I walk into a coffee shop in Prague and the barista is chatting in Czech with the customer in front of me about what I assume involves whether she wants her muffin for here or to go. When they’re finished, I smile and say, “Hello.” I do this intentionally, not only because it’s polite, but …
When we were in Medellin for three weeks at the beginning of this trip, I made a comment that I didn’t really feel like a backpacker, yet. Even though I had a backpack and was in a different continent, I didn’t feel like I’d earned my stripes. Europe has earned me my backpacker wings. Every …
Nothing makes me feel more undeservingly cool like flying in upper cabins on huge airplanes for long-haul flights. I clearly don’t belong there. I’ve constantly got Fergie’s “Glamorous” stuck in my head, I’m wearing the same shirt I’ve worn for the past three days, and I take more pictures on the plane than in most …
October First is a holiday I made up to celebrate the start of fall, my favorite season. I realize that Fall technically begins in late September, but September always felt like more of a back-to-school month and it was always too hot in Illinois, anyway, to really feel like fall. The origin of October First …
I can’t actually figure out if I love Prague, or if I love Prague in Fall specifically. Autumn has turned what I’m sure is an already beautiful city and painted it with the most stunning reds and sparkling golds and popping yellows. I have walked into a fall fairy tale, and the coming weeks will …
This is our second year in a row at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, and we truly love it (obviously, what’s not to love). Even having done my research the first time around, Oktoberfest was not at all what I expected. I couldn’t fully comprehend the size or energy or quality of the festival until I …
If you asked me before we started this year-long trip what my favorite city was, my answer was always “Munich during Oktoberfest or London any other time of year.” The first time I stepped off the train and into Marienplatz, I just fell in love with the city. After making our way through many amazing …
They love Fiestas Patrias, or Independence Day, in Santiago. I’m talking five-day festivals, decorations in every bar and restaurant for weeks, and flags everywhere. People seem to be more excited about Independence Day than we’ve ever seen anyone be about futbal (and they also love futbal in South America). We didn’t plan to be in Santiago for …
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a pretty massive undertaking. Due to limited permits allowed on the trail, you have to pay a hefty fee and plan so far in advance. Once you’ve booked your trek, you now have six months (or more) to work out the details like your flight and accommodations, …
Origin: Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) Destination: Santiago, Chile (SCL) Flight Cost: $138 + 25,000 United points for two Payment Method: Cash + Points Value per Point: $0.013 Flight Date: 9/12/17 Flight Time: 1 Hour 52 Minutes Total Travel Time: 7 Hours Flight Delay: 0 Miles Covered: 803 Airline: Air Canada Plane: Boeing 787 Class: Economy Entertainment: Modern Family & Big Bang Theory Amenity Kit: None Food: Chicken Sandwich …