About
Hi, I’m Ingrid. In 2016, I took early retirement from software engineering at age 43 to pursue my passions for language learning, travel, and photography. This site is called Second-Half Travels because at my age I optimistically estimate I have half my life left. My goal is to spend as much of it as possible doing the things I love. Read More
Watching Brazilian movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime is a great way to practice Portuguese vocabulary and listening skills. Brazilian films also allow you to learn about the culture and gain exposure to different regional accents and slang. Read More
Watching Spanish shows on Amazon Prime Video is a great way to practice vocabulary and listening skills. All the Spanish series on this list are available to stream free for Prime members. Amazon Prime Video search by language is pretty terrible, so I’ve done the hard work for you. 😉 Read More
Watching popular German TV shows is an excellent way to learn about the culture while practicing vocabulary and listening skills. Luckily for us language learners, Netflix and Amazon Prime have started adding German TV series to their streaming lineups. Read More
Love to seek out unique bookstores when you travel? Add to your bookshop bucket list with the best bookstores in the world as selected by professional travel bloggers (and bibliophiles). Read More
In fall 2018 I visited Russia solo. Since English is not widely spoken in Russia, I dedicated myself to learning basic Russian for travelers prior to my trip. Here are the free beginner Russian resources I found most useful. Read More