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The Catacombs, in sound and sight
In January of 2013, I had the privilege of meeting my friend and fellow blogger Des. It was such a wonderful experience that Des was among the very first people I contacted when I learned I’d be...
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A shot in the dark: photo tips
Yesterday’s post about the Paris Catacombs got a handful of comments (thank you!). But the one I’d like to highlight came from none other than my co-author and collaborator, Des: I watched you take...
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Remembering Cologne
I haven’t been to Cologne since I first visited at age 16. And because my only parting memories were that (a) the cathedral was awe-inspiring and (b) there was a McDonald’s across the street, I didn’t...
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A cathedral for the ages
Although I haven’t been back to Cologne since I last visited at age 16, its cathedral has loomed large in my imagination. I’m pleased to report that I found it just as glorious in real life as I...
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Hello from Heidelberg
“We’ve made a huge mistake,” I thought as our train sped down the Rhine Valley. The three nights in Bruges already seemed like a distant memory, and we’d barely scratched the surface after two days in...
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Phoning it in
Technology is a funny thing: First it astounds you; then you get accustomed to it; and finally, when the novelty and wonder wear off, you take technology for granted. This cycle is natural and...
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Grateful to (still) be alive
Think back for a second: Can you recall a moment in your life that changed everything — a moment so irrevocable and so defining that you knew in that instant nothing would ever be the same? Here’s a...
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Hiking to the Heidelberg Schloß
There are a million ways to travel, but for me they all boil down to two fundamental approaches: Stay a few days and glimpse only the highlights — or stay a lifetime and still only glimpse the...
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Drawn and quoted
My friend Pam is (almost ridiculously) generous and kind, so I wasn’t surprised a few weeks ago when she handed me a big bag full of birthday gifts. I was grateful for them all, of course, but I was...
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My Valentine’s Day wish
Yes, I know that Valentine’s Day was yesterday. That’s why I was so struck this morning by the man at the post office who was lingering near the V-Day display: As he picked up and read the greeting...
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Further afield in Freiburg
One of the least-discussed truths about travel is that your lodging sets the tone for everything — which is why I sometimes pay a bit more to stay in the heart of a city. But, as I learned last...
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On top of the world in Freiburg
Yesterday I wrote about the impact one’s choice of lodging can have on a trip — and about the unexpected joys of occasionally staying further afield. Such was the case in the beautiful little city of...
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A Minnesota winter wonderland
Winter in Minnesota really got to me last year. But something in me has shifted this year, and I’ve moved from trying to make the best of it to acceptance. No, not just acceptance — actually embracing...
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I feel upbeat. (What’s *wrong* with me?)
This winter is on pace to become one of the worst in recorded history, and yet I remain unnaturally upbeat. There are three possibilities: (1) I’m high on snowblower fumes; (2) The cold has damaged my...
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The Dalai Lama: “There is not a choice.”
Steve and I had the tremendous privilege and honor this morning of hearing His Holiness The Dalai Lama give the opening speech of The Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minneapolis. Now in its 26th year, the...
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The care and feeding of your introvert
“Impossible!” “No way!” “You’re full of it!” That’s how acquaintances usually respond when I tell them I’m an introvert. After all, I have no qualms about talking to random strangers. I do alright with...
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Quiz: How Minnesotan are you?
After months of wading through hip-deep snow — and enduring a mind-numbing 50 days below zero (Fahrenheit!) — I’m happy to report the start of The Great Thaw of 2014. For once, I don’t mind slogging...
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Train your brain
Most everyone is keenly aware of their physical self-image. But have you ever considered how you perceive your own mind? I’ve always thought of myself as having a poor memory: I seldom remember the...
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A bit of Irish wit for St. Patrick’s Day
Today, 80 percent of the world’s inhabitants will invoke some long-lost connection to the Emerald Isle as an excuse to drink Guinness and wear green. But I’d rather celebrate another of the great Irish...
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Cold — but calm — in Colmar
Although I’m still sorting through the 6,000-plus images I shot while traveling with Steve last December, I’ve at least managed to assemble a peek at the beautiful city of Colmar in northeastern...
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