A Global History Geek-Out
The world is a big, sloppy, messy place. It’s so tempting to think that just by being generally familiar with the history and culture of a large region, that you know it. Or that you’ll know what it will be like to see it in person. But that’s not actually […]
After spending a week in the country, I learned so many interesting facts about Kazakhstan that I had no idea about before setting foot there. For such a large country, its history is obscured by that of the Soviet Union and the general romanticization of the steppe. But Kazakhstan is […]
During my week in Almaty, I took two-day trips. One to Big Almaty Lake and one to Tamgaly Tas, the Buddhist petroglyphs, which included a stop at the super cool abandoned film set called Nomad’s Land. Like most of the activities, I did while in Kazakhstan, I didn’t really know […]
Wondering what to bring to Iceland? The country offers so many different kinds of activities, so you want to make sure you bring the right clothes and footwear with you. In addition, Iceland is an expensive country to travel around, so having a few extra provisions with you will save […]
During my time in Almaty, Kazakhstan, I relished the opportunity to get some fresh air outside of the city. Besides visiting Big Almaty Lake, an absolute must while in Almaty, I also went on a day trip to Tamgaly to see the Buddhist petroglyphs known as Tamgaly Tas. While getting […]
In this episode, we chat about the 2016 Rick Steves’ Europe episode “Bulgaria.” We’ll debate whether Sofia or Plovdiv is the best city in the country, talk about what it’s like to visit Budludzha today, and swoon at Rick’s updated interpretation of Dad jeans. Plus, shopska salads! Listen to the Podcast Episode […]
For anyone who’s ever glimpsed a picture of Big Almaty Lake on Instagram or the pages of Nat Geo, it’s nearly impossible to get the vibrant blue color out of your head. While most visitors to Almaty will have a day trip out to the lake on their itinerary, getting there […]
Bosteri is a small resort village on the shores of Issyk Kul, the second largest salt lake in the world. The village was historically dedicated to Soviet tourism, and it is still full of Russian tourists who come to enjoy the lake and other local Kyrgyzstan adventures. Thus, a trip here […]
The drive up to Big Almaty Lake was breathtaking. The trees wrapped in autumn foliage, boasting bright yellow amid the hunter greens of the pine trees. As our taxi climbed up the mountains, I didn’t know what was awaiting me. Pictures of Big Almaty Lake don’t do it justice (though […]
I wrapped up my first trip to Kyrgyzstan earlier this week. I spent fifteen days in the country, exploring the tiny Soviet resort town of Bosteri, walking the streets of Cholpon Ata, watching in awe at the athleticism on display at the World Nomad Games, and relaxing in the Russian […]
Current Location: Germany
