A Look Ahead to 2026

muse7699
Dec 13, 2025
5 min read

Happy early new year from a rainy weekend in Curitiba, Brazil. I'm here for another couple of days before heading to Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro where I get to spend NYE on Copacabana beach with some friends. What a way to finish off 2025. When I started my nomadic journey in April 0f 2023, I thought far off places meant the savannahs of Africa. In 2026, I'm taking far off places to a whole new level. Exploring ancient civilizations, trade routes through the heartland of Asia to the land down under. But the highlight starts early in January.

January - I start the new year in the vibrant city of Rio where I see one of the wonders of the modern world, Christ the Redeemer overlooking the harbor. On the 5th I flight out to the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires. A vibrant city of gauchos, tango, football and polo. I look forward to three weeks exploring the city with fellow nomadic travelers. 150 of us meet on the 26th for an early morning flight to Ushuaia to board the Atlas World Navigator Expedition Ship for a 11-night voyage to the 7th Continent - Antarctica. 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.26.26. Kayaking among glaciers, camping on the continent, hearing the calls of the penguins and witnessing flukes of humpback whales up close.

Antarctica is otherworldly, like nothing I've ever seen before. Stark, cold, beautiful, desolate - Mark Hoppus

February - Alas the cruise must end as we land back in Ushuaia, the end of the world on the 6th. I stay in the city for a few days and then continue my exploration of Patagonia. Weaving my way through Argentina and Chile visiting Punta Arenas, El Calafate and El Chelten. Hiking my way through Torres del Paine, Visting the Perito Moreno Glacier, part of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field. The month ends in Bariloche, an Argentinian city surrounded by mountains, lakes and forests.

March - I fly from Bariloche to Santiago, the capital of Chile where I meet my friend Kris. A city nestled in the Andes with a mix of colonial and modern architecture, food and wine. Just in time for grape harvesting we visit the wine capital of Argentina, Mendoza home to Malbec. I end the month in Salta a colonial town in the north of Argentina with a distinct Andean feel. It is also home to the Inca mummies museum.

The landscape belongs to the person who looks at it - Ralph Waldo Emerson

April - I start the month with my last stop in South America, San Pedro de Atacama, the gateway to Atacama Desert filled with lunar like landscapes and vast salt flats. It's also a hub for stargazing. I fly back to the US with stops in Tulsa Boise and Miami. Oklahoma will be my 45th state. I get a chance to catch up with MEETin friends in Boise before flying off to Miami. On the 26th I board the Virgin Voyage Scarlet Lady for a Transatlantic Cruise to Europe. Miami to Barcelona Transatlantic Cruise. Spending 14 nights with fellow nomadic travelers.

May and June - Dry land again on the 10th with a few days in Barcelona for shopping, laundry and everyday mundane tasks. Leading up to the next grand adventure. - travelling along the silk road. The Silk Road was a network of trade routes connecting China and the Far East with the Middle East and Europe. Established when the Han Dynasty in China officially opened trade with the West in 130 B.C., the Silk Road routes remained in use until A.D. 1453, when the Ottoman Empire boycotted trade with China and closed them. Although it’s been nearly 600 years since the Silk Road has been used for international trade, the routes had a lasting impact on commerce, culture and history that resonates even today. Silk Road - Facts, History & Location | HISTORY. I fly to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan where I board a retrofitted overland truck for a 44-day adventure through the 5 stans. ASHGABAT TO ASTANA OVERLAND EXPEDITION - Dragoman.

The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step

July - I usually try to travel to a special place for my birthday month, but after 44 days travelling on an overland truck, camping and staying in basic accommodations with 15 other people, I look forward to some rest. I haven't decided where to go yet but top choices are between Slovenia, Romania or Montenegro. Where would you go? Photo of Lake Bled in Slovenia which is where I am leaning.

August - The beginning of the month sees me back in Rome, which I visited for the first time in 2003. I'm here to board the Norwegian Gem for a 7-day Mediterranean cruise with port stops in Sicily, Greece, Slovenia, Montenegro and Croatia. NCL Vacation Builder - Norwegian Cruise Line. The cruise ends in Ravenna a close train ride to Bologna, can't wait for pizza and wine indulgence.

September - I spend the whole month travelling around Emilia-Romagna. Day trips to Parma, Ferrara and a weekend trip planned to Milan and Lake Como. With roots tracing back to ancient Rome and the Renaissance, it’s a place where you can stroll through medieval streets in classic Italian cities, enjoy stunning landscapes from the Apennine Mountains to the Adriatic coast, and did I mention eat to your heart’s content with some of the best food in all of Italy. I also plan to visit the small country of San Marino, a 1-hour train ride south of Ravenna.

October - Throughout my travels, I've visited the Ancient Roman and Greek Cities, Mayan and Inca Empires and the Byzantine/Ottoman Empires. The next place is so steeped in history that it holds two ancient wonders and countless stories and legends. Egypt offers a blend of ancient wonders, vibrant culture, and modern adventure. Exploring iconic sites like the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor’s temples, and Aswan’s monuments, while also enjoying Nile cruises, Red Sea beaches, and bustling markets. I also travel to Jordan visiting Wadi Rum and Petra. on my booked 15-day tour. October can't come soon enough. Experience Egypt & Jordan - Timeless Travel. I spend a few extra days in Amman, the capital of Jordan and hopefully get in a day trip to Jerusalem.

It's 1981. I was graduating sixth grade. The first space shuttle launched. Ronald Reagan became the 40th president. The Royal wedding of Charles and Diana was all everyone could talk about. And MTV debuted. One of the first music videos played that year was a catchy tune from this band called Men at Work.

Living in a land down under

Where women glow and men plunder

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder

You better better run, better take cover