RTW backpacking travel in Eastern and Western Europe
Cold air gnawed through my layers, persistent and unrelenting. As an avowed lover of all things tropical—smoothie flavors, color palettes, and, yes, temperatures—I had dreaded exploring St. Petersburg, Russia in November, a month marked by gray skies, drizzling rain, and pervasive chill. Although my unsuitability for cold weather panned out, St. Petersburg upended my every …
Finding a way to stop traveling has been an evolving process. When I booked that one-way flight ten years ago, a year of travel loomed before me, an epic round-the-world trip that would fulfill my dreams to see more of the world while also preparing me to contentedly return to Los Angeles at the end. …
There is something about a church that transports me through time and deposits me at a former version of myself. I step through the doors and old habits, memories, and rituals flood my senses. I was raised Christian, though my travels have led me toward a much broader spirituality. After years on the road, I …
Since childhood, Spain pulled my focus and imagination. I studied my history books, read incredible travel books about Spain, and learned about the country’s role in early exploration. I lamented the nuances of the Spanish language as my high school brain battled to grasp so.many.tenses. I often plopped myself on my bed and gave intense focus …
Gelato is one of those sweet treats out there in the world that has been exported to countries all over the world. While ice cream is accessible in nearly every country, it’s a special surprise when you find a gelato shop—a place that has called upon the talents of the Italians to make more than …
I was meandering through my Facebook page yesterday in the mindless manner I somehow instinctively revert to when I need to get work done but secretly welcome distraction. So yeah, I was doing that when I noticed this message on my sidebar: On this day in 2009, your status update was: Yay! Heading to the Fringe Festival today …
Sometimes joy and fun in an experience is directly proportional to how difficult it is… …the short hike to the lookout point for the Blasket Islands in southern Ireland is one of those circumstances. It was cold and windy for my driving/hiking adventure and with the ever-present misting Irish rain a constant companion every time I …
You know that idyllic image of American life in the 1950s? You know the one I mean: Neat yards aligned up and down the streets of pretty suburbs, complete with white picket fences and neighbors pruning their roses while tossing friendly hellos to passerby? I wasn’t alive back then, so I don’t know how much …