Istanbul is a huge, sprawling city with twice the population of New York City. When I first arrived ten years ago, I spent my time mostly on the European Side close to the historic center or maybe in Beyoglu or Karakoy. In my first few nights, I stayed near Taksim where it’s quite loud. There…
My first visit to Athens was in 2008 on our way to a cruise of the Greek islands – which also included my first ever stop in Turkey. That trip, we visited the Acropolis ruins in the middle of a sweltering summer day and I was too hot and weary of the crowds to truly…
When it comes to trying wines in another country, it can be intimidating to know where to start. Although I love wine and have gotten into native grapes in Turkey, I had very limited experience with Greek wines. The grape names are long and unfamiliar – I didn’t even know which were white grapes and…
Tulip season in Turkey really kicks off in April, and it’s a beautiful way to welcome the spring in Istanbul. If you’re visiting Istanbul during the month of April, you definitely should make a stop to visit the Istanbul Tulip Festival! As of April 3, 2024, we saw that the tulips were already in bloom…
Washington DC is full of historic sites, museums, parks and is one of the top dining destinations in the country. You could easily spend weeks here and never tire of the bountiful options for things to do! But if you’re the type who loves a good road trip and beautiful fall foliage, a self-guided road…
I felt a chill, sitting in my little box of a room – tiny, with oddly-placed windows that allow nearly no natural light to shine through. Wrapped up in a pile of heavy blankets and my newly purchased yak wool scarf, trying my best to stay insulated from both the physical cold and the social…
Ceviche. Oh, my love for ceviche knows no bounds. It’s one of the dishes that I’ve tried up and down the continent of South America and have pretty much loved in all its variations – although some more than others. After having an ungodly amount of ceviche in Lima, I gave it a rest for…
In Cusco, there is no shortage of touristic sights to keep you busy – in fact, most visitors to Cusco opt to purchase the Boleto Turistico which gives you access to 16 sites over a 10 day period, many of them including Inca or pre-Inca ruins. And then, of course, visitors to Cusco are usually…
Cusco is definitely worth more than the few days that people give it, often as a pit stop to or from the nearby main attraction, Machu Picchu. In reality, the city has a charming historic center with the grand Plaza de Armas as a central meeting place, interesting museums and churches, a circuit of impressive…
As the New Year approaches, have you thought about starting a letter-writing ritual to reflect on the past and dream about the future? Since 2008, I’ve been writing a New Year’s Letter as part of a cherished tradition my friends and I began together. Even on years when I can’t celebrate with them, I continue…
