Athens, the home of the world’s greatest philosophers. Athens, the cradle of Western civilization. Athens, the jewel of the Ancient World. Just the name inspires a tingling thrill throughout my body, so when I caught a glimpse of the actual land through the airplane window, I almost fainted. The feeling only grew worse as I … More My First Impression of Athens
My bone marrow was frozen. My blood was slushy ice. My soul was frosting over. And all I could think of was how poetic my situation was. There I was, trudging down an empty road in the French countryside, freezing like everything else around me. The vineyards of St. Emilion we were supposed to be … More Warm Hearts are not Tinged by the Frost
St. Emilion, a small town a short train ride outside of Bordeaux, is famed for its lush, green sprawling vineyards glowing in golden sunlight which produce world class wine every year. I recommend not going in December for this experience. But if you like fog, dead tree branches, and air so cold your soul could … More St. Emilion’s Icy Warmth
“I think it’s ugly,” I announced as we hurried out of the Barcelonan metro to reach the church in time. I wasn’t to blame. Stiff orange skyscrapers towered over the sandy structure like menacing claws, and the construction-zone like atmosphere was not appealing. But as we rounded the corner to face the front of the … More Sagrada Familia: Gaudi’s Unfinished Masterpiece
It was a bright and sunny day, blue skies dotted with fluffy white clouds as we drove merrily along through the Tuscany countryside, passing quaint villages adorned with Mediterranean Cypress and sprawling vineyards. I was eagerly anticipating our visit to the old town of Lucca, but as we neared its walls, I was astonished when … More Lucca: Home of 100 Churches
Ever since I was a wee lass, I’ve had an intense love of France. The land, the history, the language, the culture…all of it. Perhaps it’s because of the French blood flowing through my veins, or of my last name that its people can actually pronounce, or of reading and watching several versions of The … More A Golden Sunset on the Eiffel Tower
Our last day in Vienna was rainy. Figures. Luckily, all we had planned for it was to visit the numerous churches around the city, perhaps as many churches as there were metro stations. First stop: St. Stephan’s Cathedral. The square in front of it was very crowded, despite the drizzly weather and gloomy grey clouds. … More Vienna’s Surprises
The Voyaging Storyteller 