I was sad to be leaving Obidos after only one night. There was something soothing about a village protected by castle walls, which became so quiet and serene at night. We fetched our car from the impossible parking space alongside the old walls and cobbled down a few skinny roads until we were on pavement... Continue Reading →
Traveling Portugal: Stillness in Obidos
We left Lisbon and picked up our rental car to drive to Obidos. Portugal drives on the right side of the road which inevitably eases my “new country driving” anxiety, but once you leave major highways you can see why people hesitate to self-drive. Obidos is a small village surrounded entirely by castle walls, so... Continue Reading →
North Wales: Portmeirion to Shrewsbury
We woke up in Tremadog to a crisp, rainy morning. The air smelled a little like being by a boat dock, which was strange since we were nowhere close to anything like that. It had that strangely comforting salty, seaside freshness. We hit the road again with a destination of Shrewsbury, just back over the... Continue Reading →
North Wales: Tremadog, Snowdonia & Welsh Highland Railway
The next day, it was time to hit the road again. We bid goodbye to beautiful Llandudno on a sunny morning and before we knew it, we were back in the quiet countryside with little roads and lots of sheep. Before landing in Tremadog for the night (a "suburb" of the village of Portmadog, two... Continue Reading →
North Wales: Conwy Castle & Afternoon Tea
We were less ambitious at breakfast the next morning. I knew I couldn't face another plate of food that spanned the width of my stomach, so I stuck to porridge and fresh fruit. The addition of 3 slices of fruit convinced me that every pint of beer consumed thus far was suddenly justifiable. Balanced diets... Continue Reading →
North Wales: Liverpool to Llandudno
Just as soon as we'd arrived in Liverpool, it was time to go. We had a fleeting 24 hours to recover from jet lag before we hit the road towards Wales. We booked a car rental from Liverpool airport, hoping that we would have an easier transition back into left-side driving if we didn't have... Continue Reading →
Southwest Summer Road Trip—Farmington to Santa Fe
We got into Farmington, NM just before the skies opened and unleashed a furry of rain. Scrambling towards the quiet downtown area, we got lost in plates full of steak and potatoes and glasses brimming with beer from 3 River Brewery. The brewery also owns a pizzeria, restaurant, distillery, and lounge on the same block.... Continue Reading →
Southwest Summer Road Trip—Lower Antelope Canyon
We awoke to another light-flooded morning sky in the little town of Kanab. Our drive for the day was fairly short—just 1.5 hours to Page, AZ to hike through Lower Antelope Canyon. Before leaving town, we stopped at Kanab Creek Bakery (a “can’t miss” according to my mother who was there last year) for some... Continue Reading →
Roaming Southwest—Taos High Road & Santa Fe Sky
It was nice to wake up in a real hotel room and not one that was one gust of wind from extinction. The air outside was brisk but it was also bright and inviting. I inhaled a full plate of hotel breakfast buffet food and several cups of coffee to prep for the day. Buzzing... Continue Reading →
Roaming Southwest—Turquoise Trail to Santa Fe
Amidst howling wind and the intermittent shutoff of our motel’s ancient heater, I managed to get a bit of sleep. I moved the winter coat pressed against the motel door to block the draft and it was caked in fresh snow. So basically, it snowed inside our room. My heart ached for the check-out counter.... Continue Reading →