Breaking out of Amsterdam can be a difficult task, as there's so much to see in the vibrant city. In fact, it took me numerous visits to finally venture outside the capital. If you're looking …
October 26, 2012
Europe
Go Dutch in Delft
Shoestring Travel: Florence
An easy 1.5-hour train ride from Rome got us into Florence midday. After gathering our bearings (and a map), we set off to drop our bags off at our flat before exploring the city. We …
October 19, 2012
Land of Haydn: Burgenland, Austria
Many people are largely unfamiliar with how important Franz Joseph Haydn was to classical music. He is called the “Father of the Symphony” and “Father of the String Quartet,” yet he is not as well …
October 14, 2012
Shoestring Travel: Rome
After several days in Berlin, the next stop on our fabulous European adventure was Rome. Neither of us had ever been to Rome before, so we were quite excited to see some of the Eternal …
October 5, 2012
The Merry Cemetery in Maramureş, Romania
In the twenty-four years of my life I spent in Romania, I never had the occasion to visit a unique place in Transylvania called the Merry Cemetery. So, about two months ago, I called my …
October 5, 2012
Riding the Frecciarossa
Venice: the absence of cars and Vespas… well, you just have to be there to understand the city's magic. From our tiny – but not "tony" – locanda (inn) near central San Polo, Kay and …
Shoestring Travel: Berlin
After venturing around London, we hopped on a plane for Berlin to continue our European adventure. (To help with the story, here’s a little background on our adventure: My husband just graduated from the University …
September 28, 2012
Shoestring Travel: London
After spending a year living in Edinburgh, it was sadly time for my husband and I to pack our bags and head back to San Diego. However, we weren't going to leave Europe without one …
September 21, 2012
Istanbul is Cheap(er)
A cosmopolitan blend of Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a more exotic, less-pricey alternative to Paris or London, especially during the off-season winter months of January, February and March. The city is compact and walkable, …
September 10, 2012
Lucca, Italy: Puccini and the Heart of Tuscany
I was invited by the Tuscan city of Lucca, Italy, to learn more about its beloved son, Giacomo Puccini. The fifth generation of famous musicians in his family, Puccini lived from 1858–1924 and was the …
August 27, 2012
Omiš, Croatia
Maya, my three-year-old Border collie mix, and I had been traveling through Europe. We had started in Athens, and now we were in Split, Croatia, at a dog-friendly B&B. The owners said that almost anything …
August 24, 2012
Canary Islands Getaway
While living and working in Europe, I traveled extensively during my time off. I took a lady friend along to the Canary Islands one year, where we spent two weeks in bliss. Although it was …
Into the Czech Beer Abyss...
A dark, ominous hallway leads to a door. Silence. Not a sound. I open the door to find a series of steep wooden stairs spiraling downward. Is this a trap? My mind starts to wander. …
July 31, 2012
San Diego in Ronda, Spain?
The past few years, I’ve encountered a sweet picture of my wife’s parents’ wedding on the wall in their living room – a distinctly ‘70s vintage scene set in none other than the San Diego …
July 17, 2012
Literary London
The Olympics in London are a celebration of the world’s greatest athletes, and the city will be hopping this summer with the sweat and excitement of the summer games. But if you yearn to indulge …
July 17, 2012