Bountiful BeNeLux
My first post-pandemic trip with my cousin was a two-week trip to the BeNeLux region (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg). We chose late April so we could see the tulip blooms and we were not disappointed! For those of you that want to explore this region of Europe, here are a few of my highlights. Tulips, […]
Following Giuseppe
My cousin Lisa and I were at the tail end of a two-week trip to Italy. It was our first trip to Europe and we’d learned a lot – both about Italy as well as ourselves. We learned the Romans did everything on a gigantic scale and Italians valued family, food, and wine not necessarily […]
In Search of the Perfect Gelato
For the past year, I’ve gotten up each morning and looked at my suitcase. She sits expectantly on my luggage rack reminding me 2020 was to be my Year of Travel and Adventure. We’ve mourned that loss together. Her mere presence brings back memories of people, experiences, laughter, discovery and pure delight. In those moments, […]
The 4 T’s of Transitions
Five years ago, I started this blog as a simple way to let my family and friends know where I was in the world. Its purpose morphed over time, gradually allowing me to find and own my voice. Now, I have a website that showcases my new “portfolio career” – a combination of consulting, coaching, […]
Nashville Notes
For the latest adventures of Lisa and Korie, we decided to visit Nashville. Well, I’m here to tell you, Music City lives up to its name, y’all! We spent three and half days, mid-week in July and loved every minute of it, despite the heat and humidity. Here are some highlights: Broadway District This is […]
All’s Well That Ends in Ashland
A few months ago, I decided I needed a self-imposed writing retreat to help me restore my creative juices, stimulate ideas and concentrate on my projects. So, here I am in Ashland, Oregon for a week of writing, theater-going, nature hiking and basking in the warm sun. For those of you that haven’t been to […]
The Fringe – Edinburgh Style
It’s time to start planning summer vacations and I’m going to highlight one of my favorite experiences on the planet; the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Edinburgh is a small, tightly packed city that oozes with literary inspiration and deep historical references. The rainy, cold winter weather makes it very easy to hole up inside […]
It’s a Sign: Looking for Local Loos
Note: While I started this blog as a light-hearted reflection on signs, the definition of gender has once again risen to a political debate. So, in addition to the silliness, I offer this as a way of reminding us that all people are beautiful spirits meant to be cherished, regardless of gender identity. In […]
Hitting a Grand Slam with My Dad
My dad didn’t go to church. He drove us every Sunday, dropped us off and faithfully picked us up. But he never attended. He opted to put his faith in the Golden Rule. It was as simple and profound as he was. When I got older however, I realized he was religious about one thing; […]
Only in Canada!
Last summer I had the opportunity to attend a family wedding in the Toronto area. It was a godsend in many ways as I was still reeling from the U.S. election, (actually I’m still reeling, but that’s another blog) and I needed a new perspective. Canada is the perfect place to regain your world view […]
Sisterhood of the Traveling Orange Towel
In August of 2007, I traveled to Italy with my two cousins, Lisa and Kim, and my “adopted” sister, Sharon. It was my first time traveling to Europe and looking back, this was the first, irrevocable step to unleashing my gypsy spirit. It was also the trip that started our tradition of the traveling orange […]
My Magical Story-Telling Christmas Tree
I have a magical Christmas tree. It may look like your typical store-bought, artificial tree with pre-lit lights, but that just means you aren’t looking hard enough. Look deeper, closer and begin to listen, for it has many stories to tell. More than 30 years ago, I started collecting Christmas ornaments from places I traveled. […]
Travel makes my feet sore and my heart soar
The cobblestone streets of old world European cities, days of touring their glorious museums, hours of transport dependent solely on your delicate soles and the allure of countryside hiking all require a good shoe strategy when traveling. Choosing footwear that is light, supportive and ideally waterproof while still trying to be stylish can be a […]
Scottsdale in the Spring
I moved to Scottsdale when I was 9 years old and although I left to attend graduate school in California, this desert city is still home to family and friends. While I go back often, the growth over the past 30 years has rendered it almost unrecognizable to me at times, so when I had […]
The Pickup
As I was planning the logistics to and from the airport for my trip to Scottsdale, I was reminded of a story that happened a few years back. For those of you too young to know, it used to be standard practice to have my designated person (usually a family member or friend) park their […]
It’s a Sign!
