Making the decision to quit my steady job and reach for a passion was hard.
Very hard.
It required me to believe – not kinda-sorta-think-I-can-do-it, but really believe – in my abilities and to hang consequences on any failure to achieve my goals. It’s so much easier to avoid crossing that line, to continue on in a comfortable life with the mushy half-belief you might have what it takes to capture a dream. But the decision is only the first difficult obstacle; even when you’re walking the walk, there’s always a shadow of doubt trailing behind. Read more...
Leo sips his café and bites into a small alfajor. His close-cropped black hair frames a face prone to easy smiles and glittering eyes. We’re sitting in the Havanna Café north of Salta’s main plaza and chatting about the region as the clock ticks past 9 PM. Dinner at Leo’s friend’s house won’t be ready for a couple of hours.
I met Leo several days earlier at a CouchSurfing gathering, and he generously agreed to chat with me after his vacation. The “Havanna” signature drink I ordered is sickly sweet, a large band of condensed milk huddled at the bottom, and it stands untouched as we bounce among topics, from asados to folklórica music to wine. We get to talking about the people of Salta – their origins, customs, and struggles – and I’m captivated by the history. Read more...
“Oh, you’re young. She thought you were going to be 50″ said Yvette, the woman in the front seat, pointing to our guide and driver, Ana.
“What, 50? Why would I be 50?”
Another woman, Yvette’s older sister Jillian, turns to me in the back of the small, red van. “Well, you’re married and traveling alone. Who does that?”
Who does that? I’ve been answering that question a lot since I left my job, and it’s pretty difficult to explain in broken Spanish to the Argentines I meet. Luckily, I’m riding with two 30-something American women. I cover the usual bases (a dissatisfaction with my job, a desire to follow my passions, a severe dislike of regret) as we weave through traffic on the way south of Salta. The women nod their heads in understanding.
Or was it feigned interest? You see, I don’t know if they expected me to be a part of their sojourn to Cafayate. Read more...
In the midst of a stressful October, I found a batch of articles that lifted my spirits with their levity and reached me from far-flung destinations around the world. England, Bolivia, Syria: the adventurous spirit of travel writers always makes me smile. Whether you’re interested in following in their footsteps or enjoying a laugh from the comfort of your armchair, these posts will satisfy the travel itch. Read more...
Yes, there was good travel writing in September. Too much, in fact. Staying on top of the torrent of new posts in my RSS reader is like trying to catch Niagara Falls in a cup. This month I’d like to present three stories from authors who consistently publish engaging and thought-provoking articles. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! Read more...
A hunter, oft-stubbled and bleary-eyed, driven by an insatiable hunger for exploration and experience - and perhaps a chance to thin the herd of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. From the highlands and islands to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Borders, I explore Scotland with a pen in hand and a fire in the belly (which could be partly from the whisky). 
