opinion

It’s just my opinion! Travel man! 🙌🏻

When I talk about travel, I’m simply sharing my own experiences and opinions. Everyone travels differently, so what works for me may not work for you.

I tend to travel a lot and try to save money, so my perspective is probably skewed.

The reality is that most people don’t want to skimp on their vacations.

There are two very different types of travelers.

Many travelers return to work so they can earn more money to fund future trips. I take a different approach. I save money while traveling so I don’t have to go back to work.

Someday, you may find yourself in a similar situation—please consider reading this blog with that perspective in mind.  It’s just my opinion man, relax!

I also don’t have anyone else who has to suffer because of my budget travel choices—and that’s a pretty big advantage.

If I stay in a hostel, I’m the only one listening to a stranger’s world-class snoring performance. If I book a non-direct flight, I’m the only one pacing the terminal during a five-hour layover, questioning my life choices.

These decisions work for me—but I fully understand why they might be a hard no for someone else.

If nothing else, we can agree on this: travel as much as you can while you’ve still got enough piss and vinegar to haul yourself onto that next flight. Waiting on compression socks and flip-flops is not a good vibe.

    • “Never give up. Live life to the fullest—without regret.”
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Legend in my own mind – A Mocumentary!

Another reason I started this website was to help me navigate the absolute chaos that is early retirement. At least twice a week, I’m convinced market fluctuations are about to force me into a very tastefully decorated dumpster.

2025 was my first full year taking a serious swing at retirement—emphasis on swing.

Even with the site’s modest traffic (hi Sis! 👋), I’ve genuinely loved writing.

Which means it might be time for my next fun travel project?!

And speaking of big ideas… here’s my first book proposal from a ghostwriting company:

“North American Darrell – A Legend in my own mind”

A traveler’s mocumentary …

 

Project Vision:

Darrell, your story is more than travel.
It’s about freedom, the kind that comes from defying convention, exploring the world solo, and
mastering the art of geoarbitrage. You’ve already built a digital footprint that thousands of
people dream of, through your website, vlogs, and life experiences.

What’s missing now is the next chapter:
Transforming North American Darrell into a published brand, a professional, inspiring book
and digital identity that cements your journey as a living example of how to live smarter, freer,
and bolder.
This isn’t just a book project. It’s a brand evolution, from traveler to author, from storyteller
to inspiration.

Our Understanding of Your Vision
You’re not looking to “just publish a book.”
You want something that:
• Reflects your authentic voice and humor, not ghostwritten into something artificial.
• Organizes your blog posts and memories into a cohesive travel autobiography.
• Establishes your legacy and builds on the momentum of NorthAmericanDarrell.com
and your YouTube channel.
• Generates passive income and brand credibility, creating new opportunities for
collaborations, sponsorships, and future travel projects.

What We’ll Do for You


1. Structural Blueprint (Book Framework Development)
We’ll organize your content into a professional book structure tailored to your style:
• Categorize posts into themes: Travel Adventures, Life Reflections, Humor, Turning
Points and Modern Freedom
• Group your stories into chapters for maximum reader engagement
• Suggest transitions and hooks that keep readers turning pages
• Deliver a fully editable outline and story placement plan you can keep for future use
projects
Result: A clear, publish-ready roadmap of your book that preserves your voice.

2. Editorial Collaboration & Story Enhancement
We’ll guide you chapter by chapter:
• Edit and enhance your existing drafts for clarity, humor, and pacing
• Strengthen dialogue and narrative flow without changing your tone
• Provide professional feedback and suggestions to make your stories resonate with a
wide audience
Result: Your words shine, professionally polished, but still 100% you

3. Professional Formatting & Book Design
• Format for eBook & Paperback (Amazon KDP, Ingram Spark)
• Design a bold, minimalist cover inspired by your travel photography
• Interior layout optimized for short-story pacing, section variety, and readability
Result: A premium, reader-friendly book that looks as great as it reads.

4. Publishing & Branding Setup
• Distribution across Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and other platforms if
required
• Category selection, keywords, and optimization to maximize discoverability
Result: Your book reaches readers globally, with professional presentation and discoverability.

5. Optional Add-On: Pre-Marketing & Website Optimization
To amplify your book launch, we recommend a pre-marketing and brand optimization
package:

• Website Upgrade: Ensure NorthAmericanDarrell.com is polished, visually attractive,
mobile-friendly, and optimized for your book launch
• Pre-Launch Marketing: Build anticipation with a teaser campaign using your blog
posts, travel clips, and email list
• Social Media Strategy: Align your book promotion with your social channels for
organic reach and engagement
• Email Campaigns & Lead Capture: Collect leads from your audience for pre-orders
and newsletter sign-ups
• Launch Momentum: Create a strategy to drive early reviews, engagement, and initial
book sales

Benefits:
• Position your book as a professional, must-read travel memoir
• Turn existing followers into early readers and brand advocates
• Increase visibility and traction for a higher-impact launch
• Future-proof your online brand for subsequent books, courses, or media opportunities.

