As the years ware on, I get increasingly worse about taking photos. Like, really bad. I have so many nice pictures from my first trip to Estonia; I guess that’s why I figured I didn’t need to take any more of the main attractions. It’s not as if they’ve changed much in 3 years. But anyways, I flew to Estonia to start a job, to actually move to a place and have a sense of permanence for the first time in years. Continue reading That test you passed… not everybody does. Welcome to the afterlife. →

Ambition really strikes when ordering plane tickets, and that ambition lead me to think it was a good idea to do a double red eye. First, from Rio to Lisbon, where I would spend a day, and then from Lisbon to Bucharest, where I’d stay for a while. I still think it’s a nice idea in theory – Lisbon is a great city to spend a day – but it definitely makes for a tiring trip. Continue reading We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. →

In accordance with my plan for the year, I’ve parked myself in Buenos Aires for almost the next three months. Because traveling is tiring, and I’ve been at it for a while. The theory is, I’ll have a bit more consistency, can develop some decent habits, catch up on work, and be part of a community. My AirBnb is in San Telmo, which is probably the third most popular district for expats – more of an artsy area than the typical “gringo ghetto” that pops up in these major South American cities. Continue reading I will come again, and I will be millions →

My annoying-on-paper flight from Buffalo to Charlotte to Miami to Lima to Montevideo went about as smoothly as I could have hoped. My Lima to Montevideo flight was scheduled to take off at 11:59pm, but we ended up watching fireworks from the runway for a few minutes before taking off. It was interesting to see New Years from the sky, and fireworks aren’t really shot very high. Continue reading I like looking at everything from far away, except you. →

After a few days of night buses, uncomfortable camel rides, and cold desert tents, I was looking forward to sleeping at a normal time in a normal bed again. Entering Essaouira was like entering a twilight zone – not a single person talked to us as we walked through the markets complete with our backpacks and suitcases. Very pleasant. It seems being left alone is all that is necessary for me to like a place these days. Continue reading Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here? →

I came into Barcelona with rather high hopes. Not exactly sure why. Heard mostly good things about it I guess? But my initial impression is underwhelming. The fundamental reason, I think, is that I just don’t get it. I’ll say it: tapas are just overpriced tiny foods. And I don’t understand the appeal of all these outdoor eateries – just because you put an umbrella up doesn’t change the fact that you’re just eating on the street. Continue reading The trick is to enjoy life, accepting it has no meaning whatsoever. →

I’m writing this considerably after the fact, so my recounting will likely be a list of facts rather than interesting anecdotes about the trip. But it’s not like I can skip posting pictures of Machu Piccu, so here we go. I promise to be better in the future. Continue reading Reading is a protest against the insufficiencies of life →

We flew straight from Galapagos to Lima to jump over the not so noteworthy expanse that is northern Peru. We spent the first few days in Miraflores (the Gringo area), which is what you’d expect for a more affluent section of a large city. Walkable, neat outdoor mall on the coast that afforded a nice sunset or two, and a reasonable selection of coffee shops and vegetarian places in the main area. Continue reading It makes you wonder. All the brilliant things we might have done with our lives if only we suspected we knew how →

After three months in Colombia, it was time to move on to a whole new world. Ecuador, a Latin American country that just uses US dollars. If you’re wondering where all our Sacagawea dollars went, the answer is Ecuador. They have a rich appreciation for Native American culture here. Continue reading I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven →

I had decided to come to Yerevan to get the rich cultural experience and see the surrounding natural beauty (the flight to NYC was cheaper from Yerevan than Tbilisi). Upon entering Armenia, it was incredibly snowy, and it only got snowier throughout the week. So, I opted to just stay in the city center rather than venture out on treacherous, freezing day trips. Continue reading Honey, would you put a bumper sticker on a Bentley?! →

This is post #100! Didn’t realize I’d even done 100 things. All this traveling apparently hasn’t made me any smarter, because this week in the hostel I made the brilliant move of dropping my glasses behind the shower wall. They dropped about eight feet to the inaccessible area behind the showers into the abyss of random clothing, shampoo bottles, and other items lost forever. I climbed up, and luckily could see them. So I Macgyvered a contraption with the towel hooks and some medical wrap and fished them out. I’m sad to admit it was the greatest sense of accomplishment I’ve had in a while.

