As one year comes to an end and another begins, I like to look back on the past twelve months, reflecting on the highlights and the travel moments that defined the year. 2025 will always stand out for my husband and me, as it was the year we officially left Germany and finally stepped into the digital nomad life we’d been dreaming about for so long. So, without further ado, let’s recap 2025…

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January–March: A Strange and Stressful Start

The year began on an unusual note. Normally in January and February I’m battling seasonal depression in Hamburg, researching exotic destinations and itching to escape somewhere warm. But this year, I found myself in limbo – waiting for a surgery date.

Back in September 2024, I took a fall in Sicily and injured my leg. I wasn’t in any pain but the injury wasn’t going to improve on its own, so I had to have an operation. The next few months were a blur of endless back-and-forth communication between doctors, my health insurance provider and the hospital. Nothing during January-March stands out except the bureaucracy…and my growing impatience.

April: Surgery at Last

It wasn’t until mid-April when I FINALLY got my surgery date. I was absolutely champing at the bit to get this surgery done and dusted so I could focus on other things.

I was very nervous about the operation. My surgeon told me I might have to stay in hospital for 7-10 days(!), and I had visions of myself in a room full of doctors speaking to me in German while I nodded mutely. I obsessively pored over reviews of the hospital I would be staying in, which seemed to be either glowing 5*s or absolutely scathing 1*s, with very little in-between.

Armed with snacks, puzzle books and both my Kindle and actual books, I checked in expecting the worst. Instead, I found myself in a private room nicer than many hotels I’ve stayed in: an en-suite bathroom stocked with toiletries, a TV full of German channels (alas no Netflix), a large window with plenty of natural light, fast and stable Wi-Fi, a fully-adjustable bed that I had fun playing with, and a mini-fridge filled with soft drinks that were replenished daily. It was quieter than my own apartment (thanks to my very stompy upstairs neighbour) and surprisingly peaceful.

The best part was twofold: first, I only had to stay for four nights because my recovery was impressively fast (go me!), and second, I had a daily menu to choose from, which quickly became the highlight of each day. Breakfast was fairly standard, with muesli, fruit salad, various breads, sliced cheese and meat, and the occasional croissant. Lunch, however, was the main event: a proper three-course meal every day. I could choose a starter from soups, salads or light dishes, followed by twenty main-course options, ranging from curries and pasta to Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes, and finishing with a small dessert like chocolate mousse.

Dinner was essentially Breakfast 2.0, featuring the same bread, cheese and cold cuts, but with the welcome addition of potato salad (one of my guilty pleasures!). Another perk: like clockwork, at 2pm each afternoon, a cheerful man appeared with coffee and a slice of cake. As you can imagine, I wasn’t exactly in a hurry to check out.

After four days, I shuffled home with a leg full of stitches and a stomach full of carbs. A fortnight later, I shuffled back to the hospital to get my stitches removed and asked my surgeon the all-important question –“When am I safe to fly?”. “Oh, anytime from now” he said casually. The very next day, my husband and I booked our long-overdue first flight of the year to…(where else?) my favourite city, Rome.

May: Returning to Rome

We were lucky to stay with our friend Kayley, who has a gorgeous spare room that she rents out on Airbnb. Just around the corner from the Vatican, close to some great restaurants and with one of the best private balconies in the city, it was a great base for us to enjoy a week in Rome.

We were apprehensive about the crowds as 2025 is the Jubilee year, but apart from some large tour groups and clusters of nuns near St Peter’s Square, the city didn’t feel more crowded than usual. At night it was noticeably quieter and calmer than previous years, especially for our long leisurely passegiate (evening strolls).  

The weather was perfect, and we spent our days trying new restaurants, revisiting old favourites, and catching up with friends. We sipped cocktails at Adèle Mixology Lounge, admired the spectacular views, and wandered through the stunning Roseto comunale, Rome’s rose garden, blooming with over a thousand varieties. I am always so inspired by my annual trips to Rome and wrote about where to stay in Rome (with pros and cons about each neighbourhood), 18 iconic dishes to try while you’re in Rome and where to find the best cheap eats and street food in Rome. Save these posts for your next visit!

A standout day during our time in Italy was our trip to Frascati, a small town 30 minutes from Rome. After a hearty lunch of local specialities – porchetta, rosemary potatoes and red wine – we walked through the countryside to Cantine Santa Benedetta. Despite arriving without a reservation, the staff welcomed us warmly and treated us to an impromptu wine tasting complete with olive oil, pecorino romano (my favourite cheese!), breadsticks, and little wine jellies that I could have devoured by the handful. We were just expecting a glass of wine at best, so it was such a treat to have the full wine tasting experience!

