100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go
Susan Van Allen’s Italian travel book 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go is part travel guide, part “inside peek”. Read more
Photo from the Road: Lazise on Lake Garda
We lived on Lago di Garda in northern Italy for over a year before discovering the quaint little town of Lazise. Read more
Photo from the Road: Monastery Bell in Thailand
As bustling as Bangkok is, there are still places you can go to get zen. Such is this little spot at a monastery we visited there. Read more
Photo from the Road: Grand Canal Snapshot
This particular afternoon snapshot taken along Venice’s Grand Canal is particularly illustrative of how things really appear in this amazing city, which is one of my favorites world-wide. Read more
Photo from the Road: Bedouin Boy with His Goat
Petra falls into the category of amazing by anyone’s standards. The immensity of the site, the antiquity and the intricacy of the stone city itself all combine for a truly remarkable experience. Read more
Book Review: Stealing Fatima’s Hand
Carolyn Theriault’s move to Morocco thrust her into a situation many expats are familiar with: extreme cultural adjustment during a time of total career transition. Those of us who have been through this understand the punchy sense of humor that arises from the “might as well laugh as cry” phase so typical of international moves.
It’s not that we don’t enjoy travel, or value the cultural integration opportunity. We do. But the fact is, the settling-in phase rarely goes smoothly, resulting in one hilarious research mission after another (grocery shopping, obtaining a driver’s license). While we all go through the same adjustments and attempt to get a good laugh out of them, few actually go the extra mile and commit the experience to paper. Theriault has done dust that with an edgy, honest style born of authentic life experiences.
Two particular incidents stuck out to me. First, the weekend getaway with the coworker and local drivers / guides / “new friends” where Carolyn gets stuck in a continuous loop of struggling to reach her desired destination, regardless of how clearly she tries to communicate her needs. A version of this story happens more frequently than most independent travelers might care to admit. Second, the initial post office visit where Theriault goes to retrieve her package from home. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I have had the exact same experience on numerous occasions, but to me this was just wet-your-pants funny. Ditto with the no bathtub chapter.
As a huge fan of the Middle East in general, I was a bit sad that things hadn’t gone more smoothly for Carolyn during her time in Morocco. Negative accounts from westerners relating to the Middle East region always seem so abundant, and positive ones are unfortunately less prevalent. That being said, her experiences and voice were utterly authentic and I enjoyed her style. Congrats to Theriault on her first title, Stealing Fatima’s Hand. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Photo Credit: Vox Humana
Photo from the Road: Peruvian Woman in Blue
High in the Andes Mountains, in the Sacred Valley of Peru, I ran into this woman somewhere between Cuzco and Machu Picchu. Read more
Hosteria La Cienega: A Hotel and Restaurant Review
Where you can you find a heavy dose of rustic, old-world elegance with a shining view of a snow-capped volcano, complete with practically perfect weather all year round?
Need cheap travel gear? Consider these contractor’s bags!
Always on the lookout for affordable travel tips, I was thrilled to find these sturdy, zippered bags normally used by plumbers and other contractors to keep their gear organized. Read more
Photo from the Road: Jordanian Bagpiper
We experienced many magical, beautiful moments during our time in Jordan. One that still stands out was the live musical performance amid the ancient ruins of Jerash, given by local men in traditional costumes. Read more
