In late July, two special ladies ratlew across the Atlantic to Latvia. For the first time in my nearly five years of travel, family members were coming to travel with me. My mother, Debbie, and my sister, Sarah. Wait? When did you mention a big family trip?! I didn’t mention it, actually. My mom is conservative when […]
The Genealogy Trip: Tracing Our Roots in Latvia, Sicily, and Scotland Read More »
Ten years ago today, I was studying abroad in Florence. For the past several months, I’ve been thinking that my 10-year study abroadaversary would be a great opportunity to look back at that special time. Studying abroad is one of the best decisions I ever made and by far the best thing I did in college.
Ten Years Since Florence: A Retrospective on Study Abroad Read More »
If you’re new to this site, here’s something you’ll soon learn about me: I regularly take on way more than I should, bite off way more than I can chew, and end up stressing myself out for the sake of seeing as much as possible while traveling. The latest example? My one-day road trip through
The Stunning Trulli of Alberobello, Italy Read More »
August is a sacred month to Italians. It’s tradition to take the whole month off — unless you work in, say, the hospitality industry, as someone needs to serve copious scoops of gelato to the ridiculously good-looking, speedo-clad Italians who use this time off as a reason to flock to the seaside. But there’s more to
Coming Home to the Carpino Folk Festival Read More »
Of all the times to visit Italy, I always recommend that people visit in the fall. There are a few reasons for that: the weather isn’t as meltingly hot, there aren’t as many tourist crowds, and fall is prime season for enjoying the bountiful harvest. Beyond those obvious reasons, though, there’s something that I love
Autumn in Emilia-Romagna Read More »
Before leaving Emilia-Romagna this time around, I felt like I had seen nearly everything there was to see in this region — but there was one more place that I had to visit. Ravenna, the city of mosaics. After visiting the other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Emilia-Romagna and nearby San Marino, the Early Christian
The Immaculate, Bursting Mosaics of Ravenna Read More »
2013 was a fantastic and exciting travel year — probably my most active year of travel yet! This year I visited a record-breaking 22 countries (UK, USA, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, San Marino, Austria, Malta, Turkey, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania, United Arab Emirates, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, and Cambodia — though,
My Favorite New Destinations of 2013 Read More »
It’s a crisp October day in the Emilian town of Modena, and Caroline and I are ringing the bell on a stately white home. Was this really the place? We came here to experience the traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena, one of the greatest delicacies in all of Italy, and I was expecting, well, a
Modena, Balsamic Vinegar, and the Opposite of Location Independence Read More »
The best food in Italy is in Emilia-Romagna. Period. Long known as the home of parmesan cheese, prosciutto, and traditional aged balsamic vinegar, even Italians from other regions will grudgingly admit that yes, Emilia-Romagna is home to Italy’s best food. Emilia-Romagna, a northern region consisting of the western inland region of Emilia and the eastern seaside
25 Best Food Experiences in Emilia-Romagna, Italy Read More »
It’s been five months on the road for the SOTM Tour. I mentioned to Mario this morning that we were close to the halfway point — so what would his favorite places be so far? Japan, he said. And South Africa. And the Burj al Arab, and the night he proposed to me in Malta.
SOTM Tour: Month Five of Twelve Read More »