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May is typically my favorite month in Prague, and this year was exceptional. Friends from various parts of the world came together for a celebration hosted by Charlie and me.
Let’s explore what made this May so special!
Places Visited
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Kraków and Oświęcim, Poland
Memorable Moments
Hosting a grand anniversary-birthday bash. This month, Charlie and I celebrated our second anniversary along with Charlie’s birthday with a big party.
Guests traveled from around the globe, and we essentially hosted a second wedding reception at the same venue, Arthur’s Pub in Prague! It was intimate, delicious, and the cake was absolutely fantastic, with an abundance of food once again…
It was incredible to gather so many dear ones in one place. Plus, my mom and her friends stayed for a full ten days!
This gathering felt quite different from the wedding reception — yet it was incredibly enjoyable. As the night went on, everyone congregated in the bar’s lounge area, where Viktor, the bartender, continuously mixed and served lush cocktails throughout the evening without even sharing the recipes!
We finally settled down at around 3:00 AM! I’m thrilled we could host such a special event for our friends. Already, we’re considering planning the next party for three years down the line…
A delightful afternoon tea at the Four Seasons. The Prague Four Seasons was among four locations providing a themed The White Lotus afternoon tea! My friend Klara and I enjoyed it, courtesy of the Four Seasons.
This was arguably the most exquisite afternoon tea I’ve ever experienced, with every dish inspired by Thai cuisine. I even created an Instagram Reel about it — feel free to check it out here.
Kickstarting an exciting adventure in Poland. My friend Cailin and I arranged a three-day journey to Kraków that took place in May and June, so I’ll share the May highlights here.
One of the standout experiences was riding in Premium Class on the Leo Express train. This train is truly a hidden treasure in Central Europe! The Premium Class has just six seats, but they are incredibly spacious and comfy, and you’re treated to plenty of food and drinks. And the fare from Prague to Kraków is only about $70—what a deal!
On our first day in Kraków, we visited Auschwitz. It was a challenging visit, yet profoundly significant, and I’m thankful we had the opportunity to go. I plan to share more about this experience soon.
Espresso cups. I found a delightful set of six Le Creuset espresso cups in vibrant colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple—on Vinted for about $30. They usually retail for around $80 new.
These cups were a great addition during the month I had friends visiting. Each time a friend came over for a macchiato, I would ask for their favorite color, and their faces would light up when I handed them a cup in red, yellow, or purple.
Amazingly, my little Murray Bear has developed an obsession with drones. How did this happen?! This is a cat that usually gets scared by every gadget; we can’t even have a self-cleaning litter box because it frightens him.
But now, he can’t get enough of his dad’s drone. He insists on sitting next to it whenever it’s out, napping beside it and keeping watch for hours.
Even when the drone is flying, he remains unafraid! He just observes it with such curiosity! What’s going on, Murray?
Challenges
This month’s weather was truly disappointing. May is typically the most lovely month in Prague, which is why we chose to have our wedding there at the end of May 2023.
Two years ago, the weather was simply PERFECT. Charming spring temperatures, clear blue skies dotted with fluffy clouds—weather that compels you to be outdoors all day. We were incredibly fortunate to experience that.
This year? It was freezing. With far too much rain. I really felt for our friends visiting Prague for the first time, who were hoping for great weather but instead faced chilly conditions! On the day after our celebration, May 26, it was so cold that I had to wear my long wool winter coat over a merino wool cardigan!
This year’s weather was a swift transition from winter to a brief week of spring in April, then back to winter before launching straight into summer. But honestly, that’s pretty much how it is in Massachusetts every year, so I guess I’m used to it!
Most Popular Instagram Reel and TikTok
My top Reel in May was focused on the distinction between expats and immigrants. Many people have voiced that white individuals refer to themselves solely as expats, but that isn’t entirely accurate—I’m open about being an immigrant in the Czech Republic.
The main distinction between expats and immigrants lies in the intention to stay permanently. If you’re interested in seeing it, you can check it out on Instagram.
@adventurouskate 🇧🇹 Tips for Tiger’s Nest Bhutan 🇧🇹 Hiking to the Tiger’s Nest, or Paro Taktsang, is a must-do in Bhutan — nearly everyone who visits has a memorable shot from there! Before I went, I was anxious about the difficulty of the hike—especially since I struggle with altitude. But I found out that it’s a moderate trek, scheduled for your last day so you’re well-acclimatized, and the view at the top is absolutely worth it. More tips for the ascent are covered in this video. Thanks to Bhutan Travel Center for hosting this adventure! #bhutan #tigersnest #himalayas #iamatraveler #wanderlusting #travelblogger ♬ original sound – AdventurousKate
On the other hand, my most viral TikTok in May showcased the experience of hiking to the Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan. It surprisingly took off on Bhutanese TikTok! Don’t miss it on TikTok.
