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 […]
A New Life in Nice, France – One Year Later
One year ago today, I woke up in a friend’s guest bedroom in Nice. As I wiped the sleep from my tired eyes, I looked up at the ceiling trying to remember exactly where I was. After enduring a torturous month of house sitting in Guatemala, I felt a wave of relief wash over me […]
8 Things to do on an Alassio Holiday – the Italian Riviera
“…one of the loveliest town beaches I’ve seen in Italy. Its wide expanse of smooth sand is framed by typically Ligurian terracotta and green-shuttered ochre houses and sheltered from the wind by mountains to north and west.” This description from an article in The Guardian convinces me to plan my Alassio holiday! I had never […]
How to Apply for a French Long-Stay Visa – Part Deux
Last year I applied for a French long-stay visa and I really screwed it up! As a result of my stupidity, I was approved for only a nine-month visa in my one-year restricted passport. However, this long-stay visa also came with restrictions, the most important being it’s not eligible for “Cart de Sejour” – meaning the […]