Very long story short, in May of 2010, I stalked the world’s number one travel blogger, Gary Arndt. Happily, instead of getting tossed in jail, I ended up being invited to travel with Gary for a week in Spain, fully funded by the Valencia Ministry of Tourism!
It was fascinating, fun, and full of flippin’ fabulous five-star food.
In yet another stroke of generosity, Gary just changed the guest posting policy for his [...Read More!]
I am drooping like spinach in a frying pan right now due to jet lag… but I haven’t missed a single day of blogging since that night I was ill on Ko Phi Phi in Thailand, seven months ago (and before that, even longer) so the show will go on! Commitment feels good.
I am OVERJOYED to be back home in Boston with loved ones, after nine great months abroad. Now, as [...Read More!]
One of many festivals in Valencia, Spain!
Tomorrow, volcano permitting, I fly home to Boston! And thus we can begin zillions of reflective posts. Let’s start with the following realization:
A months-long Around the World voyage is not a vacation. Want to know why? Because it it were, you would die. On vacation, by definition, you indulge in anything and everything and you laze around like a jellyfish. So let’s be real here: [...Read More!]
“Hey dude,” slurred my British dorm-mate as he climbed into his hostel bunk for the night, “Did you see the Holy Grail yet?”
“Wait, WHAT!” I exclaimed, “the Holy Grail is in Valencia, Spain? The magical cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper?!”
“That’s what they say,” the boy mumbled as his eyelids began to droop. “It’s in the little room to the right in the Valencia Cathedral. Don’t [...Read More!]
I am having a little addiction problem. At this time, according to the original plan, I was supposed to be merrily chugging through Seville and Cadiz, and perhaps even Toledo… but instead, I’m back where I was a week ago: in Valencia, Spain.
“Woman, why can’t you just move on?!” you exclaim. My answer: Because Valencia is great. And thus let us continue our Reasons I Love Valencia series.
Today’s [...Read More!]
If you were to dangle an American out of a ten-story window and force her to choose a city in Spain to move to forever, I bet you ninety Euros that she would scream: “Barcelona!”
But the more I experience Spain, the more I realize that this pervasive American romanticization of Barcelona is just plain foolish.
If I, myself, were to pick a city in all of Spain to live, it would be… [...Read More!]
“Safe Mode Drill for school shooting threat,” reads my Google Calendar for April 30, 2009: exactly one year ago today. “Do NOT allow students out of classroom. If they need bathroom during drill, do not allow them. Bomb-sniffing police dogs will be in halls and may attack.”
Under this note is a second one: “Grade all 64 Senior essays before Monday!”
Yes, that’s right: Exactly a year ago today, my [...Read More!]