Being There California, Summer, 1998 We had never gone away together, never taken a vacation. My mother had always been too busy cleaning houses, changing diapers, and dating worthless men. But she made time, one summer when I was fourteen going on fifteen, for us […]
The Clandestine Chef Barcelona, Spain Deep in the heart of central Barcelona, I step into an apartment building entranceway. The décor instantly grabs my attention, created when the city experienced a metamorphosis of modernist architecture; intricate multi-colored murals look down at me from high ceilings. […]
No Problem Thailand, 1990 After the all night train ride, I arrive in Bangkok at oh-dark-thirty. I rub my eyes, yawn, and immediately light a cigarette, along with most of the train car of travelers. A few minutes later, a train attendant comes with a […]
Is this the End of the World? Savai’i, Western Samoa I knew it would be memorable part of my trip, but this underestimation made me question a few things. The boat from Upolu was soothing and people mostly kept their heads down to thwart the […]
We head north towards the Borgarfjordur region. With little spring traffic, we soon enter the 6-kilometer Hvalfjordur undersea tunnel towards Akrafjall and the north western areas, shortening the hour-long journey from Reykjavik to seven minutes. Sue, the GPS navigator, as the Icelandic countryside unfolds like […]
Dad, Do you remember the photos you showed me years ago, Ansel Adams in Yosemite? I said it wasn’t real, nothing is that perfect. Remember? I went there, stood looking, and still I’m not certain. Maybe it was in my mind. Maybe it’s no longer […]
