Istanbul in Photos
I have so much to write about when it comes to Istanbul, Turkey. It's definitely one of the most dynamic and interesting big cities...
And Then Everything Changed: Do I Love Long-Term Travel?
I got mixed reactions when I told my friends and family that I was going to Europe on my own for 2 months. Reactions...
Review: Hilton Garden Inn Anchorage
In August 2012, my sister and I flew up to Anchorage, Alaska, for a weekend of outdoor fun and adventure as guests of the...
The Best and Worst of My Summer in Europe
I still have a lot to write about when it comes to all the adventures I had in Europe this summer. Istanbul, Greece, Croatia,...
My Bulgarian Babas
For my whole life, I've referred to my dad's mother not as “Grandma,” but as “Baba” — a term meaning “grandmother” (or “old woman”)...
Ice, Ice, Baby – Glacier Hiking in Alaska
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. I smiled as I dug my crampons forcefully into the ice underfoot. I'd forgot how satisfying that sound and sensation were...
Visiting Rila Monastery in Bulgaria
As the realization dawned on me that the bus I would be sitting on for 3+ hours had no air conditioning and was equipped...
Is Bulgaria Beautiful? Heck Yes, It Is
I'll admit it: I basically knew nothing about Bulgaria before my first trip to Eastern Europe. All I knew was that it had a...
A Tale of Two Capitals: Bucharest and Sofia
Sometimes while traveling, you visit a city that is so beautiful, so charming, or so alive with culture and atmosphere that you can't help...
August: The Best Time to Be in Edinburgh?
Ask just about anyone who's ever been to Edinburgh, Scotland what they think of the city, and you will probably get a resounding “I...
London 2012: My Olympics Experience
If you had asked me a year ago what I thought my first trip to London would consist of, I probably would have answered...
Traveling in Romania (and Why You Should Go Right Now)
Most people don't necessarily equate “Romania” with “cool travel destination.” This Eastern European country between Hungary and Bulgaria isn't usually a place people have...
Beyond Dracula: Reasons to Visit Brasov, Romania
The small city of Brasov may not be well-known around the world. In fact, I'm sure many of you have never even heard of...
When the Cows Come Home
“… until the cows come home.” It's probably a phrase that you've heard used before. Not often, but I'm sure you've heard it. The...
5 Things to Love About Sighisoara, Romania
Where I come from, places like Sighisoara just simply do not exist. Ancient churches, a walled town center, thousands of years of history… you...
Village Scenes: Life in Rural Romania
“It's like stepping back in time.” How often have you heard this phrase? Probably plenty. But how often has is actually been true? Well, in...
Merry Cemetery: A Different Way to Look at Death
When I say “old cemetery,” what do you picture? Crumbling tombstones? Grand old mausoleums? Overgrown shrubbery? Chances are, whatever you picture is fairly dark; morose;...