Okay. My Machu Picchu Fantasy circa 2008 played out something like this: I trudge the famous 4-day Inka Trail armed only with grizzled walking stick and roll of TP, and summit the Intipunku Sun Gate just in time to watch the sun rise as a majestic crown atop Machu Picchu. [Please note: in this fantasy […]
The Fair is a Veritable Smorgasbord
I am a staunch supporter of county fairs. Although seeing how the ‘funnel cake + newborn farm animals + ferris wheel’ combo is a first place prize-winner, this may be akin to saying that I am a staunch supporter of puppies and world peace. When you hate on the fair, the terrorists win. In all […]
Bom Ano Novo in Portugal: The Ups & Downs of Exploration
Day #11,187: Having thoroughly wandered the city of Lisbon (I’m making the bold assumption that “thoroughly wandering” isn’t too egregious an oxymoron for you to stomach), our merry gang decided to take a day trip to the neighboring town of Belém. The standard means of getting oneself to Belém involves taking one of Lisbon’s classic […]
Love at the Port San Luis Lighthouse
Unique wedding locations are the cherry on top of a joyous occasion sundae. When my good friend Ev discovered her soulmate, I had an inkling that the wedding was going to be a one-of-a-kind. After all, her new Mr. just so happens to be a musician in one of my favorite bands. (I will admit […]
Faith & Magic in N’Awlins
Day #10,936: My lovely gal pals and I had already let the bon temps, as it were, roulez, having enjoyed a magnificent day of swamp boatin’, beignets, and gators (both live and cooked- we’re thorough that way) in the glorious city of New Orleans. But there was still one absolute, can’t-leave-without-it, Must Do remaining on my […]
Take ’em Downtown, Boys
It’s been about a month and a half since Mr. M, Charlie Mae the Wonderpup & I made the move from east to west coast, and I’m already the picture of laidback Californian, slacking off on my blog posting and rocking a shamefully dramatic flip flop tan. But wait. Seeing as how it’s been a […]
The Land of Fire & Ice, Part Fjorir: Creatures in the Blue Lagoon
One of the happiest aspects of living on the East Coast is that Europe is only a good airplane deal and a 4th of July Weekend away. Iceland, in particular, was exceptionally close, and the time change meant we were able to arrive home in NYC only 2 hours after leaving Reykjavík. End result? A […]
The Land of Fire & Ice, Part Prir: Hot Spots
Day #11,402: We woke up to… sun! One way to save money in a country that’s insanely pricey- and Iceland is insanely pricey, even to us New Yorkers- is to live like the locals. Faced with a $14 per person continental breakfast at our motel, Mr. M & I fled to the town’s grocery store. […]
The Land of Fire & Ice, Part Tveir: Feeling Icy
Grouchy While Traveling is an inexcusable sin. There’s no crying in adventuring. But if this blog is actually chronicling my days and not just sugar-coating life, I gots to be honest. Day#11,401: I woke up grouchy. Maybe it was Iceland’s midnight sun shooting laser beams of light past our flimsy hotel room curtains (and leading […]
The Land of Fire & Ice, Part Einn: Independence
Days #11,399-11,400: By some turn of witchcraft, it takes less time to get to Iceland from NYC than it takes to make my usual pilgrimages home to LA. Four and a half hours after leaving JFK, Mr. M & I touched down near the barren, moonscaped town of Keflavik. Mood: Stellar. While Icelandair has the […]