When I stumbled on an unexpected open-air museum in Bucovina, Romania, the clear thing to do was say “one ticket, varog (please).” That done, I stepped through the turnstile and into the 1800s.… Continue reading
The best travel experiences are when you encounter something unexpected and wonderful, whether it be a plate of food, historical figure, or other aspect of a vibrant culture. Or sometimes, when you’re really… Continue reading
When the sign said either fork in the road would take me to Castle Peleş, I figured that when seeking the ornate palaces of wealthy noblemen, uphill was always a safe bet. I… Continue reading
When Pulp Fiction informed me that people in Amsterdam put mayonnaise on their fries, I was cooperatively grossed out. Mayo was an acceptable ingredient for way down the ingredients list, but it should… Continue reading
It is not the symbol anyone in Bucharest would choose for their city, but the massive Palace of Parliament lands in every visitor’s awareness like a walrus in the penguin exhibit. Conceived by… Continue reading
It’s been true for a year and a half now, but I had never felt it as acutely as I did on the flight from Amsterdam to Bucharest: this is a very awkward… Continue reading
It’s one of those things I never noticed until someone pointed it out, and now it’s all I see. Every time I merge onto Interstate 580, where I used to only see the… Continue reading
Happy Today, everyone! (Whenever your today happens to occur.) Most of my energy these days goes to classes, taxes, finally leaving the apartment to go camping next week, negotiating a work contract for… Continue reading
Covid, the Great Disruptor, is helping us ask questions we didn’t ask before. For example, we could ask “Wait, I keep craving a return to my old life, but how did I feel… Continue reading
The sky is blue. In former years, that was a basic sentence for English language instruction. In 2020 it’s cause for celebration. Last week the Bay Area (and much of the Pacific Northwest)… Continue reading
