The Secret of Salinas
A quaint city located in the Andes mountains of Ecuador at about 11,600 feet above sea level, Salinas de Guaranda is small, but from them I have learned that even the smallest things can push the biggest obstacles. Salinas is a peaceful city of vibrant-colored buildings surrounded by lush, green mountains. The name Salinas originates from the city’s infamous salt mine, which is situated in the city...
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Fraternité in France
Stepping out of the Charles de Gaulle Etoile subway stop and being greeted by the Arc de Triomphe as snow-peppered wind kissed my nose was the most magical moment of my life. Knowing that Napoleon’s prestige brought an entire continent to its knees and seeing the remnants of his power mere blocks from bullet-worn buildings from the German occupation felt like a swift basketball to the gut. I remember...
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Hau’oli in Hawaii
I eagerly stepped onto land I had never been on before, but to my surprise, it felt like home. In July of last summer, our nine day adventure began in the beautiful island of Oahu. Happiness comes in many shapes and forms. For my family, it was the conveyor belt that moved our shopping cart between the different floors at Walmart. From this first glimpse of Hawaii, I knew I would love my time there. The...
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Visit to Denali National Park
When most people think “vacation,” they think shopping, beaches, lots of sun. When I think vacation, I imagine the wilderness, scenic landscapes and wildlife. Alaska fit my idea of vacation perfectly. A place of natural beauty virtually untainted by human civilization, Alaska is abundant with gorgeous scenery, a peaceful atmosphere, and wildlife perfect for a nature lover. Kicking off our search...
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Mosquito Beach
Mosquito Beach, MI is a very deceiving name, for the beach itself is anything but deterring. We began the day by hiking through dense woods, past trickling streams, and over rolling sand dunes. We trudged along for what seemed like hours but in reality was only about an hour and half. Finally, it was as if the clouds parted and we were seeing the first rays of sunshine after a storm. The path opened...
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Blueberries in Belarus
When I look back, my fondest memory is small, round, and blue. One might expect that a different object would surface in my memory, but my mind always circles back to the blueberry, or chernika, in Russian. And not just a single berry, but bucket after bucket laden with this juicy fruit just screaming to be eaten. Every couple of years, my family would fly thousands of miles to return back home,...
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Living the Imperial Life in Vienna
There are few European cities associated with imperial style like Vienna, where hundreds of palaces, gilded monuments and museums attest to a grand past. Today, visitors to the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire can experience that lavish lifestyle for themselves. Sleeping at a Castle Relive the life of a Hapsburg empress at the delectable Schönbrunn Grand Suite...
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Cancun’s Beautiful Neighbor
The strong wind and obnoxiously blinding sun had me squinting for the entire twenty-minute ride. It was a good thing we were at the top of the double decker tour boat, or I would be squinting purely to avoid an eyeful of the salty caribbean water. Even through the slits of my eyelids the ocean looked like a fluid blue crystal. Seagulls flew overhead, closely following our boat as we approached the...
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The Best Way to Get Lost in the French Riviera
After walking through the gorgeous checkerboard-covered square Place Massena, we reached the bustling main street that hugs the pebbly beaches of the Mediterranean. Our tour guide led us to an unending flight of stairs that led up to what’s called Castle Hill. I began to run up the ruthless stairs, curious about what waited for me at the top. Pictures can’t do it justice. The golden sunset falling...
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Underwater: A Different Dimension of Paradise
When the last snorkel bag is jammed into the back of the rental car, my family piles in. Our crew, a group of thirteen, consists of snorkelers ranging in age from 8 to 73. We drive up the coast of West Maui to Honolua Bay, buzzing with energy for a morning snorkel at one of the most extraordinary locations in the world. We traipse along the dirt path in the woods and arrive at our snorkel spot. All...
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Destination: Great Wall of China
I once was under the impression that seeing something in a picture was the same thing as being in that place. As a result, I never saw the need to travel to discover anything. I was happy at home with my books and internet connection. The world was mine to discover through the text of a Wikipedia page. I pictured the Great Wall in my mind’s eye. The rough cobblestone, worn away by thousands of...
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A New York State of Mind
What I remember the most was having to pee. The line was long, almost a 2-hour wait, but we finally made it...to another line, which leads to an elevator that went up 80 floors, to another line for another elevator for another 6 floors, AND THEN we made it. My first look at the New York City Skyline was through the cracks of a few peoples shoulders out of the 86th-floor window of the Empire State...
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