I’ve always wanted to write an autobiography once I had a website—clearly the natural next step.

Making it a mocumentary seems wiser. Less pressure, more jokes.

A mockumentary is a type of film, TV show, or video that mimics the style of a documentary and is often comedic. It looks like a serious documentary—with interviews, “real” footage, and narration—but the events, characters, or situations are made up, exaggerated, or absurd for humor or satire.

Key features:

Basically, it’s a fake documentary that makes you laugh, sometimes by tricking you into thinking it’s not real.

You can’t finish a dream

unless you start dreaming it first.

Stay tuned… or don’t. I’ll be here either way.

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Green card, Citizenship & travel visas🛂

I’ve been dealing with travel visas for over 25 years—long enough to know this topic is wildly misunderstood by anyone who’s never actually lived it.

You can’t just let people casually wander into a country…
unless, apparently, you’re shopping for votes.

Like it or not, visas are 100% necessary.
Not glamorous.
Not fun.
Necessary.

My travel saga started in the late 1990s, flying for work between Calgary, Canada and Dallas, Texas.

I regularly traveled from our manufacturing plant in Calgary to our U.S. headquarters in Dallas. And every trip began exactly the same way:
Me, arriving at the Calgary airport—already sweating—fully aware that my real journey was about to begin… with U.S. Immigration.

The script never changed.

Agent: Purpose of travel?
Me: Meetings.
Agent: How long?
Me: One week.
Agent: That’s a long meeting.
Me: We have meetings all week.
Agent: Go sit in our office.

Me (internally): Yes sir. Thank you sir. I respect the process and my fragile freedom.

Then came the waiting.

The agents would let me slowly marinate in anxiety—right up until five minutes before boarding.

Agent: You’re free to go.
Me: Immediately sprinting to the gate like I’d just been released from a minimum-security prison.

Every.
Single.
Time.

🏃🏻‍➡️✈️

Eventually, I graduated to actual work visas.
Real ones.
Laminated.
Official.
Very fancy.

I would calmly present my current visa to the immigration officer, exactly as instructed.

[“DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS.”]

The office rules were very clear:
Show the visa.
Say nothing.

Apparently, immigration officers are highly trained professionals whose primary job is to trick you into saying one wrong word, realize you have the wrong visa, and deny you entry—
purely by accident.
On your part.

This never happened to me.
I suspect it’s because they eventually recognized me.

“Oh. It’s this guy again.”

Somewhere along the way, I stopped being “potential international threat” and became “frequent flyer with anxiety.”

Eventually, I moved to the United States full-time, which—shockingly—required an entirely different visa.

I will forever clutch my citizenship like it’s a winning lottery ticket.

Ten years and dozens of visas later, I finally received my United States Permanent Resident card—
the government’s way of saying, “Fine. You can stay.”

“TEN YEARS LATER”

Another ten years passed, and—six months after my green card expired on January 13, 2019—I officially became a U.S. citizen on July 3, 2019.

Yes, there was a brief but thrilling period where I existed in pure bureaucratic limbo:
No longer green-card valid, not yet American enough.

USA Immigration has always loved a good cliffhanger.

Then, just in time for Independence Day sales, fireworks, and historically poor life choices…

I became a U.S. citizen.

Sworn in by DJT himself.

Roll credits. 🇺🇸🎆

My entire immigration journey took roughly 20 years.

Two decades of forms, fees, interviews, fingerprints, photos—and the low-grade terror of checking the mailbox.

So yes, I tend to notice immigration policy.

Between 2020 and 2024, under a Democratic administration, millions of migrants were allowed into the U.S. with what appeared to be minimal vetting. Many arrived with criminal records, some unvaccinated, and many had their expenses covered.

At the exact same time, Americans were required to get vaccinated while enduring shutdowns that hit them financially.

That contrast did not go unnoticed.

The current Republican administration, by contrast, treats border security as non-negotiable. Their 2025 immigration policies can best be summarized as FAFO—and they are the strongest I’ve seen.

And just for context—so this doesn’t sound like vibes-only commentary—I’ve also held travel visas for:

Thailand (three of them), Cambodia, and Vietnam (two).

Turns out, when you’ve played immigration on hard mode across multiple countries, you develop opinions.

Earned ones.

