikolay Kovalenko on Unsplash
MORE TO COME... 