January is usually a rather gloomy month for me, so in recent years I’ve tried to make it more enjoyable by traveling and organizing plenty of social events—and this year, those efforts really paid off. I spent about a third of the month exploring Morocco and Rome, then took a day trip to Bletchley Park after returning to England. Mark and I also celebrated moving into our new home by hosting a housewarming party. Read on to find out what else I got up to in January 2026.

Destinations visited:

Marrakech, Morocco

Rome, Pompeii, and Sorrento, Italy

Bletchley Park, England

Favorite destinations:

Rome, Italy – I greatly enjoyed my first time in Rome and found the city to be an amazing place brimming with incredible history, art, and fantastic food. We were especially fortunate to travel there in early to mid-January, during the off season; we managed to avoid the holiday crowds while still enjoying the festive Christmas lights illuminating the city.

Bletchley Park, England – A few years ago, after reading the book The Rose Code, I became intrigued by Bletchley Park, the top-secret headquarters of Britain’s World War II codebreakers. Conveniently, Bletchley Park can be reached by train—the station is only a short walk from the entrance. I spent a little over four hours exploring its many exhibits and joining a complimentary guided tour. The information was presented clearly, and I found it fascinating to discover what took place at Bletchley Park during the war.

Highlights:

Feeling settled & hosting a successful housewarming party – Even though we moved to England in November, it wasn’t until January that I truly started feeling at home. I’m thankful to have reached this point, as I value having routines and familiar comforts. This month we also held a housewarming party, which was well attended, and it was wonderful to see so many friends join us to celebrate.

Markell enjoying Rome – One of parenting’s greatest joys is seeing the world through your (adult) child’s eyes. I was happy that Markell enjoyed Rome and appreciated its art and architecture, and was glad to have chosen a destination he liked.

Challenges:

Water leaks at Mark’s flat & my mom’s house – This month has been filled with water leaks. Mark’s flat, which he rents out, experienced a leak that, thankfully, only resulted in a few hundred pounds worth of damage. My mom’s condo also suffered a leak, requiring part of the ceiling to be cut out to prevent mold. We’re still working out the costs for those repairs, but it has certainly been stressful dealing with this twice in one month.

Anger at the Trump administration – I will never support a president who opposes social order, disregards morals, or acts with pettiness.

Posts:

Exploring Rabat: Top Attractions in Morocco’s Capital – Rabat’s must-see attractions.

Coming up in February 2026:

I’m excited to spend three weeks in February back home in the Washington, D.C. area. During my visit, I’ll catch up with friends and family, and attend a couple of college basketball games. At the end of the month, I’ll return to England, where I’ve planned a day hiking in the Cotswolds followed by a trip to a cidery I’ve never been to before.