An overview – in plain English – of the biggest sustainability problems with cruise ships, and some solutions for how to fix them. (From interviews with experts!) Among other foiled travel plans this year, I had scheduled a dreamy sounding trip in Mexico with UnCruise, a company that bills itself as a sustainable alternative to […]
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LastSwab vs EarthSider Review [How to Avoid Zero-Waste Greenwashing]
What’s your biggest pet peeve? If you know me, you probably know that I can’t stand anything fake. Things, people or companies that claim to be something they’re not drive me insane. And the market for eco-friendly, natural, zero-waste, or any other category of sustainable products is absolutely flooded with fakes. Two brands make a […]
How Do You Actually Move Abroad? (11 Ideas & Personal Experience)
A few weeks ago, I got a text from an American friend asking me one simple question: How can I move abroad? Understandable. Especially this year. So I thought about it. I’ve moved abroad a lot – to Spain, then back to the US, then to China and from there on to Italy and France […]
Update: Why I Moved Home to the Mountains & What’s Next
Where I am now (in Montana!), why I’ve left Chicago, and why you’re suddenly seeing posts about plastic-free products on this blog. Almost every year around the end of summer, I write an update post. Maybe it’s the back-to-school vibes that make me feel like this is the time for taking stock. And putting things […]
12 Life Lessons from Six Years of Travel Blogging
If you’re looking for technical blogging advice, this is not it. This is not about websites; it’s about life, creativity and small businesses, and what I’ve learned from very slowly building a travel blog and a business. 1. If you’re trying to figure out what you want to do for a career, look at the […]
Plastic-Free Laundry & Cleaning Swaps That Are Easy to Stick With (UPDATED)
I didn’t write this because I think cleaning products are fun, I wrote it because they’re easy to give up. Plastic pollution can feel impossible to solve, so start with something easy.
Review: Plastic-Free Shampoo Bars (+ One Refillable Deodorant)
In the months leading up to Plastic Free July, I’ve been excitedly testing all kinds of plastic-free and eco-friendly products. This post is all about shampoo bars, and one refillable deodorant stick! (Next step: plastic-free laundry and cleaning.) I was looking for natural products, with no plastic packaging and no questionable ingredients that may be […]
Stories of Italian Aperitivo (and Cocktail Recipes!)
This post is all about aperitivo culture in Italy, with three (and a half!) expert cocktail recipes for the classic aperitivo drinks: the Spritz, Negroni, and Sbagliato. (Which are also perfect, refreshing, summertime cocktails.) Enjoy! A couple weeks ago, while still more or less in lockdown in Chicago, I tuned in to a virtual aperitivo […]
Local’s Guide to Train Travel in Italy [Italo vs. TrenItalia vs. ItaliaRail]
This guide is all about how to navigate Italy by train. I’ve answered every FAQ I could think of about Italian train travel, and explained the differences between your options for buying train tickets: TrenItalia, ItaliaRail and Italo. Now that I’m living in the land of highways and huge distances (the US), I really miss […]
Racial Justice, a Militarized America, and Why This is on a Travel Blog
Today, I’m writing about the national protests after George Floyd’s murder, and the context of racism and violence in the US. I’m using the same perspective from which I’ve written about injustices and cultures around the world – that of an outsider and a traveler. I don’t speak for Chicago, and I clearly don’t speak […]
My Favorite Restaurants in Italy, So Far
Let me be clear: These are not “the best” restaurants in Italy. They’re not the food critics’ favorites, or on the Michelin guide (except for one). This is the list of restaurant that I’ve been sharing with friends for years, when they email me on their way to Italy. And they’re the places that I […]
A Favorite Easy Italian Recipe: Pasta with Lentils
Pasta with Lentils – this is one of my favorite Italian recipes! We learned from a friend’s mom in Italy and now make it all the time. It’s ridiculously easy and can be vegan if you want it to be. Although I don’t normally publish recipes on this blog, I have been sending a few around […]
