48 Fast Hours in Londontown in Early January!

Regents Street, London.

Last New Year, we spent the week between Christmas and New Year’s—also known as my birthday week—in the United Kingdom! Our trip began in Scotland, where we celebrated Hogmanay, and wrapped up in London, our departure city for the flight home. In this post, I’m sharing how we spent three very fast days exploring London in January.

DAY ONE: A TRAIN FROM GLASGOW, LUNCH AT THE PRADA CAFFÈ, A GUINNESS, AND ONE OF OUR FAVORITE DINNERS

Our first day in London actually began in Glasgow, Scotland, where we boarded a train from Glasgow Central to London Kings Cross station. We were lucky that we boarded early and had seats, as another train on the same line broke down, and many, many passengers joined our train. It was largely standing room only for most of the ride to London (which is over 4 hours!). As we very luckily had seats, it didn’t bother us too much. We arrived in London just a bit behind schedule. We took a Black Cab to our hotel in Kensington, the Kensington Marriott.

Snow in Glasgow before the early train to London

Early departure from Glasgow, and it was snowing in Scotland when we left! 

We didn’t have too much time at our hotel, as we had a late lunch reservation at the Prada Caffè, located inside Harrods department store! I convinced my husband and my friend’s husband to go with be under the guise of a “Birthday lunch.” And, I had so much fun! The Prada Caffè is very Prada, very cute, and the food was shockingly quite good. The menu was Italian, inspired by Prada’s flagship in Milano, and while I am super picky about Italian food (being a citizen and all), this meal was legit. We, of course, also did a bit of shopping at Harrods before heading back to the hotel. If you are considering going to Harrods the weekend after New Years, known that Harrods decorations were still up almost a week out (although I think they came down the next day) and it was SUPER crowded.

Harrods still decorated for Christmas in early January

Harrods still decorated for Christmas on January 3rd.

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Salis – Truly the BEST Restaurant in Chania, Crete

Zucchini flowers stuffed with feta, served with pomegranate and chili at Salis in Chania

Hands down, the most unforgettable meal of my entire summer 2025 trip to Greece was at a chic wine bar tucked just off the water in Chania’s Old Harbour: Salis. With a seaside setting, locally sourced dishes, and a large wine and Gin and Tonic selection, Salis completely stole my heart. In this post, I’m sharing all the delicious details of our evening at Salis, and why it deserves a spot on your Crete itinerary!

Salis wine bar on the Old Harbor in Chania, Crete

Salis on Chania’s Old Harbour.

Salis describes itself as a “wine bar”,  and it absolutely lives up to the name. Their wine list is robust, featuring an impressive selection that ranges from local Cretan varietals to international labels from as far away as the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia (where I grew up!). It was a fun surprise to see a taste of home on the menu, literally thousands of miles away.

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The Perfect Itinerary for 5 Relaxing Days in Chania, Crete!

Chania, Crete.

This summer’s Mediterranean vacay brought us back to Greece,this time to the stunning islands of Crete and Naxos, followed by a one-night stay in Athens. Crete and Naxos were both new islands for us, and we absolutely loved them. In this post, we’re sharing highlights from our five-day stay in Crete – though honestly, five days wasn’t nearly enough. We’re already read to go back! This post details what we did in Chania over five days and how you can recreate our trip for yourself!

A postcard-perfect first view of Chania on the Greek island of Crete

A postcard-perfect welcome to beautiful Chania.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL AND DINNER IN THE OLD VENETIAN PORT

Our first day in Crete was an exhausting one, as we arrived in Athens direct from JFK in the early morning and transferred a few hours later to Aegean Airlines for a 1 hour flight to Chania, Crete. While tiring, our transit and arrival was pretty seamless and we spent about two hours in Athen’s Skyserv domestic lounge (it’s just OK). We finally arrived in Chania in the late afternoon, taxied to our hotel, Domes Zeen Chania (which is GREAT!), and promptly took a nap. Luckily, Domes Zeen Chania is super nice and comfortable – separate review coming soon.

The private pool at our room at Domes Zeen Chania, Crete

Our private pool at Domes Zeen Chania.

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Mai Mai – The Best Restaurant In Panama City, Panama (2025)

Mai Mai. Panama City, Panama.

While my last post raves about Fonda Lo Que Hay in Casca Viejo, Panama City, Panama, the very best restaurant that I ate at in Panama City was Mai Mai! Mai Mai is short for Maido – Maito, or a combination of two world famous restaurants – Maido in Lima, Peru and Maito in Panama City, Panama. Both Maido and Maito are frequently on the Best 50 lists. And the combo, Mai Mai, is really fantastic.

Entrance to Mai Mai restaurant in Panama City, Panama

Entering Mai Mai.

Mai Mai’s menu is described as a combination of “Peruvian-Nikkei appetizers, Asian-inspired dumplings, creative sushi rolls, premium nigiri, sashimi, and a wide range of main courses.” The chefs apparently want you to select dishes from each section to get the full Mai Mai experience. And, that is just what we did at Mai Mai. We tried a wide variety of dishes!

The menu at Mai Mai restaurant in Panama City, Panama

Mai Mai’s menu.

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Restaurant Review: Fonda Lo Que Hay, Panama City, Panama

Fonda Lo Que Hay. Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama.

On my week vacation to Panama earlier this year, my first dinner was at the well-reputed Fonda Lo Que Hay restaurant. Fonda Lo Que Hay is listed on the 50 Best “Discovery” list for Latin America, and it generally gets very good reviews. It was also Number 57 on the 50 Best Latin America restaurants in 2022. That was enough for me to make a Saturday evening reservation, as I had had success with other 50 Best restaurants (like El Chato in Bogota and Borago in Santiago).

Dinner table setting with Italian-style plates at Fonda Lo Que Hay in Panama City

Dinner set up at Fonda Loa Que Hay. The plates were giving an Italian vibe. I really loved that.

Fonda Lo Que Hay, or “LQH” as it sometimes refers to itself, is located in Casco Viejo, or “old Panama City.” The area immediately surrounding the restaurant is walkable and safe, as well as quite well lit at night due to numerous tourist trinket shops in the immediate area. We found the restaurant pretty easily and were instantly impressed by its cute decor, which was giving trendy, Panamanian, tropical, cocktail bar, LOL.

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