Sleepless (In Seattle)

The song “Sleepless” by Until June plays over and over again in my head, the vocals adding a soundtrack to my evening stroll through the streets of Seattle. But rather than longing for a someone, I am left enamored by a “someplace.” This seems to happen every time I encounter a new city, fresh with …

A Truly Ashland Getaway

For those of you who don't know, Ashland, Oregon is known for the Oregon Shakespeare festival, so it seems only fitting that I had a whirlwind of a time there-- like something straight out of a play (minus the tragic end, of course). The Airbnb I chose, The Peerless Hotel, was something from a Victorian …

An Image With No Pictures

A couple embraces as they watch their children play; he kisses her forehead, and she leans into him. A bald man wearing an American flag bandana and a trucker hat sits by the flowing creek for hours, listening to the babble of the brook. A bearded man crafts pendants and plays guitar as he awaits …

On the Road Again

I have been yearning for this road trip for more than a year now, and to see it finally come to fruition feels so incredibly pleasing to my soul. When I started "planning" for this trip ages ago, I was just excited to get some traveling in once things started opening back up. But this …

A New Chapter

Returning to writing feels messy, like the first time getting back on a bike after many, many years. You know, the thing they say you'll never forget how to ride? Well, maybe you don't forget altogether, but it's definitely a bumpy ride once you get back on that seat. And yet clumsily, slowly, surely, you …

Back and Banff-er Than Ever

It's been over two years since my last blog post. For someone who hopes to make a career out of my passion for travel writing, that isn't great. I've had my ups and downs these past couple of years that have pretty much stalled my writing; I may write another post about the travels I …

Through the Looking (Shard of) Glass

Over the past three weeks I have visited twelve different cities in five different countries, all the while making memories with my family. I could go on and on about exploring new cities and revisiting ones I've already seen, but I'd like to start writing about my most recent holiday with where my trip ended: …

On My Own but Never Alone

When I moved into my new flat in Hatfield, one of the first things I did was put pictures and mementos up on my wall of my family and friends and I, to feel more at home in this foreign place-to feel like everyone was still with me. Over the course of the past few …

Heart Is Where the Home Is

It is currently 5:00am on a Monday morning and I am not waking up, but rather I have already been awake for an entire day. In the past four days I have had to write six poems, two 600-word reflective commentaries, and a 2,500 word short story. Correction: I am still writing that second commentary …

Just Goin’ With the Flo(rence)

Upon arriving in Florence, the first priority (as it has been with every city along this trip) was checking in to the hostel. Sam and I stayed in Ciao Hostel, a short walk away from the train station where we came in, so it was pretty convenient. The first stop on the agenda was the …