Last month I visited Johannesburg, South Africa with AFAR Experiences. It was interesting ahead of the trip to tell people that I was going to South Africa, to Joburg specificially and not Capetown. To be fair, I also wanted to see Capetown, but I only had so many vacation days and safari won out over…
The Making of a Fresco by Diego Rivera in San Francisco
There are four murals painted by famed Mexican artist Diego Rivera in the Bay area. Seeing a mural by Rivera has been on my bucket list of life experiences to accomplish since I studied his work in college. I love the storytelling nature and accessibility of his art so I’ve set out to see them…
The Curated Commute — South Africa After Mandela
The Curated Commute is a series where I pick interesting podcasts or other audio treats to accompany you on your commute. Hopefully they’ll entertain you and maybe even help you learn a little something while you’re en route… *** Today’s featured podcast is a conversation with Douglas Foster, author of the new book After Mandela: The Struggle…
Guess Which City This Is…
Can you guess which city this is just by looking at the photograph above? I couldn’t until I visited it very recently. Here are a couple of hints to help you out… It’s one of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the world and home to more than 4 million people. It’s located in the…
Feeling Faceless Under the Veil
The veil is considered an external symbol of a Muslim women’s internal religious belief. As a Western women, I confess that it’s a completely foreign concept to me. My travels over the past couple of years have brought me to Egypt and to India and have prompted me to learn much more about why Muslim…
My New Apt in San Francisco
Over the last year, a lot has changed in my life, and I haven’t mentioned most of it here. So I thought now might be a good time to share a quick update. The short version: I sold the majority of my stuff (including my TV), moved out of my house, became a landlord, handed…
After Genocide, Scenes from the Road in Rwanda
What do you think of when I say Rwanda? Inevitably, you probably think of the terrible genocide that occurred in 1994, but Rwanda has much more to offer now than that mental picture would suggest. Life is very different in Rwanda today… Rwanda is touted as an example of economic development in sub-saharan Africa recognized…
Good Intentions, Bad Habits & Mondays
I spent last weekend in Napa with friends. It was a great weekend. Relaxed and full of laughs and great wine. Sparkling, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel. It was the kind of weekend that can be really hard to shake off when it comes time to get back to work or when Monday morning rolls around….
How the Nazis Plundered Champagne & Moët During WWII
If you tour Moët & Chandon’s caves today, as I did during a recent day trip from Paris, you’ll learn a little bit about the famed champagne house’s history. They will tell you an official version of the history that’s heavy on the details of wine production, but super light on the people and events. What…
Along California’s Lost Coast
The Lost Coast is about 230 miles north of San Francisco. It begins in northern Mendocino county and continues through southern Humboldt county, where Highway 1 juts inland to avoid the steep terrain and rocky coastline. If your perfect bliss is the total absence of civilization . . . the romantically named Lost Coast is…
