I’ve owned up to a number of faults on this blog: I can be quite shy, I’m terrified of cockroaches, I over pack, I love maps but I’m horrible with directions, I let a visa come between me and the World Cup. I’ll stop myself there. Well, here’s another one…I’m terrible with names. I think I’ve… Read more
Happy New Year – Happy 2015 – Happy time to reset your goals/visions/intentions/plans or hell, just the time to chill out and do nothing. Whatever the new year means to you, I hope you enjoy it. For me it is the annual time for me to look back at what I accomplished over the past year… Read more
I’m a sucker for a good trivia challenge and there’s no shortage of fun internet quizzes to test your knowledge of the world around you. Some focus on maps, other on culture, language, flags, iconic monuments and basic world history. Here are five of my favorites, but I know there are many more, so please, keep… Read more
I don’t know when I began answering the question “Table for One?” with a slightly hostile-toned “Yes” through slightly gritted teeth, but I did notice that happening more than once on my latest trip to Mexico City. Maybe it is because at home “table for one?” just sounds like a question, but in other countries, it… Read more
Like my last Expat Adventure subject, I met Ana (aka ‘Atrasada’) through the amazing martial art of Capoeira. I had traveled to New York for a Capoeira event in 2006 and met her there during a night of workshops. We kept in touch and a few years later we met up at another event in Rio de… Read more
GO! Did you hear me? Just Go! I’m glad we had that conversation. It is good to toss ideas around and do an audible Pro/Con list. But now that that’s done… Go! Your inner voice is telling you something: Listen. Your heart is encouraging you; Follow it. Hell, the airline is even offering you an affordable… Read more
After a long day sitting at the computer and the prospect of two red eye flights and a day working from the airport club lounge ahead of me, I knew there was something I just had to do. Something I haven’t been doing much of since I broke my leg last year…I had to go for… Read more
The other day I read a sentence about travel that made me stop and think. I don’t remember the exact quote, but it was about how one of the best things about international travel is the chance to feel uncomfortable. At first that may sound a bit strange. Who wants to spend hard-earned money, use up… Read more
It seems like most people’s idea of a perfect vacation involves getting away from “it all”… and usually “it all” refers to the daily burdens of work, emails and the never ending barrage of phone calls, text messages and calendar alerts. The location for the “perfect get away” varies widely depending on who you ask; from… Read more
Hi Everyone!It’s a Thursday night and I’ve made it home after a 12-hour work day to enjoy a nice glass of wine (a surprisingly good Tempranillo – Merlot blend) and a bit of restful quiet. Most nights I head straight from work to a high energy capoeira class or two, then back home for a quick… Read more