travel that speaks to the heart
In the heart of Orlando, Florida, lies a marvelous oasis brimming with lush vegetation, winding paths, cheery birdsong, secluded gazebos, rose gardens, and one of the largest collections of camellias in the United States. With such an incredible amount of floral biodiversity, the Harry P. Leu Gardens is a paradise unto itself. In fact, this historical landmark is a local…
Amizade is Portuguese for friendship. Through the adventures we are having in our own home, my husband Justin and I have more reasons than ever to know and understand friendship in multiple languages. Why? Because we are Airbnb hosts. If you are unfamiliar with the company revolutionizing the travel industry, it’s time for an introduction: Founded in August of 2008…
Lisbon maintains an air of Old World charm, a shadow of a bygone era when Portuguese sailors bravely explored oceans and lands around the globe. Unlike many of Europe’s impeccable capital cities, Lisbon is more like a crusty oyster than a porcelain vase, unpolished and rough around the edges, and waiting to be cracked open…
Wishing the world a Frohe Weihnachten with photos from the Christmas Markets of Munich! What cities do you like to visit during the Christmas holidays? Where in the world do you like to experience the Christmas spirit?
I had the opportunity to spend five weeks in Munich, Germany over the course of 2014 – three glorious weeks in July and two weeks in the magical month of December. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the city. To honor this love affair, I created a list of ten reasons…
It was a blustery autumn evening in 1970. The alpine winds whipped off Lake Geneva with unseasonal gusto. The leaves rustled in the trees and rained down in a lazy, haphazard manner, making their whirling descent toward the cobblestone streets below. Lamp posts offered stations of false warmth to pedestrians passing under their soft glow.…
Back in July, I met my dear friend and travel buddy, SK, in Barcelona, where we rented a car – a beautiful black Audi we named Jacques – and set out to explore southern France and Andorra. Here are a few lessons I learned from the road. Lesson 1 – Ignore your inner Ricky Bobby.…
Lately, I’ve had a lot of reasons for reflection. I left my full-time job at the end of June. Took up residence in Munich for a few weeks in July. Explored some amazing places in Europe. Started this website. Celebrated marriages, birthdays, and actual birth-days. And lost my dear aunt to cancer. Certainly, it has…
“I’m going to shoot myself,” he said. What? Why would he say that? He shook his head slowly and then moved close to her face. She leaned towards him coquettishly in response. Vodka tonics. Red wine. They had already consumed an unknown number of drinks, and it was around the sixth hour of the transatlantic…
A three-week journey throughout Peru with my husband and another married couple last year was an incredible and unparalleled adventure. Our travels in this multicultural country awarded us exceptional glimpses into the lives of the marvelous people of Peru. Lima: The Capital City The Region of Cusco: The Inca Trail + Machu Picchu The Region of Cusco: Merchants + Markets The Region of Puno:…
Tucked away in the eastern Pyrenees mountains is a tiny country that many non-Europeans have never even heard of – or if they have, they know very little about: the Principality of Andorra. Although Andorra may not require much space on a world map, if you make room for it on your travel itinerary, Andorra may…
Shortly after I passed under the Karlstor, the prosaic medieval gate that leads into Munich’s city center, my senses were bombarded by the trendy merchandise posing provocatively in the windows of retail empires. As much as my inner-diva wanted to reply to their beckoning call with a quick embrace and a credit card swipe, I…
Just behind the Djemaa el Fna of Marrakech loom the souks, a twisted maze of a marketplace where merchants sell “typical Moroccan goods”: brightly colored slippers, lavish carpets, polished wooden pieces, tea sets, ceramics, jewelry, olives and mint leaves, spices, smelling salts, and salves. Hassling and haggling are a way of life in this mercantile manor, and the average…