Go Blue. A trip we didn't plan

On Sunday morning we received the sad news that Mary Lynne had passed away. We bought tickets to Detroit, and early Monday morning we were on our way.

Michigan  welcomed us with sunny spring – but also with a rather malicious wind. Carelessly, I walked around without proper clothing, and by Tuesday the consequences became obvious: sneezing, coughing, and a sore throat that accompanied me for the rest of the trip.

Most of our time was spent with Scott’s family. We attended the viewing and the funeral, both of which were very heartfelt and moving. It was also an opportunity for me to finally meet many members of Scott’s extended family whom I had only heard about before.

In between the sad moments, there were also lighter ones. We had a mini adventure afternoon with Rubie and Grace. Grace drove us around town, we went shopping, and ended the day with burgers at Schlenkers.

One particularly unexpected moment happened while we were driving around. Suddenly we noticed a license plate on the car in front of us that read “ISAOMA.” Not exactly a typical U.S. license plate – and in Estonian it means “dad’s property.” Scott became curious and decided to follow the car for a bit to see if they might stop nearby.

A minute later they pulled into a driveway. Scott immediately recognized it as the driveway of his great aunt Louny’s old house. There was a woman on the porch and a man getting out of the car, and we explained why we had pulled in. We told them about Scott’s great aunt who had once lived there. The current owners had bought the house 26 years ago and had lived there ever since. As it turned out, one of them had Finnish roots and the other German. They explained the license plate: “ISA” means grandfather in Finnish and “OMA” means grandmother in German. I also explained what it means in Estonian.

It turned out they lived just a block away from Mary Lynne and had known her well, so we also had to share the news with them.

I will miss Mary Lynne. She was always the first to comment on my food stories, loved my baking, and because she adored teddy bears, I would always send her a photo whenever I spotted a cute one during my travels. I’m glad Scott managed to give her the Murano glass teddy bear we brought back from Venice.

Some trips are planned months in advance. Others happen suddenly, and for different reasons. 

Glow with the Tide. The Morning the Ocean Turned into Miami

 

We went to sleep once again with the balcony door wide open, listening to gentle waves and that perfect cruise-ship white noise. Pure bliss. At 4 a.m., however, I woke up to the sound of a grumpy Scott closing the balcony door.
Excuse me - what? I was genuinely shocked. Normally, he’s the one who insists on sleeping with windows or doors wide open, no matter the weather. Even if we need to shovel the snow out in the morning. Turns out, the issue this time was… Miami traffic noise. WTF? Yes, dear loyal reader, we were already sailing into Miami, bringing the Caribbean bliss to an end.

We grabbed breakfast one last time and then headed out with our luggage. Just this morning we had read horror stories about endless disembarkation lines and hours of waiting, so instead of politely waiting for our assigned time slot, we made a bold move and headed straight to Deck 6. No chaos. No waiting. No drama. Not even fellow travellers. There was a small delay at passport control, but even that took no more than 10 minutes. Smooth sailing - literally until the very end.

Since both of our flights were only in the evening, but we had to leave the ship in the morning, we had rented a car for the day. The rental company technically offered free shuttle to their office. In reality, waiting for that shuttle felt like waiting for Godot. So we grabbed a taxi and sped there ourselves. We were fifth in line. Thirty minutes later, Scott was still standing in line while I guarded the suitcases outside. By then, the line had grown to about 15 people - just in time for the first free shuttle bus full of rental customers to arrive and immediately join the queue. And a mere 45 minutes later… we had a car. Had we waited for the free shuttle, I’m fairly confident we’d still be standing in that rental line as I write this. On Friday evening.

With the car secured, it was shopping time. We spent a couple of hours in Florida’s largest mall, did some shopping, grabbed food, and then - most importantly - headed to Dairy Queen. Because let’s be honest: no U.S. trip is complete without Dairy Queen. Absolutely worth it. 10/10.

After that, it was time to drive to the airport, return the car, and make our way to the gates. Which we did, like the responsible travellers we are.

When boarding the plane, I noticed my seat was suspiciously… decorated. With what looked very much like vomit. I asked a flight attendant for wet wipes. She didn’t have any, but kindly offered me another blanket to cover the seat and reassured me that this was a brand-new aircraft. Well… that vomit also looked brand new, so I guess everything checked out? Eventually, also wet wipes appeared, and I thoroughly scrubbed away the mystery substance. Crisis managed.

