Cheers to Six Years: A Europhile Reunion in Toronto

When I moved to France in 2007 for an eight-month stint as a high school English teacher, I had already chatted with Stephanie via Facebook because we'd both been placed in the same city -- Angers. We formally met one afternoon in the central plaza, where she introduced me to Becca, whom she'd just met at a regional orientation and who was living in Nantes, a 40-minute train ride away. We'd only been teaching for a week and were already due for our first vacation. 

Welcome. To. France. 

Less than a minute into our conversation, we were planning our first trip:

Becca: "So, for the October break, Steph and I were thinking we'd like to go to Greece. Are you in?"

Me: "Sign me up."

That evening, I was texting Steph my credit card number so that she could book my flight. 

Travel Flashback: Grad Students Hit the Travel Jackpot

- "Where are the free water sports? We're here for the free water sports!"

In 2006, three girlfriends and I embarked on a trip to the Bahamas. Carmen, who was pursuing a PhD in Caribbean Literature, was presenting at a conference in Nassau, and our university was paying for her hotel room. Two double beds = room for four, so off we went to achieve what no starving grad student had achieved before -- a four-day trip to the Bahamas for $23. Our expenses broke down as follows:

Capture the Colour Photo Contest 2013

For the second year in a row, Travel Supermarket is hosting Capture the Colour, a contest in which travel and photography bloggers showcase five pictures, each featuring a different color -- yellow, red, green, white, and blue. Each blogger then nominates five fellow bloggers to enter the contest, which ends October 9.

Recently, Joe of Cosmic Smudge nominated me. Yay! There's no way I'm winning this thing, but it's fun to participate because 1) it makes me feel like part of the travel blogger community and 2) it gives me an excuse to spell the word colour with a u. So here goes.

Peace and Quiet in Ocala, Florida

I'm a city girl at heart. I love the energy and possibilities of a big city and the anonymity that comes with being one of many on a busy street. Sometimes, though, I find it necessary to -- excuse the cheesy expression -- stop and smell the roses (I couldn't resist). Last year, a friend invited me to spend a weekend with the girls at her family's country home in Ocala, Florida, a 5-hour drive from my hometown of Miami. We strolled the grounds, chatted, played pool, ate cheese, drank wine, and lounged by the swimming pool. I wouldn't wish to live in a permanent state of tranquility, but I do value regularly making the time to do nothing at all. Below are a few snapshots of my bucolic weekend.

Trying Texan Wine

When people say that everything is bigger in Texas, does "everything" include glasses of wine? I was pondering this all-important question when I arrived at Pedernales Cellars, a convenient stop in the Texas Hill Country on my way back to Austin from the adorable town of Fredericksburg. Before this trip, I had no clue that Texas produced any wines at all. It was happy news, particularly since the wines were better than I expected. After my wine tasting, I enjoyed some quiet time on the back terrace overlooking the field and feeling very Little House on the Prairie.

The Sun Sets on Lake Travis

Part bar, part restaurant, part shopping strip, and part lookout, the 30,000-square-foot The Oasis on Lake Travis is one busy complex. Getting a table with a view of Lake Travis (really, a reservoir of the Colorado River, but let's not parse words here) may take some patience, but it's worth the effort. The Oasis calls itself the "sunset capital of Texas," and the views don't disappoint. See for yourself:

A Porto River Cruise at Sunset

On the first leg of my trip to Portugal, I stood atop Lisbon’s ancient castle overlooking the city to watch a stunning sunset. It seemed fitting that I should say goodbye to Portugal by taking in another sunset, this time while cruising the Douro River. Hopping onto one of the many boats from the riverfront Ribeira neighborhood is a great way to see the city from a different angle. These cruises generally last about an hour, an hour in which there’s nothing to do but relax and snap a few photos. Below are some of mine: