War in Sarajevo: Tunnel of Hope and Roses
The first thing I noticed after getting off the plane in Sarajevo was the mountains. Towering on all sides, they dominate the horizon, their steep slopes cloaked in lush alpine forest. These mountains have shaped Sarajevo for centuries, restricting its growth to the narrow valley, while positioning it along key […]
War. What is it good for. Mostar Edition.
Any time we mentioned we were traveling to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first question was always the same: “Isn’t that the place with the war?” Yes. But the war ended 30 years ago. It’s safe. Don’t worry! That answer was usually met with a head shake and a muttered comment […]
Bosnia and Herzegovina: One Country, Two Regions, Three Nations
What is a country? It’s a strange question, especially from someone who has traveled extensively. But the answer is not quite as simple as a glance at a political map might suggest. We have been to countries that no longer exist (Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, USSR), regions that used to be countries […]
Smuggling Molcajete
One of my most impractical dreams, born from years of travel, is this: I want to decorate each room in my house in the style of a different country. The bedroom would be designed like a chamber in an Indian palace with ornate fabrics, carved wood, and a hint of […]
Dancing with Chinelos
The old, battered bus was bouncing on the road with dusty Mexican countryside rolling outside the window. Google Maps on my phone was showing we were approaching our destination – Yautepec de Zaragoza. Before the trip, I could not even imagine that we would be trying to get to this […]
All Aboard the Booze Train!
After visiting blue agave fields on the way to Tequila, our tour continued at the Jose Cuervo distillery known as La Rojeña. Going to Jose Cuervo, and not any of the other numerous tequila distilleries in the area, was an easy choice. Jose Cuervo is the birthplace of tequila mass […]
We Drink Tequila in Tequila (Mexico)
For a lot of people, tequila is one of the most recognizable products of Mexico, the country’s brand. And that’s why when we visited the Mexican state of Jalisco, we could not pass up an opportunity to visit the nearby town of Tequila, known obviously, for tequila. Located just 40 […]
Part II: How We Lost Our Luggage and Minds in Barcelona
Read “Part I: The Train Ride from Hell” here. After spending the entire night being tortured by bright lights, uncomfortable seats, and unruly passengers, we finally reached Barcelona. It was early morning, cloudy and chilly, and we barely had an hour of sleep last night. Shivering, we ran down the […]
Part I: Spain – When Everything Goes Wrong
Part I: The Train Ride from Hell We started seriously traveling around 2008, so the trip to Spain in August of 2010 came pretty early in our traveling career. We were in unfamiliar territory with just a few international trips under our belts, no knowledge of Spanish, and rudimentary 2010 […]
Part II: Buenos Aires – Through the Eyes of Locals
Read “Part I: Buenos Aires – Travel Like a Local, Travel with a Local” Buenos Aires met us with blooming jacaranda trees, their beautiful violet flowers adorning trees and littering sidewalks and lawns. It was a warm spring morning, as is traditional in the southern hemisphere in November, as […]
Part I: Buenos Aires – Travel Like a Local, Travel with a Local
In January 2012, right after returning from our unforgettable two-week trip to Egypt, Julia and I sat down to discuss our travel plans for the upcoming year. I was just days away from starting a new job at a large law firm and was understandably nervous about taking any time […]