Travel Diaries: Rome, in architecture

 Some stories are best told in photographs.   Copper and rose, rust and ochre. Delicate pinks and hard oranges... Rome is every shade of the most brilliant sunset you've seen.  Ironwork and faded awnings accentuate the personality of each building. Orange and lemon trees flourish beneath curtains sighing against open windows. The city's history is… Continue reading Travel Diaries: Rome, in architecture

Travel Diaries: Rome, Italy (part I)

I arrived in Rome 2 days after the city's first snow in 6 years. Safe to say, it was pretty damn cold. I was so unprepared for this I lugged my suitcase over uneven cobblestones for twenty minutes looking for my hostel (which was supposed to take one third that long), unable to use my… Continue reading Travel Diaries: Rome, Italy (part I)

Travel Diaries: Paris in January (part 2)

Paris is gritty. I think as tourists, as travelers, we have this idea of Paris as a light, romantic, colorful city. And it many ways it is, with its pastel shopfronts, wrought iron balconies and beautiful architecture. However, it's still a big city, and an international hub- in other words, there's a less-rosy side to… Continue reading Travel Diaries: Paris in January (part 2)

Travel Diaries: Paris in January (part 1)

Who visits Paris in January? The thing about Paris in the winter is that it's preferable to remain indoors. A lot of people aren't interested in strolling along the Seine when your socks are squelching every time you press them into your shoes. That said, if you keep an eye on the forecast and pack… Continue reading Travel Diaries: Paris in January (part 1)

7 tips to make your first solo trip a breeze

So you've gone on road trips with your family, beachy vacations with your friends, and even stayed in a neighboring town for a weekend with a friend or lover. Now you're starting to itch for a further trip, a bigger adventure... you're thinking maybe you want to go overseas. And... you kind of want to… Continue reading 7 tips to make your first solo trip a breeze