Author Archives: dtravelsround

Daily Wanderlust: London’s Hyde Park

London was my first stop of my long-term travels in 2012. Somehow, I managed to skip a post-long-haul nap, have a reunion with a travel buddy I met in Croatia and spent a few days on Hvar with, and also reunited with a friend from Las Vegas. I did a lot of exploring while I wasContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: London’s Hyde Park”

Escape of the Week: Pioneertown, California

It’s a fiercely windy morning in the Inland Empire’s high desert. Desert sand crunches underfoot and the icy gusts ripping through the barren area make tears race down my cheeks. Nearby, shrubs polka-dot their way up the snow-covered Big Bear Mountain. Backed up against the cloudless blue sky, the scene unfolding is the perfect displayContinue reading “Escape of the Week: Pioneertown, California”

Daily Wanderlust: Zagreb, Croatia

Zagreb, Croatia was my the first stop in my 30-th Birthday World Tour in September, 2009. It was also the city which reinvigorated my love of travel, re-introduced me to crazy backpacker antics courtesy of some Aussies, let me believe (for a moment) in Hollywood endings, and eventually, began this crazy journey I am onContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: Zagreb, Croatia”

Daily Wanderlust: a Las Vegas storm

I get asked a lot of questions about living in Las Vegas. Especially about what I love. Here’s one: I  love Las Vegas‘ sky. It’s so expressive. There are plenty of vantage points where you can see clear across the town. When it rains on the west side, you can see the clouds dropping toContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: a Las Vegas storm”

Daily Wanderlust: Napa Valley, California

I’ve known the lovely and talented travel blogger Abby Tegnelia for years. Pre my long term travel. And pre her expat life.  So, when she and I, along with another lovely and talented travel blogger, Kristin Luna, brought up a trip to Napa Valley, Calif. to get away for a weekend, there was no sayingContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: Napa Valley, California”

Screw you, jet lag

It’s  3:14 a.m. I’m wide awake. My heart is racing. My stomach is turning. I’ve been awake for an hour. Every time I close my eyes and try to sleep, my mind sets off on a wild tangent. It curses my body for not being able to fall asleep. It relives my time with theContinue reading “Screw you, jet lag”

Daily Wanderlust: Sarajevo’s Olympic Stairs

What was once a glorious staircase, lined with tea shops and vendors, today sits in ruins on a Sarajevo hillside. An entire lifetime of pain, suffering and redemption plays out on these crumbling stairs which were a part of the 1984 Olympics. They’ve witnessed the town being surrounded, the horrors of genocide, the beauty ofContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: Sarajevo’s Olympic Stairs”

Escape of the Week: Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai was my first experience in Southeast Asia, and one I will always remember for countless reasons. It’s the city where Katie surprised me with an early visit, forcing me to power through my jet lag. The city which was my home base after a week with the elephants at Elephant Nature Park. And,Continue reading “Escape of the Week: Chiang Mai, Thailand”

Daily Wanderlust: artisans in Turkey

Turkey is known for many of its handcrafted items — rugs particularly. However, on this trip, I stopped at a factory that created ceramics. These intricately painted items are sold throughout the country and feature beautiful patterns and pictures. Here, a girl painstakingly outlines the design of a plate in a factory just outside ofContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: artisans in Turkey”