Continue reading History shows that there are no invincible armies →

I haven’t been cafe-ing as much, plus there aren’t as many opportunities to do it. But I did find a good one in Oaxaca so I feel I should mention it. It’s Café Los Cuiles, and I had breakfast here as well as some famous Oaxacan hot chocolate (made with cinnamon), and partook of their lovely setup and fast WiFi. Let’s be honest, I really just like the fast WiFi.

Continue reading A city of treasure buried beneath a sky of curses →

I walked down to Chapultepec Park Wednesday afternoon to see the National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropologia). It had an extremely beautiful interior and was laid out very well, not to mention all the authentic artifacts from the area. While I’m not usually thrilled with natural history museums, this one was definitely worth going to. Continue reading I have nothing to do the rest of my life but do it and the rest of my life to do it →

Because you can never climb too many volcanoes in one week, I decided to go up Volcano San Pedro with a friend of a friend to see what that was all about. I’ve been sleeping under its shadow for weeks, so I might as well see what’s up there.

Continue reading Everyone is the age of their heart →

Continuing my ongoing quest to use every London airport, I left from Stansted this morning and flew to Budapest on Ryanair, which went extremely smoothly. My hostel is fairly centrally located, and I quickly located the nearest Starbucks, McDonald’s, Burger King, and Hooters, so I don’t think there will be any issues here. Continue reading The plot thickens, as they say. Why, by the way? Is it a soup metaphor? →

Paris was essentially a catchup and recharging point for me. Dad had a couple day trips, and I more or less worked and did a couple walking tours on my own. While I wasn’t in the best of moods, I found Paris to be dirty, unfriendly, and lacking of general WiFi options – the latter upsetting me more than the first two combined. Continue reading A multitude of people, and yet a solitude. →

As a seasoned traveler, my bravado has apparently gotten out of hand and I arrived in Granada rather unprepared when it came to actually getting to where I needed to be.  Of course I don’t know any Spanish, but I had the address on my phone and showed it to the taxi driver.  We headed towards Granada (which is like a 45 minute drive), speeding around in his deathtrap with a dysfunctional seat belt. Continue reading It’s no big sin to stick your two cents in If you know when to leave it alone →

I enjoy Amsterdam even though I haven’t really done much in it but walk around yet.  But that’s enough really to get a good feel for it.  Lots of canals, lots of bikes, good restaurants, and entertainment from cool museums to the more exotic if you’re so inclined.  But Wednesday was another day spent inside working for the most part. Continue reading The only girl I’ve ever loved Was born with roses in her eyes →

I arrived in Amsterdam on Sunday evening.  I’m staying out of the center of the city closer to the museums, which is kind of my preferred way to do things.  The hostel I’m staying in is very small and cozy, which is kind of a nice change.

With only a few people there, you’ve got to talk to everyone and the hostel people are much more personal.  One of the workers there took us on a walk down to the center of the city, actually it was more like a trek.  We had a beer at some Australian place, then a more authentic Dutch bar, and then a more touristy bar in the red light district area. Continue reading My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations. →

I woke up in my clothes at 4am, checked out, was at the airport by 5:15am, and landed in Berlin at 8am.  Their transit wasn’t too hard to figure out either, so I dropped my stuff at the hostel around 9 and then strolled around for a few hours.  I do a lot of strolling.  There were some museums and palaces and old structures and stuff that I looked at.  There was also someone with bubbles.  I saw a little girl fall off a statue and cry.  I had a bagel at Dunkin Donuts for breakfast because I didn’t know how to say any of the German stuff at the street fair. Continue reading Get some rest, Pam. You look tired. →

My time in East London had come to an end and I was moving on to the next hostel.  Just to change things up, really.  So I checked out and spent a little time pouring over work in the coffee shop next to the hostel before setting out to find the new place I’m staying in South London. Continue reading To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often. →

So a couple hours after arriving in London, I ran to the bathroom in a Pret a Manger and had my phone stolen while I was in there.  Which I’m annoyed about, but not really that upset.  It was a piece of crap, but it’s still an inconvenience.  At least he/she didn’t take my laptop or passport, which were also sitting right there.  Mainly, that just means I won’t be taking any more pictures. Continue reading I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human. →

Friday.

I had another pretty unimpressive day, from a tourist perspective.  Also from a regular person perspective.  I mean, I went to a Starbucks.  And a Caffe Nero.  Two chain coffee houses in one day (I had a lot of work to do today, so forgive me). Continue reading I had neither kith nor kin in England, and was therefore as free as air. →