A Day in Lecce, Italy

A Day in Lecce, Italy

Known as the “Florence of the South” for its beautiful Baroque buildings. Surrounded by gentle hillsides dotted with enchanting villages, Lecce is a laid-back city with hospitable people, great food and natural and architectural beauty.  A university city and capital of the province by the same name in the Apulia (or Puglia in English) region…

What is a Masseria?

What is a Masseria?

What is an Italian Masseria? A “masseria” is an Italian version of a plantation, hacienda, or farm. The name masseria is used mostly in the Puglia region of Italy. These homes are sometimes referred as “massi” or “factoria.” From the 16th to 18th century,  masserias were the farmhouses in which workers and “pedrones” (English: master/boss)…

A long weekend in Tucson, AZ

A long weekend in Tucson, AZ

Arizona’s “second city,” makes a great snowbird weekend getaway for adventure and food. It is often overlooked for spa retreats in Scottsdale or the landscape of bucket list destinations such as Flagstaff,  Sedona, or the Grand Canyon. Tucson, which is surrounded by desert and mountains, is the best place to see the large Saguaro cactus….

5 Best Coffee shops in Barrio Logan, San Diego

5 Best Coffee shops in Barrio Logan, San Diego

I love spending an afternoon in the vibrant Barrio Logan neighborhood. Known for its food, activism, and artwork. I first discovered the neighborhood because of the beautiful murals depicting indigenous deities, famous Chicanos, and local activists. Known for grassroots activism and good food, this makes for a great afternoon excursion while in San Diego. While…

Two days in Alberobello, Italy

Two days in Alberobello, Italy

Alberobello (direct translation is “pretty tree”), the UNESCO world heritage site is known for their signature Trulli houses. A Trulli looks like a hobbit or troll house, but is a small hut-like building with conical ceiling in the Puglia region of Italy. Originally used as a storage house, the rural Puglia roads are dappled with…

A Day in… Polignano a Mar, Italy

A Day in… Polignano a Mar, Italy

The dramatic towering cliffs contrast the clear turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea and are perfect for any shutter-happy tourist. Italy’s Polignano a Mar, is one coastal town in the largest region in Italy,  Apulia (or Puglia in English) known for its picturesque mountain top villages and rolling countryside. The iconic beach town is popular…

A weekend in Columbus, OH

A weekend in Columbus, OH

Columbus, Ohio, the state capitol, seems vastly underappreciated. As a college town, it has many cultural offerings, a substantial downtown and is the third largest fashion hub in America (after the well-stilettoed New York City and Los Angeles). The Sciota River traverses  leisurely through the downtown and offers much natural beauty for exercising. Probably most…

A weekend in Ann Arbor, MI!

A weekend in Ann Arbor, MI!

Ann Arbor, this vibrant college town (actually a city) is home to the flagship University of Michigan. Go Blue! Don’t expect to walk down a block without seeing at least ten people in Michigan Blue and Gold. I went to visit some friends who were going to University of Michigan for graduate school, but this…