Okay, I know most of your read the title and thought this was going to be a deep, thoughtful reflection on the importance of tuning in to the cosmic signs from the universe guiding you along the path of life. Well, relax. That’s for another time. This time, as the inaugural post of an occasional […]
Why I Will Go Back to Paris
By now all of us have gone through the horrific experience of watching the Paris bombings. I will admit to being glued to the TV for the past few days, unable to believe what I was seeing and feeling; for once in my life of traveling, I’m feeling truly vulnerable. Yes, I am now safe at […]
Falling in Love with Fall Ball
Relationships are funny things. I don’t know when, exactly, my love affair with baseball began. I do know growing up my brother played on a team, my mom worked the concession stand and my dad was the umpire. As I sat in the stands I was provided a wonderful opportunity to practice my flirting skills because many of […]
Santorini: The Blossoming of a New Tribe
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I came to this retreat by happenstance. Here I was landing in Santorini not knowing a soul and not knowing what to expect. But I said yes to this adventure because I took it as a sign from the universe nudging me along the path to “go with […]
Conquering Mt. Parnassus with Grit and Gratitude
As much as I love big cities, I also like to take a break and see the countryside surrounding them to get a better sense of the culture and the people. So on my second day in Athens I took a tour out to the ancient city of Delphi, home to the legendary oracle at […]
Athens: Heart of Theater and Rebellion
I arrived in Athens late at night and as usual struck up a conversation with my cab driver. I’ve come to believe they are the universal philosopher kings and provide a much needed service beyond their sometimes crazy driving skills. They are ambassadors for their city and listening to them always gives me a new and […]
The Florence Debate: Painting vs Sculpture
This is a city where you turn corners and hear spontaneous bursts of “Wow”. Regardless of the language, it still comes out as “Wow”. The sheer size of the Duomo is overwhelming. The Piazza della Signoria is huge and the Uffizi Gallery is immense, not just in size but in the importance and beauty of the art inside. It’s […]
Sunday Strolling Barcelona Style
When you read the guide books on Barcelona they always highlight La Rambla, a long pedestrian walkway filled with restaurants, shops and kiosks and warn you of the potential pickpockets. While it is a nice walk, it is also quite touristy. My personal preference, if you really want to get a feel for what the locals […]
The Must-See Mezquita in Cordoba
Most travel guides mention Cordoba as an optional side trip from Seville and the first time I was in this region I opted not to go. Given a second opportunity, I decided to go and I am so glad I did. The Mezquita is a must-see. Boarding the high speed rail from Seville to Cordoba got us […]
“Best in Show” Andalusian Style
In the planning for this trip, I wanted to include a visit to the Fundacion Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestra, more simply known as the Royal School of Equestrian Arts, located in Jerez de la Frontera. I was fortunate that our schedule landed on one of the days when they were performing (note that […]
Seville: Second Time Around & Searching for Sand Snakes
This was my second visit to Seville and it is fast becoming one of my favorite cities. It is a very cozy, walkable city with wide pedestrian areas, horse drawn carriages acting as taxis and a rich history of cultural tolerance, music, dance and architecture. Plus they have awesome gelato! What more could you ask for? As […]
From Arcos to Seville with a Detour or Two
Leaving Arcos de la Frontera, we quickly dropped down out of the hill towns into Jerez; best known for their sherry and brandy winery region, flamenco dancing and the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Catching the horse show at noon (not available every day, so plan ahead) was spectacular and I’d recommend going early to wander the […]
Non-linear Travel Planning
There hasn’t been a lot about this trip that was conventional. I didn’t book a round trip ticket and I didn’t plan anything past the trip through Spain. So it should come as no surprise that the rest of the trip came together in a very non-linear way as well. Probably not the recommended […]
Hidden Hill Towns & Hidden Stories
Setting out for the hill towns of Andalusia, it’s probably a good thing we didn’t know what we were getting into because we might not have gotten in the car! Sometimes ignorance can be bliss and in this case, it also let us experience some very special places tucked away in the Sierra Nevada (“snowy range” […]
Malaga’s Massive Maze of Mayhem
One of the best things about travel is that every once in a while you run into what I think of as “happy accidents”. Those unexpected gifts that are given to you without planning; gifts that delight and surprise and make you realize that not everything in life should be planned. That sometimes just being […]