Sudden Journeys

16/03/2026

Maps are never only about geography.

In 1651, astronomers named a dark plain on the Moon the Sea of Tranquility.

Three years later, women in a Parisian salon created the Carte de Tendre, a map of the emotional journey from friendship to love

We have always tried to map what we cannot easily prove: emotion, memory, belonging.

This idea stays with me .. especially as someone who designs travel experiences and believes places shape us in ways we rarely notice. That the inner landscape and the outer one are always in conversation.

I explored this in a new essay: "The Sea of Tranquility Is Not a Metaphor."

On the cartography of feeling, the moon and what my dad taught me from the kitchen door

10/02/2026

There is a moment, just before spring turns to summer, when the world feels newly born. The English countryside turns an effervescent green. Roses climb stone cottages. Birds sing as if everything is beginning again. It really is something else to experience.

May in England is like a love letter… romancing you slowly, tenderly.

The Cottage & Roses Tour in the Cotswolds was designed for this exact season. This small-group England tour is for travelers craving a slower, more restorative way of experiencing the countryside… wandering without agenda, lingering in beautiful villages and of course all the English gardens which is at the heart of this tour. We will also gathering for candlelit dinners where conversation and connection unfold naturally, experience the best of British food and the best part.. make new friends over our week together.

We don’t rush. We don’t count steps. Every detail is taken care of, with space built in for rest, free time, countryside walks, and personal discovery.

If beauty, gardens and the English countryside feels like medicine right now, you’re warmly invited to join me. I hope you will.

🌹 Cottage & Roses | Cotswolds Tour
📅 May 17th - 23rd 2026
✨ Small group • intentionally paced
🌿 Gardens, villages & countryside
🤍 Only 3 rooms left

🔗 mysuddenjourneys.com/journeys

02/02/2026

What If You Didn’t Wait?

I’m wrote this from sunny—but cold—Athens, having just finished leading my first tour of the year. We began in Rome, crossed the Ionian Sea, and ended in Athens.

While wandering the fishing port of Hydra, a student quietly shared a life she could imagine one day... waking up in a small apartment on a Greek island. Morning light. Open windows. A slower rhythm. I watched her eyes light up as she spoke.

She was imagining a different story.

That moment reminded me why travel matters. Not just for seeing new places, but for awakening wonder.. for giving us permission to dream out loud.

The better question isn’t “What do you want to be when you grow up?” but where do you come alive?

So much of life is carefully managed: safe, sensible, predictable.

Then we travel, step into the unknown, and something shifts. Most of us have felt it. And so often, we bookmark it for one day.
One day, when there’s more time. More money. Fewer obligations.

And quietly, one day passes us by.

So let me say this gently: don’t wait. Take the trip. It doesn’t have to be with me. Investing in your longings is never debt... it’s wealth. And it will only add richness to your life.

The journey is yours.
So… where will you go?

Explore my list of 2026 Sudden Journeys

Join us in 2026 for a collection of soulful, story-rich journeys across Europe, North Africa, and the American South. Our small group tours are thoughtfully designed for curious travelers who crave connection, beauty, and time to linger. Each itinerary blends cultural depth, local flavor, and unhurr

16/03/2025

The Cotswolds & Wiltshire. May 12th - 18th 2025. Only 1 Room Left (1-2 spots)

16/03/2025

Cottage & Roses Tour | The Cotswolds & Wiltshire
May 12th - 18th 2025
Only 1 Room Left (1-2 spots)

There is a moment, just before spring turns to summer, when the world feels newly born. The air is tinged with early blooms and damp earth, the bucolic pastures of the English Countryside are an effervescent green, the sky stretching wide and full of promise.

May in England is like a love letter... romancing you slow, tender and endlessly unfolding.
And there is one last room for someone (or a couple) who longs to be a part of it.

Come. Let the road carry you past rose-covered cottages. Let your hands trail over the cool stone of a centuries-old villages, your feet wander through ancient woodland. Let the rhythm of your days be unhurried: morning coffee in country inns, afternoons wandering at leisure through historic market towns, evenings spent in the glow of candlelight (and I promise there will be lots of candlelight meals), sharing conversations and allowing yourself to be known as you break bread together surrounded by new friends.. you'll remember for years.