By morning, I was in Copenhagen, followed by a quick transfer - and by early afternoon, home, where Gerli and Saskia were already waiting.

Looking back now, there are three things I miss the most (in no particular order):
1. The amazing food
2. The gym and running track literally minutes away
3. That RIDICULOUSLY comfortable hammock on our balcony

Sure, I miss the weather, the new places, and the whole cruise vibe too - but those three things? Bring them back!

Like a Virgin. Sea Day #5

  

 

Our last full day on the cruise has arrived. Tomorrow morning we’ll dock back in Miami, but today we’re still gloriously at sea - sailing around Cuba and gliding past Key West like seasoned ocean explorers who now know exactly where to find the best food on board.

The day started exactly as it should: with a brunch reservation at Razzle Dazzle. You know, that place - the one with the dangerously good buckwheat waffles and, according to Scott, the best bacon known to humankind. I went for a lighter, virtuous start: watermelon slices with tofu cream, granola, and berries, followed (because balance is important) by the now very familiar buckwheat waffles with pistachio cream. Scott, on the other hand, approached breakfast like a competitive sport: gazpacho, bacon, a chicken sandwich, and… more bacon.

After breakfast we packed our bags and squeezed in a quick workout to convince ourselves that cruise life is, in fact, very healthy. Naturally, this was followed by lunch - because apparently this ship is also home to “the world’s best pizza.” Scott was tasked with bringing one pizza for each of us and returned triumphantly… with three. Apparently there was still one more pizza on the menu we hadn't tried...

As the sun began to set, we did what we’ve done so well all week: watched the sky turn gold and pink. Then it was off to dinner - Wake, the steakhouse, once again. Still absolutely excellent.

Glow with the Tide. Gaili, did you see, who it was?

 I woke up to pure confusion.

Sometime during the night - specifically at 1:30 a.m. - our Uber driver had sent me approximately ten increasingly concerned messages saying he had arrived and could not find us. Which made perfect sense, because our actual plan was to go to the port at 1:30 p.m. Apparently, the app and the driver were living in a different timeline altogether. I cancelled that reality, made a new booking, and went back to sleep slightly wiser.

The morning, thankfully, was much calmer. I went for a run on the beach, because this is apparently who I become near the ocean, while we later strolled along Oceanview Drive. Scott enjoyed a hot dog, I enjoyed my peppermint moccha, and we observed Miami waking up. Overnight, a luxury car show had appeared out of nowhere - because of course it had. At the same spot sits a café in front of which scenes from Miami Vice were once filmed, adding just the right amount of cinematic nostalgia to our caffeine intake.

At some point, the internet began throwing out warnings: what is normally a 20-minute drive to the port could take up to 45 minutes today. Eleven cruise ships will do that to a city. We took the hint, ordered an Uber earlier than planned, and embarked on what turned out to be a 55-minute journey to cover just 20 kilometers. Miami traffic was clearly in its final boss phase.

Eventually, we arrived. After a bit of queuing and administrative wandering, we reached our cabin - only to discover that our “sea view” came courtesy of a lifeboat parked directly in front of our balcony. The ocean was technically there, just… filtered through emergency equipment. We politely visited the information desk and asked if a change might be possible. Miracle of miracles, it was. We were upgraded two floors higher and repositioned from the very back to the middle of the ship. Actual sea view restored.

From there, things escalated quickly in the best way. We ate, explored the ship, and were feeling quite pleased with life when, on our way back to the cabin, we casually ran into Sir Richard Branson. As one does. It turned out he was staying two cabins away from us, and outside his door stood eight young women already waiting for selfies. We walked past Sir Branson, only for Scott to loudly shout across the ship: “Gaili, DID YOU SEE WHO THAT WAS?” Subtlety was not in the cards today.

By 9:15 p.m., we were asleep.

Glow with the Tide. Shopping Queen

We woke up at five in the morning like people with a plan. By sunrise, we had already showered, achieved a suspicious level of productivity, and were essentially waiting for civilization to wake up with us. When the nearby café finally opened its doors at 8 a.m., we were there immediately.

After breakfast, we headed straight for an outlet mall, where we proceeded to lose all sense of time. Three-plus hours vanished between racks, mirrors, and the quiet internal justification of purchases that felt necessary in the moment.

Somewhere between stores, global politics entered the chat. News broke about a U.S. military operation in Venezuela, which could potentially affect our travel plans. Countries around Venezuela were closing, cruise routes might change, and suddenly our carefully imagined itinerary felt less… fixed. That said, as long as this didn’t mean extra days stuck at sea, we were flexible. Aruba turning into Turks & Caicos? Honestly, not the worst problem to have.

