It is difficult to relate the absolute hysteria of Carnaval in Barranquilla. Most nations couldn't handle an equal event without soon collapsing into a frenzied state of all-out warfare. But Barranquilla does it, and does …
February 20, 2010
Festivals
Carnaval in Barranquilla, Colombia
Carnaval in Ensenada, Mexico
I had two days off, three friends, and the urge to find a Carnaval celebration close by. I could have looked in my city of San Diego, but Mexico continually draws me in. Enter Ensenada. …
February 20, 2010
Lavish Laguna Beach
There’s a reason why so many poets and authors have called Laguna Beach home for some part of their lives (hint: not because of the great bar scene). It’s undoubtedly charming. Artists in the early …
February 9, 2010
The Bay Area's Best Kept Secret: Capitola-by-the-Sea
What? Never heard of Capitola? If you haven’t yet ventured that far north, you’re missing one of the Bay Area’s well-kept secrets. A quaint, colorful village, Capitola-by-the-Sea, ten minutes south of Santa Cruz, is slightly …
December 16, 2009
The Alhambra, Granada, Spain
Against the backdrop of the magnificent Sierra Nevada mountains in Granada, the Alhambra, meaning “red castle” in Arabic, was named for the reddish-golden hue of its walls. Dating back to the 9th century, it became …
November 23, 2009
Carnival Masks and Where to Eat & Stay in Venice, Italy
Want to relive 18th-century Venice? If you visit Venice along with thousands of other tourists during Carnival, you’ll experience one of the world’s irresistible attractions. Walkways are filled with crowds of mask-wearing characters headed to …
The Palio, Siena, Italy
Shoulder to shoulder, hour after hour, you stand amongst thousands, waiting. Weeklong celebrations are at their medieval historic peak. The horses approach the starting line: a deafening roar from the crowd. The honor belongs to …
The Town of Books: Hay-On-Wye, Wales
Hay-On-Wye, a small village in Wales, is an unlikely bibliophile’s paradise. Nestled along the river Wye just across the Welsh border from Herefordshire, England, Hay-On-Wye boasts nearly 40 secondhand bookstores. There are no Borders or …
September 16, 2009
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Known for its year-round festivals, Lake Charles is located in the heart of Cajun Country, a few miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. Amidst swamps, rivers, bayous and marshes, Lake Charles boasts a number …
September 10, 2009
Olvera Street, El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historical Monument
San Diego has Little Italy. Los Angeles has “Little Mexico,” Olvera Street, located in El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument on the site of L.A.’s original birthplace. Colorful celebrations and fiestas happen here year-round. …
August 21, 2009
Pico Island, Azores
Looking for a unique vacation? Visit the island of Pico, the second-largest and one of the most beautiful of the Azores’s nine islands. Whether you hike, bike or drive, be sure to explore the lush …
August 3, 2009