January 25, 2026

Greetings!

I hope 2026 is treating you well! I’m still in frigid Riga, where I have been busy doing several pieces on Vikings, concocting hearty stews like this one, which was phenomenal, and still enjoying the luxury of being home while also gearing up for the next adventure in Norway! I’m in the midst of a very energetic clutter bust, which always gets my juices flowing — it’s also been a good excuse to listen to some marvelous audio entertainment.

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Review | Berlin: Portrait of a City Through the Centuries by Rory MacLean

Berlin's history is a testament to resilience and consistent reinvention. Founded in the 13th century as a modest trading settlement at the confluence of the Spree and Dahme rivers, Berlin’s earliest centuries were spent in the shadow of more powerful medieval German city-states. But fortunes changed dramatically in 1701 when Berlin became the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia under Frederick I, marking the city’s debut as a major European power base. The 18th and 19th centuries witnessed robust growth, as Berlin became an expansive imperial capital with grand boulevards, palaces, and cultural institutions that reflected Prussia's—and later unified Germany's—ambitions. By the early 20th century, Berlin was Europe's third-largest city and a global center of art, science, and industry, with a vibrant cultural scene that produced breakthrough movements in film, theater, and architecture.

The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen by Stephen R. Brown

As I write this, I am gearing up for my next big adventure: a month onboard Viking Vela on a series of cruises around Norway’s coastline to witness the Northern Lights. While I make several trips to Norway each year, they are usually during the summer, so witnessing the might of a Norwegian winter is both exciting and daunting.

To prepare for these cruises, I created a new talk on two of Norway’s better-known Arctic explorers: Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. While very different in their characters and ambitions, both Nansen and Amundsen became key figures on the national and international stage and important symbols of their newly independent homeland. As ever, I fell down numerous research rabbit holes, following both men into the frozen expanses.

​The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen by Stephen R. Brown was particularly well done: a meticulously researched and deeply engaging portrait of Roald Amundsen, who achieved the “hat trick” of polar exploration: first to the south pole on land, and the north pole on air, as well as the first modern explorer to successfully navigate both the northeast and northwest passages through the Arctic sea. For travelers planning to visit Norway—particularly Oslo and Tromsø—The Last Viking provides essential context for understanding the nation's enduring fascination with polar exploration and the complex legacy of its most celebrated adventurer.

The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium by Anthony Kaldellis

I finally had time to read Anthony Kaldellis’s The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium, which has been on my TBR list since it came out in 2023. How I wish it had come out 40 years ago when I was struggling to understand the complex history of the Eastern Mediterranean. It has certainly earned its place on the Destination Curation reading list for the region, and I could not recommend it more enthusiastically for those who want an essential and revelatory guide to understanding one of history's most colorful empires. Kaldellis’s sweeping narrative presents the Byzantine Empire as a vibrant, innovative civilization that shaped the medieval world for over a millennium.

Anthony Kaldellis, Professor of Classics at Ohio State University, brings formidable credentials to The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium. Kaldellis has spent decades challenging conventional narratives about this misunderstood empire. The book corrects what Kaldellis sees as a fundamental mischaracterization: that Byzantium was somehow "less than" Rome. Instead, he argues persuasively that the Byzantines were the Romans—they called themselves Romans, maintained Roman legal and administrative systems, and saw themselves as the direct continuation of the Roman state.

Be sure to check in with the Destination Resources Reading Lists, which I update regularly with new books, podcasts, TV and film, and other resources designed to make your travel meaningful. I did a big update recently, changing the format to make it easier to navigate. Visit via this link!

Podcast Recommendations

I continue to enjoy Instant Classics with Mary Beard and Charlotte Higgins, and I’m excited about their new four-part mini series on Helen of Troy. The first installment was superb, and eagerly await the other three!\

Staying with the theme of the tough cookie women of Greek mythology, I listened to acclaimed classicist and bestselling author Natalie Haynes join The Ancients to unravel the full story of Medea. A fascinating journey into the story and its many interpretations that turned the dullness of peeling a mountain of vegetables into a delightful afternoon!
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It takes a lot to parse the news these days, and if the situation in Iran has you scratching your head, this is a great time to delve into the history of the Iranian Revolution with the ever-capable team at The Rest is History. They are also doing a four-part mini-series on the topic, which has shattered all previous records for most downloads! I’ve listened to parts one and two, and will download the next as soon as I can!

Recent Articles to Enjoy

​8 Hours in Oslo: A Travel Guide to Norway’s Capital​

​8 Hours in Bordeaux, France | The Ultimate Guide 2026​

​16 Cruise Ports of Northern Europe | Destination 2026​

​Your Guide to Cruise Ports in Sardinia, Italy | 2026​

​Explore Sardinian Cuisine: The Essential Guide | 2026​

​The Best Books to Read Before A Trip to Italy​

​8 Hours in Valletta: What to do in Malta’s Capital​

​Maltese Cuisine: What to Eat and Drink on Malta​

What's on the Horizon?

The week ahead will be busy: I’m rolling out a huge article on the Vikings and am at my favorite part of creating a new lecture on the history of French cuisine: making the slides. This will necessitate an enjoyable day of image sourcing, which I feel sure will whet my appetite to create something aspirational in the kitchen. I find myself absolutely absorbed by the Fallow Restaurant’s YouTube channel, which is both entertaining and educational, so I might venture one of their concoctions. Highly recommend!

What are you cooking, reading, and listening to? I’d love to hear from you!

I hope you've enjoyed this edition of the Destination Curation | Books for Travelers Newsletter.

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I love hearing from you -- let me know how I can help make your travel meaningful. I am rolling out new 8-Hour Guides to popular cruise destinations and love getting suggestions for new ones from this amazing community of readers.

Did you miss the last newsletter? Here are links to the three most recent editions:

​🇫🇷 Beguiling Bordeaux 🇫🇷​

​📚 Books for Travelers | January 11, 2026 📚​

​🇳🇱 Absorbing Awesome Amsterdam 🇳🇱​

Safe onward travels!

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