Tag: Culture

Reflections, Travel

7 Things That Surprised Me When I Returned Home After My First Trip Abroad

View over Nice, France, from the airplane

“Culture shock” is a term usually reserved for the way you feel when you travel to a culture vastly different than your own. But I think the biggest culture shock I’ve ever experienced occurred upon my return from Europe. Michael and I had just returned from our first major international trip* – two weeks in …

Belgium, Destinations, Travel

Beyond the Basics: A Weekend Travel Guide for Brussels, Belgium

Alyssa and Michael in Brussels City Center

Brussels was the city I was least excited to visit on my recent trip to Europe: I’d heard the city was crowded and dirty, and that it has a reputation for being a bit dangerous. I might have even only trekked in for a day trip or skipped it entirely, were it not for the …

Destinations, Mexico, Travel

Your Guide to Lucha Libre Matches at Arena Mexico in Mexico City

A Luchador Mask on a white table

I think I caught Michael off-guard when I asked him the following one day: “Do you want to go to a Lucha match in Mexico City?” “…Are you being serious?” he asked, scanning my face for hints of sarcasm or joking. “Of course I’m being serious,” I replied, smiling. He couldn’t contain his excitement, and …

Destinations, Mexico, Travel

Long Weekend Escape: A Travel Guide for Three Days in Mexico City, Mexico

Alyssa stands with a row of cacti in Mexico City

A disclaimer: Three days in Mexico City is not enough. But I have a feeling that a week, or a month, or a lifetime would still not be enough time to spend in the city. The capital of Mexico is beautifully chaotic and vibrant, with patches of quiet and green space filling in the gaps. …

Home, Travel, Travel Tips

On My Nightstand: A Travel-Inspired Reading List

A stack of library books on a shelf next to a jar filled with string lights

Back in 2016, one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to complete a reading list (I chose this one, despite not being a man and still having a few years to go before hitting 30). I completed my last book with only hours to spare on December 31, and since then I always seem to …