“When you were a child, from the earliest that you can remember, what did you say you wanted to be when you grew up?” That’s the question I like to ask people when I want to get to know the person inside. Not the person who is sitting across from me based on outward appearances, […]
The Books and Websites that Changed My Point of View
Before I started traveling, I never read anything that caused me to confront my own mind. I didn’t really believe that my down times could be remedied by anything other than distraction. That’s part of the reason why I started traveling – I thought it would solve everything. Then I realized that the problems I […]
Journey to a Hidden Valley in Italy
Have you ever arrived somewhere a bit apprehensive, afraid that you may have chosen unwisely when a big attraction is located just an hour or so away? Have you ever been so pleasantly surprised to find that you actually made the best choice ever? Welcome to Ahrntal, Italy. When mother and I continued our journey following […]
I Followed My Grandmother’s Journal Around Europe
“She was free in her wildness. She was a wanderess, a drop of free water. She belonged to no man and to no city” ― Roman Payne, The Wanderess Ever since I came across this line from Roman Payne’s The Wanderess, I’ve imagined he could have been talking about my grandmother. I remember her showing me photos of […]
How to Communicate When You Don’t Know the Language
“How do you travel independently through a place when you don’t know the language?” I am often asked this question by readers who are worried about feeling lost during their travels if there’s a language barrier. It’s a valid concern, and one that sends most travelers into tour groups (not that there’s anything wrong with that) […]