This pass was just after COVID and there were many hoops to jump through!

Cambodia Immigration — departing Vietnam

No computers.
No scanners.
No backup system.

Just pens, paper, and deeply suspicious vibes.

Everything was done by hand.
Every passport.
Every stamp.
Every long, silent glance that felt like a background check conducted telepathically.

The process took hours—not because anything was wrong, but because time itself had chosen to opt out.
The heat was oppressive.
The fans were decorative.
The concept of “boarding time” was aspirational.

This was immigration in its purest form:

slow, deliberate, and completely immune to deadlines.

And watching it all unfold, I realized something oddly comforting—

no matter the country,
no matter the technology,
no matter the system…

immigration always finds a way to remind you who’s really in charge.

These Asian visas are extremely strict.

As in: follow the rules… or enjoy a complimentary tour of the prison system.

There’s no confusion about the process.

No gray area.
No “I didn’t know.”

You follow the entry requirements, or there are consequences.

And somehow—miraculously—when you follow the immigration process wherever you go, you avoid those consequences entirely.

Seems 100% fair to me.

Legal immigration history:

It didn’t start with some fancy red carpet—it started when governments realized people moving freely could get… complicated. Back in the 19th century, countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia were basically like, “Sure, come on in… as long as you check a box or two.”

Then came the U.S. Immigration Act of 1882, which basically said, “Not everyone’s invited to the party.” Fast forward to the early 1900s: Ellis Island became the ultimate checkpoint, where millions of hopeful immigrants faced the judgment of border agents, health inspections, and that ever-important first glimpse of America.

By the mid-20th century, things got organized: work visas, student visas, green cards… a whole bureaucratic buffet. Today, legal immigration is basically a government-approved, multi-step obstacle course—and yes, you can survive it, but only if you brought your paperwork, patience, and maybe a stiff drink. 🍹

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Hanoi, Vietnam – Nov.17/25🍜🫖

There’s a balance I’m always chasing when I travel—but I wish I understood it better, so I’d stop booking flights. I know I need to begin with lower-cost, slower journeys, and once again, Vietnam felt like the perfect calibration.

I landed in Hanoi, Vietnam on November 17th, 2025—because apparently I like good decisions.

~$572 for the flight and ~$263 for an entire month’s rent (yes, a month).

I skipped Northern Vietnam earlier in 2025, so this trip was basically my “fine, I’ll do it properly this time” trip. 🪣📃

Used points to get from Phoenix to Los Angeles and back home to Phoenix on the cheap!!🤑
$572 for a return flight from Los Angeles to Hanoi, Vietnam

Anytime I find a cheap flight, I’ve learned to check the accommodations before I start emotionally packing.

I knew it would be budget-friendly, but I didn’t expect a full-on resort situation—pool, gym, and a games room with a river view… all for “are we sure this is real?” prices.

An entire month $263/$9 day (Pool, gym, games room studio on the lake.)

The history of Hanoi: A City That Refuses to Sit Still

Hanoi has been around for over 1,000 years, which basically means it has more history than most people have Instagram posts. It started as a sleepy riverside settlement until Emperor Lý Thái Tổ decided in 1010 to move the capital there and call it Thăng Long—“Rising Dragon”—because why settle for boring when you can be mythical?

Fast forward a few centuries, and Hanoi became a cultural, educational, and political hotspot, surviving invasions, occupations, and a fair share of bureaucratic headaches. The French showed up in the late 1800s, built boulevards, colonial buildings, and cafés where you can still sip coffee pretending you’re in Paris.

After a mid-20th century revolution and reunification, Hanoi officially became the capital of Vietnam, a city where ancient temples, motorbike chaos, and modern skyscrapers collide. Basically, it’s a city that refuses to sit still—and you’ll love every chaotic, delicious, history-packed second of it.

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Paris and London – 100% tourist mode!

The days were officially counting down, and I needed to start migrating toward London for my 9:00 AM flight back to Arizona on September 28th, 2025.

This was immediately after I’d just crushed a bucket-list item in Venice, which—geographically speaking—put me on the wrong side of Europe for someone trying to go home.

The plan was simple and therefore doomed:

get closer to Paris, then slide into London like a responsible adult traveler.

The Universe, however, had other plans.

I missed a connection.

Fourteen-plus hours later, I found myself on a first-class high-speed train—not because I planned it, but because exhaustion, fate, and poor timing had teamed up against me.

Sometimes luxury isn’t a choice.
It’s a consequence.

My September 2025 European tour both started and ended in London. I passed through on September 1st on my way to Faro, Portugal, and returned at the end for less than 24 hours after bailing on Paris early.

