Street art. While some people see it as defacing public property, I beg to differ. Street art is a massive statement of the city’s people, not only claiming the city as their own, but adding their own personal or social experience to the place’s visual appearance. When I was studying Latin American Art History in … Continue reading Reykjavik’s Ubiquitous Street Art
I wanted to see Iceland before anyone even knew it existed, save Icelanders. Before the Blue Lagoon, before the Ring Road or cooing over the cuteness of arctic foxes, I’ve yearned to see this land of extremes. See, before all of the hype, there was a girl standing in her kitchen, brunette buns wound tightly … Continue reading Purring Voices, Alien Landscapes, and Psychedelic Lights: Why I’m Going to Iceland
We all have our lists of things we'd love to have. But let's admit it, everyone is into different things, and some people are more difficult to buy for. If there is an avid female traveler in your life, chances are she doesn't want another box of lotions or pair of stilettos she'd only wear … Continue reading 15 Christmas Gifts Female Travelers Will Love
Today's twitter chat was a blast! After all, it is Tuesday, and that's the best time to talk about travel, right? I was approached by CheapOair a few weeks ago in regard to being a guest on their Tuesday Twitter Chat. I have participated in plenty of twitter chats, but this was my first time … Continue reading Tuesday Twitter Chat: Mexico
The more I travel, the more I perceive the world as vast, complex, intriguing, yet somehow closely woven . Over the past 11 years- since I began traveling- I’ve been to 22 countries and easily more than 250 cities. Some of these places were memorable, some gave me horror stories to tell for a lifetime, and … Continue reading Five Places Where I’ve Left My Heart- and Must Return
Another year of my life has come and gone, filled with hopes, aspirations, daydreams, adventure, and a whole lot of hard work. It's hard to believe that I'm 33, when I still feel like I'm 27. Nonetheless, if years are representative of what one learns, explores, sees, and accomplishes, then bring them on. As long … Continue reading Birthday Wishes
When I moved to Argentina, there was much I had to learn not only about the country and the Latin American region, but also myself. At the romantic, idealistic age of twenty-two, I bought my one-way ticket to Buenos Aires. I was prepared to volunteer teaching English, finish the novel I'd started the year before, become … Continue reading Buenos Aires: A Time of Struggle, Awakening, and Transformation
Things do not always go as planned. This is exponentially true when on the road. Life's ups and downs are multiplied and magnified exponentially when you travel. You can't set your heart on seeing Machu Picchu without a cloud in sight, or ending world poverty by volunteering for a month in Nicaragua. You also can't prevent … Continue reading On the Road with Your Parents (what could go wrong?)
Let's be honest. There are some things that, when I was young, I never thought I'd do. After multiple torturous road trips with my parents to Klamath Falls, Oregon, just beyond the border of California, I never understood why anyone would want to live in that farmville of a state. And here I am, living … Continue reading A Trip Unforeseen: Exploring Oregon
I recently took a trip to California to surprise my Dad for his 70th birthday. In between spending time with family, I stayed up late a couple of nights just reading previous journals and essays from high school. (I love to reminisce.) It baffles me how different my view on life was back then, and … Continue reading A 14-year-old’s Life Goals
Chronicles of a Travel Addict 