Blog

When my grad school roomie James turned 30, he invited a group of us from my master’s program to go diving in Malta with him. While the whole trip was a blast, the absolute highlight was scuba Diving the Um El Faroud wreck. I had dived at a few wrecks before, but this was a […]

Germany has lots of trails, but the hiking near Neuschwanstein Castle is really one of the fairest routes in the land. The castle’s beautifully designed architecture and perfect geographical placement make it a must-visit on any Bavaria itinerary. However, its well-established spot on Germany’s tourist trail makes it a crowded spot. How can you minimize […]

Since my boyfriend André has been living in the Barceloneta neighborhood for the past nine months working on his master’s degree, he inevitably caught wind of the legendary Wet Deck Summer Series parties that take place at the W Hotel during the summer. We had to check it out, so when Sunday came, we dressed […]

Visiting the Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) in Berlin is sadly part of the deal if you’re an expatriate. Many people I know, myself included, have been there many times over and it’s never a fun experience. The hardest part is that it’s next to impossible to make an appointment any sooner than about four months away, […]

I’ve read for many years about the wonders of solo travel – why it’s good for you, how to stay safe, why everyone should do it at some point, etc. I’ve always wanted to travel solo, but the first time I ever did, it was completely by accident. On my way home from Barcelona last […]

Until the day I die, I will never forget how to count to eight in Italian. Only to eight, with overdramatic emphasis on each number, and kilt-wearing Scottish dancers doing the jig in my memory. Sound bizarre? It was, completely. But it also had a rather deep significance to my family and me on our […]