I spent two and a half days in Belfast as part of my 2 week Christmas market extravaganza before I went home in 2011. It definitely had a different vibe than the cities I’ve been to in the Republic of Ireland, but I liked Belfast’s gritty exterior: the bullet holes in the buildings, intimidating street…
It was my last day in Prague and I was freezing. Despite my sweater, wool coat, mitts, and scarf, the chill in the air drove right through my bones. For most of the day I stood, with a group of strangers, huddled against buildings in an effort to avoid the wind as we learned about…
We shivered on the dock as we waited for them to let us on board, standing as close as we could to the thin chain that separated us in the wet weather outside from the, presumably, warmer and much drier interior of the boat. Typical of the Scottish Highlands, we had experienced every season at…
I dislike museums. Really dislike museums. People think I’m insane to have been to Paris twice and not gone to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa. Even more look at me like I should be locked in an insane asylum when I tell them I have no idea if the David was incredible or…
Travelling is the best thing ever. At least until you’re sick. Then all you want is to be in your home, in your bed, with your mom checking in to see if you’re ok. Sadly, if you are overseas, that’s not quite an option. I learned this thi hard way after ending up with bronchitis…
I quickly fell in love with old town Krakow as I walked under the arch of the wall that led to Rynek Glówny, the Main Square. Enchanted by anything old-world and medieval, Krakow had me at every turn. There was the magnificent cathedral, the imposing city wall, and of course the castle on the hill off…
“Where are you headed next?” my British hostel mate asked me as I packed my bags in my dorm in Krakow, Poland. “Budapest!” I replied, making sure to pronounce it the proper way after being chastised about it only a few days earlier. (For anyone wondering the proper pronunciation is ‘Budapesht’) “Aw you’ll love it!…
I never knew much about Verona until I watched Letters to Juliet. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, it’s the cheesy (in a cute way) story of a young American girl who finds a hidden love note in the wall by Juliet’s balcony in Verona. She writes back to the original author and encourages an…
“You look super Zen.” I peel my eyes away from the million dollar view and smile at the Dutch guy beside me. We’re on the steps of the Sacre Coeur, surrounded by fellow tourists and typical European ‘scammers’ throwing cheap light-up toys in the air in an effort to attract attention and make some quick…
“May I take your coat?” The young woman in front of me asks. I nod a thank you, noticing how impeccable she looks as I pass my coat over. Her charcoal grey pant suit fits her body like a glove and her dark, curly hair is pinned expertly behind her ears. For the second time…