We had taken a short weekend camping trip to the Eastern Shore to visit a beautiful state park Dani's family used to camp at every summer. One early morning, we went for a walk along the beach to watch the sunrise, and I asked her along the deserted (or so we thought) Chesapeake coastline. An old fisherman walked by and gruffly wished us congratulations.

After wandering the old streets of Bari, Italy aimlessly, we ran into an acquaintance from Ireland who suggested the pizzeria down the road in the old town square. There must have been a hundred people packed outside this tiny shop and no one spoke a word of English. But pizza and calzones are a universal language in their own, and we ended going back several hours later that evening for second dinner.

More than one, which is a lot.

Before Dani began her program in Ireland, we spent a week in Nova Scotia where we got to explore Halifax, Cape Breton National Park, and the Bay of Fundy. In the highlands we stayed in a glass geodesic dome among the orchard treetops and were not prepared for the below freezing temperatures in August. We also were able to enjoy the French-inspired wine country and experience the highest tides in the world.

Good so far.

We are currently in denial, but are slowly turning into birdwatchers.

Canadian geese, no question. Swans are a close second.