I’d been to Paris about 20 years ago, and it only took about an hour to remember why it’s not for me. If you don’t speak French, people can be rude—I experienced that almost immediately while trying to buy a train ticket. Apparently asking for a ticket in English is a bold move.

If you love Paris (like my very fashion-conscious niece Amber), check out Norse Airlines—they’ll get you there cheaply. If you’re more like me, grumpy and impatient, plan a short visit and bail early.

Below are a few photos from my brief stay in Paris—the week before the Louvre was robbed. I swear it wasn’t me. 😄

Eiffel tower ✅

Louvre ✅

Arc de Triomphe ✅

Notre Dame ✅

Train station to get to the Chunnel to London ✅

The high-speed Eurostar train between Paris and London is fantastic. It feels a lot like flying—security, early arrival, the whole routine—but it’s far more convenient than actually getting on a plane and dealing with an airport.

First things first, every time I arrive in London: 

I find a pub, order fish and chips, and grab a cold pint. It’s not cheap—fish, chips, and a beer run about $40 USD—but it’s worth it every single time.

Check out how light I pack!

I landed in London at 2 p.m. and left the next morning, which meant attempting to see the entire city in under 24 hours. I did as much tourist stuff as humanly possible, and by the time I boarded my long flight home, I was running on fumes.

Fish and Chips ✅

Big Ben✅

  London Eye ✅

Buckingham Palace ✅

Westminster Abbey✅

Mission accomplished! 🙌🏻

I racked up over 25,000 steps, took a nap that felt more like a system reboot, and then dragged myself back toward Arizona. Planes, trains, and automobiles—because apparently, I enjoy suffering in multiple forms of transportation to save a dime ..

✈️🚅🚗

Paris to London train ✅

London to Los Angeles flight ✅

Los Angeles to Phoenix rental car ✅

eBiked home from rental car drop-off. ✅

I can’t even begin to calculate how many miles I traveled last week—and honestly, ignorance feels healthier.

Czech Republic to Germany (Oktoberfest on September 20, because of course), then Switzerland, Italy, France, London, and finally back across the pond on September 28.

At this point, my passport deserves a nap, my legs are filing a formal complaint, and my internal clock has completely resigned.

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Venice, Italy – The Grand Canal🛶🍷👍🏻

I somehow managed to miss Venice the last time I was in Italy, so this time I overcorrected—with a casual 14+ hours on a train to make sure it happened.

To be fair, the journey was actually pretty incredible. We cut through a different part of Switzerland on the way to Milan, which would’ve been great if Milan hadn’t been in full Fashion Week mode. After about five minutes of that chaos, I was very happy to hop on the short train ride to Venice.

After that marathon travel day, my first Venice memory was asking someone in the train station, “Where’s the Grand Canal?” He pointed to my left and said, “You mean that one?”

Turns out the Venice Santa Lucia train station is literally sitting on the canal. Subtle city, Venice. Very subtle.

One of the things that completely blew my mind about Venice is that the water is the road. No streets—just canals. Water taxis, delivery boats, construction barges… and yes, I even watched a casket float by with the family following along as part of a funeral.

It’s strangely beautiful and slightly surreal, and somehow all of it works. Watching everyone calmly navigate canal “traffic” like it’s rush hour on Main Street was one of the coolest parts of being there.

Pretty much everyone was lounging by the waterfront with a wine in hand, and of course, we all drowned in spritzers like it was a civic duty.

I enjoyed them so much that I stocked up when I got home—because nothing screams “this isn’t Venice” like sipping a sad spritzer in Arizona while staring at a cactus.

It’s not the Grand Canal, but it’s still pretty glorious during a Jay’s playoff game.

Mix some SodaStream soda water with your favorite alcohol flavoring (Aperol, Aperix, or Rosé—because why not), toss in white wine, fruit, and orange slices, and boom: Venice vibes at home. Bonus: it costs less than a dollar instead of €5–8+ per sad spritzer by the canal. 🙌

Here are a few more GEMs from my Venice adventure—because someone has to show off while I sip my homegrown “canal.” that hauls waste water in AZ.

Want more Grand Canal vibes (without the €8 spritzers)? Check out my videos on YouTube—watch canals, gondolas, and chaos unfold from the comfort of your own home.

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

Don’t forget to hit subscribe and dive into over 1,500 travel videos—because apparently, watching me roam the globe is considered quality entertainment.

Venice’s history began in the 5th century.

Refugees decided building a city on stilts in a swampy lagoon was a brilliant idea. By the Middle Ages, it became a maritime superpower, raking in riches while everyone else was figuring out taxes. Centuries later, it joined Italy, and today it’s a tourist mecca of canals, gondolas, and carnival chaos. Basically, it’s a city that floats, dazzles, and occasionally smells like history, depending on which alley waterway you visit.

