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 […]

Rioting in Cuernavaca

We were enjoying a quiet breakfast of an omelet and sopes on an outdoor patio, taking in the beautiful view of the central plaza. Like so many town squares in Mexico, it featured all the familiar elements: a park, a gazebo, a historic church, and the oversized colorful letters spelling […]

Fumbling Around The World FAQ

By Julia / April 2, 2019

We are often asked the same questions by different people any time we mention an upcoming trip.  Usually, it goes something like this: Q:  Oh, wow!  That country! Do you have relatives or friends there? A:  Nope. Q:  Do you speak the local language? A:  No, not at all.  Not unless it’s English, Russian, or slowly spoken Spanish. Q: Why […]

The Happiest Pizza on Earth

By Julia / March 14, 2019

We were in Kampot, walking around the main touristy street, when I noticed a strange abundance of Italian restaurants, to be more precise – pizza restaurants.  All the menus displayed pizza and pasta and a few other Italian/Western dishes, alongside traditional Khmer cuisine.  Every restaurant had the word “Pizza” in […]

Karlštejn Castle, Czech Canyons, and How I Almost Died.

By Victor / March 11, 2019

Over the years, we have been in a lot of unfortunate, ill-fated, and plainly dangerous situations.  We already posted about being attacked by monkeys and will soon write out how we visited Egypt in the middle of the Arab Spring, lost our luggage in Barcelona, and ignored all anti-mugging advice […]

Southeast Asia – No Happy Endings

By Julia / March 6, 2019

The only thing I love more than massages is cheap massages.  Sure, a luxurious spa with relaxing music, aromatherapy, essential oils, and a highly trained therapist who will definitely not grope you in weird places is nice.  I splurge on one every birthday.  But it just cannot beat an hour-long […]

Iceland in a van

By Julia / February 24, 2019

We had 6 days and about $1000 each.  “The tickets to Iceland are super cheap!” Victor called out from the couch, “$400 round trip for around Labor Day.”  In the back of my head, I could faintly remember an article I read about the recession in Iceland and how much […]

Guatemala – Strangest Place for the Best Coffee

By Victor / February 23, 2019

Guatemala, a country where coffee is the number three export after bananas and raw sugar, where coffee plantations are crowded by volcano ranges, and where thousands of people subsist by growing coffee, happens to consume some of the worst coffee in the world.  All of their flavorful coffee beans are […]

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