Hello Reader,

🧭 Where in the World?

We’re looking up at the moon to see if we can see that Artemis II crew coming around the bend….and laughing hysterically at several social media posts we've seen calling the whole thing (and the Apollo missions of 50 years ago) a huge hoax.

🧳 Our Latest Posts

We’re happy to share our updated post about visiting Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our recent trip was our third visit to Argentina and our fifth stay in Buenos Aires. So, we’re comfortable offering a bunch of ideas and recommendations for your itinerary. As usual, let us know if you are headed that way; we’re happy to chat about your plans.

🛫 Get Going: Tours We Recommend For You

Please consider joining our November 2026 trip to Spain, centered on the Elective Study Abroad course, Architecture and Cuisine of Andalucía. You can read all about it on our Travel Past 50 Tours page by clicking here.

We can’t wait to explore Granada and Córdoba in depth, a rare opportunity with expert instructors. Travel Past 50 readers save $250 with the code TP502026. There’s no single supplement, and just for the asking we’ll help with any of your pre- or post- travel extensions in Spain, our home away from home.

🗞️ Travel News From Around the Web

• The National Park Service has announced its National Park Week, August 22-30, 2026, in celebration of the 250^th anniversary of American Independence. August 22 is National Junior Ranger Day with lots of hands-on activities. (Badges!) Admission is free at all sites on August 25. See more about the National Park Service 250th Commemorations and Celebrations here.
• Talk of Viking Cruises keeps popping up! If we’re not hearing about friends’ recent Viking trips, we’re seeing Viking’s announcements of new ships and new sailings. They recently announced new dates for their India river voyages in 2027, 2028 and 2029, now open for booking. Plus, Viking has just floated out two new Nile River ships. That brings the Viking Egypt fleet to eight ships, each accommodating about 82 passengers only. Check out the Pharaohs and Pyramids Itinerary here.
• On travel, Kris read this revived post by Jodi Ettenberg, a former lawyer, award-winning travel writer, and spokesperson for living with a spinal CSF leak, inspired by astronauts’ response to the ‘overview effect.’ The Overview Effect: How Seeing the Earth from Space Changes You.
  

💸 This Week's Best Deals in Travel

• We had a fun time joining the successful Prepare for Travel 2026 Spotlight event with Intentional Travelers last month, offering practical advice for safe and secure travels, and what to expect as Americans traveling abroad. (All this without the panic incited by giant headlines: Fraud! Scams! Travel Safety! Yes, we’re talking about you AARP Bulletin. Calm down.) Whether you registered for that March event or not, you can still access all the resources through the DIY Trip Security Spotlight course and watch the Prepared Travel zoom replay – at 50% OFF through April with our Travel Past 50 coupon. ​
  

📖 What We're Reading

While Kris is transported to the Dominican Republic diaspora reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Díaz, she’s also reading poetry by Aracelis Girmay.

Since we last wrote, Tom has finished three books. First, for his book club, the eminently forgettable Horrorstör about a demon-possessed IKEA knockoff. It reminded him of the old quote by Dorothy Parker: "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force." Second, he finally got around to reading The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson, which is rightfully thought of as a horror genre classic. And third, for a change up, Winter in the Blood, by James Welch, which was recommended recently by Louise Erdrich. The Atlantic called it one of the best American novels of the last 100 years. Short and brilliant.

You can see most of the books we recommend in one place at our Amazon book shop. If you'd prefer an alternative to Amazon, there is Alibris.com, where we frequently buy used books, and Bookshop.org, which supports independent booksellers. And, if you're into art books, like we are, check out the catalog at Taschen, the world's foremost publisher of art books.

If you buy a book through our links, we make a small commission at no additional cost to you.

❝Travel Quote of the Week❞

Only entropy comes easy. – Anton Chekhov

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Have any feedback? Ideas for future posts or email topics? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at feedback@travelpast50.com.

Happy travels,

Kris and Tom

Tom Bartel and Kristin Henning ​Travel Past 50​ Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. Join our Facebook community.

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