Advice from one traveler to another
It was the photos of Halong Bay that sealed the deal. After one look at those emerald green waters and limestone pillars…Javi and I knew Vietnam would be our next destination. Our first stop was the capital city of Hanoi. Next we headed to Halong Bay (Hạ Long Bay)—which is only a four hour drive from the…
Hanoi is an enormous, dirty, and vibrant city. It is the epitome of organized chaos and it was the perfect introduction to Vietnam. The sheer quantity of scooters in Vietnam’s capital will blow your mind. You have to see it to believe it. Vietnam has a population of 92 million people and over 45 million…
Cambodia is known as the Kingdom of Wonder and now that I’ve seen the Angkor temples for myself I couldn’t agree more. After 10 days in Vietnam we headed to Cambodia and were completely blown away by its beauty and history. In this post I’ve compiled some important tips that you will need to know…
Angkor was the impressive capital city of the Khmer Empire (9th to 15th centuries) and is located in the province of Siem Reap, Cambodia. Khmer emperors constructed breathtaking temples and palaces to display their power, wealth, and religious devotion and (luckily for us) many of these structures are still standing today. Angkor Wat is the…
After six years of living abroad I am finally getting permanent residency in Spain! This week Javi and I went to the Oficina de Extranjería (immigration/foreigner office) in Cádiz to submit my paperwork. I’ve been able to live and work in Spain (legally) for the last five years thanks to our civil union, but since…
I was on my second bottle of Fino at the feria of Jerez when the sobering topic of expat taxes came up. While chatting to a fellow American expat, who just happened to be banker, I learned the consequences of tax evasion could not just affect me, but my family as well. At this point we…
Last night I had the pleasure to attend the first-ever Feria del Langostino here in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The event was put on by a collection of local businesses and organizations with the intent of showcasing two of Sanlúcar’s star products—wine and langostinos (King Prawns). Eight restaurants were chosen to participate in the fair and the…
With family in town I had the perfect excuse to plan a weekend getaway to one of my favorite cities in Portugal…Lagos! I love visiting Lagos for its quaint historic center, balmy weather, gorgeous grottos, and lively party scene—not to mention it’s home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches! Javi and I have…
I‘ve mentioned before it‘s necessary to rent a car if you want to see the best coves of Majorca (i.e. Mallorca)…but it‘s even better if you can rent a boat! When Activity Fan contacted me about doing a yacht excursion post I jumped at the opportunity to go. If you watched my Instagram stories during…
This past weekend Javi and I went to Mallorca to visit family and friends. Before the trip we were researching boat rental options, so you can imagine my delight when Activity Fan reached out to me about doing a yacht excursion post! Myself along with five friends were invited to enjoy a sunset cruise on…
In an attempt to fully immerse myself in Spanish culture during my year abroad, I decided to participate in all of Sanlúcar’s events and fiestas to the best of my abilities. This included learning how to dance sevillanas and purchasing my very own traje de gitana (flamenco dress) for the annual fair (aka. feria). As you…
When you think of stereotypical “Spain” what images come to mind? For me it’s flamenco dresses, good wine, music, and dancing…and Sanlúcar’s Feria de la Manzanilla encompasses all of these elements and then some! Cities all over Spain have their own annual fairs but if you ask me, the feria of Sanlúcar de Barrameda is…
