iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

I thought this would be fun to share. Our Substack newsletter is read by 11,000 folks in all fifty states AND one hundred and twenty-six countries. I can honestly say I never expected this. (And it's way more people than ever read my books!) Now to get a penguin in Antarctica to subscribe...

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Last Saturday we stumbled into El Encuentro de Danzas en honor al Señor de los Trabajos. This is a festival where Indigenous groups from Guanajuato and Querétaro celebrate the patron saint of miners in the former mining town of Mineral de Pozos. It was extraordinary, moving, and beautiful.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

In an alternative universe, Kamala won the election, made Oprah head of DOGE, and the U.S. media freaked out, covering it non-stop while Republicans demanded she be impeached. Meanwhile, here in F*ckeduptopia, it's pretty much “Eh, whatcha gonna do? White boys be white boys.”

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

We wrote this a few months ago, but given what's happening right now, it seems more relevant than ever. www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/p/the-first-...

brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com

The First Time Trump Was Elected, We Left America. Do We Thinks Americans Should Leave Now?

It depends.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

To help balance out the dark of the past couple of days, here are some pictures I took of the lovely flowers that Carla -- our new friend here in Puerto Vallarta -- brought us the other night. Naturally, I couldn't just take regular photos because, well, I am me.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

I got up, stepped out onto our terrace here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and proceeded to watch a huge humpback whale leap out of the water ten times. So, yeah, no matter what else happens today it's already been a very good day. (Zoom in, you can actually see the whale making one of its jumps!)

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Me reading about RFK’s confirmation hearing. And pretty much every day for the next four years.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Adios from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where the sky was endlessly transforming from one vista to the next.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Romantic gesture or waaaaaay too much effing pressure?

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

This chair on our terrace here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is my happy place. Alas, it's also Brent's, which has led to screaming matches, fisticuffs, and tomorrow at dawn, a duel with scimitars.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Working on a new edition of Michael Takes Too Many Pictures, which will be all about Bangkok, Thailand's incredible Chinatown. I came across these photos of Bangkok's nighttime skyline, which feels like living in a science fiction dream...

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Given what's going to happen tomorrow in the U.S. this could be about politics. Alas, it was inspired the recent tragedy in Los Angeles and what we've noticed as we travel the world. www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/p/climate-ch...

brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com

The World is on Fire. Is That Another Reason to Become a Digital Nomad?

In a world of unprecedented floods, wildfires, drought, heat waves, and hurricanes, does it still make sense to own or rent a home?

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Well, if Mount Rainier erupts and we are forced to flee for our lives we'll be able to pick up a crispy Cajun chicken sandwich along the way!

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Our Airbnb here in Puyallup, Washington, has all kinds of wonderful Christmas decorations including a tree, a wreath, and so forth Then there's this. Everytime I see it, I'm reminded of the line from Blade Runner when Rutger Hauer's character says "I've seen things I shouldn't have."

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I'm 💯 Team Aisle when I fly. At 6’1” (185 cm), I need as much space as possible or I lose my mind. But I know some folks are Team Window. I can't imagine anyone is Team Middle Seat but maybe I'm wrong! Which are you?

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

One of the coolest things we did on our recent transatlantic cruise was to visit the magical and mysterious Fanal Forest on the Portuguese island of Madeira. It might also be the closest I'll ever get to visiting the forests of Middle Earth!

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Man, chicken influencers are the WORST! Everywhere we go, there is some chicken with 500,000 Instagram followers hogging the best photo opportunities and shooting some stupid TikTok about why the chicken crossed the road. It's chickens like this that give travel writers a bad name!

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

My United flight has no outlets so I can't charge my phone or my laptop and I’M GONNA DIEEEEEEEE. Or I can just read.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Bye bye Bermuda! (Bahama, come on pretty mama. Hey, if I have to have that damned song stuck in my head, so do you!)

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Good morning from the Sky Princess currently in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I think I need to slow down a bit.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Sailing away from magical Madeira, Portugal!

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Good morning from Vigo, Spain, where I'm standing on our cabin balcony onboard the Sky Princess as the sun comes up, the church bells are ringing, the seagulls swooping, and the ferries start their day.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

I'm filing this one under “finding beauty in the strangest places.” It's an oil refinery we sailed post as we left Southampton, England, last night.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

I know that for many Americans, this might not be the happiest Thanksgiving. But I do hope everyone still has something to be thankful for — family, friends, your health. Brent and I are certainly grateful for all of the above. Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

It's American Thanksgiving, so it's okay to start posting Christmas pictures!

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Feeling reflective today… Okay, that was terrible. How long should I go sit in the corner? One hour? Two? A week? (Roman Baths in Bath!)

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

For our last full day here in Bristol, England, the city decided to give me a pretty nice morning to photograph Bristol Cathedral!

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

This odd structure in Bath, England, is known as Sham Castle. Except it isn't a castle, but instead amounts to a giant lawn ornament. In England, these kinds of things are called a "folly," because wealthy dudes usually build them and serve no actual purpose except to amuse said rich dudes.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

In the interest of full disclosure not every view here in Bristol, England, is of gobsmackingly beautiful architecture, brilliantly colored fall trees, or me smiling like an idiot.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

It's possible I might have a teensy, tiny addiction to taking pictures of fall foliage. The 473 photos I have on my phone of trees blazing in reds, oranges, yellows, scarlets, and russet from all over southern England hint at that possibility.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Earlier this week, I took the Bath Abbey Tower Tour, which included going to the belfry and hearing the largest bell, Ethel, ring. You're hearing only 4% of the bell's normal sound level. I cannot imagine what it must be like up there when it's properly rung!

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

I can't help but wonder if one of the reasons we have loved Bristol, England, so much is because we had almost no expectations of it before we arrived.

brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com

Do High Expectations Ruin Travel?

Yes! Well, sometimes. Okay, maybe it depends.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

INTERNET: You didn't really get up at 5 AM so you could catch the train from Bristol to Bath to take pictures of the sunrise did you? MICHAEL: Of course, I did. INTERNET: You do know you are crazy, right? MICHAEL: Of course, I do. INTERNET: Well, there's that at least...

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Incontrovertible Travel Fact #467 England does doors better than the U.S

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

I think what really sets me apart as a travel photographer is the seriousness with which I take my craft.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

From this morning's Bristol, England, walk! It was bloody cold!

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

When we first arrived in Bristol in southwestern England, we were told it rarely snowed here. Well, guess what? TODAY IT SNOWED!!! WHICH WAS AN AWESOME CHANGE!! Sorry to be all shouty. Brent and I don't spend much time in snowy places, so when we do get some, we tend to get pretty excited.

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Michael Jensen @michaeljensennomad.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Yesterday, we went for a long walk on one of the many downs here in Bristol, England, On our Uber drive home, our Somali-born Uber driver expounded for twenty minutes on U.S. politics, demonstrating a greater depth of knowledge than probably 80% of Americans. Which actually explains a lot...

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