Writer. Creative Leader.
We laugh all night long with these two in our gas station dormitory, and when we realize the filthy comforters, which reek of cigarettes, offer no sheets beneath them, Justin and I reach for our sleeping bag liners–and Venetia (in pink) offers us lip gloss. “When in doubt, apply lip gloss!” she tells us.
In this issue’s Globetrotting column, How Can You Afford It?: It’s my belief that life doesn’t have to only consist of the familiar routine we frequently find ourselves living, unless we want it to. I believe we have the ability to figure out what it is we want in life and more or less create …
“STOP!” A small voice calls from deep within Albania’s wild Alps. I slow my pedaling. “PLEASE stop,” it begs. I hit my brakes. A young boy runs into view from a long dirt path tripping over his flip flops. Two younger boys follow shortly behind. They can’t stop grinning as they stare at Justin and me. “Hello,” I smile back. “How are you?” “Very good, thank …
“Stop saying thank you.” “Why?” “Because I can see it in your face.” *** Our first taste of Croatia was a good one. We discussed life over French toast and fresh-caught fish… (Not at the same meal.) Ate figs straight from the tree in the front yard… Laughed ourselves silly over shots of homemade rakia… Finally …
Last year I typed “Abruzzo” into Google for the first time after calling my grandmom to get her recipe for scrippelle soup. In 0.24 seconds, I was overwhelmed with 16 million results for the region my father’s family hailed from. Still, in my mind, Abruzzo existed in the same way the North Pole and the moon exists. You …
“It’s beautiful to find a place that feels like home when you’re on the road. That’s why I host people. I know how it feels.” Our three-night stay with this wonderful family felt like home all right. If home were in Abruzzo, Italy… had a fleet of foreign-to-us bikes to test out… provided multiple-course meals, …
“Be present. It’s not about accomplishing miles. It’s about enjoying the moment. It’s about stopping to smell the roses.” This beautiful couple met in a bike shop in Connecticut. He asked her to marry him six weeks later. He would have asked sooner, but that’s how long his parents waited. *Dawn & Luke, we can’t thank …
From the moment we arrived on our bikes, this little firecracker stole our hearts–we colored, played “acqua” “fuoco,” sang English nursery rhymes and chased Micheaux the kitten around the backyard. In the middle of dinner, she even climbed into my lap and sat with me. Being unable to communicate with her was heart-wrenching. Frustrated that everyone …
I couldn’t decide: “You don’t need a lot of money. If you live with less, enjoy the day and think something good will happen tomorrow, something good will happen.” – or – “They say if you walk in your garden in bare feet, the ground can feel your energy and grows what you body needs,” …
L to R: Justin, me, our awesome rock climber/bread baker host and Sekiji, a Japanese bike tourer who has been traveling the world for the past 5 years. Our host rode his bike across China. During his bike tour, he was invited into people’s homes and commonly offered chicken legs. Unable to communicate that he was …