At 9, I thought it was crazy. My dad was going to squeeze Mom and all six of us kids into a boxy, top heavy, narrow Volvo station wagon, and we were going to drive for three months from our home in Paraguay to Kansas where my father grew up. This trip had been his dream since coming to Paraguay in 1951 to found and manage a Mennonite leprosy mission. “Is there really a road that goes all the way from Paraguay to the States?” I asked. Dad … [Read more...]
Escape Winter: Budget-Friendly Ocean Fishing in Puerto Penasco
Do you find yourself staring out your office window at the snow and gray sky day-dreaming about fishing on the ocean in your flip-flips with a cold beer? Is your dream squashed when your bank account balance doesn’t support pricey winter fishing hot spots like San Diego and Florida? If so, I’ll fill you in on a little secret of mine. 210 miles south of Phoenix is a sleepy little fishing village on the Sea of Cortez called Puerto Penasco or … [Read more...]
Northern Galicia Coast: Rinlo and Cathedral Beach
I ended up visiting Cathedral Beach in Galicia by chance. My boyfriend and I had planned a weekend in Galicia (we're currently living in Madrid short-term for his job, but he's from Galicia) and we decided to simply look for a casa rural (a rurally located Spanish B&B) that was a good price, and that was in a good location. Where, didn't matter all that much. I had wanted to explore Galicia long before I met my boyfriend so when we met, … [Read more...]
Valencia: The BEST Paella
It’s hard for me not to be emotional when writing about my time in Valencia. I’m not sure exactly what is was about the city but it seems to have enchanted me. I was and still am, captivated by all it had to offer. I think naively I’d always seen Spain as a cheap holiday destination rather than somewhere to explore in more depth. I considered places further away more exciting and intriguing but to this day, Valencia remains one of my favourite … [Read more...]
Part Three: Sweet, Sweet Santiago de Cuba
In between our two ports of call, Havana and Santiago de Cuba, we had another day at sea. This is a great opportunity for passengers to relax and reinvigorate for the next port. We participated in an Introduction to Santiago de Cuba seminar. While I didn’t learn that much about the city, I realized there would be plenty of that the following day in Santiago de Cuba, and instead we simply got an overview of what to expect from the day ahead. … [Read more...]
Part Two: Viva Havana!
On day three of the Fathom Impact + Travel cruise on the Adonia, we excitedly woke up to peer outside our portal window and see the vibrant colors of Havana. Once the astonishment of being there finally set in, we boarded our bus and embarked on my first true introduction to the country of Cuba. Our first stop was to Cemetery Colon. The cemetery is named after Christopher Columbus, who ‘discovered’ Cuba, however he is not buried here. The … [Read more...]
Part One: Introduction to Cuba
For the past 50+ years, the idea of traveling to Cuba on an American cruise line has been unfathomable. Then, in May of 2016, that idea became a reality – it became fathomable. Justifiably so, the first cruise line granted access into Cuba’s mesmerizing culture is named Fathom. Fathom Impact + Travel, a subsidiary company of Carnival Cruise lines, was created in 2012 and been in business since 2014. Fathom Impact + Travel is the answer to the … [Read more...]
Five Ways Travel Helps Your Writing
Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar There’s a plummy quote from Thoreau’s Walden that must open this discussion: “Not till we are lost ... not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves … Henry David was centering on getting lost in nature there, and thus freed of some of the day-to-day material constraints and pressures, but the message applies well to writers, and to the value of getting “lost” in travel. Value sometimes in getting … [Read more...]
Exploring the Douro with Viking River Cruises
Discovering treasures in every port Embarking in Portugal upon our first-ever cruise, my husband and I looked forward to the quality and service that have earned Viking River Cruises their outstanding reputation. There were many aspects of this river cruise that we loved, and having a wealth of compelling shore excursion opportunities was a big part of the experience for us. Portugal is known for its famous explorers of centuries past who … [Read more...]
Los Braceros: The Root of the Gourmet Kitchen
The octopus arrived at our table on a plate illustrated with the two hands of the many workers who helped produce this gorgeous dish. At Bracero Cocina de Raiz in San Diego, Baja cuisine advocate Chef Javier Plascencia invites guests to witness and celebrate the efforts of all the workers—including produce pickers, grapevine pruners, and fishermen—who help them produce such incredibly creative and flavorful dishes in a Mexican style completely … [Read more...]
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