Whistling in the Dark, Lost in Costa Rica

How did I get here, I walked down a lonely, rainy hill toward my room — a place so far removed from anything that I could be scarcely be missed if I were to be swallowed by the night. I whistled the whole way to my room. I also wondered, how did I get so far from civilization?

First I left San Jose, Costa Rica, on one of those 20-seat, puddle jumpers with propellors. Then, I landed in Drake’s Bay before... [Read more]

Catching a Break in El Salvador

Known as one of the world’s surfing Meccas, La Libertad is a small, uncrowded village located on the Pacific Ocean approximately 30 minutes west of El Salvador’s capital San Salvador. I was in the country last May visiting family when my husband and I had the opportunity to stay at a cool, new beachside hotel. We are always looking for interesting accommodations off the beaten track and, being avid travellers, we are... [Read more]

The Wow of Lucca

I know better, I really do! Although I’ve never quite understood the European practice of validating tickets immediately after purchase, I am aware of the requirement. This time however, I was feeling complacent because, in my last six train rides in Italy, no one had asked for my ticket, validated or not. A glance at my watch that told me my train from Pisa to Lucca was leaving in less than five minutes.

As a... [Read more]

Luxembourg’s Hostellerie du Grunewald

Situated at the very heart of Western Europe is a small country named Luxembourg, which is 80km long and 68km wide.

Luxembourg City, the Grand Dutchy’s capital, founded in 963, has maintained an atmosphere of contemplative tranquility and at its historic core (declared a World Heritage) reveals a blend of contrasting styles of architecture developed over the past five centuries. The surrounding countryside of... [Read more]