We will not rush. We will not measure time in hours or step counts rather in moments of beauty, of stillness, of connection.
This may all seem a bit dramatic but trust me, England has a way of romancing your soul in ways you didn't even know you needed... or rather you've longed for.

Explore storybook villages and gorgeous gardens throughout The Cotswolds and Wiltshire in 2025. May is, arguably, the best month of the year in England. It is often sunny, with a clear freshness in the air alive with birdsong and the trees and flowers in full bloom. The English countryside is a bea

26/01/2025

POV: You wake up in Europe and this is your view. As if you need another reason to travel to Europe.

When I arrive to my hotel room, the first thing I always do is go to the window and see if I have a view.

As someone who stays in 70-80 different hotels a year (already 9 hotel stays in 2025!), I have curated a list of stunning accommodations that provide that glorious first moment: waking up, looking out the window and thinking to yourself “I’m in Europe!”

Not only do these accommodations provide incredible views but they each also have fabulous amenities, comfortable beds, prime locations and wonderful staff.

Do you have a memorable room with a view?

25/01/2025

From my recent student tour: 3 unforgettable experiences.

✨ Budapest, Hungary
Think city scavenger hunt. The students were places in teams of 6-8, explored Budapest through an interactive rally using public transport and tuk-tuks. Along the way, they explored the city’s famous sites, including the Danube Promenade and Chain Bridge, talked with locals, and along the way sampled Hungarian foods like pickled veg and cured meats, and strudel. The adventure ended with a celebratory finish line and chimney cakes. This was a fabulous way to engage students and learn about the city while having fun.

✨ Zagreb, Croatia
In Zagreb, students embraced Croatian culture through lively folklore shows and hands-on workshops. Set in a traditional Croatian home, they learned traditional dances, local games, sampled typical sweets and created wooden keepsakes, all while experiencing the heritage of this vibrant country. The owner Ivan was deeply passionate about his culture and country.

✨ Bled, Slovenia
In Slovenia, we stepped back in time with a heartwarming Gorenjska region experience. This was truly a magical night. Village children welcomed us with much. We lit candles and took in ancient frescos of a medieval church. By lanterns and moonlight, we walked to the homestead. Hosted by a local family in their 500 yr old farmhouse, we were warmly welcomed. Together we sang folk songs, learned traditional dances, and feasted on delicious family-style dinner in a festive 17th-century setting. A special night to remember!

These unique experiences brought the destinations to life, blending history, culture, and personal connection for our group. 🌍💫

06/02/2024

I’ve been dreaming in Italian lately…

That is probably because I’ve been working tirelessly for some time now to create a very special tour, Old World Italia. One that has been 20 years in the making.

I have several special activities planned.. and you only have access to because I know people 😎

This weekend the tour will go live - finalmente!

Only 9 spots available (1 single room).

Make sure you subscribe to my mailing list (link in bio) as this will be the first place to have access.

https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60cf0e4858d33f8bfc299a28

I’ll be revealing more info throughout this week. Watch my stories for more info! I can hardly wait 🙏🏻

02/02/2024

This April - join me in the English Countryside — ready to be dazzled, to cast aside facts (and endless to-do lists) and let’s float above this difficult world a little as we enter this season of rebirth, Glorious Spring. When all of England is a garden, unfurling on the precipice of bursting into full bloom.

On this tour, I have made space for you. To be re-enchanted with the world. To be romanced. To be inspired. And.. everything is taken care for you.

One walk through the sheep pasture at lambing season, happy bird song and breathe in rich earth, filling you with a deep sense of peace... it might just undo you in the best possible way.

Wander through medieval forests carpeted in bluebells and wild garlic, roam Georgian market towns and bucolic countryside, listen to tales of old and learn about our Nation’s ancestral roots which began right here. Allow your imagination to come alive in the ruins of stately homes and secret gardens. At night, we gather to feast, finding comfort in strangers who are certain to become friends.

For most, Northamptonshire is an untravelled country. Discover not only the heart of England, but the heart of English history, a countryside rich in natural beauty, pleasant villages, abounding with fine country houses and ancient churches whose spires - supreme among the English counties - stone fingers pointing heavenward and beckoning from afar.

Will you join me? Are you ready to be dazzled and far from the maddening crowds?

All you need to be is willing.

Only 2 spots left!

https://www.mysuddenjourneys.com/english-countryside-tour