Confessions of a Travel Gnome

29/03/2023

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, the most sacred week for Christians around the world leading to Easter, is fast approaching, falling between April 2 and April 8, 2023. Semana Santa in Spain is a special time, with celebrations and festivities just about every where you turn. When I found a fantastically priced trip to Spain during my Spring Break in 2016 which happened to coincide with Semana Santa I knew I had to go back! ...

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, the most sacred week for Christians around the world leading to Easter, is fast approaching, falling between April 2 and April 8, 2023. Semana Santa in Spain is a special time, with celebrations and festivities just about every where you turn. When I found a fantastically...

11/03/2023

I have been having a lot of fun knitting recently, as you know, but one thing I've been having particular fun with is knitting socks. I first ventured, intrepidly, into sock making in December 2020 to make my mother a pair for Christmas. Up until this point I had only made pretty simple things, like hats and scarfs. Of course I turned to good old YouTube to help me....

I have been having a lot of fun knitting recently, as you know, but one thing I’ve been having particular fun with is knitting socks. I first ventured, intrepidly, into sock making in December 2020 to make my mother a pair for Christmas. Up until this point I had only made pretty simple things, li...

01/03/2023

I was fortunate to have my family come and visit me for Semana Santa (Holy Week, Easter) when I lived in Madrid from 2011 to 2012. We spent a packed week touring around southern Spain and one of the first places we hit was Granada. I had been wanting to see El Alhambra since moving to Spain and this was thankfully on their list as well....

I was fortunate to have my family come and visit me for Semana Santa (Holy Week, Easter) when I lived in Madrid from 2011 to 2012.  We spent a packed week touring around southern Spain and one of the first places we hit was Granada.  I had been wanting to see El Alhambra since moving...

26/02/2023

Taking advantage of our close proximity to Portugal while living in Spain in 2012, my friend Jenn and I decided to take a weekend trip to Porto (Oporto), Portugal. While it is the second largest city in Portugal, you wouldn't notice as it is one of the most tranquil, peaceful cities I have visited. Porto is a gorgeous city located along the Douro River, and is one of the most ancient cities in Europe going back to Celtic and Roman times. ...

Taking advantage of our close proximity to Portugal while living in Spain in 2012, my friend Jenn and I decided to take a weekend trip to Porto (Oporto), Portugal. While it is the second largest city in Portugal, you wouldn’t notice as it is one of the most tranquil, peaceful cities I have visited...

21/02/2023

Hot of the presses!

No one explained to me when I got into knitting and fiber arts that I would become completely addicted to yarns of all fibers. It’s a dangerous addiction that you do have to temper…or maybe not. Lol 😉 I had a lot to learn about different yarns and what they were best used for, as...

19/02/2023

Another passion of mine, apart from travel, is genealogy. I have spent years doing research on my family background and found tons of interesting stories buried in ancestral records. There's nothing I love more than when I can combine my love of travel with the opportunity to visit some place that I am connected to or to do a deep dive into the local records of that place....

Another passion of mine, apart from travel, is genealogy. I have spent years doing research on my family background and found tons of interesting stories buried in ancestral records. There’s nothing I love more than when I can combine my love of travel with the opportunity to visit some place that...

12/02/2023

When I was in the UK for a summer study abroad course I simply had to make it a point to get up to Edinburgh, Scotland, which is a mere 4.5 hour train ride from London. You can book your train tickets ahead of time online, which I highly recommend. Today, ticket prices can be as low as $70 and as high as $450 if you want to go big in first class, which there really isn't a need to....

When I was in the UK for a summer study abroad course I simply had to make it a point to get up to Edinburgh, Scotland, which is a mere 4.5 hour train ride from London. You can book your train tickets ahead of time online, which I highly recommend. Today, ticket prices can be...

07/02/2023

I recently was watching a series the renowned chef José Andrés, of World Central Kitchen fame, did with his daughters called José Andrés and Family in Spain. Throughout the episodes they tour the various culinary delights of the different regions of Spain. It made me think of my time teaching English in Madrid and had me craving some of my favorite foods and tapas....

I recently was watching a series the renowned chef José Andrés, of World Central Kitchen fame, did with his daughters called José Andrés and Family in Spain. Throughout the episodes they tour the various culinary delights of the different regions of Spain. It made me think of my time teaching En...

28/01/2023

One of the first skills that I wanted to learn as I moved beyond straight, flat knitting things like scarfs and such was knitting in the round or circular knitting. This is when you use circular needles (needles that are connected with a cord) or double pointed needles, and your project is connected. This technique is for when you are making hats, cowls, gloves and other such projects....

One of the first skills that I wanted to learn as I moved beyond straight, flat knitting things like scarfs and such was knitting in the round or circular knitting. This is when you use circular needles (needles that are connected with a cord) or double pointed needles, and your project is connected...

22/01/2023

I came to the craft of knitting very ambitious and naive. I had tried a time or two to pick up knitting and crocheting and quickly got sidetracked or disinterested. As the COVID pandemic of 2020 began and I was looking for something to occupy my time and mind, knitting seemed the perfect thing. I broke out the old needles and cheap Red Heart yarn that I had purchased ages ago at a craft store and turned to YouTube for help....

I came to the craft of knitting very ambitious and naive. I had tried a time or two to pick up knitting and crocheting and quickly got sidetracked or disinterested. As the COVID pandemic of 2020 began and I was looking for something to occupy my time and mind, knitting seemed the perfect thing. I [....

02/11/2022

Buena tutti! Ciao bellas! You may not know this about your gnomie, but I am one-quarter Italian. My grandmother was born in Italy. Consequently, I've grown up with a love for my Italian heritage, an important part of which is food. So when I was on a recent trip to New York City this past spring you know I had to check out Manhattan's famous "Little Italy." Although it used to be much larger, today it is truly "little" and only spans about three blocks, bordered by Soho, Chinatown, the Lower East Side and Nolita....

Buena tutti! Ciao bellas! You may not know this about your gnomie, but I am one-quarter Italian. My grandmother was born in Italy. Consequently, I’ve …

05/10/2022

If you are lucky enough to visit the charming city of Victoria, British Columbia on the far western coast of Canada, as I was recently, …

04/10/2022

Got off the presses!

If you are lucky enough to visit the charming city of Victoria, British Columbia on the far western coast of Canada, as I was recently, …

04/10/2022

If you are lucky enough to visit the charming city of Victoria, British Columbia on the far western coast of Canada, as I was recently, you simply cannot leave without partaking of a traditional afternoon tea...or two...or three. I was able to fit in two lovely afternoon teas in my 5 short days in Victoria. 1. The first, and perhaps most highly recommended tea in Victoria, is tea at the…...

If you are lucky enough to visit the charming city of Victoria, British Columbia on the far western coast of Canada, as I was recently, …