I’m on the bus from Skopje to Prizren, typing madly on my computer as I work on a freelance assignment. My only breaks are cursory glances out the water-stained window: the scenery has been growing greener and more mountainous as we edge closer to the border. It’s my first time in Kosovo, and I don’t
Kosovo: A Warm Welcome from a Newborn Country Read More »
If you’re familiar with Lake Ohrid, one image probably comes to your mind: a tiny red-brick church overlooking the vast expanse of blue lake, faint mountains in the distance. This church is Sveti Jovan, and it’s probably the most famous image in all of Macedonia. As soon as you arrive, you’ll want to photograph it
Scenes from Lake Ohrid: Macedonia’s Summer Beauty Read More »
Sometimes the best countries are the most surprising ones. Macedonia certainly falls into that category. I fell into Macedonia on a whim — I needed somewhere to go for two weeks in between Istanbul and Dubai. Skopje popped up as a cheap flight from Istanbul, and I booked that flight in no time at all.
Macedonia: This Magnificent Country Will Surprise You Read More »
“Go to the Asian side — it’s one of the best things to do in Istanbul.” Nearly everyone told me this on my first trip to Turkey nearly two years ago. Yet for some reason, I spent my first trip firmly ensconced on the European side of the Bosphorus (journeys to Sabiha Gocken Airport notwithstanding).
A Day in Kadikoy: Scenes from Istanbul’s Asian Side Read More »
Driving through the Maltese countryside, a white city appears in the distance. It stands atop a hill, layered like a wedding cake from its walled edge, surveying all of Malta from one of the highest points on the island. It’s a city older than Valletta, dating back 4,000 years. It was built by the Phoenicians
Mdina: The Silent City of Malta Read More »
I was so nervous about visiting Malta. While some of my friends had been to Malta and loved it, others had been and told me privately that they found it, well…a bit dull. What if I felt that way, too?! As usual, I was worrying far too much about nothing. Malta is the least dull
Malta: A Beautiful, Crazy, Formidable, Vibrant Island Read More »
Every now and then, I come across a unique hotel or hostel that I love so much, I can’t stop raving about it to everyone I know. Sometimes they’re places I discover on my own, like Monkey Republic. Sometimes they come highly recommended from friends, like Gallery Hostel. And on occasion, they are places that
Sweet Digs and Artsy Days in Vienna Read More »
If you’re backpacking or traveling on a tight budget, I have advice for you: skip Switzerland. That’s not to say that Switzerland’s not a lovely and astoundingly beautiful place to visit. If you’ve got a mid-range or luxury budget, go ahead. And as I always say, if Switzerland is the destination that speaks to you,
Sherlock Holmes and Maltese Hospitality in Switzerland Read More »
Last July, I discovered Augsburg for the first time: a small Bavarian city just 25 minutes from Munich, and one that I found far more livable than its more famous counterpart. The occasion? My dear friends’ offbeat Bavarian wedding. This year, Josh and Daniel celebrated their one-year anniversary with friends and family flying in from
Augsburg: It’s Good to Be Back Read More »
It took several trips to Italy before I realized how much I enjoyed small town Italian life. Once you get out of Rome, Florence, and Venice, and even beyond my beloved Bologna, the atmosphere changes enormously — especially when you visit the cities that foreign tourists get to see. Not all of the towns pictured
Photo Essay: Small Town Emilia-Romagna Read More »