Back in Miami Beach, we returned the rental car, changed clothes, and walked down to the ocean to watch the sunset. And wow. It was maximum beautiful - the kind of sunset that makes the entire city skyline glow and convinces you that stopping to stare dramatically into the distance is completely justified.

From there, the plan was simple: go to a department store that included TJ Maxx. Finding the building? Easy. Finding the entrance? A full-on escape room experience.

Eventually, we discovered that the correct route involved entering an elevator from the street, taking it to the second-floor parking garage, walking through said garage, then taking another elevator to the fifth floor. Completely logical. Once inside, success followed quickly: I scored a light blue velvet tracksuit, and Scott walked away with a bag full of caramel candies. Balance was restored.

Next stop: yet another Cuban restaurant. On the way, we paused to photograph a full moon. Dinner this time was absolutely delicious, and the waiter - while excellent - was noticeably more reserved than our previous, tip-fueled best friend.

Speaking of tipping: Miami does not mess around. A 20% tip is automatically added to the bill, after which you are invited - politely but firmly - to add more, with suggested amounts starting at 15%. On top of that, Florida taxes are significantly higher than elsewhere, with over 10% added to menu prices. So the number you see on the menu is more of a concept than a final price. A suggestion. A starting point.

We walked back to the hotel along Oceanview Street, full and tired. Since I had read that eleven cruise ships would be in port the next day, we decided not to gamble with timing. For 1:30, we ordered an Uber to be in the port by 2:30ish.

Glow with the Tide. The Sunset Landing

If you ignore the screaming babies, both the Copenhagen and Miami flights were remarkably uneventful. Peacefully so. That is, until Miami itself decided to finally put on a show.

We landed right at sunset, and honestly, it may have been the most beautiful landing I’ve ever experienced. The sky was painted in dramatic reds, soft pinks, and glowing oranges, like Miami was welcoming us personally and saying, “Alright, now we can begin.” Even jet lag paused for a second to admire the view.

Immigration? Smooth. Rental car? Acquired. Thirty minutes later, we were standing in front of our accommodation, so ready to relax. Armed with instructions and confidence, I approached the door, entered the code… and nothing happened. Again. Nothing.

What followed was an impressively long exchange of messages with the owner. He insisted the code was correct. I insisted the door remained very much closed. Eventually, reality won. We gave up, admitted defeat, and booked another hotel.

And just like that, everything clicked into place.

The new hotel was in South Beach, where things tend to work the way they should. The check-in was effortless, and our room greeted us with an absolutely stunning view of both the ocean and the city. Lights twinkling, waves rolling in, stress leaving our bodies.

Hunger soon took over, so we wandered into a Cuban restaurant nearby. There, our waiter decided - quite quickly - that we were his new best friends. Entirely motivated by tips, of course, but still very convincing. Under his passionate guidance, we ordered what he swore were the best dishes on the menu and washed them down with beer from his hometown. He spoke about it with such fake pride that we would’ve ordered it even if it tasted like regret. Thankfully, it didn’t.

Although mediocre food, but with full stomachs, a perfect view, and the kind of tiredness that only travel can give you, we were back in hotel and fell asleep.

Go Blue. Dairy Queen, deers & no donuts, a whirlwind week in Michigan

                                          

After days of anticipation (and a lot of silent panic), Thursday finally brought sweet happyness - we made it to Dairy Queen! Crisis averted. I was genuinely starting to worry that my beloved Blizzard would remain just a dream.

That evening, feeling sugar-fueled, we set out for a sunset walk around the neighborhood. Enter the deers. Herds of them. We counted 15 on a single street corner, standing there like they owned the place. Just staring. Judging. It was a beautifully warm night, the sky painted in pinks and golds, and we spotted dozens of pink blossoming trees looking straight out of Louvre. I even managed to get a few good photos taken of me, proving that yes, I was present for the magic.

For Friday night’s dinner I whipped up Pad Thai and kringel (because why not combine Thai street food with Estonian pastry?). All four of us enjoyed it and - dare I say it - I was pretty proud of myself.

Saturday meant a return to my happy place: Ann Arbor. We wandered the well familiar streets, grabbed some mini cupcakes, and attempted to revisit the mini donut place... which, to our dismay, had vanished into the entrepreneurial void.

