Jean Nissen
I’m Jean Nissen, a traveler from the Pacific Northwest who believes the richest journeys are shaped as much by shared moments as by the places themselves. I work at a local university, and my husband, Scott, is a tax professional who disappears for months at a time. (I consider myself a tax widow from February through April 15 – and again from August through October 15.)
This scrapbook follows a trip through Greece taken with friends—an experience that reaffirmed how deeply travel can be enjoyed when the planning is handled, the pace is thoughtful, and the focus stays where it belongs: on discovery, connection, and time well spent together.
Traveling through Greece with friends meant laughter layered over history, shared wonder at ancient places, and conversations that stretched long after the day’s sightseeing ended. With the logistics taken care of – transportation, timing, and the inevitable complexities – we were free to be present. There was no rushing, no second-guessing, and no stress siphoning away our attention. Instead, there was space to notice.
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Since my youth, I’ve always had the desire to travel .. Now as an adult, I absolutely believe travel is one of the best ways to deepen curiosity, connection, and understanding of place. My first awareness of Rick Steves came when my parents gave me a Europe Through the Back Door backpack (in bright teal) as a college graduation gift. I used it for years – until it was stolen in a home burglary in 2023. Of all the bags in the house to discreetly carry a bunch of valuables away on foot, the thieves chose the classic Rick Steves backpack. It somehow felt oddly fitting.
In 2006, I picked up a Rick Steves guidebook to Copenhagen before moving to Svendborg, a small island town in Denmark. That book was gold during the two years I lived there, guiding countless adventures and shaping how I learned to move through a place – curious, observant, and (with the book) INFORMED!
My journey through Greece was guided by that same sensibility: a love of history, quiet reflection, and close observation. Some moments were captured in photos, but many simply couldn’t be replicated – the golden late-afternoon light in the mountains of Delphi; the sharp, echoing clap of our guide’s hands carrying impossibly far in an ancient theater; the warm, resinous scent of dry pine and woody herbs at Ancient Olympia; the narrow streets of Hydra, where the absence of cars feels like stepping back in time.
One favorite place will be obvious when you reach it: a medieval stone city rising straight out of the sea, revealing itself slowly, like a secret you earn by climbing to the top and passing through its doors. Monemvasia was something special indeed.
This trip awakened the senses that naturally come alive while traveling – and that I often tamp down or neglect in daily life. Busy life. (Yet another reason we chose a Rick Steves tour.)
This digital scrapbook is meant to be a narrative – one that blends landmarks with lived experience, and facts with feeling. Thank you, Rick Steves for encouraging travelers to slow down, look closer, and learn deeply. And for hiring and retaining the amazing guides and support people who make these trips smooth, entertaining, and educational. My time in Greece with friends was a once in a lifetime experience, and I’m so grateful for the chance to share my story,
Until the next adventure,
Jean
Scott Nissen
Scott moved to Bellingham in 2010 after meeting Jean through mutual friends—and clearly made the right call. After a 10-year (to the day) courtship, Jean and Scott were married in 2020, which also happened to be the year he opened his Bellingham-based tax firm, Nissen and Associates. No big deal… just life milestones stacking up nicely.
An adventurer at heart, Scott has a particular talent for finding countries where hiking, good food and snorkeling is involved. When he’s not underwater, he’s giving back on land – volunteering at the annual Bluegrass Festival to support parks, trails, and recreational opportunities through the Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation, and showing up for countless fundraising events benefiting his nonprofit clients.
Closer to home, Scott can usually be found hiking and adventuring with Jean in their Tab teardrop trailer, fishing from his kayak, sampling the local breweries’ finest offerings, or cruising around in his beloved ’66 Mustang. Equal parts responsible adult and perpetual adventurer.
Camilla and Allan
We were introduced to Camilla and Allan through mutual friends sometime around 2018, and by sheer luck (and excellent timing), they became our COVID “bubble.” During those strange, isolating months, we helped keep each other’s families sane, connected, and laughing at the bright spots, even when everything felt upside down. When you find people who can still spot wonder – and humor – during trying times, you hang on tight. Our friendship only grew stronger from there.
In 2023, we decided to take the ultimate friendship leap: our first vacation together. Yes, we were testing them… just as much as they were testing us. A week-long trip to Arizona felt like a safe but revealing trial run. The verdict? We passed. They passed. A travel friendship was officially born—and we haven’t looked back since.
Camilla
Camilla, born in Sweden and living in the U.S. since 1994, has introduced us to a whole world of Swedish customs and celebrations – most notably midsummer’s eve, traditional Swedish food and Swedish cakes. So. Many. Cakes. Each one more delightful than the last.
She’s a devoted mom to Timothy, a former X-ray Technologist, and a fearless DIYer who can fix just about anything with the help of the internet and a little determination. Camilla brings joy wherever she goes; her smile is contagious, her spirit generous, and she radiates a kind of warmth that makes everyone around her feel instantly at ease.
Allan
Allan, a retired real estate professional, now spends his days doing what he truly loves: riding bikes. Fast. Very fast. He competes in races internationally – from British Columbia to Spain to France and anywhere else he can snag an entry. Curious by nature, Allan stays current on the news, researches travel plans with impressive thoroughness, and always knows what’s happening in the world and locally. He enjoys fine dining, experimenting with the air fryer at home, passionately supporting the Seahawks, and staying in top form – both mentally and physically.
Together, Camilla and Allan bring curiosity, joy, and just the right amount of adventure to every trip. The kind of friends you want beside you – whether navigating ancient ruins, hiking up mountains or simply figuring out where to eat next.
Now that you know a little more about us, I invite you to dive in!