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Portugal – the beauty of the Algarves! 😍

My September 2025 European vacation began in Faro, Portugal, following a travel day that felt like it had its own time zone.

Uber from home to the airport!

light from Phoenix to LA 

8-hour layover in LA 

10-hour flight to London

3-hour London layover 

2-hour flight to Faro, Portugal. 

It was miserable. I even had loud, dry heaves when we touched down in London. I almost made it… But nope. We had a “go around” because apparently, someone else’s plane hadn’t moved off the runway yet. That was the end of me for the day. 📢🤮🙋🏻‍♂️

I really should cut people some slack when they say they don’t want to travel like me—clearly, they have better judgment but sitting at home is not an option.

The first week in Portugal was pure exhaustion—jet lag hit hard, and I barely had time to remember what day it was before I was off on the next adventure.

Totally worth it—Spain and Portugal were both at the top of my bucket list. I’ve barely scratched the surface of either, but who cares? 

Dropping pins does not need full coverage.

📍🌍😎

I had a great time in Faro and Lagos, just hanging out by the water and soaking it all in. But Porto—hands down—stole the show. It had been at the top of my bucket list for ages, and it did not disappoint. I also made sure to take in the short bus rides and longer train journeys along the coast, which were spectacular, pretending to be a local.

The city is split by the Douro River, and there are six famous bridges to cross at various points. The crown jewel is the Dom Luís Bridge—a stunning double-deck metal arch that links Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. Honestly, I couldn’t stop taking pictures; it’s one of those “blink and you’ll miss it” moments that you also want to document from every possible angle.

I spent a solid two days in Porto walking over 20,000 steps each day—up and down the river, soaking in the stunning architecture. The buildings lining the water are even more jaw-dropping in person. There’s also a gondola that gives you a sky-high view, but the line was so long I decided my legs had already earned a vacation of their own.

Want more Portugal chaos, cobblestones, and coastal views? Check out my YouTube channel for all the videos—no jet lag required.

www,YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

Hit subscribe to dive into the full 1,500+ travel video catalog—because why stop at one continent when you can live vicariously through all of them?

Portugal’s history: Small Country, Big Ambitions

Portugal started getting serious in the 12th century, when Afonso I declared, “I’m king now,” and voilà—Portugal was officially a thing. Not content with being a tiny corner of Europe, the Portuguese set sail during the Age of Exploration, sending legends like Vasco da Gama around Africa to India and basically telling the world, “We’ll take it from here.”

They built an empire stretching across Asia, Africa, and Brazil—riches, spices, and cultural chaos included—while most Europeans were still figuring out how to map their own backyard. Today, Portugal is chill, gorgeous, and full of history: sun-soaked beaches, pastel-colored streets, port wine, and the occasional reminder that this tiny country once ruled the seas.

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Prague, Czech – beer is served half full?!🤔

As September 19th, 2025 crept closer, I was happily settled in Warsaw—but quietly plotting Munich for the first weekend of Oktoberfest. With my Eurail pass, booking the trip was almost absurdly easy: 

Warsaw to Prague, then a short hop into Munich.

Portugal. Poland. Iceland. And now Prague.

Everything was lining up so cleanly. Routes connected. Dates made sense. Just a perfectly unfolding chain of cities—one rail segment at a time.

This was day two using my Eurorail pass. Day one was used getting from Faro to Porto Portugal along the amazing coast. Massive wins using the pass the first two days.

The Czech Republic has always intrigued me—between its legendary international hockey and, of course, its world-class beer, how could it not? I only spent a couple of days in Prague, but every minute landed. The city feels effortlessly historic without being frozen in time, the beer is somehow even better than advertised, and there’s a rhythm to the place that invites you to slow down and look around.

It was one of those stops that proves you don’t need weeks somewhere for it to leave a mark. Sometimes a place shows you exactly what it is right away—and Prague did that beautifully.

There’s something undeniably awesome about streetcars sharing the road with everyday traffic. I first saw it in Vienna and thought, “Okay, that’s pretty neat.” But Prague? Prague turns it into an art form.

You’ve got ancient, rattling trams rubbing elbows with sleek, modern ones—both weaving through cars, bikes, and pedestrians like they’re operating inside some chaotic, high-speed safe zone. Everyone somehow knows where everything else is going. No hesitation. No drama. Just motion.

The beer in Prague is something else entirely. They pour it with half the glass—sometimes more—foam. There’s even a style called Mlíko where about 75% of what you’re holding is foam… and you pay full price for the privilege.

