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Celebrating Las Navidades in Madrid
I’ll never forget the moment on the evening of my first Thanksgiving away from home, when I emerged from the metro onto Gran Vía. Brights lights beamed down upon a bustling street, where in unison we...
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The Art of a Roman Holiday
A frigid wind is wickedly pelting us as Filippo naturally maneuvers our scooter through the chaos of Roman traffic. He does so with the ease of having called this city home for eight years and for...
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A Fairytale Winter’s Day in Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle
When I found out that my mom had a four-day layover in Munich at the end of January, I knew I had to find a way to get there. Luckily, my coordinator at school was kind enough to let me take off a few...
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Let’s Add Lisbon to the List
It’s our last night in Lisbon and we have just succumbed to our cravings, opting for an all-you-can-eat sushi bar (a decision we will quickly regret in the upcoming days). With soy sauce now flowing...
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Toasting to 30 in a Spanish Pueblo
It seems only fitting that after turning 20 living in Spain when I studied in Sevilla, I would ring in my thirties living the Spanish life once again. My dear Madrid gifted me with a warm and sunny...
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A Dad and Daughter’s Semana Santa Adventure
I’m not going to lie, it has been hard for me to think back to Semana Santa because it ended in heartbreak, and almost two months later, I am still trying to heal. Nevertheless, this Holy Week was...
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A Pilgrimage of Faith and Family Ancestry in Krakow, Poland
My mom hesitated when the bus pulled up abruptly, passengers visibly filling the aisle. “Let’s wait for the next,” she called out nervously as I had already taken my first step to board. This was...
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When Life Calls For a Mini-Camino
If only I always lived a mere four hour drive from the Camino de Santiago! For my May “puente,” as the Spanish “holiday weekend” is known, I decided to take full advantage of my proximity to the...
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Color, Charm, and a Few Fine Ports Along the Douro
Porto undoubtedly reminded me of the romance of travel— even when traveling solo. Sure, I was only on my own for less than 24 hours, but brief as it was, the adventure of exploring a new city...
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Images of Ávila
When my mom and brother came to visit me at the beginning of June, I knew it was my last and final chance to make it to Ávila this year. I had been itching to see the town famous for its impeccably...
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Hasta luego, Madrid
And in one final gulp, it was over. Madrid, in all its Spanish capital city glamour and grit, downed like a final splash of a tinto de verano. Loving the experience of living in Spain and traveling...
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When Home Didn’t Seem So Far Away: A Year of Visitors
I am reminded how quickly times moves as I look down at my calendar. I have been back in US now for almost two months, missing Europe, missing Spain, missing my Madrid— but living fully and enjoying...
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Los Reyes Magos Come to Columbus
In less than a month I will have back from my grand European adventure for already half a year. The weeks fly by faster than they did in Spain where here, my never-ending to do list leaves me with the...
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Asturias at Last
It’s a comfortable summer evening in the coastal Asturian town of Tapia de Casariego and the locals are still reveling in the energy of their revered fiesta honoring the La Virgen Carmen, Patron Saint...
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Red, White, and Rosé in La Rioja, Spain
I’ll remember the sunflowers turning towards the summer light, yearning for warmth, magnificent. With the baking afternoon heat radiating off us, we pulled off the two-lane country road one Saturday in...
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At Home in Reggio Calabria, Italia
Touchdown Reggio Calabria. Thankfully our decent to the tip of Italy’s “boot” had been relatively smooth and only called for minor adjustments by our Alitalia pilot. This is not always the case due to...
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Under the Calabrian Sun
In the baking quiet of a Calabrian summer afternoon, va bene, quindi, and hai capito crescendo on a looped track through my mind. I feel everything in this chaotic Calabria. Day after day we trace the...
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