I’m boarding SAS airlines to Norway shortly and for this 16-day trip to Norway and Denmark, I’ve achieved my first goal – packing light with carryon only a la Rick Steves. I fit everything into an Away “bigger carryon” suitcase, a large Baggallini computer bag with expansion zippers and a small Baggallini crossbody/fanny pack. After … Packing Light for Europe with Carryon Only READ MORE »

“I’m a travel teacher,” Rick Steves, well-known to PBS fans, told two sold-out sessions sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, NC this week. A self-described “conscientious traveler” who is “relentlessly curious” and believes in “soft power,” Steves is convinced that travel breaks down walls. In today’s world, “if you are worried about safety, … Dinner with “Travel Teacher” Rick Steves READ MORE »

Travel has changed; it’s different in 2023. While we may not be traveling as much to far-off places, how do we approach each day as a travel journey? I’ve been reflecting on this question since the pandemic began three years ago, and as March 2023 rolls in, I’ve come up with some answers. I’m not … How Travel Is Different in 2023 READ MORE »

I kept a journal on my iPhone Notes app during the pandemic; it was a handy digital diary of thoughts or experiences as they occurred. With my iPhone a constant companion for staying in touch with friends and family, I discovered that my texts, jottings in the Notes app and emails became a chronicle of … Keeping a Journal on the iPhone Notes App READ MORE »

I am flying to Paris today. As I do before each of these “significant” trips, in preparation for my journey I took the amply-dogeared paperback, The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton, from my bookshelf in search of wisdom, insight, even a mantra, to accompany me. I once took this little volume with me … France 2022 – Dreamy Anticipation with a Dose of Reality READ MORE »

When I first started traveling for business, I was petrified of dining alone. I thought I would be marked as a loser and I had no idea how I’d fill my time. So I bought take-out or ordered in room service, which sometimes worked OK because of the quiet or the chance to get out … Party of One – A Business Woman’s Guide to Dining Solo READ MORE »