Holiday decorations are put away and the new year has started. That means it’s time to plan a trip! Fortunately, the annual Travel & Adventure Show can help you find the perfect destination. Hundreds of exhibitors are waiting to...
Maria Grammatico: The Queen of Sicilian Pastries…and Me
Maria Grammatico tried to teach me the delicate art of making pastries. Beautiful masterpieces, with names like “Sighs and Desires” and “Almond Pillows” and the awkward “Nuns’ Breasts.” But she didn’t learn to make dolci (Italian for “sweets”) because she...
Czech Dumplings: I Want to Love Them…
Czech dumplings–Knedlíky–are one of the cornerstones of Czech Republic food. As I prepared for my two weeks in the country, I read about the dumplings over and over. They sounded delicious. I couldn’t wait to try them. I was...
Charles Bridge: The Pride of Prague
Charles Bridge is more than a way to get across the Vltava River. It’s also Prague’s non-stop public space. Day and night, there is something to do, watch, buy, or photograph. Connecting two important sections of Prague–the castle and...
Cool–and Important–Things to Know about Your Passport
Got your passport? Good for you! Although the number is growing–latest estimates say that 42% of Americans have a passport–it still means that 58% have never left the country. Compare to the U.K., where 76% have a passport. In...
To Flush or Not to Flush…Let’s Answer That Question!
“To flush or not to flush…” Sorry Shakespeare, but sometimes this question is more urgent than pondering our existence. Americans don’t think twice about flushing toilet paper. We’re a young country and we have the sewage system to prove...
How to Use a Bidet: Like Riding a Horse!
How to use a bidet? Admit it, at some point you’ve wondered… Popular in many parts of the world, Americans have never embraced the idea of washing themselves “down there” to stay clean. No, we prefer rolls and rolls...
The Camino de Santiago: How I Started
Updated June 27, 2018 The Camino de Santiago: How I Started…like many grand schemes, it began with a vague notion that simmered for a decade. Then–who knows how or why–suddenly a 500-mile walk seemed like a perfectly reasonable thing...
5 Things to Know about Europe Grocery Stores
Grocery stores in Europe: If you haven’t had the good fortune to visit one yet, you’re in for a treat. If you already know how great they are, please add more tips in the Comment section. When I go...
Street Performers: The Surprise of Every Trip
I always look forward to street performers when I travel. To turn a corner and find a magician, or to be drawn to happy music nearby. It’s amazing to see what performers do with their talent…or what they’ve created...