The sound of a baseball meeting a catcher’s glove signifies everything about spring for me. I get chills to hear it for the first time, especially after a long winter. Shadows are cast over a bullpen plate as a game takes place just steps away. Hordes of fans like myself watch the pitcher-catcher duo practice their duet, almost like animals at a zoo. Their exchange barely seems human in the way in which the pitcher moves and the catcher receives. If you find yourself traveling throughout the United States from April to October, most likely you will find a baseball game taking place. It is Continue Reading
Budapest At Night Wishes You Were Here
I make my way up the street, bumping into what appears to be a costumed man. Complete with top hat and tails, he churns a pile of chestnuts, hoping for a sale. My nose is assaulted with a whiff of Budapest as I continue up the road to cross Margit híd, otherwise known as Margaret Bridge. Giant pieces of ice hurry down the Danube, almost looking like little fragments of countries turned into islands. The pieces move in a mesmerizing motion, so much so that find myself immune to the cold, perfectly content on staring at winter in essence in Budapest. When it reaches such cold temperatures in Continue Reading
Dessert in Vienna: A Slice of Aristocracy and the Sacher Torte
I step inside what appears to be wall-to-wall red fabric with gold appliqué, large portraiture and dripping crystal. A man in a black suit greets me as he points me in the direction of the coat check. Still frozen from Vienna’s cold outside, I hesitate. Do I have to? I glance around at the opulence bombarding me and realize, yes, I have to. To be an aristocrat for dessert in Vienna you would never wear your coat indoors. Five minutes later, after peeling the various layers of coats, scarves and hats off of my frozen self, I rub my hands together for warmth as I am shown to my table by the Continue Reading
Trieste, Italy Wishes You Were Here
I knew I would like Trieste from the minute the city tried to knock me over. I’m not a subtle person. I have always preferred my destinations to speak up to me bluntly, just as I would do in any situation. This northern Italian city is known for the bora, Italian for the strong, cold and dry northeast wind dizzying the Adriatic. These northern winds tend to plague the Adriatic in winter and this winter day was no different. Speeds have been known to get up to over 150 kilometers per hour. As I wait to cross the road to Piazza Unitá d’Italia, I hang on tight like a father in the passenger seat Continue Reading
Zagreb, Croatia Wishes You Were Here
On the coldest of Thursday mornings, you can hear the shivers of locals wandering through Zagreb’s heart. Jelacic Square is the main orientation point in the Croatian capital. Trams drop off locals in this area in a rhythmic pattern on their way to a day of work. They travel ever so quietly I almost feel as though I shouldn’t make a sound. Perhaps Zagreb isn’t a morning person. Set up in Jelacic Square is an impressive and dominating statue by Anton Dominik Fernkorn. The statue represents Ban Josip Jelacic, the governor that lead the Croatian troops to battle with Hungary. The battle was Continue Reading
Bled, Slovenia Wishes You Were Here
The sun’s rays draw a line in the water, just before Bled Island, almost looking for the on-lookers to make a decision. Which side will you choose? A lone man row-row rows a boat out to the morsel of land. The water is not that turquoise color I had seen in photographs. The landscape surrounding this body of water is mostly dark brown. It’s funny how the time and season for when you visit a place can completely alter it. There is never just one side to a place even though Lake Bled seems to be asking me to pick a side, its less grand winter or its surreal summer. My choice isn’t so Continue Reading
Redhead Reviews: Roomorama in Budapest
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary stay with Roomorama in exchange for this review. These are my opinions about the experience. Yours may vary. When the Hungarian version on Matt Damon greets you at your accommodations in Budapest, you know you are going to have a good stay. Who doesn’t love Matt Damon? Roomorama, a service that handles short-term rental accommodations contacted me to try their service on my trip through Europe. While I will always be a hotel girl at heart, I have enjoyed renting apartments when I travel. Being a homebody traveler, it is nice to have those Continue Reading