It’s 4:00 AM in Évora and I haven’t slept a wink, despite the heaviness of my eyelids. I am too scared to fall asleep. I’m not afraid of anything specific; I just feel a deep, looming sense of dread. Something is not right, and I can’t allow myself to become defenseless. Is it irrational? Some […]
Sometimes, I get scared. Read More »
“Here, our bones lie, awaiting yours.” This is the macabre welcome to Évora’s most famous attraction — the capela dos ossos, or bone chapel. The bone chapel was my primary reason for visiting Évora, and it’s well worth a visit. The chapel was built by a Franciscan monk in the 16th century during the Counter-Reformation. Its purpose
Creeped Out at Évora’s Bone Chapel Read More »
When I added Évora to my Iberian itinerary, I didn’t have many expectations. I heard it was a lovely town, but my main goal was to see the Capela dos Ossos, the bone chapel. Anything else would be a fringe benefit. Sometimes, going into a place without expectations is best — because I was absolutely bowled
Évora: The Unexpected Beauty of Portugal Read More »
“Oh, you simply MUST go to Sintra!” If you’re planning on visiting Lisbon, chances are you’ll hear the above statement at least once. Of all the day trips you can take from Lisbon, Sintra is the most famous. Since I had a full week to spend in Lisbon, I decided to take the 40-minute train
Sintra — As Seen By iPhoneography Read More »
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
Porto: The Land of Port and Bridges 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 »
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 »