Tag Archives: travel
There are probably people who don’t mind pooping in a glass-walled Beijing bathroom
Here are some unexpected things about China: It is really clean! We’re talking about the most populated country in the world, but none of these people are littering. A small army of sweepers are constantly about looking to obliterate the smallest infraction of trash. Also, there’s hardly any graffiti (I don’t miss the litter but […]
I’m famous in Pingyao, China
It was great being in Pingyao, China today because not only is it spectacularly beautiful: But I am also quite famous! All my fans want to have their picture with me! The food’s tempting too. I briefly consider ordering the Manual cat ears but finally decided that I’m more of an Automatic cat ears sort […]
Do you cook while traveling?
The top three things I miss while traveling are; My cat Taking a shower without wearing flip flops Cooking Happens every time: HOB and I are in the midst of a fast-paced trip when we visit a local market and I’m overwhelmed with longing to cook all that beautiful produce. Now that Airbnb is a […]
How to suck at travel photography
Well I don’t know about you but if I read another Pinterest article titled Twelve Tips for Taking Insanely Great Travel Photos: Number 5 Will Blow Your Mind!!! I’m going to barf all over my cheap-ass digital camera. I have a more unique skill, one that doesn’t even require three exclamation points: I take terrible travel photos. […]
Funniest travel moments of 2017
2017 was a year for great trips (HOB and I traveled to five countries outside the US) and appalling politics (looking at you, Cheetolini McRacistpants). 2017 could also be confusing at times. Fortunately, we found this sign which cleared a lot of things up for us. In 2017 we finally made it to Lithuania, which […]
The tenacious cultural heritage of Setomaa
YOU ARE ENTERING THE TERRITORY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION! Yeah, so we technically veered into Russia without a visa a couple of times during our visit to the Setomaa region of Estonia, but someone tell my mom it was okay because we didn’t stop the car. Swerving through national borders: that’s a pretty good introduction […]
Vilnius, as painted by de Chirico: a play in two acts
Act 1 Scene: late September: HOB and WOB walk into the main square of Vilnius, Lithuania. WOB: Vilnius looks like a de Chirico painting. HOB: Wait, remind me who de Chirico is? Oh, yeah, I think I remember. Is he the one with the steep perspective and shadows and the girl with the hoop? WOB: […]
The Hill of Crosses and the power of a shared narrative in Lithuania
During our bus ride to Siauliai, HOB and I munched on supermarket sandwiches which turned out to be mostly mayonnaise. Our driver was blasting Queen and I must say there probably isn’t a better way to arrive at a pilgrimage site in Northern Lithuania than being serenaded by We Are the Champions while eating a […]
The garages of Tartu are “aspiring strongly to infinity and emptiness”
The heroes of our trips often work at tourist information centers. The young woman at the TI in Tartu was just that sort: friendly and able to intuit just what we were looking for. I was asking about architecture when she pulled out a map and said “I think you’ll like this”. Tartu is Estonia’s […]
Sculptures have weird necks in Tallinn
Tallinn is a beautiful city. Tallinn is a beautiful city full of sculptures with weird necks. HOB and I were checking out St. Nicholas Church in Tallinn and we saw this sculpture by the front door. “Whoa!” I said, in my most eloquent and sophisticated tone “that dude has a weird neck!!!” Then, on realizing that […]
