Hello! Here’s a quick update from the beautiful and deeply mysterious land of Cappadocia. Beyond hiking through mushroom-like rocks and exploring underground cities, I saw the end to a deeply coveted wish. See below for your hint. In Cappadocia, it’s still not cheap. However, in comparison to expected prices, it’s worth the small investment (around … Continue reading
Cut the Kitsch is hitting the road! After a nearly sleepless night on a bus from Madrid to Barcelona, I’m fleeing the Iberian Peninsula via El Prat Airport. My first stop: 4 days exploring a city that straddles two continents. My itinerary is quite lax. Except to say, I’ll be treating myself to a Turkish … Continue reading
Warning! Before you read this, quell your grumbling stomach. This post will have you craving an Italian feast. Italians do eat a lot of pasta. We began each meal, lunch and dinner, with an antipasto. This slow, but filling pace continued with a first plate (almost always a tantalizing twist on pasta), a second plate … Continue reading
Noun The state of being barred from one’s native country, typically for political or punitive reasons. It’s a fate, as I learned on my recent visit to Italy, that may not be so bad. That is, if you’re Napoleon on Elba Island. This is exile in style. In reverse order: While inside Napoleon’s Egyptian-inspired room, … Continue reading
Four weeks ago, I was selected as a blogger for Play your Tuscany, which means for 4 days I’ll be touring the best of Tuscany’s sea and nature! As I fall asleep, I’m already envisioning the delicious Italian dinners and other fortuitous moments that Italy will inspire. If you’ve read the itinerary (on the site), you’ve notice … Continue reading
After writing one of my favorite posts yet, WordPress failed to present my saved draft to me. Frustration is grating my writing mind. Thus, for now, I’m posting this. It’s a blur of photos that came with a thorough explanation as to why I found the Sahara disappointing. It speaks of tours, the hustle of … Continue reading
At 25, I still don’t have a smartphone. It’s alarming to some, astonishing to others, and truly a first-world problem to all. For me, it’s something that just “sort of happened”. After a stint in Chile to China to Spain, I couldn’t rationalize the purchase, especially with my constantly changing zip code. In my head, … Continue reading
As I reminisce over my last two years spent in Spain, and its abrupt end (within 30 days), I wanted to wrap up my emotions with this post. It’s dedicated to my first Spanish love, the city of Granada. With its flirty bohemian spirit, Granada lures many to it. Students, hippies, circus freaks (I did see … Continue reading
Today, in a decisive departing from my usual postings, I’m switching tactics. I’m posting about America. Not Spain, nor elsewhere in Europe, but my homeland. I could make excuses, claiming that it’s a prompt taken from Word Press’ weekly photo theme (#escape), but honestly, it’s not. I was simply feeling nostalgic for a trip I … Continue reading
Lured, like many, with the promise of virgin beaches, I made the pilgrimage to Almería. Though the city itself is rarely a stop on most tourists’ itineraries of Spain, I’m here to say, they’re missing out. For a foodie on a budget, Almería allures even more. Whether gazing longingly at a Mediterranean sunset or hopping … Continue reading
Cut the Kitsch 