Tag: europe
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GLAMsterdam
I started partying [raving] in the late 1990s, and for a while, the rave scene significantly shaped who I was. During those years, I became deeply immersed in the drum-n-bass (DnB) genre of electronic music, turning into quite an aficionado. Although I stopped attending raves every single weekend in the early 2000s, my passion for…
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I AMsterdam
The train journey from Brussels to Amsterdam whizzed by much faster than expected. I nestled into my plush, first-class coach seat intending to read, but in no time, we were pulling into Amsterdam Centraal station. I grabbed my luggage and hailed a cab outside, which took me to my flat in the Museumplein district, just…
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a word on accommodations
I was awakened by the sound of thunder and the relentless drumming of rain against my open window. Quickly, I moved my suitcase away from the window to protect my clothes from getting wet and snuggled back under the warm down comforter. It was still dark outside, and lightning momentarily lit up my room. It…
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brussels
Leaving the enchantment of Paris was difficult, but I had a train to Brussels to catch! Upon arriving, I took a brief cab ride to my hotel in the city center. Though I was initially saddened by my departure from Paris, I soon ventured out, took a walk, and grabbed a beer to settle in.…
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paris, je taime
I’m head over heels for Paris, and the thought of leaving fills me with dread! Even though I have five more days here, it’s the first European city where I’ve truly felt at home, despite not knowing the language. How curious is that? The Seine River is one of my favorites. I adore how it…
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paris
Paris has an uncannily familiar feel to me, though I can’t quite put my finger on why. I departed Italy on Sunday, July 4, catching an overnight train from Bologna to Paris. The long layover in Bologna was a bit of a drag, but once on the train, I found my couchette in a cabin…
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venice
My two younger sisters and I arrived in Venice early Sunday morning, greeted by a fierce storm. As the water bus navigated to our stop at Fondamente Nuove, rain lashed the boat, drenching everything. Disembarking, we took shelter, struggling to find our hotel in the downpour with our luggage in tow. The rain intensified as…
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rome
We drove from Tuscany to Rome and arrived on Wednesday night at the seaside suburb of Ladispoli, where friends of Rossella and Matteo graciously hosted us. I spent a delightful Thursday by the sea, enjoying a cold Heineken and soaking up the sun while the little one frolicked in the water. That evening, my sisters…
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italian hospitality in tuscany
In America, we often talk about ‘Southern Hospitality,’ but I’ve discovered something even more extraordinary here in Italy that I’d call ‘Italian Hospitality.’ I’m continuously amazed by the warmth and generosity of the Italian people, and I feel incredibly fortunate. Rossella and Matteo introduced me to Italy by taking me from their quaint village of…
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athens & the acropolis, greece
After an exhausting first week of school, I finally got to sleep on Saturday morning, which felt incredibly refreshing. I was thoroughly drained by the end of each day, so the rest was much needed. One of my friends and her husband from my old job in San Francisco were passing through Athens on their…
She Travels Alone 