Postcard: Lounging in the Tuileries

Nestled in the heart of Paris between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, lies the Jardin des Tuileries. This public park has undergone many rebirths over the years, starting first as a clay quarry to make tiles (hence tuileries, french for tiles), then as the site for Catherine de Medici’s palace. The grounds around the palace became one of the first Parisian parks open to the public. The palace may be gone (burned to the ground in the 1800s by the Communards) but two of... Read More

Postcard: In the Deep End in Argentina

Oh, South America. Sometimes I really miss you. Especially when it comes to the budget. Twelve dollar hostel stays and free, tummy-filling breakfasts disappeared as soon as we stepped foot off Brazil and headed to pricey, pricey Europe. Take, for example, the lodging possibilities that $80/night can afford. In Rome, it buys you two beds in an 8-person room and a few pieces of do-it-yourself toast. But in Argentina — the charming gaucho town of San Antonio de Areco, to be... Read More

Postcard: Street Art in Rio

If you’ve visited this site before, you probably already know that I’m a fan of street art. I’ve written about paint-covered walls from San Francisco to Sao Paulo, and always have a camera at the ready in case I see any noteworthy graffiti. I spied this colorful character while wandering around a street fair in Rio’s Lapa district, and couldn’t resist snapping a picture. Blog this! Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share... Read More

The Art of Doing Nothing in Florence

Travel can wear you down. As exciting as it is to be in a new city every couple of days, it’s also exhausting. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Life must be so hard, traveling the world and seeing dream destinations for a year is rough. And also, didn’t you choose to take this trip? No one forced you, right? Right. Without hesitation, I can say that this trip is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. Ever. As we near the 4 month marker, I can say I feel... Read More

Postcard: Capoeira in Paris

We missed out on seeing capoeira — a blend of music, martial arts and dance with origins in Brazil — while traveling through South America. Lucky for us, we got a chance to catch a performance by the Grupo Muzenza at the Trocadero in Paris. If the lovely, iconic Eiffel Tower wasn’t in the background, you could almost imagine you were in Brazil…Almost. Blog this! Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin share via Reddit... Read More

Postcard: Catch Me if You Can in Praia do Forte

Boys playing on the beach in Praia do Forte, Brazil. We only visited the town for an afternoon to see the Tamar Project, a Brazilian non-profit aimed at protecting sea turtles from extinction. While the beach wasn’t the reason we were visiting, it definitely was a nice way to end the afternoon. Blog this! Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on... Read More

In the Shadow of Vesuvius

Pausing to catch my breath, peering past the rim into the belly of Mount Vesuvius, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. The still-active volcano looked like a giant crater filled with dirt and pebbles, not the seething, bubbling pit I was hoping for (a sure product of watching too many movies). In fact, the whole volcano looked like an overwhelmingly blah-brown dirt pile. Only fifteen minutes at the summit and I was already bored. After snapping a few photos from... Read More

Postcard: Lake Near Ouarzazate

After traveling full-time for over three months, our heads are filled with memories and our hard drive is full of photographs — many of which have never made it on to this site, until now. As part of a new feature, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we’ll be showcasing photos from our journey. Today’s photo is of a lake near Ouarzazate, Morocco. We passed this lake while on a three-day trek out to the Sahara, stopping only briefly to stretch our legs and walk... Read More

Why I’ll Never Eat Pizza Hut Again

L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele had been slinging pizzas long before Julia Roberts showed up to profess her love for margherita in “Eat Pray Love.” Since 1870, the Condurro family has seen five generations serve up whole pies to hungry customers. But the film crew did choose their location wisely. When we asked a friend and former Naples resident where to get the best pizza in town, he directed us straight to Da Michele’s. And the constant crowd outside appeared to agree.... Read More

If These Statues Could Talk: Inside the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums are filled with treasures, priceless pieces of art that grace the pages of history books. In one visit you can tilt your head back to see the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, gaze upon Raphael’s Rooms, and wander down the Gallery of Maps. And while the sheer magnitude and beauty of the collection can be overwhelming, occasionally you do stumble upon something that makes you scratch your head. Really? Someone spent years of their life making this thing? To... Read More