This past summer, I visited Liechtenstein and declared it one of the weirdest places I’ve ever been. But after visiting Shetland, I chucked that theory out the window. Liechtenstein is delightfully quirky — the Zooey Deschanel of principalities. Shetland, by comparison, is Bjork laying an egg on the red carpet. I had the time of […]
Shetland: The Strangest Place I’ve Ever Been Read More »
For my second Portuguese destination, I headed straight to Porto, the largest city of northern Portugal. I didn’t know too much about it — it was a smaller city, apparently very nice, and the ancestral home of port. What shocked me was that Porto was not only beautiful, but astonishingly so. The Ribeira neighborhood of
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This week, the theme for #FriFotos is “local.” I could do aBoston photo essay, but I’ve done a much better one before. Instead, I’ll show photos from living like a local around the world. Wherever I travel, I try to live like a local, at least a little bit. I take public transportation. I buy
Feeling Like a Local Around the World Read More »
When I jump-started my full-time traveling, the timing could not have been more fortuitous. Not surprisingly, it was in the middle of an endless New England winter when I decided that I would leave home and head for the heat and humidity of Southeast Asia. Little did I know that the upcoming winter, the one
Making Peace with Winter Read More »
When I arrived in Lisbon, two things struck me immediately: how beautiful the city was, and how insanely hilly the city was. Like as hilly as San Francisco, only with cobblestones. The more I got to know Lisbon, the more comparisons I drew between Lisbon and San Francisco. It was hilly, of course, but it
The Sunshine of Lisbon Read More »
If you subscribe to my newsletter, you already heard the news. I’m in Portugal and Spain for five weeks! I just got to Lisbon yesterday and I am already bowled over by this city. It’s incredibly beautiful, remarkably intuitive, and surprisingly affordable. I have no doubt that Lisbon will be one of my new favorite
Surprise! I’m in Portugal! Read More »
This week’s #FriFotos theme is “special moments.” A theme that’s open to interpretation, and that I enjoyed as I sifted through my photos. Travel, to me, is special moment after special moment — but some moments rise above all and become the moments you’ll remember decades later. Here are a few of my favorites: The
Looking Back: Special Moments Around the World Read More »
After an amazing time at Up Helly Aa — from the parades and bar singalongs to the festival of fire to the epic all-night party, it was time to head back to mainland Scotland with our Haggis Adventures crew. We finished our Up Helly Aa experience with a final hazy day in Shetland, exploring the
Road Tripping Down Scotland’s East Coast Read More »
Up Helly Aa is all about the explosions of fire and burning torches, the parades and Viking songs. What is less known is that it’s ALSO about some legendary after-parties. After the burning of the galley, there are 10 official Up Helly Aa parties around town. These parties last from 9:00 PM to roughly 9:00
Up Helly Aa: The Epic After-Party Read More »
After a day of Vikings, parades, and traditional music, it was time for the main event: Up Helly Aa, Shetland’s Viking Fire Festival! Fire, torches, parades and glory! It began at 5:00 PM with the children’s Up Helly Aa. Did you know that the kids get an Up Helly Aa of their own? Just like
Up Helly Aa: The Viking Festival of Fire Read More »