Portuguese is not Spanish!
It seems my language issues continue. Guess what folks? Portuguese is almost nothing like Spanish, and my English babbling has caused some confusion. Today I ordered an espresso, and then I asked for it to have just [...]
Tulum and the Beach Dogs
Every day that starts at 4:30 a.m. is a rough day, at least in Cindiland. But the carrot at the end of this day was a sugar beach in Tulum, 1,700 miles, 40 degrees, and a [...]
Tulum’s Tarantulas
Oh today. Today. Today. Today. Today was a day of happiness, fear, and loathing, though not exactly in that order. Strap in. It’s a weird one. I fell in love with Tulum today mostly thanks to [...]
A Rough Start in Rome
I arrived in Rome today, and I am even less a fan of the Italian train system that I was when the ticket witch charged me €64 (about 80 bucks) on the last train for not showing [...]
Cozumel Like a Local Part 2
Today I learned how to open a beer on a metal bench, because that’s what you do when you are at the bus station waiting for the airport bus. I didn’t even get a strange look [...]
The Hard Truth About Rome
People ask me all the time if I’m ever scared when I’m traveling alone. The answer is yes, pretty much every day. I don’t know the language, I don’t know how things work, I often don’t really [...]
Cozumel Like a Local
People ask me how I manage to travel the way I have been. I’ll let you in on my secret - I just go. I make it my No. 1 priority for my discretionary income and [...]
Vatican City From Above
Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City, shot from the top of the Basilica dome (with my cellphone even). This is literally the highest spot in Rome - nothing can be taller than this church, and it [...]
Being Bellisima in Rome
Here’s the thing about traveling to a different country: it’s hard to not feel like a total idiot at least part of the time. Take me, for example. I have this beautiful apartment and I can [...]
Airlines, Italian Wines, and Mean Girls, oh my.
After a pretty crappy 20-something-hour trip on an airline I won't name that incensed me beyond words for arbitrarily making me check my carry-on bag on the first leg, I arrived in Rome ready to shake [...]
Finding the Locals in Rome
Ah Rome. What a weird city. After rambling for what has honestly been at least seven miles today, I finally sat down for a glass of wine in a place that looked more like a tiny [...]
Rio Celeste
They say that Costa Rica is the heartbeat of the world's biodiversity, and I believe it. I have seen wonders that defy the imagination, like this sky blue river that flows to Rio Celeste, a magical [...]
Feet to the Fire in Costa Rica
The earth is on fire, folks, and nowhere is that more real than standing on an angry volcano where the earth's molten core is hissing through cracks in the ground. If you can stand the overpowering [...]
Playa del Coco, Costa Rica
After days and days of volcanoes and rain forests, I decided to end my trip with a stay in Playas del Coco - aka Coco Beach, on the northern coast of Costa Rica. I had no [...]
Driving in Costa Rica? Sure.
If you ever want to see every glorious, curious, frightening, authentic thing about a country, rent a car. My trip through Costa Rica began with a harrowing drive from San Jose straight north to La Fortuna, [...]