Blog

I never intended to spend 1 day in Zurich. I was supposed to be there for 45 minutes.  But alas, the case of delayed Spanish flights and shockingly punctual Swiss flights led me to a free overnight stay in the city of Zurich. Honestly, I was excited what with the free hotel and the unexpected […]

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 […]

“André? André! Wake up!!” My would-be navigator had fallen asleep in the passenger seat, leaving me alone to drive our rental car along a windy road in the pitch dark in the middle of nowhere on our fateful 10-day Croatia road trip. I had no idea where I was going.  “This is why I usually […]

If you’re looking for a great day trip from Dubrovnik, either to escape the crowds or just to explore outside the old town, you have to take a day trip to Lopud Island. While many tourists don’t know about this island, lots of locals like to retreat to the beach here for a much more […]

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 […]