I ended up in a lively debate with a bartender about it. He swore it “tastes better that way.” I countered with my very scientific position: 90% of a beer lives in the top 10% of the glass—and yes, we are both professionals. We laughed. The foam probably laughed. And I still drank it.

Because when in Prague, you surrender to the professionals. 🍻

Czeck beer musuem ... If you;re ordreing a "Mliko", it's apprantly your last beer of tghe night. I still do not understand! LOL
Beer in my amazing $20 a night hostel courtyard! That is how much beer you get once the foam goes away! 🍺

The city itself—and especially the riverside—was incredible. I can only imagine how stunning it must be in winter… though, to be honest, I’d probably never make it outside in that kind of cold.

So instead, here are a few pictures and videos—so you can admire Prague from a warm, safe spot, just as nature intended.

Want more Czech Republic adventures—and proof that I walked way too much? Head over to my YouTube channel for videos, chaos, and maybe a beer or two:

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

There are over 1,600 travel videos from around the globe—enough to make your couch feel like first class.
Apparently, my wandering now qualifies as educational content.

Prague history: The City That Time Forgot… and Then Perfected

Prague started way back in the 9th century as a collection of hilltop settlements around what’s now Prague Castle—basically, medieval real estate with a view. By the Middle Ages, it became the capital of Bohemia and a cultural powerhouse, where kings built castles, churches, and universities while everyone else was still figuring out plumbing.

Under Charles IV, the city got fancy: the oldest university in Central Europe, bridges, cathedrals… Prague basically said, “We do grandeur better.” Fast forward a few centuries, and the city survived wars, empires, and communism, only to emerge in 1989 via the Velvet Revolution as a stunning, slightly magical city where Gothic spires, cobblestone streets, and craft beer coexist in perfect harmony.

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Warsaw, Poland – Just like Ukraine!

I have to say, Warsaw ended up being one of my favorite stops on the entire trip. There were no flashy tourist traps or overproduced experiences—just a calm, lived-in city with an easy rhythm and, most importantly, incredible food.

Everywhere you turned, people were speaking Polish (and Ukrainian), and pierogies weren’t just a menu item—they were practically a food group. Warm, simple, comforting food done right.

In a quiet, unexpected way, it reminded me of my mom in Heaven. The kind of comfort you don’t plan for, but recognize immediately when it shows up.

I spent three days in Warsaw before launching into a 48-hour Iceland whirlwind using my Wizz Air Pass—essentially a masterclass in how much jet lag one human can endure in two days.

Booking the flights there and back at the same time made me feel like a travel genius… or someone who should probably be supervised, but no one wanted the job.

Coming back to Warsaw was pure relief. Slow walks, nonstop eating in Old Town, and convincing myself that aggressively shoving pierogies into my face absolutely counts toward my 10,000 daily steps. Balance is important.

Want more Warsaw adventures, pierogies, and wandering chaos? Check out my YouTube channel for all the videos—no passport required.

www.NorthAmericanDarrell.com

Smash that subscribe button and step into the beautifully chaotic universe of 1,600+ travel videos—with more questionable decisions added weekly.

Watch me:

Wander the globe with zero chill

Battle jet lag like a caffeinated (possibly drunken) superhero

Make deeply questionable food choices

And survive airports that appear to actively hate humanity

All from the comfort and safety of your couch…
While you roast me. 🤘🏻


Just real travel, bad ideas, and solid stories.

—all from the safety of your couch while making fun of me! 🤘🏻

Warsaw history: The Phoenix City

Warsaw started out in the 13th century as a sleepy riverside settlement, minding its own business along the Vistula. By the 16th century, it said, “Move over Kraków, I’m the capital now,” and quickly became Poland’s political and cultural hub.

Over the centuries, foreign powers—Russia, Prussia, Austria—kept trying to boss Warsaw around, and the city responded with uprisings, rebellions, and general stubbornness. 

Then came World War II, when almost everything got flattened… but Warsaw didn’t just sulk. It rose from the rubble, rebuilt its Old Town brick by brick, and now stands as a gleaming, slightly sarcastic symbol of resilience: “You can’t break me, folks, nice try.”

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Reykjavík, Iceland – Hot springs! ♨️

I didn’t end up using my Wizz Air All You Can Fly pass as much as I originally planned.

After experiencing European train travel, I found myself preferring it. Trains were smoother, more comfortable, and often more enjoyable overall, which made short-haul flights feel less appealing by comparison.

That said, I still managed to squeeze in a 48-hour trip from Warsaw to Reykjavík, finally checking Iceland off my bucket list.

That journey wrapped up my 23rd, 24th, and final flights on the €499 pass.

Looking back, it was a busy, sometimes chaotic stretch of travel—but also a reminder of how fortunate I am to keep moving, exploring, and learning what styles of travel work best for me.

Hot springs entry came with a free beauty mask, mine did not work! 😆

A big part of using an AYCF pass is always having your next destination locked in. If you don’t, you risk getting stranded somewhere, staring at a snack bar and wondering if your life has quietly turned into a low-budget travel documentary. Since Iceland can only be reached by plane, that mattered. Thankfully, I booked my return flight at the same time as my departure, guaranteeing I’d make it back to the mainland. Score one for planning—or possibly luck.

I didn’t do much while I was there. I mostly walked around Reykjavík and visited two hot springs, which was exactly the point of the trip. Ironically, there was a public pool and hot spring complex right next to my hostel. After weeks away from my usual spa routine, it felt incredible. I rotated between three temperature-controlled pools, cold plunges, saunas, and steam rooms like a professional relaxation athlete.

I enjoyed it so much that I went back again the next morning before heading to the Blue Lagoon.

While soaking, I met a traveler from Seoul, a professional writer who was going through a rough patch. I got him laughing by telling him I spend hours writing things that almost nobody reads. He even offered to show me around when I visit Seoul in March—which perfectly sums up why I travel in the first place: strangers, shared moments, and unexpected laughs.

No cameras were allowed at the hot springs, which honestly felt like a gift. The attendant said phones distract from relaxation—and she was probably right. She also likely saved me from posting a thousand blurry photos of me pretending to be interesting.

Sometimes the best travel moments are the ones that don’t end up on camera at all.

Below are just a few snapshots and short videos from the Blue Lagoon—because words don’t quite do justice to soaking in steaming geothermal water while convincingly pretending you’re a sophisticated spa-goer.

If you want more, check out my YouTube channel for the full adventure (and all the bubbles I responsibly chose not to photograph):

NorthAmericanDarrell – YouTube

And yes—feel free to smash that subscribe button like it just stole your passport.

Iceland’s Hot Springs: Nature’s Hot Tub Since Forever

Icelanders didn’t waste time—they landed in the 9th century and thought, “Why chop wood when we can just soak?” And so began the country’s love affair with geothermal hot springs, perfect for bathing, cooking, and gossiping about Viking drama.

By the Middle Ages, these steamy pools were community centers, where locals scrubbed, plotted, and probably swapped embarrassing stories. Fast forward to today, and Iceland has turned those natural hot tubs into luxury spas like the Blue Lagoon, proving that even a volcanic island can serve up relaxation, selfies, and a little Icelandic sass.

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Switzerland – Amazing!🚂⛰️

Heading into my month-long European adventure, taking the train through the Swiss Alps was right at the top of my must-do list.

I hopped on in Munich on day one of three and made my way to the stunning mountainside town of Chur. I scored a hostel that used to be the town jail—steel doors everywhere, and I couldn’t help but wonder what stories those walls would tell. Mostly, I imagined about that one or maybe two times I spent in the slammer AKA the drunk tank! 😆

Day two was pure magic as I boarded the Bernina Express in Chur. The train snaked through the Swiss Alps like a caffeinated serpent, eventually dropping me off in Milan, Italy. From there, I hopped on a quick train to Venice for the next two nights—more on that in another blog.

Behold—the most famous leg of the trip: the Bernina Express! Stunning views, dizzying mountains, and just enough adrenaline to make you question why you didn’t just stay home with Netflix.

Day two was pure magic as I boarded the Bernina Express in Chur. The train snaked through the Swiss Alps like a caffeinated serpent, eventually dropping me off in Milan, Italy. From there, I hopped on a quick train to Venice for the next two nights—more on that in another blog.

Behold—the most famous leg of the trip: the Bernina Express! Stunning views, dizzying mountains, and just enough adrenaline to make you question why you didn’t just stay home with Netflix.www.youtube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

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Some of the train tables had maps of the train routes in Switzerland.  It was enjoyable to follow instead of constantly looking at my phone, which I probably would have done anyway.  Here are some more videos, keeping in mind there are a lot more on my YouTube channel.  

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell

I only stayed one night in Switzerland between train days.  There were many small towns along the way that were beautiful, but Chur was highly recommended.  The Hostel was an old jail that I read about, and really neat to experience.  All the doors were metal with heavy locks, and I wish those walls could talk.

Here is a walk around the amazing city of Chur, Switzerland, where I spent the night in jail. 😆

Swiss Railways: Trains, Mountains, and Obsessive Precision

Switzerland decided in the mid-1800s that it wasn’t going to let a few Alps get in the way of progress. The first line opened in 1847 between Zürich and Baden, and soon engineers were drilling tunnels, building bridges, and basically showing the mountains who was boss.

By the early 20th century, Swiss trains were punctual, efficient, and amazingly scenic, carrying passengers and freight across the country with clockwork precision. Today, the railways aren’t just transportation—they’re a national flex: ride a train, admire a glacier, and know that the Swiss probably have a spreadsheet tracking your exact arrival time. 🚂🇨🇭

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Munich 🍻Oktoberfest 2025!🍻

When I realized my European adventure perfectly overlapped with Oktoberfest, I knew I was about to enter an adventure of epic proportions. 

Step one: surrender to the siren call of beer tents, pretzels the size of my forearm, and lederhosen-clad revelers who move faster than logic allows. 🍺

Each beer tent was a chapter: the first introduced me to the sacred art of “prost” -ing strangers; the second tested my limits with bratwurst heavier than my backpack; the third… well, let’s just say gravity, hops, and I had a complicated conversation.

By the end of it, I had danced, sang, spilled, and cheered my way through the city. I emerged a wiser, stickier, and infinitely more entertained traveler, ready to continue my European quest. Oktoberfest didn’t just happen—it conquered me, one absurdly large beer at a time.

I figured getting to Munich for Oktoberfest would require strategic planning, so I made sure to stage myself nearby in the days leading up to opening weekend.

That “nearby” turned out to be Prague, Czech Republic, the week before—and it couldn’t have been easier.

Thanks to my Eurail pass and a reserved seat, the train ride was smooth, inexpensive, and almost luxurious compared to the chaos I knew awaited me in Munich. Little did I know, I was just a few hops away from becoming a full-fledged Oktoberfest warrior. 🍺

Captain Obvious alert: the beer tents were the best part. I wandered through three of the big ones, but spent most of my time at the massive Löwenbräu tent. The sing-alongs were pure magic—everything from Taylor Swift to Bon Jovi, and a few questionable karaoke choices in between. 🍺🎤

The crowd chants—“Oggy oggy oggy!” met with “Oi oi oi!”—followed by a rousing “Prost!” were absolutely unforgettable live. Honestly, it felt like being in a human blender of beer, music, and pure joy.

I could probably post a hundred pictures and videos, but who has that kind of time? Let’s just say, every snapshot screams: “I survived Oktoberfest and lived to tell the tale.”

For more Oktoberfest madness (and my epic camping adventure), head to my YouTube channel. You’re welcome.

www.YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell or by clicking the link below:

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Accommodations for Oktoberfest were a bit tricky, but I ended up camping about a 30-minute train ride from the grounds. Perfect setup for the budget-minded traveler! They had single tents, double tents, and massive teepees with eight beds—basically a Bavarian version of “choose your own adventure.”

I went with the single tent—two nights for about $110 USD. Considering hotels were starting at $300 a night that weekend, I basically felt like I’d won the lottery. Simple breakfast included, plus a beer garden at the campground. And yes, there were plenty of RVs with German plates parked around—it looked like Oktoberfest on wheels. I half considered renting one and joining the mobile beer brigade. 🍺

The campground was like a state-run utopia for campers: spotless, orderly, and temporarily blessed with toilets and showers scrubbed multiple times a day. I timed it perfectly—striding in like a hero to claim the freshly sanitized throne and shower of destiny. 🚿💪

The Oktoberfest grounds and tents were massive—bigger than I ever imagined. Beyond the beer tents, there were rides, games, and food stands everywhere. In just two days, I managed to try five different German dishes—because, obviously, one can’t survive Oktoberfest on beer alone.

The Oktoberfest festivities literally take over Munich—and from what I hear, much of Germany. It’s an unbelievably proud tradition.

I met a guy who’s been pouring beers for over 40 years, with 30+ of those in this tent.

Honestly, I think that’s the pinnacle of German beer-pouring gigs! 🍺

The beer steins were all one liter each and cost about €16 (~$20 USD / $25 CAD). I could only handle two.

Asked around—apparently most locals manage 3–5. Incredible. 🍺💪

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🛌🏻🚽🚽🚽🚽🚽🚽

Oktoberfest history:

Oktoberfest started in 1810 as a royal wedding party for Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria—complete with a horse race. The party was such a hit that it became an annual tradition, eventually swapping horses for beer tents, carnival rides, and way too much food. Today, millions flock to Munich to drink liter-sized steins, eat giant pretzels, and stumble out of tents like proud, slightly tipsy Bavarians. Basically, it’s a royal wedding that got wildly out of hand—and somehow the world loves it.