On safari in South Africa last spring, we were lucky enough to see one rather docile lion on our very first game drive. We thought that might be our only lion sighting, which more than satisfied us; as safari first-timers, we had few expectations. Little did we know what was in store for us the [...]
How to Afford a Ski Addiction
March 17, 2011 By 28 Comments
As we were leaving for our last trip to Tahoe, I ran into a friend as I was balancing my rental skis on my head. “You’re going to Tahoe again?” she sighed. “You’re so lucky. I would love to go to Tahoe. I’ve lived in California much of my life and have never gotten the [...]
Heavenly vs. Northstar: A Smackdown
March 14, 2011 By 22 Comments
We were supposed to be up at Tahoe for the next few days making use of our season passes one more time before winter officially ends in California, but alas, that day may already have come; warm 50-degree weather paired with drizzle do not great ski conditions make (or so the weather forecast said…apparently, they [...]
They Call Him Flipper
March 10, 2011 By 26 Comments
On my final morning in Bonaire, I was bummed. There were all these amazing dive spots I really wanted to check out—Bonaire’s claim to fame is its dive scene, after all—but didn’t have time because I was getting my advanced degree and also my purpose for being there in the first place was Celebrate the [...]
Taking the Plunge: Becoming an Advanced Diver
March 8, 2011 By 43 Comments
Back when I was in Bonaire last August, I did something I never thought I’d have any desire to do: I became an advanced open water SCUBA diver. Now, if you remember correctly, a mere five years ago, I was terrified of being in open water of any form—lake, river, ocean, it mattered not. And [...]
The One with the Edge and the Car Crash
March 2, 2011 By 44 Comments
Who knew so many of you were such big U2 fans? Or maybe you just like a good story. Regardless, after mentioning my run-in with the Edge last week back in 2003, I couldn’t not tell the story, could I? … It wasn’t even noon, and we were already at each other’s throats. Travel will [...]
The Garden Route: Paddling to the Indian Ocean
February 28, 2011 By 26 Comments
Before I get to today’s main attraction, I have a little announcement to make… Yay! Appropriate timing, as the announcement was made during the Oscars—I gave my own acceptance speech inside my head (…or not)—and I’ll keep this brief but just wanted to extend a huge THANKS to every one of you who voted and/or [...]
10 Most Memorable Travel Moments
February 23, 2011 By 52 Comments
I usually shy away from listicles but a) it’s my birthday!, b) this is a fun one and c) I really want to win Gran Tourismo’s Feburary competition…so here goes. 1. Trekking with gorillas—and nearly being trampled by a “teenager”—in Rwanda. 2. Smuggling political refugees over the Italian border under my bed bunk in a [...]
The Garden Route: Baboons Take to the Tee
February 21, 2011 By 10 Comments
After leaving our new monkey friend behind in Plettenberg Bay, we headed back down the road an hour to Knysna. Here, we finally took a bit of a breather following 10 days of activity and rushed travel without pause. After spending the night at Pezula Resort—a five-star coastal sanctuary where big names like Roger Federer [...]
The Garden Route: The Monkey Who Ate Our Lunch
February 16, 2011 By 21 Comments
This is the fourth stop on our trip along South Africa’s Garden Route. If you missed the eco-lodge in Gansbaii, the ostriches in Oudtshoorn and the elephants in Plettenberg Bay, go back and check them out first. ***** After we were through with the elephants, we started to head back to our lodge, Hog Hollow, [...]