We also walked down our street, and wrapped the day with Zingerman’s sandwiches - an absolute must. The ordering system was smooth: order on a screen, receive a text when it’s ready and go pick it up. Easy. But then came the tip screen, already defaulted to 18%. It was me placing the order, Scott picking it up, and naturally, we couldn’t decide who deserved the tip. In the end, the great stalemate meant… no tip. We worked for free.

On Sunday, we witnessed what seemed to be half the town doing yoga in a neighbor’s yard. Quite the sight. Later, we headed to Common Grill in Chelsea for dinner. It had been years - since Scott’s birthday in 2019 (or was it 2018?) - but it was just as amazing as we remembered. The menu still has a few items calling my name. Next time, perhaps.

Monday delivered another Dairy Queen moment (because why stop at one?), followed by dinner at an Italian restaurant that fully embraced the motto “Go big or go home.” The portions were enormous. Like, “you’ll need a to-go box and a nap” enormous.

And then came Tuesday - airport and airplane day. Armed with a Cookie Crumble Starbucks Frappuccino, I boarded three flights and eventually made it back home on Wednesday afternoon.

Go Blue. From Desert Dust to Cherry Blossoms

 

We kicked off Easter Sunday in Jackson, waking up at Scott’s mom’s house. The main plan for the day was to prepare and eat Easter lunch. I had been assigned dessert duty by my loving husband. Upon entering the kitchen, we discovered that Scott’s mom had already whipped up a Key Lime Pie (it was delicious!).

So instead, I was promoted to appetizer status and made asparagus wrapped in bacon, fried to  perfection. Scott bravely took on roast beef for the first time in his life - and did a great job. Meanwhile, Scott’s mom had also prepared stuffed potatoes. We enjoyed a nice very late lunch and as predicted, ate way too much.

Monday after work, we zipped off to Ann Arbor, each with our own shopping agenda. As soon as we arrived, we split up like expert pickpockets - I dived into TJ Maxx (and since I had never been there in spring, I was wow, the clothing selection was just overwhelming), while Scott tackled his errands.

We reunited for a quick detour to Home Goods (my second-favorite store after TJ Maxx), then met up with Rebecca for dinner at Knight’s - still as reliably good as ever. And what an amazing service!

Tuesday night was a cozy one in, and I cooked creamy lemon pasta with pan-fried chicken. Not to brag, but it turned out seriously good.

On Wednesday, we took a little drive down to Saline to meet with Sherry - someone I hadn’t seen since pre-2020. It was such a lovely meetup, filled with much catch-up, and - no surprise here - a massive amount of meat. Because if there’s one thing you don’t come to the U.S. for, it’s reasonable portion sizes.

Arizona dreaming with desert vibes. Making new friends

 

Our Arizona adventure was wrapping up, but not before giving us one final amazing view: an absolutely breathtaking sunrise. If Sedona was trying to convince us to stay here, it almost worked.

Having learned our lesson about Sedona’s breakfast rush, we arrived at Redrock Café bright and early — 7:20 AM, just 20 minutes after opening. Some folks were already tucking into their pancakes, and by 8 AM the waiting line was snaking out the door. Perfect timing! I went for an omelet and buckwheat waffles (plus essential coffee, obviously), while Scott celebrated his love for American sandwiches with a Reuben. Another win in the culinary department.

After brunch, we headed for the creek, revisiting a hiking spot where Scott used to come some 30 years ago. When we pulled into the parking lot around 8:30 AM, only a handful of cars were there - peaceful and perfect. Fast forward to our return: the lot was packed, with a line of cars waiting to grab any available spot. Safe to say, Sedona’s popularity has skyrocketed since Scott’s good ol’ days.

The hike itself was pure joy: sunshine, stunning views, and that magical desert stillness you can almost hear if you listen carefully.

On the way to Phoenix airport, we couldn't resist a few more stops to meet the local celebrities - the giant saguaro cacti standing tall and proud on both sides of the road. Fun fact for you, dear reader: Arizona actually has to tag and register these cacti because people (apparently) can’t be trusted not to steal them. Apparently, cactus theft is a thing. I'm happy to report I took only a selfie with cactus No. 320, and left it right where it belongs.

This trip was my first real desert experience, and it turned out to be way different - and way better - than I had imagined. So many landscapes, so much nature, and so many moments that took my breath away.

Our car drop-off at Phoenix Airport went smoother than expected (always a small miracle), and our flight was blissfully uneventful.