Rock and Barb
Travel
Slow travel stories
and travel inspiration
About Us
We are Rock and Barb.
We are two retirees from Northwest Indiana and for much of the past three years, we’ve been traveling the world.
People often ask us, “Why?”
Because the fabric of humanity is vast, colorful, and endlessly fascinating and we want to experience it firsthand.
No matter where we go, we’re reminded that people are more alike than different. We all love our families. We laugh. We grieve. We hope. Those shared human experiences connect us across borders and languages.
But it’s the cultural differences, the traditions, food, music, daily rhythms, and ways of seeing the world that deepen our understanding and expand our hearts. Each place adds texture and color to our view of life.
Travel allows us to step beyond our own small thread in humanity’s tapestry and appreciate the intricate weave of the whole.
We invite you to explore with us—one story, one city, one connection at a time.
Our Travel Blog
Why We Travel
After three years of circling the globe from the Great Pyramids to Everest, from Rome to Bangkok, we’ve learned that travel isn’t about landmarks. It’s about people. It’s about stepping beyond our small corner of the world to experience the rich, varied fabric of humanity firsthand. The journeys are long, the languages challenging, the food sometimes too spicy, but the rewards are deeper than we ever imagined.
In this post we explain why we keep going.
We Travel Slowly
We don’t rush from city to city. We stay a month or more, rent an apartment, shop local markets, make our morning coffee at home, and learn what daily life really feels like. Slow travel lets us see beyond the tourist sights and experience the culture, traditions, and people who make each place unique. This post shares why opening our front door somewhere new never gets old and why retirement makes this life possible.
We Meet Many, Leave Most. But Some Become Friends
As long-term travelers, we’ve learned that friendship is both the greatest gift and the quiet cost of this life. In Cuenca, Ecuador, acquaintances are becoming something deeper and once again our hearts are being stretched between the people we love back home and the friends we’re growing to love here. This post is our thank you to every life that has touched ours. We love you. And yes… we will return.
Corn on Pizza and “Not Spicy” Lies: Eating Our Way Around the World
From coconut milk sweet tea in Malaysia to corn-topped pizza in Türkiye, one-chili “not spicy” in Thailand to hornado in the Andes—this is a story about how food humbles, surprises, and connects us. Because discovery isn’t just why we travel. It’s what’s on the plate.
We skipped the tourist zones, lived in a neighborhood, followed the scent of spice markets, watched cats rule the sidewalks, and stood inside spaces that felt bigger than travel.
Some places overwhelm you. Istanbul invites you to pay attention.
We stayed a month. It changed how we see the world.
Istanbul Isn’t Seen, It’s Slowly Understood
From Vacationing to Belonging
What started as a simple “two-month trip” to Cuenca turned into something far deeper...a complete shift in how we see travel, how we see home, and how we see life itself. In this heartfelt post, we share how stepping beyond the idea of a vacation led us into true slow travel: navigating a new culture; building daily routines in a foreign land; and discovering the joy (and challenge) of living abroad. From unexpected departures to meaningful returns, this journey through Ecuador reveals how one peaceful Andean city captured our hearts and why we now call it our forever winter home.
Home for a While… But Not for Long
After four months at home (with one little detour to Alaska), our suitcases are calling again. Join us as we prepare for our next slow-travel adventure through Northern England, Scotland, and two magical months in Paris. Along the way, we'll share why we keep coming home, why Liverpool is a dream destination for a Beatles superfan, and why our favorite Paris apartment is so tiny that changing your mind requires stepping into the hallway. Come along as the next chapter of our journey begins.
There are Places I Remember...Liverpool
I grew up with the Beatles.
I was 12 when Beatlemania exploded across America, and as a young guitar player, John, Paul, George and Ringo became more than musicians. They became part of my generation.
So when we found ourselves in Liverpool touring the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, I expected an interesting history lesson.
I didn't expect it to be emotional.
Standing inside the small rooms where two ordinary Liverpool boys grew up, I found myself thinking less about the Beatles and more about the boys they once were and about the young guitarist I used to be.
Sometimes travel doesn't just take you somewhere new.
Sometimes it takes you back.
Travel: The Good, The Bad and The Unexpected
Beautiful cities. Scenic train rides. Great meals. Historic places. Two retirees traveling the world.
That’s what you see on Facebook.
What you don’t see are the 120-mph wind gusts, seven days without electricity, 26-hour travel days, exhaustion, packed trains and the moment you realize that two months of your life have disappeared somewhere between London and Leeds.
Travel has a beautiful side.
It also has a messy, frustrating and sometimes downright stressful side.
And after this trip, I realized that maybe those parts of the journey deserve to be told, too.
Because the photographs may capture where we went.
But the struggles are part of how we got there.
What Two Months in Paris Has Taught Us About Life
There is a difference between visiting Paris and living in Paris.
On vacation, you see the Eiffel Tower, walk along the Seine, visit the Louvre and check the famous places off your list.
But stay long enough, and something changes.
You stop asking, “What should we see today?” and start wondering where to buy groceries, which bakery has the best baguettes and where to have dinner around the corner.
After nearly two months in Paris, we discovered that the real magic of slow travel isn't seeing more.
It's noticing more.
And somewhere between the Metro rides, neighborhood cafés, five-mile walks and ordinary routines, Paris began to feel a little less like a destination...and a little more like home.
What Should You Wear in Paris?
After two months of living in Paris we've learned that dressing here isn't quite as simple as “dress like a Parisian.”
Parisian style is changing. Shorts are no longer forbidden. Baseball caps are everywhere. Jeans are perfectly acceptable. And yes, even young Parisians have embraced athletic wear.
But there are still some fashion rules worth knowing if you don't want to look like a teleporter dropped you in Paris instead of your backyard.
So what should you actually wear in Paris?
Rock has his opinions. Barb has hers. And after a lot of people-watching, we've both learned a few things about the little details that make Parisian style different.
Including the one thing Barb thinks French women have figured out that the rest of us haven't
The Beauty of Learning Another Language
Barb speaks French. I speak what we affectionately call Taxi-Cab Spanish. Between us, we can usually find our way around the world and occasionally make ourselves chuckle in the process!
From making a Parisian taxi driver laugh over the words “flea market” to discovering how a few words of Russian can bridge a cultural divide, we've learned something important during our travels.
Learning another language isn't about perfect grammar or a flawless accent. It's about people, laughter, friendship, and discovering how much we have in common.
Grocery Shopping in Paris: Fresh Food, Small Baskets, and a Different Way of Life
Ever wonder why Parisians shop for groceries almost every day while many Americans shop for two weeks at a time?
After two months of living in Paris, Barb and I have discovered that food shopping here is about much more than filling a refrigerator. It's about fresh baguettes, flavorful tomatoes, neighborhood markets, and a few amusing adventures trying to remember the French word for zucchini!
Come along as we explore the delicious differences between grocery shopping in Paris and back home in America. You might even discover why a small basket, a daily baguette, and a little French can make life a whole lot sweeter.