On a food quest in Sicily – February’s Crazy Adventures

February Newsletter!

Alright, let's pick up where we left off. Last you heard from me, I was gearing up for my 5 A.M. flight to Porto, Portugal. Going from chaotic Morocco, with street vendors and mopeds swarming around, to the calm, clean, and organized streets of Portugal was a huge switch-up. Honestly, it felt kinda nice to be back somewhere a little more familiar.

100 Days of Pushups – Challenge Completed!

While in Porto, I finally finished my 100-day pushup challenge! I started this back in Canada, carried it through Puerto Rico, France, Morocco, and now Portugal—without missing a single day. No matter what, I always made sure I hit my daily 50, even when I was sick (which made it take forever). To celebrate, I did 100 pushups on day 100. Made it to about 68, failed, took a 30-second break, then crushed the rest. It felt good to complete it, and I even did 50 more after day 100 just because.

Portugal: A Hidden Gem

Portugal—at least Porto—felt like a hidden gem. You don’t hear much about it outside of Cristiano Ronaldo, but this place is seriously underrated. The people are incredibly nice, super welcoming, and just have this high-class, high-quality vibe that’s amazing to be around.

Shaw Journeys – Going All In on Content

While in Portugal, I also started running content for our family account. We launched a family travel platform—Shaw Journeys—where we share our adventures through Instagram, YouTube, and Substack:

Website: shawjourneys.com

Instagram: @shawjourneys

YouTube: Shaw Journeys

Newsletter: Substack

I’ve been posting daily Instagram stories, making reels and shorts, and just going all-in on this content grind. My goal is that by the end of 30 days, my videos will look way better than when I started. Let’s see how much I improve!

Eating Snails?

Yep, you heard that right—snails. Sounds gross, right? Ehh… kinda. Not my favorite, but not the worst thing I’ve eaten. While in Spain, we found a restaurant that had quail (which tasted like chicken but was even juicier) and snails, so of course, we had to try both. We also had snails in France, but they were prepared differently. Not gonna lie, I’m good on snails for a while.

Largest Gothic Cathedral + Christopher Columbus' Tomb

So, what even is a Gothic cathedral? According to AI, it's "a grand, medieval church featuring pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and stained glass windows, designed for height, light, and spiritual awe." Fancy, right?

The one we visited in Seville, Spain is actually the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, and inside it? The tomb of Christopher Columbus—the guy who discovered America in 1492. Kinda surreal to see his final resting place, held up by massive statues.

Scooters – A Simple Yet Epic Memory

One of my favorite memories in Spain? Riding electric scooters with my family. It’s funny how something so simple turned into a highlight. Just cruising through the city, taking in the sights, and enjoying the ride—sometimes, the little things are the best.

Italy = Pizza Heaven

Holy snap, Italian pizza is no joke. They take it so seriously, and I finally get why.

The first night we landed in Sicily, we hit a restaurant, and I had a pizza like no other. I don’t know what they put in it, but I devoured the whole thing. I’m still on the hunt for a pizza that can top it.

Also, we had this pumpkin sauce pizza—sounds weird, right? But it was amazing. The slight sweetness paired perfectly with parmesan and pancetta on top. I even met the chef/owner of the restaurant, and he gave us insider pizza recommendations for Tuscany (aka, the birthplace of pizza). When a pizza chef gives you food advice, you listen. 🔥

The Pasta, The Bell Tower, and… Disappointment?

We had some amazing pasta while on a trip, then visited a church with a bell tower. Since the new hour was coming, we sprinted up the stairs, getting ready to be deafened by the bells. But… nothing. No bells. The anticipation was so high that all we could do was laugh at the disappointment.

Hidden Local Spot – The Best Lasagna Ever

While driving up to a volcano (yep, you heard that right), we stopped at a tiny local restaurant, and oh my gosh—best lasagna I’ve ever had. It had peas in it (which actually enhanced the flavor) and was just peak Italian grandma cooking. Pure perfection.

We made it up the volcano, but the road was closed unless you had chains on your tires. Even though there was no snow. Soooo… yeah. Nothing we could do. 🤷‍♂️

Valley of the Gods – Walking Through History

We also visited The Valley of the Gods, which felt so ancient that I lowkey felt like I should’ve been in a toga, holding a bunch of grapes, strategizing my next war conquest.

App Development – Learning to Pivot

Last month, I said I’d be making tons of apps, but I realized something: coming up with a solid idea is hard.

I started working on a ChatGPT prompt-learning app (basically Duolingo, but for AI prompts), but after talking to my sister (who’d be the target audience), she was like, “Why not just ask ChatGPT to teach you instead?” And… she had a point. So, I need to pivot. I’m learning that not every idea is a winner, and that’s okay. The key is being open to feedback and shifting perspectives.

What’s Next?

More Content on Shaw Journeys – I’m really locking in on storytelling, videography, and editing. Even if I’m just using my iPhone, I want to capture moments better and improve my editing skills.

Back on the Workout Grind – After finishing my 100-day pushup challenge, I took a break, but now I’m back. ChatGPT wrote my workout plan, and I’m on day 3 of a rotating schedule—pushups one day, squats the next, then core. Let’s see how far I go this time!

Coming Up Next Week

I’m heading to the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa—two more wonders of the world checked off the list! Stay tuned for that in the next newsletter.

Thanks for reading this month’s update! See ya next time.

Michaelmichaeljamesshaw.com