Who is Miss Adventure?

My name is Wendy Whittaker. I’m a 50-mumble-year-old solo traveler from the beautiful harbour city of Auckland, New Zealand. While most sensible people my age are contemplating retirement plans and sensible shoes, I'm busy plotting my next grand escape and contemplating the path less travelled. I'm a self-confessed Europhile, a title I've earned over decades of patient observation and a few well-placed blunders. My love affair with the old continent is a long one, a story punctuated by stints living in Finland, France (the first time was for love, the second was for wine), and the United Kingdom (the first time was an accident, the second was for revenge, or perhaps a particularly good Slack-ma-Girdle).

This blog isn't about perfectly-curated itineraries or flawlessly filtered sunsets. It's for the person who finds as much joy in a quiet, unassuming village as they do in a bustling city. It's a memoir of mid-life mischief, a testament to the idea that personal growth often comes with a hefty dose of unexpected chaos. You'll find stories here of resilience and adaptability, of the sheer, bloody-minded courage it takes to put one foot in front of the other, especially when you're 50-mumble and can't find a decent long black (coffee, before you start!).

Welcome to my world. I hope you'll join me as I discover that the most profound adventures are those you least expect, and that the only thing better than a grand journey is a good story about it later.