Hawthorne Travels: Part 2

Here at Hawthorne, the fun never ends! This part-two of the Hawthorne Travels series shares even more travel stories and photos from the Hawthorne team. Read on for glimpses into France, Scandinavia, Italy, the Philippines, and more!  

Anahi Leyva (Senior Account Executive) in Europe:  

This past month, Ana and her friends traveled to Europe where they spent two weeks exploring Paris, Rome and Tuscany. From cheering on her friends at the Paris Marathon and riding on a Vespa for the first time, to wine tastings and a cooking class in Tuscany, and even being in Rome during the passing of Pope Francis and attending his vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica – Ana’s trip was both eventful and unforgettable. After two weeks of a pasta, cheese, wine and spritz only diet, Ana was ready to return home and enjoy a salad, but the universe gifted Ana an extra day in Rome by canceling her flight home. There are certainly worse places to be stranded in than Rome! 

Jonathon Sadowski (Account Director) in Scandinavia:  

Jonathon Sadowski and his wife, Alex, spent over a week traveling across Scandinavia in March 2024. The trip took them to Stockholm, Sweden; Bergen, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Reykjavik, Iceland. 

Starting in Stockholm, they learned about viking history at the Viking Museum, Spiritmuseum, and Vasa Museum, and of course had a plate of authentic Swedish meatballs. In Bergen, they enjoyed a fresh Norwegian fish dinner, a reindeer hotdog (twice!), visited a local record store/craft beer bar, and took in the sights at the city's old wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the top highlights was the "Norway in a Nutshell" tour that saw them take a bus, ferry, and train through the Norwegian fjords. Look at those views! 

Wandering through Copenhagen one night, they found a corner pub serving some fantastic comfort food that warmed them up on a cold and rainy day, and then they spent the next morning hunting for the best pastries (top recommendation: cardamon buns). After growing up in a city with a rich Danish heritage, Jonathon and Alex (who is part Danish) were excited to finally experience "the homeland," complete with eats and sweets that reminded them of growing up and going to their neighborhood Danish bakery. The trip finished off in Reykjavik, where Jonathon and Alex took in the otherworldly landscapes of the Golden Circle, learned about the mythology surrounding Icelandic Huldufólk, and spent a lazy afternoon soaking at the Sky Lagoon hot springs before heading back to the U.S. 

Aunna Beranek (Intern) in Italy:  

Did you know that Aunna studied abroad in college? As a part of her Creative Writing minor, she visited Italy to immerse herself in another culture and push her work to new horizons—just as many famous writers, such as Mary Shelley (Frankenstein) and John Keats (“Ode to a Nightingale”) have done before. She spent three weeks exploring Rome and all it had to offer: she visited historical sites such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Vatican Museums, as well as cultural hubs like the Trevi Fountain, Borghese Gallery, and the local cafes and restaurants dotted throughout the Monti neighborhood. On her weekends off from classes, Aunna took day trips to both Pompeii and Florence to take in the country’s rich history, from the Roman Empire to the Renaissance!  

Joel Reyes (Intern) in the Philippines: 

Last December, Joel joined his family on a nearly one month trip to the Philippines! They spent their first week in the capital, Manila, visiting the extravagant shopping malls, and getting adjusted to the 13-hour time difference. Taking a bus up to the province of Isabela, Joel and his family got to celebrate both Christmas and New Years, singing karaoke and playing card games with his cousins, trying new foods like balut and sopas at the nightly street markets, and ATV riding at the nearby beach towns. A highlight for Joel was getting to visit the hospital he was born in! The trip concluded with a return to Manila, this time in the financial and economic district, BGC. Overall, this trip is always particularly meaningful for Joel, as he only gets to see his family once every five years. He’s already excited for the next time he gets to go to the Philippines!