“We’ll have to leave early in the morning and walk to the train station tomorrow because the bus can’t pick us up. “ instructed our Intrepid Travel guide Yenner. “The Saturday market is setting up in the morning and all of the roads are closed.”I looked at the main street in front of our guest […]
A Room with a View Istanbul
“Beep, beep, beeeeep!” I leap up off the bed and run to the window wondering what in the world is going on 3 stories below me. I’m not on a big highway – I’m staying in a studio apartment on a tiny little one-way street made of uneven cobblestones. I’m startled to hear so much […]
Ephesus – A Personal View
I hear her whisper to herself – “Isn’t it just beautiful.” And let out a sigh of amazement. I follow her sight line and looked at the columns and ruins. I rub my eyes and try to refocus and free my mind – but I have nothing. “I can see it, don’t you see it?” […]
My Big Fat Turkish Vacation
Everyone has parts of their job that they dislike – even if your job is your passion. Not everything can be lollipops and unicorns ALL the time. For me, it’s the hours spent online trying to figure out my next move, the cheapest airfare, where I will sleep, how to get around, where to find […]
Under the Catalan Sun
Ever since the movie/book Under the Tuscan Sun, Americans have been in love with Tuscany. The food, wine, rolling hills, castles, and villas – what’s not to like? However, the one problem I have with Tuscany is that everyone loves Tuscany and this equates to too many tourists for my liking as well as rising […]
Camino de Ronda – Costa Brava Coastal Trail
I arrived in Costa Brava the day after I finished walking the Camino de Santiago, it was an abrupt transition – so when my hosts, the Costa Brava Tourism Board, said that I could go hiking in the area I was excited but my feet had a different plan. My feet wanted to simply relax […]
For whom the Bell Tolls
When you first arrive, you hear them. They will wake you up in the morning with a abruptness that makes you sit straight up in bed. But soon the sound fades into all of the other new sounds and stimulation of Europe and they become unnoticed in your normal day. Church bells in Europe […]
The Best Time to Walk the Camino de Santiago
Let me first just say – I’m biased – I, of course, think when I walked it in April/May was the best possible time to do it! Yes, I did get rained on a bit and it was muddy, but I will take those conditions any day over heat and people! Most days were pleasant […]
Malta’s Defense Mechanisms
I feel like I’ve come full circle in my current travels in a way. Being in Turkey has conjured up memories of Malta for me. I started in Malta in February and then traveled through Europe and now I’m in Turkey 4 months later. The two countries vastly different in size are linked historically and […]
Sheer Beauty
I have this adoration with the window in my Istanbul apartment – a light, sheer curtain, covers it providing a filter to the outside world. I leave the window open fully to let the fresh breeze blow through the upper floor room I’m renting this first week in Istanbul as I catch up on writing […]