Luxury Tent Experience…Camping in the Country

At Manzil la Tortue one escapes the mayhem of Marrakesh and enjoys glamping at its finest.

Discovering Costa Brava: Part V

The best thing for being sad…is to learn something…That’s the only thing that never fails… That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting…Learn why the world wags and what wags it…Look what a lot of things there are to learn.― Merlyn to Arthur, T. H. White, The…

Cycling Through Costa Brava’s Medieval Villages: Part IV

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”—St. Augustine No history text or virtual tour can compare to cycling through Medieval hill towns in a land where BC structures and prehistoric cave paintings remain. Nor can a classroom feel like wind tangling my hair, smell like lavender abuzz with bees,  or taste like fresh bread in an olive…

Discovering Costa Brava’s Medes Islands: Part II

Of all the adventure and beauty planned for my “Discover the Medieval Coast” tour, I was most excited about snorkeling around the Medes Islands, the richest natural reserve in the western Mediterranean Sea. Since before Johnny Depp donned an eye patch, I was swooning over swashbuckler movies with my mom. Going to a pirates’ playground dating back to the Middle Ages would be great…

Discovering Costa Brava, Spain’s Medieval Coast: Part I

Adventure, beauty, relationship…basic human desires. All were met recently exploring Spain’s Costa Brava (Wild Coast). Between Barcelona and Jimmy Buffett’s Coast of Marseilles, I snorkeled in open waters, biked through Medieval hill towns, and laughed over meals and a pottery wheel with bloggers from Canada, the US, and Europe. I’m a romantic. I’ve always loved the Middle Ages and the sea. My first fling…

A Night to Remember at the European Travel Bloggers Exchange

The European Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX 2015) kicked off Thursday, April 30th with an Opening Night Party at Santa Christina Beach. Thank you, Costa Brava, for giving me a night to remember.  Thanks to last night’s hosts– Costa Brava Pirineu de Girona, Catalynya, and Lloret de Mar–and to TBEX for a great gathering this weekend. The boat bucked and sprayed waves past rugged cliffs…

Spring Fling with Andalusia

There are so many precious moments we take for granted or don’t appreciate until later. Then there are those that while IN the moment, we realize we are happy and THIS time we will never forget. I knew on April 3, 2015 I was in one of those moments. Since reading Paulo Coehlo’s The Alchemist–an inspiration for my move abroad– I’ve wanted to see Andalusia–the…

Hmmm…I had a Hammam

I did it. I bared all to be pampered like a princess and bathed like a baby. And I liked it. Marrakesh Must-dos for a Girl’s Day Out are what I call the 3 Ss–souk shopping, Jemaa el- Fnaa Square, and a scrub.   By- day the largest market in Africa hops with henna and monkeys and snakes, Oh My.  And by- night, pop up…

Congrats Marrakech for Being Named 2015 #1 Travel Destination in the World

I’m back in Marrakech where sidewalks in my neighborhood are crowded with tourists (Nashville, think CMA Music Festival Fan Fare).  And this party is just getting started!  While I was in Paris, Russia, and Prague (pics below) during Spring Break, my new city made big news.  What a perfect place for a travel blog. 🙂 Congrats, Marrakech, for being voted the #1 DESTINATION IN…

Easter in Europe

It’s good to be back on the blog and away in Spain.  I’m writing again, finally, from my balcony in Tarifa in another Cádiz– not the one beside Kentucky lake where I grew up, but in a province of Andalusia.  From here Santiago, seeker in The Alchemist, set out on his adventure. Here I’m taking a much needed break from mine. As the fog…

Royal Mansour for Regal Riads and Sunday Brunch

Elegant and beautiful.  Mysterious and still. Oh, Resplendent Respite. When I accepted an invitation to visit the Royal Mansour, I didn’t realize I’d be entering a sumptuous city handmade on command.  King Mohammed VI commissioned over 1000 artists from Marrakech, Fez, Meknes and Essaouira to use the finest materials in crafting the showcase of Moroccan splendor which opened in 2010.  Here guests are guided…

Snowbird Report from The Atlas Mountains

All winter, especially when stressed, I’ve looked to the Atlas Mountains from whence cometh my strength.  Surrounding Marrakesh the  snowy sentinels protect my heart and mind, particularly when work gets stressful.  I take my lunch and take to the hills.  Literally.  Staring at their beauty is a breather that calms my soul. Seeing pictures from home of Kentucky and Tennessee buried under record snow…