Editor's note: it's been more than four months since I have left Southern California, and I am so excited to live vicariously through our amazing Sam Spector on this trip! Don't miss all his writing by clicking here. It is summer of 2020 and if you bring up the local election on Orcas Island, the…
Editor's note: Another incredible post from Kathryn's South American adventures. Read the rest of her articles here! Centuries before fusion food was a culinary trend, the Peruvians had been combining flavours and ingredients to create a unique local cuisine. Even today, Lima, the country's capital city, boasts an outstanding reputation for innovative cuisine with two…
It was a long bus ride from Granada to Valencia, more than eight hours in a seat with the Spanish countryside rolling by. I check into my hotel, drop my stuff in my room, and start bouncing excitedly. This entire time I've been in Spain - three weeks so far - I've eaten well, very…
So you've come to Granada to see the Alhambra. You spent a day touring the incredible site, one of the finalists for the seven new wonders of the world, and maybe even watched the sun set from one of the view points in the city to see it glow in the twilight. Tomorrow you'll wake…
For Americans visiting Spain, Barcelona and Madrid seem the focal points. Both are amazing destinations, but seeing only those two cities misses my personal favorite city in Spain: Seville. The capital of Andalusia is one of the cultural highlights of all of Europe, a mid-sized city, easy to explore and with more to do than…
Portugal's capital has beckoned me for years. Called by the sea, the hills, the food, and the sounds of the language, it has been at or near the top of my travel wish list for as long as I've had one. Now, after spending a month living and exploring Lisbon, I am able to share…
I had never been to Portugal before spending a month there earlier this year. First, wow, what an amazing country! However, there are some things I wish I'd known before coming that would have helped me better navigate as a tourist, better plan my trip, and better understand the people. Here is a list, in…
As many of you know, food has long been one of my passions. When I travel, I love to try local dishes, go to local spots, and really get a feel for what makes a particular food culture unique. Some places have the reputation for being specific foodie destinations - Italy and France jump quickly…
When maritime history meets awesome architecture, the birthplace of a famous food, and cool museums, you know that is a place worth visiting. Belém is a neighborhood in western Lisbon along the Tagus, and combines all of these things. Home to some of the city's elite - and the country's president - Belém is a…
How much do we really know about the history of our hometowns? If you are like me - or like most people, I'd imagine - the answer is: not much. I am a native Angeleno (Los Angeles resident), and have lived here all but about a decade of my life, and my knowledge of where…