I’ve been busy; lately, I’ve swirled, sipped, and delighted in copious cups of good wine (and as you can see above, tea). All, I’m telling you, in the name of ahem, research. From further afield, my insight: A guide to Turkish wine, plus wineries to visit in Turkey’s enchanting land of fairy chimneys. You must try it, … Continue reading
China. Zhōngguó. 中国. It’s the Kingdom of extremes, and one that’s utterly baffling to most outside of it. For me, however, China allures as strongly as the poignant smell of Chòu dòufu (or, stinky tofu). If you haven’t been to China before, trust me on this one, it’s powerful. This country, frankly put, is like nowhere else I’ve … Continue reading
Before I came to Turkey, I didn’t know that I had entered into some variation of Eden. In Fethiye, fresh food abounds, but not only in markets, street corner stalls and larger chain grocery stores; the seeds of sustenance sprout up in city gardens. Chickens run amok, corn stalks shoot up, goats tend to unmowed grass, and … 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
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
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
As a child, I never held whimsical fantasies of Cinderella. It was just another childhood tale to me. Yet, arriving to Bruges by train from Brussels, I felt like a few whimsical fantasies took flight. In this post, I’m going to let my incessant photo snapping tell the story. I visited during the winter holidays. The … Continue reading
A year ago, I was living in another Spain. Though just four hours away from my current life in Madrid, it was as if stepping into another country, a place you may have heard of, called Andalucía. As I knew Baeza, my small city in Jaén, it was a place defined by poetic words, an … Continue reading
Lisbon, as I said before, is one of my favorite European cities. In the blinding sun (in February), you can see why. Part two continued. Warning! I packed a lot into this post. My top 5 Lisbon list. 1. San Jorge Castle Sunset–The view unfolds over some of Lisbon’s greatest, the National Pantheon, and a … Continue reading
I’ve always slated Lisbon as one of my favorite cities in Europe. Here’s why. (Photo series part one: Semana Santa 2013) The first time I came to Lisbon, I was enchanted. Its fading colors, cracking paint, and continuous tiles had me clicking my camera until I left. It was my European city, a bit abandoned … Continue reading
Cut the Kitsch 