While many of my planned trips this year evaporated in the spring, there were still some trips I chose to take for business and personal reasons. During a brief window in the summer when PCR tests weren’t required, I went … Continue reading
European Life and Travel
Traveling Without My French Resident Card
So in an earlier post I shared that I had been pickpocketed late last year and hence no longer had my physical four-year carte de séjour, which was perhaps the hardest-earned French document in my possession. In that same article … Continue reading
Long Lost Luggage
“But why didn’t they load it on the flight?” I was at Orly Airport, at the luggage desk for Vueling Airlines, or more properly speaking, at a desk that serviced 6 different airlines, one of which was Vueling, which if … Continue reading
London Calling
I often tell people I never expected to like London as much as I do. Don’t get me wrong — I would never, ever live there — it’s too expensive, rushed, big, and dense. But for a few days at … Continue reading
Don’t Use Opodo
When I lived in the United States I unfailingly used the (now defunct) Hipmunk to search for flights. They use an “agony index” which scores layovers, price, etc. to give you the best option for your journey, not necessarily just … Continue reading
Starbucks in Europe
Americans take it for granted that they can sit in most coffee shops or Panera-like establishments and work for hours, after buying one token item of food or drink. If the place is busy enough or you don’t plan to … Continue reading
Forgetting My Passport
A huge pit formed at the very bottom of my stomach. A hot flash of embarrassment started at my chin, ducked below my eyes, and lurched forward onto my forehead, spilling down my cheeks. These physical reactions usually accompany the … Continue reading
The Power of Old Churches
“Wow, it sounds like you’re really into churches.” My companion was to my right. Corsica was outside our window and below, to our left. He was a Spaniard and we were both headed to Romania that weekend. I, for a … Continue reading