Author Archive for admin
Best Frites in Brussels
I was on a mission. A mission for potatoes. Not just any potatoes, but the specially fried potato known as frites. You might think that they are the same as simple french fries…but don’t be fooled into thinking that. They are more than french fries, they are special. And in [...]
A Decade of Travels
It took one simple question 10 years ago to change my life…
“Do you want to come with me?”
My co-worker and friend asked me that simple question referring to visiting his home country of Turkey. I thought about it for a little while knowing virtually nothing about the country of Turkey or where it even [...]
Photo of the Week – Paris
My travels this week brought me back to a place I had been before 8 years ago – Paris. The day was a mix of clouds and sun, as I photowalked through the city, I was lucky enough to get this brilliant sky when I reached the Louvre. When I first visited Paris 8 years [...]
Eat Pray Love – A Travel Movie
The movie Eat Pray Love has hit the big screens around the world (yet sadly not where I’m currently at in Belgium), however it has caused a flurry of activity in the world of travel writing as people pick apart the adaptation of the book-to-movie, Julia Roberts’ laugh/smile, and the story in general.
When I first [...]
Red Light District Amsterdam
I really didn’t know what to expect from the infamous Red Light District in Amsterdam; but I was certainly intrigued and excited to check it out. I like the sleeze, the grime, the passionate, and I really like things that challenge my way of thinking – so I had high hopes. Yet those hopes were [...]
Photo of the Week – Kinderdijk Netherlands
As most of you know – I’m currently traveling/housesitting in Europe. This has sent my photography into overload…so instead of one photo this week – you get a set of photos from my recent trip to Kinderdijk Netherlands. Kinderdijk is a Unesco World Heritage Site thanks to it’s amazing display of windmills – over 19 [...]
Netherlands Bike Culture
As soon as I stepped out of Amsterdam Centraal station from the airport, I saw what makes Amsterdam different from other cities I’ve visited…no, not the canals (Venice has canals!); it was the bikes. Seeing everyone flitting around on two wheels immediately struck me as a unique piece of culture.
I’m not sure why, but [...]
The Flower Clock
Tick Tock, Tick Tock…
The alarm went off at 5:15AM and I wondered why I was doing this to myself. It’s just flowers, I could sleep a little while longer – right? Yet my desire to see flowers ended up winning out over my desire to sleep; after all, this was the only time [...]
Photo of the Week – Brussels
This weekend something very special is happening in Belgium, and it only comes around every 2 years; the Flower Carpet. This Belgian tradition started in 1971 with the first Flower Carpet being laid in the famous Grand Place of Brussels. Begonias are the star flower and they are packed together one by one, 300 to [...]
7 Attractions in 7 Hours – Turbo Tourism
It was 11:30AM and the man at the ticket counter looked at me anxiously and said “Are you ready?”.
I took a deep breath, tightened my backpack straps, got a good grip on my camera and said “Yes” confidently.
The machine let out a long BEEEEEP!
My I Amsterdam card was now officially ticking.
I was off to the [...]
How to best utilize the I Amsterdam Card
Amsterdam has a lot to offer for tourists – but how do you see everything Amsterdam has to offer while on a budget?
Prior to arriving in Amsterdam, I had heard of the I Amsterdam card from many websites; see everything Amsterdam has to offer a tourist in a limited amount of time. It sounded [...]
Photo of the Week – Amsterdam
To celebrate the announcement this week that Amsterdam’s Canal District was added to the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list – I bring you Amsterdam.
The homes along the ring canals of Amsterdam are infamous. The 17th century residences of wealthy merchants, financiers, craftsmen, doctors, lawyers, politicians and artists are characterized by big narrow windows, and decorative [...]
San Francisco Museums Fit Your Budget
As a person with no real ’stable’ job, I appreciate a good bargain! And after spending the last year living in Vietnam with no real art scene, I’ve been starved for some great art. You may think that budget and art don’t really go together; oh – not so….
While in San Francisco in [...]
Toy Story
Last week I wrote about how brave kids can be when it comes to travel; somehow when we grow up we grow scared. This got me thinking about some of my travels and the kids I meet along my journeys. My recent hiking trip to Nepal came to mind. As my father and I hiked [...]
Photo of the Week – Netherlands
This week I bring you a shot hot off the presses – from my current trip in Amsterdam. I felt like this picture captured quintessential Holland quite well; windmills, beautiful clouds, bicycles, and marshland. I took this shot while on a rest break from my own bicycle ride in the countryside near Amsterdam. A gorgeous [...]
Growing Up, Growing Scared
I had all the kids stand up and one by one they sat down…
“If you haven’t been outside of Lincoln, Nebraska – sit down.” I stated.
Everyone remained standing…phew.
“If you haven’t been outside of Nebraska – sit down.”
I lost a couple.
“If you haven’t been outside the United States – sit down.”
They started dropping off rapidly [...]
Unique Boston Travel Experiences
My first trip to Boston was only 12 years ago. I was 28 and was finally starting to venture out of the ‘safety’ of the Midwest. I was excited to see the city where American history came alive; I wanted to walk the Freedom Trail, see the where all the famous events [...]
