And Traveling the World
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Valparaiso is a city of contrasts. Every time I told a Chilean that I was planning to spend an afternoon there, they raved about the historic port city as if it was the soul of the country.
Monday, February 21, 2011
I love the desert. There’s something awe-inspiring about an environment so harsh that only the most impossibly adaptable species of flora and fauna can survive. There’s something beautiful about dry, hot landscapes, cracked earth, and mountainous sand dunes. And there’s something powerful in a night sky so full of stars that it makes you remember your insignificance in the universe.
Friday, February 18, 2011
A lot of people have asked me why I chose to visit Chile. The answer is twofold. One, by February I find myself so tired of the winter in London that I always take a trip to a warm destination at the end of the month.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
I’ve never been to Texas. Despite having traveled to almost 75 countries, I have only been to around 25 U.S. states. It’s a little embarrassing. So when I booked my trip to Chile in November I decided to choose flights that would give me a couple of long layovers in a city and state I had never been to: Dallas, Texas.
Monday, February 14, 2011
One of my favorite London neighborhoods is Angel. Located in the northeastern part of central London, Angel is home to beautiful buildings, peaceful parks, and the famous stretch of Upper Street with all of its pubs, restaurants, and boutiques.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
February is the hardest month of the year for me. Winter has dragged on for three months, it still gets dark at 5pm, and while the snowdrops are blooming, the threat of snowstorms is never far.
When I returned from Asia four weeks ago, I reverted back to my pre-winter holiday self. I redoubled my efforts to find comfort food in London. The highlight of this quest has been my recent meal at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. But there have been other great meals as well, even if they lacked the fanfare of a new opening.
Monday, February 7, 2011
I didn’t think I would ever travel to Cornwall in the winter. My last visit took place in the warmth of summer, and my inner sun worshiper figured that if I ever returned, it would be at a similar time of year. But I was only thinking in terms of outdoor pursuits. It never occurred to me that there could be just as much to do indoors no matter what the weather.
Friday, February 4, 2011
On December 1st at 9am, I sat with one hand on my phone and the other feverishly hitting the refresh button on my Internet browser. I was determined to get a reservation at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, the new restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Given Heston’s iconic status in the culinary world, I knew it would be a big opening.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
I love history. I love that London has so much history, and that there is so much more of it close by. Last weekend a friend and I went to Runnymede, which, at only 40 minutes from central London, is both nearby and steeped in history. Famous for being the location where King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215, Runnymede played a pivotal role in the foundation of modern democracy.
