Finland, Sweden & Norway

​Three Countries, Many Cinnamon Buns: Finland, Sweden & Norway

Annelies and I went on a Nordic adventure which took us through Finland, Sweden, and Norway—and somehow involved an impressive amount of cinnamon buns along the way.

 

Finland

We started in Helsinki, where we packed in a little bit of everything. We took a walking tour, visited Suomenlinna island, saw the famous church built into a rock, wandered through the Tram Museum, and, of course, experienced a Finnish sauna.

There were also knitting stores, salmon soup, reindeer, and plenty of cinnamon rolls. Our hostel turned out to be filled with fun people, which meant Annelies had a few later nights than expected. Helsinki was a great mix of history, food, and getting a taste of Finnish life.

Sweden

Next up was Stockholm, where we got to spend time with a friend and explore one of the prettiest cities of the trip.

We visited the Nobel Prize Museum and the Royal Armoury, took a trip out to one of Stockholm’s islands, and learned a little more about Swedish history along the way.

There were more cinnamon buns, naturally, and we even learned that the candy cane has Swedish roots. Annelies also had a bag embroidered at Uniqlo—an experience that probably deserves an entire post of its own.

Norway

Our final stop was Oslo, and the weather could not have been better.

We took a walking tour, explored the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, and visited Oslo City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded. One evening we hopped on a ferry and cruised around the islands during golden hour, which was easily one of the prettiest moments of the trip.

We also tried a very Norwegian waffle topped with brown cheese, sour cream, and jam. It was definitely memorable.

And then there was the yarn. So. Much. Yarn. I bought enough that I immediately regretted not packing my vacuum bag.

And yes, there were more cinnamon buns.

Three Countries Later…

Finland, Sweden, and Norway each felt completely different, but they all gave us beautiful cities, interesting history, great experiences, and a lot of good food.

It was a whirlwind trip, but a wonderful one—and I think we can officially say we did our part to support the Nordic cinnamon bun industry.

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Retirement Scouting: A Month in Greece

When I told people I was spending a month in Crete, the first question was almost always, “Are you on vacation?”

Not exactly.

This trip had a purpose.

In just a few years, I’ll have the opportunity to retire, and I’ve decided that before making one of the biggest decisions of my life, I want to see the world one destination at a time. Rather than choosing a place based on YouTube videos or rankings on the internet, I want to experience it the way I would actually live there.

That means renting an apartment instead of staying in a resort. Shopping at grocery stores. Working from my laptop. Taking the local bus. Wandering neighborhoods with no agenda. Finding a favorite taverna. Seeing what life feels like on an ordinary Tuesday.

Crete became my first “retirement scouting mission.”

Over the course of a month, I settled into my apartment, learned to survive without a dishwasher, and discovered that having a desk overlooking the Mediterranean Sea is a dangerous level of productivity enhancement. I spent weekends exploring Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Rethymno, Chania, Elounda, and Spinalonga, mostly by bus or rental car, trying to answer one simple question:

“Could I imagine calling this home?”

The answer surprised me.

Yes… maybe.

The scenery was every bit as beautiful as I had imagined. The beaches were stunning, the water was crystal clear, and the weather reminded me just how much I enjoy sunshine.

But what stood out most wasn’t the landscape.

It was the people.

Again and again I experienced genuine kindness. Conversations with strangers. Restaurant owners who remembered me. People eager to help without expecting anything in return. The slower pace of life encouraged something I think many of us have forgotten how to do—simply enjoy the day.

I also had one of the highlights of the trip when my daughter, Annelies, joined me. Together we explored western Crete, visited the historic island of Spinalonga, spent plenty of time at the beach, and created memories I’ll treasure far longer than any souvenir I could have bought.

Of course, it wouldn’t be my trip without yarn. I somehow finished an entire scarf weeks earlier than expected as well as an entire cardigan, which naturally meant finding more yarn before leaving.

So… did I decide to retire in Crete?

Actually, the biggest decision I made was that I don’t need to decide yet.

Crete confirmed something much more important: I know the lifestyle I’m looking for.

Warm weather. Walkable communities. Friendly people. A slower pace. Good food. Plenty of opportunities to be outside. A place where life feels a little less rushed.

Whether that place ultimately ends up being Crete, Cyprus, Portugal, or somewhere I haven’t even considered yet, I don’t know.

What I do know is this: when retirement comes, I won’t buy immediately. I’ll rent first, give myself time to truly live somewhere, and make sure my heart and my head agree before I unpack for good.

The next stop on this journey is Cyprus in December, with Portugal’s Algarve region tempting me.

The adventure continues.

After all, that’s what Driving the Dream is really about—not just finding a destination, but discovering where life feels most like home.

Thanks for coming along for the ride. This is my final sunrise in Crete  

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London: My First Love, Revisited

​London holds a special place in my heart. It was the first city I visited in Europe, and for many years it was my favourite. I’ve been back a couple of times since moving here, but always with an agenda. This trip was different — this time I got to just be in London.

The week started with work. I got to celebrate a major milestone: my customer at Heathrow went live. As a bonus, I was given a tour of their operations center, which was uber cool. There is something deeply satisfying about seeing the work you do translate into something real and functioning at that scale. Check out the cake!

Then the holiday began.

I saw three plays, which felt like coming home in its own right. I used to go to the theatre all the time and somehow fell out of the habit since moving to Europe. Cabaret was… meh. Six, on the other hand, was absolutely amazing — great energy, great music, great fun from start to finish.

And then there was 1536, which I wasn’t quite prepared for. It was deeply moving, exploring the conflicts around how women are treated — and drawing an uncomfortable but undeniable line between then and now. Not much has changed. It’s the kind of show that stays with you.

I walked a lot. London rewards that. And somewhere between the theatre and the miles on foot, I remembered why I fell for this city in the first place.

I also bought some yarn and started a cardigan. Crafting comes to me when life is calm. I’m hopeful this year will bring that.

It was a nice little holiday.

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Egypt, Two Months Later

It has taken me two months to write this. Not because I didn’t enjoy the trip, or because there isn’t anything to say. If anything, it’s the opposite. Life has felt a little heavy lately, and sitting down to reflect felt harder than usual. But Egypt deserves a post, even if it comes a little later than planned.

In February, Oliver and I traveled to Egypt and stayed at Stella Beach Resort. And honestly, this trip was exactly what I wanted.

There was no packed itinerary. No pressure to “see everything.”

Most days looked like this:

• Wake up slowly
• Head to the beach
• Crochet
• Study for my Dutch exams
• Read for a few hours
• Repeat

It was simple. Quiet. Restful in a way that feels rare.

The resort itself was lovely, comfortable, easy, and exactly the kind of place where you don’t have to think too hard about anything. And sometimes, that’s the best kind of travel.

I did a bit of snorkeling while we were there, and the water completely lived up to expectations of the Red Sea. Clear, calm, and full of life. It’s one of those things that’s hard to fully explain until you’re in it, floating above coral and watching everything move beneath you. It felt peaceful, almost surreal at times. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

At one point, I decided to leave our peaceful beach bubble and take a 24-hour bus trip to see the pyramids. Yes, 24 hours. The journey itself was…an experience. Long, a bit chaotic, and not exactly comfortable. But standing in front of pyramids made every second worth it.

There’s something surreal about seeing something you’ve only ever learned about in textbooks or seen in photos. They’re bigger than you expect. Older than you can really comprehend. And somehow still grounding in a strange way.

My 2026 is filling up with many fun adventures, many of them with my Annelies, who only has six months of left in Europe. Time will fly. 

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