For additional travel content, follow me on Instagram @adventurouskate or on TikTok @adventurouskate.
What I Watched This Month
And Just Like That Season Three has debuted, and I’m among the many Sex and the City fans who are grudgingly watching it now.
How does it continue to be this bad? At this point, I genuinely feel that the fans could write a better storyline. Trim down the excess characters, focus on three main plotlines per episode, introduce more whimsical dating scenarios (like Miranda and the nun!), make sure the three main characters have brunch or dinner together each episode discussing their adventures, tidy up the editing, and send Aidan far away. There we go—problem solved.
What I Listened To This Month
I’m diving into all 500 of Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, which I’m really enjoying. It’s been a delight to discover new artists and revisit albums that I’ve somehow overlooked throughout my life!
In May, I explored albums 372 to 341. I’ve now gone through more than 150 albums! Here are some highlights:
Favorite Discovery: AM by Arctic Monkeys. I remember…
After hearing all the rave reviews that hailed them as the best new British band since The Beatles (high praise indeed!), I realized I hadn’t actually listened to them until now. I should have done so much earlier!
This is truly an exceptional pop-rock album. The songwriting, vocals, and instrumentation are all outstanding. It’s a remarkable album that I’m certain I’ll be revisiting frequently.
Other Favorite Discoveries: Sour by Olivia Rodrigo, All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, Madvillainy by Madvillain, Never Too Much by Luther Vandross.
Favorite Revisited Album: Music of My Mind by Stevie Wonder. I’m a massive Stevie fan, and this is my all-time favorite album of his. It was the first one where he had complete creative control. The tracks are varied yet flawless, and though they may not be as polished as his later albums, you can clearly see the seed of his potential in each one. “Superwoman” is my all-time favorite track.
Stevie’s notable three albums that won the Album of the Year Grammy three times in a four-year span usually garner more attention (Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life) — but if you’re searching for an outstanding album that may not be on your radar, give Music of My Mind a listen!
Favorite Songs: “Superwoman” by Stevie Wonder; “Mayonaise” by Smashing Pumpkins; “Do I Wanna Know?” by Arctic Monkeys; “She’s a Super Lady” by Luther Vandross; “Investigative Reports” by GZA featuring Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and U-God; “Since I Lost My Baby” by The Temptations.
Get the playlist: I’m curating a playlist of my favorite tracks from the 500 albums — only one song per album — on Spotify. You can check it out here.
Lowlight of the Month: “Germ Free Adolescents” by X-Ray Specs. It really got on my nerves. After listening to so many albums, I’m coming to terms with my dislike for the late 70s to early 80s pop rock, especially that overly silly or cute style with irritating vocals. I guess this pretty much sums up the New Wave genre… I hope the Gen-X crowd doesn’t judge me too harshly!
Random Music Thoughts: I’ve been keeping track of all the albums in a spreadsheet, and categorizing them by “genre” sometimes proves challenging. For Stevie Wonder, I simply put “Stevie.” Pop seems too limiting, R&B doesn’t quite fit, and the blend of gospel and spirituality creates its own unique genre.
What other artists do you think fit into their own genre? I think Fiona Apple also falls into this category.
I was 14 when The Slim Shady LP was released, right in the middle of the TRL era, and what an incredible time it was to discover Eminem. I played that album non-stop for months, then suddenly stopped. I’m surprised by how much I’ve retained, even word-for-word of “Guilty Conscience” and the quirky interlude “Ken Kanniff.”
Coming Up in June 2025
Much of what’s upcoming in June has already occurred! It’s been non-stop action, which is why this recap for May is only being shared now!
Cailin and I continued our journey in Kraków for a few days, and immediately after getting back, Charlie and I flew to Greece. We spent three nights in Athens before heading to Crete, an absolutely amazing island where we enjoyed a whole week.
Only three and a half days after returning, I jetted off to Paris for a quick two-day, one-night stay to see Beyoncé perform — and WOW, did I attend the right show in Paris. Miley Cyrus was the surprise guest, and they performed their duet “II Most Wanted” for the very first time live!
The day after the concert, I hopped on a train to London where we celebrated my father-in-law’s 80th birthday with plenty of joyous festivities during our three-night stay.
Between May 21 and June 23, I’ve had exactly one day at home without hosting visitors from out of town. It’s been a blast, but as an introvert, I’m definitely craving some quiet time.
Do you have any plans for this summer? I’d love to hear about them!
