One negative side effect of constant travel is that after a while, you become more numb. Things don’t appear as glittery or exciting as when you first start out. White sands and turquoise waters aren’t exactly a novelty anymore, nor are ancient churches and dazzling skyscrapers. Perhaps it sounds haughty of me to say that it’s hard to be truly surprised anymore. Believe me, I treasure every single place I visit, but it is true: there are few things that…
In photos: crazy, colorful Hanoi Old Quarter
Vietnam was the Southeast Asian country I was most excited to visit. We started our Vietnamese adventure with two weeks in the capital city of Hanoi. I have to admit that we came mainly for the food, but unexpectedly, the city completely enthralled me before I even took my first bite. This city… how do I begin to paint the picture? It’s absolutely crazy. Even though I was no longer a Southeast Asia newbie by the time I made it there, the madness of the city still took me by surprise. There seems…
Yearning for the Quaint Life at Colonia del Sacramento
I don’t need much to absolutely fall in love with a place. I don’t need fancy restaurants, shopping malls, museums, or skyscrapers. Instead, give me cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafés, cups of hot chocolate, ocean waves, and a view of a sunset. That’s not asking for too much, right? By this criteria, Colonia del Sacramento has everything I need to fall in love. And I did just that at first sight. Colonia del Sacramento is a little town about a 3 hour bus ride…
Sleeping Puppies Collection, Santiago
After spending some time in a city, I always come to associate it with certain things that particularly stick out in my mind. Like Montevideo is all about the doors. Buenos Aires was all about the pastries and cakes. And Santiago? Well it was all about the mote con huesillos, jugo naturales, coffee shops, pisco sours… (hmmm.. I’m starting to see a drink theme going on). But it was also all about the stray dogs. You’ll see them everywhere, in both the poorer areas and the affluent areas….
Recoleta Cemetery: City of the Dead
weeping angels // dried flowers // marbled tombs // wooden coffins // roaming cats // silky cobwebs This is the hauntingly beautiful Recoleta Cemetery. For a huge city that draws millions of tourists a year, this cemetery remains the #1 attraction in all of Buenos Aires. It has to be something special, right? Visiting cemeteries has never been on my list of must-do travel activities, so I was feeling quite skeptical as I set off to find out what’s so special about a cemetery. As soon…
Funky Bellavista: a Street Art Tour
Barrio Bellavista in Santiago, Chile is popular for being an upscale tourist destination as well as the nightlife hotspot. Just a pleasant walk or short metro ride away from Santiago Centro, it’s a good retreat for those looking to get away from the noise and crowds of the downtown area. The super modern outdoor galleria, Patio Bellavista, is home to dozens of boutique eateries and posh restobars, as well as little touristy shops selling all sorts of local Chilean handicrafts. Tourist…
Of steep hills and colorful houses: 3 Days in Valparaiso
valle: valley paraiso: paradise Prior to actually going to Valparaiso, all I knew of it was that Anthony Bourdain went there and ate some really good seafood. And that it’s an easy day trip from Santiago. Promise of good food + convenience = as good a reason as any to visit in our book. We decided that just a day trip probably wasn’t going to be enough to explore the city, especially if there’s a lot of eating to be…