Two years ago tonight, I met some of my students for dinner at N2, a local restaurant run by a cranky old British expat named Nigel and his Taiwanese wife, Nunu. This was our final class of the semester and we voted to get out of the classroom and practice our “restaurant English” in this […]
Bruges in a Day or Two – Cheap and Free Things to do
I left Bruges almost 48 hours ago and I can still smell the waffles. Before going to Bruges, I joked about bingeing on waffles, fries, and chocolate and washing it all down with an ice cold Belgian beer. But it’s no joke. I lived on waffles, fries, and beer for almost four days. And when […]
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House Sitting in Paris & Valuable Tips to Get a Great Gig
My first visit to Paris was over 32 years ago. It was the last leg of my first European adventure which started in Vienna. I honestly don’t remember much but I think I probably liked it. My second time in Paris was 13 years ago when I met “my man” (partner…or whatever) in Paris on […]
Vienna in a Day – What to see in this cold, sterile city
Vienna was the first European city I ever visited over 30 years ago. My memories of that trip are a bit hazy, but I do remember that my luggage didn’t arrive with me so I spent the first day (or two?) walking around barefoot wearing my purple sweater dress while carrying my white pumps (really […]
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Budget Travel Tips – How I Afford Travel Without a Job
Many years ago, I was a backpacker and traveled the typical routes that the Lonely Planet guide suggested. Most of the backpackers I met on the road also traveled with a Lonely Planet book (this was WAY before the internet even existed). We often asked each other “What would Tony recommend?” referring to Tony Wheeler, […]
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5 Idyllic Destinations to Escape to This Year
Looking for a quieter getaway as the year draws to an end? Escape the rush of daily life and consider one of these five extremely idyllic destinations to visit during your next trip abroad. The Seychelles This archipelago situated in the Indian Ocean really is a dream destination. The Seychelles are the closest thing to […]
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Expat Struggles & Culture Shock in France
I sent some photos of my new neighborhood to an old friend recently. He commented that I now “live in an impressionist painting”. And he’s right, the beauty of my surroundings still amazes me every day. But if those impressionist paintings could come to life, they’d tell tales of little bits and pieces of culture […]
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European House Sitting – My Top 5 Bucket List Cities
A few years ago, I discovered the wonderful world of house sitting and became addicted to Trusted Housesitter’s website and the daily email listing the newest available house sits. I created my profile, applied for tons of house sits, and finally got my first gig in Bristol, England. It opened the door to European house sitting […]