A seven-day itinerary for São Miguel island in Portugal’s Azores I recently got back from a heavenly week in São Miguel. Thanks to a friend who has been to the island before and came through with some excellent suggestions, I crafted a one-week itinerary for the island before we left. …
On a recent trip to Verona, we ate at Osteria del Bugiardo. A cozy spot near Porta Borsari, it was perfect for a small afternoon meal during the period when lots of restaurants close. It can be difficult to find a place to eat sometimes in Italy during the post-lunch,…
A few weeks ago, I sat down to write a post, but ended up just letting myself write freely for a while. After I read what I had written, I realized that I had the skeleton of an article about overtourism in Venice, rather than what I had originally planned…
When our trip to Sicily started to materialize, I realized that we were going to be in the proximity of Noto, and I knew I just had to have breakfast at the famous Caffè Sicilia. I asked my travel mates if they’d be willing to go, and they said yes!…
It’s a strange feeling, looking up at an active volcano from a city that you’re visiting. You’re sightseeing, walking along, having a gelato, laughing with your friends, talking about what you want for dinner, planning your beach trip for the following day, and then your eyes catch sight of it…
Catania lies on the east coast of Sicily. It is nestled at the base of Mount Etna, one of the two most active volcanoes in Europe (the other is Stromboli, also in Italy). It’s a very walkable city, with many of the main sights being close together in the city…
A few weeks ago, my friends and I went on a day trip to Sirmione, which is a peninsula at the south end of Lake Garda. You might recognize the name because it’s famous for the Scaliger Castle (Castello Scaligero in Italian) which is surrounded by water, and makes for some…
Culture shock can be a the most difficult part of traveling or moving abroad. After over twelve years of living overseas, I thought it might be useful to write a list of the things that have helped me to deal with it. Everyone experiences culture shock differently, so I’ve compiled…
Senegal is a West African country with a population of around 16 million. French is the official language, Wolof is the national language, and a whole host of other local languages are spoken there. Senegal is home to magnificent beaches, tropical jungles, and expansive deserts. Read on for five reasons…
On our visit to Lisbon, Jeremy and I stayed in the oldest neighborhood in the city, Alfama, and you should too! Read on for all the reasons why you should consider staying in Alfama on your visit to Lisbon. Staying in the Alfama District of Lisbon The history of Alfama…