Late May: The Moselle Valley With my In-Laws

All too soon, it was time to bid Rome arrivederci and return to Hamburg to plan our next holiday. In late May, we took the train down to Frankfurt to meet up with my parents-in-law, who flew in from England. Together we mosied around the Moselle Valley, starting in Heidelberg where we visited local breweries, admired the city’s gorgeous architecture and got absolutely soaked wandering around the castle. It was shrouded in fog and very atmospheric, although I’d still like to see it on a clear, dry day! Then we rented a car and road-tripped through picturesque riverside towns, stopping at crumbling castles, regal palaces and stately homes.

Our base was the impossibly photogenic town of Bernkastel-Kues, which seems to love wine as much as I do, judging by the many bars and vineyards. We visited Trier – Germany’s oldest city, founded by the Romans over 2,000 years ago! The whole city is a dream for history lovers, rich in Roman ruins and impressive monuments like Porta Nigra, the Imperial Baths and the Roman Amphitheatre.

We stopped by the picture-perfect Cochem, with its half-timbered houses, riverside promenade, and medieval hilltop castle. Highlights included theAltstadt (Old Town) and Marktplatz (Main Square), Reichsburg Castle (built in the 11th century) and the beautiful Baroque-styleRathaus (Town Hall). We ended our “wine and castles” holiday in Rüdesheim am Rhine, where we drank (you guessed it!) more wine, cruised along the Rhine Gorge, visited more vineyards, and took the cable car up to Niederwald Monument for sweeping views over Rüdesheim and the Rhine River. 

All too soon it was time to say goodbye to my parents-in-law – and prepare for a much bigger farewell.

June-August: Selling (Almost) Everything and Saying Goodbye to Germany

At the end of May, my husband handed in his notice and I told my schools that we would be leaving Hamburg at the end of August. We had talked about leaving Germany over the years and had come close a few times, but my mum’s death in 2020 and then the subsequent lockdowns and COVID restrictions meant we kept delaying our plans. Instead, we took full advantage of my husband’s generous annual leave allowance, my remote job and the chance to have two sabbaticals during our time in Hamburg. Still, no amount of time off could quieten that restless feeling, and we realised it was time to leave.

Our plan? To spend a couple of years slowly travelling around Southeast Asia, discovering new places and returning to favourite destinations. My schools were all happy for me to continue teaching remotely, and after some calendar shuffling, we were ready to give the digital nomad lifestyle a try. Alongside my online lessons, I would have more time to devote to The Curious Sparrow, and Ian would be working with me full-time, helping to take the blog to the next level.

June, July and August were mostly spent selling 70% of our belongings. The other 30% we transported in straining suitcases to England to store in family members’ attics (thanks guys!). The rest we sold on Facebook Marktplatz and in buy-and-sell groups. The selling process was tedious and time-consuming – there are a lot of weirdos and time-wasters out there! – but watching our apartment empty out was incredibly satisfying.

To break up the monotony of selling and donating items, I flew to England to babysit my niece and nephew with my dad’s help, while my sister and brother-in-law went to their happiest place on Earth – Glastonbury festival. Ian and I also flew to England in July (Ryanair did very well out of me this summer!) to spend more quality time with family. We also enjoyed some day trips from Hamburg; Lüneburg (which we normally visit for the Christmas markets but is absolutely charming on a sunny summer’s day too!), Scharbeutz (our favourite town on the Baltic Coast) and Plön, on the shores of the Great Plön Lake. 

The end of August quickly arrived, and we formally deregistered from Germany, wriggled out of our various contracts, hugged our friends tightly and flew to England for three quiet weeks of home cooking, family time and – blissfully – sleeping in a proper bed again after two months of mattresses on the floor. I also took some time to reflect on the things I will and won’t miss about living in Germany!

September-November: Exploring Hanoi and northern Vietnam

We flew into Hanoi on September 20th and promptly settled in for two months in a city we already knew and loved. Having spent a month here back in 2019, returning felt strangely comforting – especially as we moved into the exact same apartment as last time, in a neighbourhood that seems blissfully untouched by the years. Hanoi greeted us dramatically with three typhoons, but we somehow escaped flooding and power cuts, and once we’d adjusted to the sticky heat and humidity, we quickly fell into a familiar rhythm. 

