We went to Europe in November, for the second time this year. Normally, I don’t take two major trips within twelve months, but we had been stuck in the house for two years, and my husband was anxious to take his six-week sabbatical. So he went off gallivanting around Europe for four weeks, and I…
Category: Travel
Pre-flight jitters
I love traveling, but I hate traveling. The whole infrastructure for international travel is laden with bureaucracy, delays, and confusion in the best of times. (Post) Pandemic times are not the best of times. You may have heard about the mayhem at the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam over the summer. Five hour security lines, delayed…
FIRIE: Financial independence, retire in Europe
My husband and I are considering buying a house in Portugal. This still sounds insanely unrealistic when I say/ type it. I’ve never had the financial means to buy a house, much less a second house. Thanks to my husband’s equity from his condo, we were able to buy the townhome we now inhabit. On…
Harm reduction on vacation
As I’ve changed my relationship with alcohol over the past several years, one of my challenges has been how to go on vacation without over-drinking. Ever since I started traveling internationally about 20 years ago, vacation has been a time to drink as much as I want…which is usually too much. How much is too…
Senza Glutine: Gluten-Free in Italy
When I first landed on Italy as the destination for my 50th birthday trip, I had not yet determined that gluten is my dietary nemesis. I’m not sure it would have been my first choice if I was envisioning a gluten-free vacation. The pasta! The pizza! Can you enjoy a trip to Italy without eating…
Sober in Vegas
It was my fourth visit to Las Vegas, but this one was a bit different. This time, I stayed sober. Vegas is not the first place you might think about for a teetotaling weekend. I associate the city with unlimited drinking. No one really cares if you’re walking down the street with a giant cocktail…
Taking the Waters in Calistoga, California
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve never had to go far to find some volcanic activity. I was about ten the first time my grandparents took me to a hot springs resort somewhere in Western Montana, probably not too far from Yellowstone. It was a shabby roadside motor inn with a rustic wood sign…
Going Gluten-Free in the Bay Area
Disclaimer! The establishments mentioned in this article are by and large not catering specifically to gluten-free diners. This post is an honest assessment of my attempt to avoid gluten while dining out. It is not an endorsement of any of these as gluten-free-friendly establishments. Except for Mariposa Bakery and Bota. When I stopped eating gluten…
Japan 2016 Part 1: Tokyo
Here is part one of a much-delayed recap of my travels in Japan with my boyfriend Ryan this May. This 10-day trip to Japan was the first time in Asia for both of us, and it started with a detour to Canada. It turns out airfare to Tokyo is much less flying out of YVR, particularly…
Vegas: The Edge of Civilization
I watched the barren terrain of Nevada crawl past below the wing of the plane and wondered, “why here?” Why would anyone build a metropolis of excess in the middle of the desert? Why would people choose to settle so far from life and water? It was my first visit to Vegas. My friend had decided…
Plumb Wonderful 