Prickly straw pokes my bare skin as I taste God only knows what while sipping Sangria out of a handmade ceramic mug. Little did I know, today was not the day for shorts or a weak stomach. Pushy Portuguese crowd my dinner table. Communal, crowded yet colorful, Portugal still manages to muster up medieval times in a modern world. While in the Algarve region of Portugal, with high-rise hotels, resorts and drones of beach bums crowding every inch of sand, for me, it wasn’t time to park my pasty self on a towel and bake in the sun, but rather find the only patch of shade no one seemed to want. Continue Reading
The Sahara Desert in Morocco Wishes You Were Here
Today's "Wish You Were Here" photographs come from Karin of the World On My Doorstep. Both photos are taken in the Sahara Desert, Morocco, where we boarded a camel safari from Merzouga into Erg Chebbi. The rolling sand dunes were breathtaking to see. Camels have traditionally always been the desert nomads' livelihood, and we saw this reflected in how they would treat their animals with so much care and love. Be sure to check out Karin's travel site, World On My Doorstep. Would you like to have your photo featured here? Email me at suzy [at] suzyguese [dot] com. Continue Reading
How You Can Spend Three Months in Europe and Not Go Broke
I wouldn’t say I am a budget traveler, but then again I would. I hate overpriced tourist traps. Europe happens to have loads. However, I appreciate travel splurges here and there, a nice meal or a three star hotel. When I set out for Italy this summer, I knew it was obviously a more expensive option than going to live in a village in Africa or backpacking through Southeast Asia. Since I could walk, a challenge has never made me back down. I left for Italy with very little money. For those of you who dream of spending a few months in Europe, specifically Italy, it is possible. Here are some Continue Reading
Quantifying and Qualifying Bragging And Travel
I sit in the Rome Airport waiting to board my flight. A man standing behind me loudly converses with some passengers I believe he met on his tour through Italy. Their conversation hints they know each other only on a surface level. I hear him proudly boast it was his second time to Italy and now he’s “done with Italy”. “Seen it," he says so casually. Somehow I doubt that as he sports the typical Italia jacket found in every tourist center throughout the boot. He goes on to drill his new friends, randomly asking, “So how many 50 states have you been to?”, similar to that of a child on the Continue Reading
When You Stop Smelling The Roses Of Travel
Arriving to a destination, there are unfamiliar sounds that quickly transition into the familiar. In Italy, the noises that wake me up in the morning are those of street sweepers that resonate more like that of a tsunami blowing through town. At around 5AM the garbage trucks arrive. If you live near a dumpster, you hear what sounds like a million bottles crashing to the ground just in time for sunrise. No need for roasters or alarm clocks. Italy has garbage men and women and diligent street sweepers. These sounds become familiar after a time. You don’t notice the garbage trucks at 5AM. The Continue Reading
The Last Suzy Stumbles Over Travel: Week of September 6, 2010
Somewhat delayed after battling a cold and jet-lag, I bring the five favorites in travel submitted last week. You may have noticed the title of this week’s “Suzy Stumbles” to be different. While I have enjoyed helping writers receive more love and attention for their travel posts along with reading other traveler’s adventures and ways of thinking about travel, Suzy Stumbles takes a great deal of time on my part. Coupled with my love of procrastination, this will be the last week of “Suzy Stumbles Over Travel”. I hope to delve into a similar segment on my site in the near future, or even start Continue Reading
The Statues Of Florence, Italy Wish You Were Here
Museums tend to hold the majority of cherished and prized Italian art. However, outside a number of Florentine residents add to the outdoor museum of the city. Part of what I love about Florence is its cohesive architecture, the city's ability to stick to one style even throughout newer, more modern buildings. Part of that appeal lies in nearly every piazza and around every corner. There is some sort of statue to be seen, admired, and yes, even feared. The more famous, the lesser known, the symbolic and the evil eyed are among my favorites in Florence. Continue Reading