Buenos Aires, Argentina
I’ve fallen in love with more cities than I have fingers to count with. But with only a handful of those cities was there a feeling of that instantaneous movie moment with blurred… Continue reading
Tag Archive: Culture
1 Comment
Foodcation: Buenos Aires, Argentina
What comes to mind when you hear “Buenos Aires”? Tango or Evita, perhaps? Wine? Steak? Dulce de leche? You may have made many of these associations, though I suspect your preferred search engine is… Continue reading
Buenos Aires: Cementerio de la Recoleta
On a gray day in Buenos Aires, we find ourselves exploring an elaborate stone city in search of a crypt – that of la familia Duarte. Why, you ask? Duarte was the family name of… Continue reading
Buenos Aires: Casa Rosada
At the edge of Plaza de Mayo sits the seat of the Argentine government. In a distinct shade of pink. Don’t cry for me, Argenti-naaahhh. No seriously, don’t. Because I’m having such… Continue reading
Long Layovers: Miami, Florida
10 hours in Miami. That’s all we have. Or is it enough? The moment we land, it feels like a leisurely episode of The Amazing Race. A quick jaunt through the Fort Lauderdale… Continue reading
Long Layovers: Nagoya, Japan
Long ago, when airlines still provided hotel and transportation for passengers on overnight layovers (i.e. airfare included accommodation by default, and not because of a flight delay), I occasionally found myself observing polite bus drivers… Continue reading
Airport Curiosities
A Swarovski tree. Airport aquariums. Language Delay. Humorous, peculiar, frustrating, memorable – most everyone who has ever flown has a tale or two (or several) from the airport. For instance, despite how much… Continue reading
Long Layovers: São Paulo, Brazil
Anthony Bourdain will tell you this: Head to Mercado Municipal first and have a mortadella sandwich. Or, at least, he’ll tell the camera on an episode of “The Layover.” Which is exactly why… Continue reading
São Paulo: Beco do Batman
Yes, you read that title right. Beco do Batman. Batman’s Alley. Don’t believe me? Check out the street sign. The “alley,” aptly situated in São Paulo’s artsy Vila Madalena neighborhood, doesn’t… Continue reading
Lima, Peru
Have you ever heard that familiarity breeds liking? It’s normally in reference to interpersonal relations, but I think it could be said of most anything, including places. Lima is one of those cities… Continue reading
Machu Picchu
Quick Recap: In the previous post, we hopped of the train at a station-less KM 104 to hike a part of the Inca Trail towards Machu Picchu. It felt like we’d gone rogue.… Continue reading
Hope lives in Pompeii, Italy
In the southern Italian region of Campania, the remnants of an ancient city yet stand. Withstanding the direct path of destruction during the tragic Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79AD, its ruins continue to provide… Continue reading
Washington, DC: Wonder at The Renwick
This reminds me of a Taylor Swift song. “Are we out of the woods yet?” Or perhaps we’re heading Into the Woods of a whimsical movie set. Inside a fashionable, yet… Continue reading
Cappadocia, Turkey
Kapadokya, Türkiye (a.k.a. Cappadocia, Turkey) is most often associated with hot-air balloons and fairy chimneys. While this is a fine claim to fame, there is more to the Turkish heartland. At… Continue reading
The Real Turkish Delight
I’m at Pasaport Kontrolü (Passport Control) in Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, patiently answering questions from the immigration officer…while also observing that said officer’s colleague, seated beside him in the very same kiosk, has already… Continue reading
Istanbul: The Grand Bazaar & The Bosphorus
Efficient porters deftly weave through the crowds, bearing trays of hot, caffeinated goodness. It’s always a good time for çay, Turkish tea, or Türk kahvesi, Turkish coffee. Shop after shop, stall after stall,… Continue reading
The Pura Vida Experience
Pura Vida /poo-ruh vee-duh/ Spanish for “pure life.” Costa Ricans use this expression to mean many things: Hello! How are you? You only live once, eh? What bad luck. Have a nice day!… Continue reading
Resort Report: Las Casas
Yes, it’s a resort…but Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, or simply Las Casas, isn’t what you’d typically think of when you hear “resort.” It’s a blast from the past, with a mixed… Continue reading
A Foreign Perspective
It’s a tad cliché to talk about taking things for granted, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Sometimes you have to be reminded of beauty around you. In all its forms.… Continue reading
The Return, Part III: The (Italian) Hangover
I like California, I do. But over a month after coming back to the Bay Area, I’m still on an Italian hangover. I miss it all – the vibrant greens of the rolling countryside,… Continue reading
Meet an Italian, Make a Friend
As a sequel to my post on Italian Warmth, here are a few more examples of why the culture is so appealing. These experiences are much less personal than the anecdotes I shared… Continue reading
Italian Warmth
I’ve long said that Italians are some of the warmest people. They’re welcoming and inclusive, and they’re generous regardless of economic status. They are quick to befriend, quick to love. Quick to temper,… Continue reading
My Favorite (Italian) Things
When Maria sings about her favorite things in The Sound of Music, it’s a marvel nothing on her list is Italian…especially considering how close Austria is to Italy. So, I’ve made up my… Continue reading
The Art of Faith
It’s almost impossible to avoid churches in Italy. They’re everywhere. They’re art; they’re landmarks; they’re history. They’re an intrinsic part of the culture. It’s no secret that Italy has countless beautiful churches. Sweeping… Continue reading
Dude, Where’s My Train?
It’s not uncommon to grumble about the Italian train system because it’s not uncommon for trains to be late. It’s not uncommon to be on a train, mid-commute, and experience delays. It’s not… Continue reading
Oh, Those Italians!
I’ve often said that Italians are among some of the warmest people. There are, however, many other quirks and interesting aspects of their culture that are endearing. *These are just my personal observations,… Continue reading
Becoming Italian
Everything reminded me of Italy. Prior to this trip, I somehow managed to frequently find an Italian connection in names, words, places, people, and restaurants. In California, I got excited over a “Tuscany… Continue reading
The (Nonexistent) International Driving Standard
They say if you can drive in Manila, you can drive anywhere else in the world…. A fellow blogger commented on one of my recent posts, saying that “Folks always let you move on… Continue reading
One Sweet Holiday
The familiar scent of freshly baked, coconut-topped bibinka wafts toward me as I wend my way to the overly laden dessert table. My lusty sweet tooth kicks into overdrive, and suddenly, all I… Continue reading