Mornings started with breakfast (usually bánh mì, arguably the world’s best sandwich) and strong Vietnamese coffee, followed by a few focused hours working on The Curious Sparrow. After lunch, Ian continued working on the blog while I taught online. Evenings were spent walking around Hanoi, eating at casual local spots crouched on low plastic stools, navigating chaotic pavements, and marvelling at the city’s soundtrack of constant, friendly horn-honking.

Over those two months, Hanoi truly became home. We ate and drank our way through the city at a slow, steady pace, mixing focused workdays with sightseeing. We visited many of Hanoi’s best museums like the Temple of Literature, the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum andthe Vietnam Military History Museum. Some of our standout experiences included a hands-on Vietnamese coffee workshop where we learned how to make Vietnam’s six iconic types of coffee, a powerful walking tour exploring Hanoi’s wartime history, and a memorable vegan street food tour that took us deep into tiny alleyways to try turmeric sticky rice, mung bean donuts, flavourful noodle dishes, and traditional Vietnamese desserts.

We broke up our Hanoi time with two mini getaways. First came Mai Châu, a peaceful valley of rice fields and stilt houses where time slowed right down. We took long walks past chickens, cows and water buffalo, and spent time reading, resting, and enjoying good food at various homestays.

Later, we spent a full week in Ninh Bình, trading Hanoi’s chaos for limestone karsts, lotus-filled lakes and countryside walks. Staying in a family-run homestay (after a slightly chaotic start involving a power cut), we settled into an easy routine of working, café-hopping, exploring and having the occasional swim in the homestay pool. Looking back, those two months in northern Vietnam were lively, exciting, wonderfully flavour-packed, occasionally chaotic, and exactly the kind of immersive travel that reminds us why we love Vietnam so much.

December: Hopping around from Dalat to Mui Ne to Ho Chi Minh City

After two months, we decided to leave Hanoi to see more of the country. On the 30th November, we flew to Dalat, without really knowing what to expect. We hadn’t done much research but what we had read told us the magic of Dalat lies in the countryside: waterfalls, misty pine forests, expansive coffee farms, hiking trails and shimmering lakes. Unfortunately the weather forecast was very uninspiring – we were predicted four straight days of rain. So, we settled into our family room for a ten-night stay, enjoying the novelty of separate beds while working through drizzle, downpours and the occasional bursts of sunshine.

Despite the weather, Dalat quickly won us over with its cool fresh air, university-town vibe, cheap coffee and street food, and wide pavements that let us walk side-by-side without dodging motorbikes. Known as the City of Flowers, it was full of colourful displays and lush gardens, and though evenings were chillier than I’d like, it was a refreshing change from Hanoi’s humidity. By the weekend, the weather turned in our favour with brilliant sunshine, giving us the perfect chance to soak up the best of Dalat.

Our favourite moments included the serene Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery, reached by a cable car floating above pine forests, and a spontaneous visit to Destiny Coffee Farm during harvest season, where a passionate owner guided us through the entire coffee-making process. At HuyEco Coffee & Culture, I joined two backpackers to roast beans and taste five distinct varieties. Street food was a highlight in Dalat, from Bánh Căn pancakes to Mì Quảng noodles, Bánh Mì Xíu Mại meatballs and the delicious Kem Bơ avocado ice cream. One evening Ian and I managed a happy hour crawl through three cocktail bars in two hours, ending the night very cheerful indeed.

After ten days in Dalat, we took a four-hour minibus to Mui Ne, chatting with a lovely couple from Quebec City who were delighted to learn Ian had visited their hometown. The journey wound through mountain roads past fresh landslides and stretches of road so rough we were bouncing out of our seats, but the conversation made the time fly by.

We treated ourselves to a four-night stay at the fancy Vipol Hotel, which had a pool, a gym and a huge buffet breakfast, and was just a three-minute walk from the sea. The waves were lively – not ideal for swimming, but perfect for bobbing around like happy little buoys. We kept things simple in Mui Ne, visiting a Chăm temple and the nearby town of Phan Thiết, and spending most of our time swimming in the hotel pool.

After Mui Ne, we enjoyed a short four-night stay in Ho Chi Minh City. Although it doesn’t have the picturesque charm of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City does have some great food options, plus pedestrian crossings and wide pavements you can actually walk on (unlike Hanoi!). I wrapped up my online lessons for the year, and Ian and I spent our days happily eating our way through District 3, the fantastic neighbourhood we were staying in.

