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Blog Posts - the "Daily Diary"
Explore solo travel stories, cruise experiences, tips & guides.


A Volcanic day in Kagoshima
After departing Yokohama on Friday, November 18th and having our first sea day on Saturday, the Celebrity Millennium arrived in...
colesjoholm
Nov 19, 20232 min read


Proof that money doesn’t buy you happiness
Controversial statement. (Eye rolls everywhere). When sitting on a catamaran in the middle of the Indian Ocean in a tropical paradise just south of the equator hardly seems like a fitting locale to make such a statement, but I said what I said. Watch. Listen. Then watch again. What do you hear? What do you see? If you saw a country that makes on average $14,340 a year, which makes it the richest African Country, then that’s part 1. Other than a guitar, the musical instrum
colesjoholm
Sep 13, 20233 min read


Did something I PROMISED myself I wasn’t going to do…
Well folks, I did something I promised myself I was NOT going to do this year. In my year of "yes", driving in a foreign country was a...
colesjoholm
Sep 12, 20233 min read


Allo - a Creole Hello from the Seychelles
Welcome to the Indian Ocean. 2nd stop in the Southern Hemisphere. The long flight was uneventful. The seat and legroom from seat 27C...
colesjoholm
Sep 11, 20234 min read


Recap: 19 nights aboard the Celebrity Apex
It's a wrap. One more night in Amsterdam...which is not being downplayed AT all, but my time onboard the Celebrity Apex has been...
colesjoholm
Jul 6, 20233 min read


Copenhagen for the win
Well done Denmark. Not one, but two days in the Capital City of Denmark were the perfect stop to the end of this guys European Vacation....
colesjoholm
Jul 6, 20232 min read


A Sjoholm in Stockholm
I'll be back. Stockholm is definitely on the I'll be back list. Another torrential downpour made for less than ideal sight-seeing. A...
colesjoholm
Jul 5, 20232 min read


You rained on my Helsinki Parade
It was a sloppy wet and cold day in Helsinki. At least it ended that way. There was a few hours of minimal mist but once it started,...
colesjoholm
Jul 4, 20232 min read


Tallinn, Estonia - country # 9
It was a hot, hot day in Tallinn on Friday, June 30th. I was sweating in the shade while I was sipping my new favorite cocktail...
colesjoholm
Jul 3, 20232 min read


Visby, Sweden - a 2nd homecoming
Stepping foot on countries of your heritage is special. My Norwegian and Swedish blood feels right at home. Although I've avoided the...
colesjoholm
Jun 29, 20232 min read


Berlin and the longest excursion of my life
So, sitting here is Visby, Sweden typing on Thursday, June 29th and this is the official catch-up post. Again, being phoneless for about...
colesjoholm
Jun 29, 20234 min read


Rotterdam, a city of stunning modern architecture
When you embark/disembark from a cruise ship, most passengers are running to/from the airport. Being B2B (back-to-back) I had the...
colesjoholm
Jun 28, 20232 min read


Alesund+Norway photos
I don't have much else to say about Norway. It won my heart. I'll be back-soon! My day in Alesund was largely spend on a sea kayak,...
colesjoholm
Jun 28, 20232 min read


Geiranger, the apex of this voyage (pun intended)
Overwhelmingly beautiful. In a town that has a giant campground in the center of town, right on the bay, in a Norwegian Fjord Box Canyon,...
colesjoholm
Jun 23, 20234 min read


Kristiansand + Haugesund Norway 🤩
Norway, thus far, has been everything I had hoped it would be. Sitting here in a Kafe (@vanias.kafe) in Haugesund, Norway on stop 2 of...
colesjoholm
Jun 21, 20233 min read


Amsterdam
Amsterdam. It's been a lovely stay. And wow, it really is the city that never sleeps. Amsterdam is a much smaller city than an...
colesjoholm
Jun 18, 20232 min read


A dinner to remember
One wouldn't necessarily think an "over-priced" dinner at a Two Michelin Star restaurant would be memorable, but come try the cuddle...
colesjoholm
Jun 16, 20233 min read


Up, up + away we go
Continent #3 is in the crosshairs! This week has been challenging to say the least. Mario. Work has been extremely stressful, it's also...
colesjoholm
Jun 14, 20232 min read


Shut up and put your money where your mouth is
That's right. Waking up in Vegas. Talk about impulsive. Yes. Fun. Hell yes. Why not. Yes. 7:50p was sitting in my hot tub. 9p on a...
colesjoholm
Apr 29, 20233 min read
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