Returning to the world of solo travel

I step into my salmon pink room at Affittacamere alls Stazione where the smell of stale smoke lingers and am brought back to another time along the shore of the Adriatic Sea. Apparently, the only person in this little guest house tucked into the third floor 150 meters from the train station, I am thankfulContinue reading “Returning to the world of solo travel”

Daily Wanderlust: St. Mark’s Basilica

Just beyond the two pillars marking the entrance to Venezia, or Venice, is the glorious St. Mark’s Basilica. Containing the remains of St. Mark, this church is considered to be one of the most important places in both Venice’s past and present. Located next to the Perisan-influenced Doje’s Palace along the lagoon of the city, theContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: St. Mark’s Basilica”

Escape of the Week: the Church of Bones

What to do with exhumed skeletons of more than 14,000 bodies from the time of the Black Plague? For woodcarver František Rint, the grisly task was his to handle the bones nearly 300 years after a half-blind monk unearthed them. The result? The Sedlec Ossuary, or the Church of Bones. Located about an hour train rideContinue reading “Escape of the Week: the Church of Bones”

This time will be different

“This time Israel will be different.” I tell everyone who will listen to me, not really for them, but to remind myself how much I have changed. “This time, I’m going for different reasons.” “This time, I won’t be miserable. I won’t cry into my too expensive glass of wine each night, wishing away my time here.Continue reading “This time will be different”

Watching Your Back: Being Streetwise in Los Angeles

Watch a movie set in LA and you’ll see that it’s an action packed place to be. There’s all sorts going on and it attracts people from all over to jump on flights to Los Angeles for a taste of the action, or at least to see if it’s all true. Land in Los Angeles and thereContinue reading “Watching Your Back: Being Streetwise in Los Angeles”

The lure of Prague

There is a history in Prague — and the rest of Europe — which suspends these places in time. Freezes them in moments only my brain can whisk me to. Old communists blocks in Eastern Europe, bombed out buildings in the former Yugoslavia which wear their pock marks like badges of honor, of a reminderContinue reading “The lure of Prague”

‘Twas the night before Europe

“You won’t make it a month …” Those ominous words echo in my mind, 12 years after I took my first longer-than-a-vacation jaunt to Europe. People were actually rooting for my failure. My lack of ability to travel solo for any length of time. They were right. I didn’t make it a month. But, notContinue reading “‘Twas the night before Europe”

I feel the earth move: the earthquake in Chiang Mai

“I want you to take over control … take over control … take over control …” My feet pedal furiously to the beat as I try to sweat the fever out of my body. Six more songs. Only six more until I’m done and can go home, shower and take medicine, then pass out. Except,Continue reading “I feel the earth move: the earthquake in Chiang Mai”

The most horrifying Thailand moment

Today started like normal. 6 a.m.: Mr. Lucky starts digging between my pillows and pulls out The Bloggess‘ new book, “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” (which, BTW, is super hilarious). 6:05 a.m.: I kick Mr. Lucky out of the room. 6:30 a.m.: I. Am. Awake. Damnit. 6:45 a.m.: I get ready for work, lock myContinue reading “The most horrifying Thailand moment”