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PHOTOS: Pretty Portugal

November 5, 2012

I’ve met a lot of travelers, and I read a lot of travel blogs. Half the people I follow on Twitter have something to do with travel, and travel memoirs make up the bulk of my personal library. So how come I’m just now discovering that Portugal is a big, shiny gem?

I HAVE NO IDEA.

Although I’m excited to travel anywhere, I can’t say Portugal was at the top of my must-see list. But I am so thankful I made it here. This country has blown me away with fairytale palaces, magnificent landscapes and an exceptional history of explorers, artists and dreamers. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to make it part of this European road trip

Unfortunately I only have a short time here — I’m headed back to Spain tomorrow — but it was enough to move Portugal to the top of my must-return list.

Here’s the Fortaleza do Guincho, a 17th century fortress that has been turned into a magnificent hotel.

The Moorish Castle. The stairs here helped me burn off the bowl of olives I ate for lunch.

The spectacular view from Hotel Trivoli in Sintra.

Reflection in a tuk tuk mirror during a tour of Sintra. (The tuk tuks were made by Vespa and very chic. They are an ideal way to comfortably cover a lot of ground on Sintra’s winding, hillside roads.)

Refilling my water bottle with some of Portugal’s crisp, delicious agua.

Hillside near Sintra.

Yet another gorgeous castle.

Beautiful buildings dot the hillsides.

An arch going to Pena Palace.

Doorway outside of Pena Palace.

King Neptune looks angry.

Public water fountain on the street.

Cabo de Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. The coastline reminded me of California.

Lisbon after dark.

PHOTOS: Bikes around the world

August 7, 2012

My sister has been obsessed with bicycles lately, to the point where she wants to redecorate part of her home with a cycling theme. It’s a really cool idea, especially since she’s so passionate about her own bike.

But I couldn’t stomach the thought of her paying a lot of $$$ for a framed bike photo from World Market or Target — especially when I took thousands of photos of everything around the world. I was positive I had something she could use. And I was right!

Here are just a few of the bikes I encountered on my travels.

Lone red bike in a neighborhood in Hoi An, Vietnam.

A line of rental bikes in Sukhothai, Thailand, because bikes are THE best way to explore the ancient city’s ruins.

It’s like Jem and the Holograms took over this street in Vientiane, Laos. Pink and purple power!

A mustard home on a side street in Hue, Vietnam.

Pretty bike on a New Orleans street.

I love this one the most, even if the bike isn’t the most photogenic, because we are two sisters.

This last one I wouldn’t put on any wall in my home. But I still marvel over this man in Mumbai with a seriously impressive stack of eggs. He is the eggman! He is the walrus! Or something.

What in the world?! Funny photos from around the globe

April 18, 2012

Here are some of my favorite funnies from around the world. Why? Because it’s tax day. And because today has been kind of a bummer anyway. And because you should stop asking questions.

Just enjoy these random bits that I collected on my round-the-world trip — like this command that was painted on a barn in Uganda.

It makes perfect sense.

Everything is slightly off in Bolivia, including this discount version of Uno.

Wise words from a Buddhist temple in Thailand.

The hottest curry at this shop in South Africa was the Mother-in-Law Exterminator.

An after-dinner condom jar in Thailand.

Uh, how many times does Taiwan have to tell you? DON’T sit on the bears!

Please to enjoy some cock at this Vietnamese shop.

Or sample the poo-poo platter here.

And drumroll please … my very favorite sign of all time. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

Luang Prabang is fabu-Laos!

June 17, 2011

During this trip, there have been a few places that crept into my bones and became another home. Dahab, Egypt. Kigali, Rwanda. Every bit of Cambodia. India.

Now I can add Luang Prabang, Laos, to that list.

With a strong cafe culture, a distinctive arts scene and a laid-back vibe, the city feels like the New Orleans of Southeast Asia. There’s also water, stunning architecture and food you won’t find anywhere else.

It’s the kind of place where you want to curl up and die — but first you want to crack open a cold beer, sit on a patio and watch the river flow.

It was love at first sight. See for yourself.

PHOTOS: Vietnam in living color

June 1, 2011

Some countries have one particular color that shines for me.

Other countries are a kaleidoscope.

Surprisingly, Vietnam falls into that latter category. I say “surprisingly” because I imagined red communist flags would be the only burst of color on otherwise grease-blackened city streets. I imagined tangles of jungle green straight out of “Platoon.” I imagined row after row of matchbox-sized buildings that all look the same.

In some cases I was right.

In many cases, I was deliciously wrong. Vietnam was practically a Skittles package, spilling handfuls of color all around me.

Here’s proof.