We also met a friend-of-a-friend and her boyfriend for dinner at a very local seafood restaurant, where her Vietnamese partner ordered a feast of prawns, clams, squid and snails for us with an array of dipping sauces. It was a lot of fun chatting to another travel-addicted couple and hopefully we’ll bump into them again in Ho Chi Minh City, or elsewhere!

Christmas in Laos

We flew from Ho Chi Minh City to Laos on 18th December, and our arrival in Luang Prabang got off to a rocky start. We checked into a hostel on a busy main road and immediately realised we had made a mistake. Traffic roared past our room well into the night, with zero soundproofing to soften the noise. After hours of lying awake, we admitted defeat, checked out early, and moved to a much quieter hotel.

Once we finally caught up on sleep, Luang Prabang revealed its undeniable charm. A former capital and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city has carefully preserved its architecture and atmosphere. The result is a place that feels cohesive and elegant, filled with golden temples, French colonial villas, saffron-robed monks and a gentle, unhurried pace of life.

One of the highlights was the Mekong Meals food tour, which provided a brilliant introduction to Lao cuisine. Over the course of the evening, we sampled an enormous spread of dishes – from Lao sausages and papaya salad to grilled fish, sticky rice, noodles and sweet desserts – while moving between elegant restaurants, casual local spots and the lively night market. We also enjoyed learning about the country’s history at the UXO Centre and the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, and I had a fun day trip to the striking Kuang Si Waterfalls.

Unfortunately, Ian came down with the flu on 21st December so he didn’t get to enjoy Luang Prabang to the fullest. A few days later, we took a bumpy five-hour minivan ride north to Nong Khiaw, a small riverside village surrounded by dramatic limestone mountains. It is one of the most picturesque places I have ever been!

While Ian rested in bed, I joined a full-day tour of Nong Khiaw and the surrounding area, which included a scenic boat ride along the Nam Ou River, a steep viewpoint hike (I would argue more of a mountain climb as it was vertical in parts!), a cave visit, a long walk through rice paddies, visits to small riverside villages, a refreshing waterfall stop and a well-deserved lunch. There was an optional kayak session, which I declined because I was absolutely knackered! The whole day was far more physically demanding than I expected, despite being advertised as “easy level”.

Soon after, I caught a heavy cold, and by Christmas Day we were both in full Grump Mode. I don’t recommend trying to recover from an overambitious hike and a cold at the same time – it wasn’t fun! We spent Christmas Day sleeping, watching Home Alone, eating a late lunch and enjoying a few unexpected cocktails with a new friend I’d met the day before on the tour.

After five nights in Nong Khiaw, we returned briefly to Luang Prabang before managing to secure hard-to-get train tickets to Laos’ capital Vientiane. The train itself was very comfortable, punctual and well-organised, but acquiring the tickets is ridiculous. Despite multiple departures each day, seats are only released three days ahead. They “go live” at 6.30am, at which point travel agencies swoop in and bulk-buy them to resell at inflated prices. It’s genuinely as cutthroat as trying to score Taylor Swift tickets. We only got ours because someone cancelled and we happened to be refreshing the app at the exact right second.

Still unwell and sleep-deprived, we kept things low-key in Vientiane, staying in a hotel that left a lot to be desired (including a live mouse in our rubbish bin…. yes, really!). By the end of our fourteen days in Laos, we realised it isn’t a country we feel drawn to revisit. Poor sleep played a huge role (five out of six of the places we stayed had soundproofing problems!), as did higher-than-expected costs and a strong focus on adventure activities that didn’t suit my travel style.

It’s worth noting, Laos would be an ideal destination for adrenaline junkies or anyone sporty, fit, and active – which I very much am not. Many of the country’s most popular activities – rock climbing, mountain trekking, tubing, doing hot air balloon rides, ziplining, and exploring caves – are just not my cup of tea.

Back in Thailand: The Land of Smiles

We crossed from Vientiane to Nong Khai in Thailand, where we immediately appreciated the quiet hotel, very spicy and flavourful food, and slower pace. We were last in Thailand in December 2024 and it’s one of our favourite countries. In a few days, we are flying to Bangkok where we will stay for a month. After so much moving around and changing accommodation, we’re looking forward to establishing a routine again, getting some work done and taking advantage of the facilities in our condo building – two swimming pools(!), a gym and a co-working space.

So, that was 2025! I hope you had a wonderful festive period with your friends and family, and that 2026 brings you lots of joy, laughter and excitement. Or, if 2025 wasn’t an easy year for you, I hope 2026 is blissfully calm and quiet.

As always, thank you SO much for all your support and for being part of another year of adventures with The Curious Sparrow!

Ciao for now

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow