A Year of Window Views

November 9, 2025 will mark one year of our nomad life. Over the past year we’ve stayed in 16 Airbnbs and 12 hotels.

I tried to remember to take pictures out the window or the street in front everywhere we stayed. Some views were stunning. Others were just every day life. It is a good analogy to the journey we’re on. Every place we’ve stayed has special memories. And while every view isn’t beautiful, it has taught us something about the world, and about ourselves.

Our last day in our South Plaza apartment in Kansas City. We loved the view of the Nelson Art Gallery to the north.

Mexico

Sayulita was all about color. Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone gave us a glimpse of the ocean. Puerto Vallarta 5 de Diciembre was about street art. Puerto Vallarta Gringo Gulch was whale watching 12 hours a day.

I missed getting picture of three hotels: Andaz Mexico City, Marii San Pancho, and Courtyard Mexico City Airport.

Portugal

The views in Portugal were not great, but we were thankful to have outdoor space in each airbnb. Porto held our washing machine. Nazaré was just an alley, but the Atlantic was right out the front door. Olhaõ was a big space with great sky views and barking dogs!

Wales, England, and Scotland

Somehow I didn’t get a great picture in Llantwit Major but that was our view out front as we walked in the rain. Hotel views in Cheddar, Somerset, Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Hathersage on our various road trips. In Hebden Bridge we saw cars parked out our front window…and ducks down the street! There were great gardens out our backdoor in Falkirk maintained by the neighbor. Glen Coe was gloomy, as Scotland often is. And Southfields (London) was picture book perfect.

Missing: Pimlico (London)

Budapest and River Cruise

I loved the rooftops out of our Airbnb window in Budapest and seeing that bike as we walked down the stairs. And the sunrises and sunsets on the Danube could not be beat.

Missing: Munich (I promise, nothing to see at that hotel!! Pro tip: don’t stay near train stations….)

France

Strasbourg and Reims. I didn’t do very good in Strasbourg but you can just make out the view from the dining room window! And yes, that is a MASSIVE construction project out our front door in Reims. I’m sure it will be lovely when it is complete! But don’t you just love those round windows? SO French.

Missing: Black Forest, Paris and Paris!

We’ve been busy finalizing planning for 2026. I can’t wait to share the views as we explore four new countries and repeat some of our favorites!