Did some form of travel make it on your New Year resolutions list? It certainly made it on mine. Even though I'm extremely grateful for the travel I've been able to experience during the past few years living abroad, I know I will always pursue more travel. That's because travel is powerful. Even if you … Continue reading 18 European Hidden Gems for 2018
Slovenia seems to be everywhere lately. Why? Because it truly is a gem of a place. Why else would we have visited the country two Christmases in a row? It really is that special. Winter escape to Slovenia? Here's why you should do it. I can still remember the feeling of arriving in Ljubljana for … Continue reading Slovenia: A Subtle Winter’s Paradise
Ahhhh, European Christmas markets. Come December, they’re what us expats live for. We are far from home, friends, family, and our own traditions, so what fills such a huge void during the holidays? Mugs of steaming mulled wine, of course. Plus all the others: heaping plates of traditional foods, artistic crafts, twinkling lights, wafting music, … Continue reading Budapest’s Best Christmas Markets
When you dream of European mountains, what comes to mind? I often picture the Alps in Switzerland and Bavaria. I imagine myself frolicking amongst the Dolomites in Italy and the Pyrenees in France. I long to set eyes on Norway’s endless line of peaks, reaching north like outstretched fingers. But Slovakia wasn’t on my radar… … Continue reading 10 Secrets of Slovakia
I already wrote about this little adventure, but the story is worth another visit, and so is the entire region of the High Tatra Mountain Range. These enormous rocky peaks, along with the Białka River, create a natural border between Poland and Slovakia. And to our surprise, it was not so easy to cross. Two … Continue reading From Poland to Slovakia
It's not what you think... Dusk came early that evening, the sun dipping below the nearby snow-capped peaks, enveloping the little town of Zakopane in a restless pre-winter chill. It was the first holiday we had since moving to Budapest, and we were in Central Europe, so the mulled wine still held its nostalgic appeal … Continue reading Musterbation
My trip to Krákow included my very first overnight train. To be honest, I hated it. (The train, not the city.) This was our first trip since moving to Budapest, so the excitement level was at an all-time high. We strolled into the old, picturesque Keleti train station wild eyed and ready, a romantic haze … Continue reading A Photo Essay: Krákow, Poland
It's October, a highly anticipated month as summer settles and autumn abounds. But here I sit, ever so patiently in Madrid... waiting, waiting, waiting... for those leaves to pop. Some have started their ritual, warm tones emerging amongst the jagged peaks of the Sierra Norte, creating that gorgeous scene I crave. But others remain stubborn, … Continue reading Finding Fall
I used to be a sunset person. As a night owl, it fit my inner clock better than the sunrise. I loved blue hour, when the evening glow hit the horizon, bursts of lights illuminating the clouds and that calming tone slowly enveloping my surroundings from behind. It was a subtle goodnight. And living in … Continue reading Dawn vs. Dusk in Budapest
I'm a complicated water baby. I was born in early July as a cancer: a moody crab grasping at life, longing simultaneously for the adventurous sea and the safe feeling of 'home'. As a kid, I spent a lot of time playing on the beach with my two brothers, sinking my heals deep into the … Continue reading The Healing Sea
Cairn and Compass 