View of Budapest from a Distance December in Budapest is frigid and hours of daylight are limited. It gets dark here before 4 in the afternoon, so when I arrive at my hotel around 2 p.m., the temptation to cuddle […]
World Travel
Aegina: A Comedy of Errors, Greek-Island-Style
Port Aegina Port Aegina After two days in Greece without any rain to speak of, today, Greek Island day, we wake up to a thickly clouded sky and persistent drizzle. We grab our gear and an umbrella and head downstairs […]
Poseidon’s Lair at Sounion: A Temple with an Ocean View
Guards at the Unknown Soldier’s Tomb Day two in Greece is all about getting out and away from the grit and the noise of Athens. To do so, we’ll have to take the metro, so we make a quick stop […]
Athens: 7,000 Years of Grit
The Erechtheum at the Acropolis, Athens As one of the world’s oldest cities, Athens is beautiful, dirty and vibrantly alive. The streets team with people: Tourists, locals and immigrants alike. In this city known as the birthplace of democracy and […]
Athens: With Maturity Comes Some Grit…
Add caption As one of the world’s oldest cities, Athens is beautiful, dirty and vibrantly alive. The streets team with people: Tourists, locals and immigrants alike. In this city known as the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of Western […]
Granada: A Second Time Around the Alhambra
Close-up of Carving at the Alhambra At the tender age of 20, I fell in love with Granada. Young and unworldly, I was easily enchanted by its Arabic teahouses, flamenco, and its red fortress, the Alhambra. So returning, better traveled, […]
County Clare: Cliffs, Castles and a Stony Place…
King John’s Castle, Limerick, Ireland To many Americans, Ireland is the magical land of our ancestors, a green paradise of leprechauns and rainbows, but I’m here to warn potential visitors: Don’t be fooled by the emerald expanse, winter weather in […]
Gijón: Seafood and Birds of a Feather….
Gijón’s Coast Gijón’s Port A short bus ride from Oviedo lies Gijón, Asturia’s largest city. Although its old town is less famous than that of Oviedo and hasn’t been praised recently by any American celebrities, it has the added advantage […]
Paris: Following Le Chat Noir
The Eiffel Tower By Night Panoramic of Paris Strolling the streets of Paris, I must admit to myself that I finally understand what all the commotion is about. All walks of life seem to coexist here along tree-lined avenues, African […]
In Oviedo, Ciderhouses Rule
The Square in front of Oviedo’s Cathedral…and yup, it’s raining… Asturias is known in Spain for lush green landscapes, excessive rainfall, sidra (cider) and dairy products. Largely a rural area, it has two major cities and a booming tourism industry. […]