Navy Yard can be a welcome retreat from the bustle of downtown DC. Its industrial buildings, water views, and trendy restaurants exude a cool, laid back vibe that almost feels like a different city. Navy Yard is so cool, in fact, that it recently made it on the Forbes’ list of the “coolest neighborhoods around…
Tag: culture
DC Passport Program: Columbia Heights
Ah, summertime in Washington, D.C. The season of staffers sweating their suits off up Capitol Hill, kids playing along the Waterfront, hippies slacklining in Meridian Hill Park, and tourists buzzing along the Mall. The summer brings a certain levity to life, which is impressive given DC’s humidity. One of my favorite parts about the summer…
A Stranger in Galway
The day was chilly and dark, the rain misting down without any real conviction. I had just eaten a hearty plate of fish and chips and I was feeling a little… under the weather. It was the land of Guinness, after all. Galway, Ireland was exactly what you imagine Ireland should look like. It was…
Nostalgia, She’s a Cruel Mistress
As the new school year starts, I’ve started to feel the unwelcome pangs of nostalgia again. It’s got me scrolling through old photos and presentations; looking out the window and sighing wistfully as I imagine an orange-tree filled plaza far away. What’s the hardest part of moving on? Is it the leaving or the remembering?…
Cata del Vino Montilla-Moriles
All year, Córdoba awaits the spring. We suffer through the frigid houses, unpredictable downpours, and naked trees for the most wonderful time of the year: May. May is the season of sun, flowers, and festivals; when the heat is still bearable and staying inside is nearly impossible. The first event to kick of the fiesta…
The Curious Guiri’s Guide to Spanish Politics
I can’t tell you the number of conversations about American politics I’ve had that have ended with an “oof, my country’s government is a mess.” The Spaniards usually sympathetically nod and then say, “Have you seen our country?” Many years ago, I made the observation that Spanish history reads much like the plot of a…
Innocent Racism?
I normally delight in the absurdities and humor of life and travel and my blog certainly reflects that. But today, I want to talk about something a little more serious. Unfortunately, there are still some things in life that aren’t funny at all. In case you didn’t know, International Peace Day is at the end…
Do you even Christmas, bro?
That’s right. Spain loves Christmas so much that they even invented a verb for it–navidear, “to christmas.” Since mid-November, the Córdoba city center has been abuzz with Christmas preparations. They’ve hung decorations the city center, stores have put displays in their windows, shoppers have rushed to take advantage of discounts. And now that it’s finally…
Flamenco
I saw my first flamenco show when I was in the 7th grade, but it was in a giant auditorium at George Mason. I don’t remember much from it except for the fact that I thought it was rather boring and that I was more interested in the lunch afterward. My second flamenco experience was…
Tom, the Coolest Dog You’ll Ever Meet
This is Tom. Tom is a golden labrador, living The Dream. He runs, he hunts ducks, he gets his stomach petted. Life is good. Tom is also the coolest dog I’ve ever met. He’s extraordinarily friendly, tolerant, and caring. He never lets the children roam away alone–he’s always there, making sure they’re safe. And even…
The Empress of the Universe 