Whoa. Who knew Bolivia would be such a wild adventure? Before my recent visit I truly had no idea how different the country is from the rest of South America nor what an abundance of extreme adventures I would find near
The ground sinks beneath our feet, giving slighting before springing back like a sponge of the Andes. The earth grows more damp and bog- like as we approach Chiar Cota, a small lake in Bolivia’s Cordillera Real, a range of
Arriving to Bolivia isn’t easy. For one thing, there are no direct flights to the isolated South American country and most connecting flights arrive at odd times. For another, the elevation of most major cities (La Paz sits at nearly
The first sound that greets me as I’m roused from a deep slumber is a lullaby of ocean waves. The gentle crash of water on sand lulled me to sleep last night as well, and here it is again, gently
I’ll be honest, my first impressions of Barbados were rather bleak. Compared to other Caribbean islands like St. Lucia and Dominica that set my heart on fire with their rugged terrain and wild mountains, Barbados is extremely flat. So much so
"I think I'm the only person here not affiliated with boats," I say to an Irish sailor on the Caribbean island of Antigua. "You're probably right," he agrees before diving in to a long clarification about the type of boat he
Growing up I most closely associated the Caribbean with cruising. At my high school in Maryland, some of the more fortunate students cruised during spring break, bringing back stories from places like The Bahamas and Cayman Islands. Actually, I’m not
The wildness of Dominica envelops me before my feet even touch the ground. Outside the window of a regional jet, curves of verdant jungle mountains surround, a cacophony of layered leaves twisting below like the curved backbone of a snake in
It's been 20-months since I last set foot out of the United States, a fact I'm at once astounded and ashamed to admit given my prior history of living and working abroad, formulating my existence in hot pursuit of every
My very last international trip before the global pandemic hit churned with upheaval. I arrived in France in December of 2019 amidst rain storms and the start of the country's largest transportation strike in three decades. With nearly all metro, bus and even air travel ceasing operations my grand plans of enjoying the city after a business trip ground to a halt. Despite the disruptions to travel and blustery skies, my friend Lucie, a Paris local, swooped into the rescue, helping me find light in the darkness over live music and beef bourguignonne at Le François Felix. Two nights later Lucie and her partner François welcomed me to their apartment for a dinner party. Wine and conversation flowed over fondu and buche de noel filling me with such a warm feeling of belonging. Moments like this in harmony with friends and strangers are what I miss most about pre-pandemic life.
Life in France during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This Week We’re Talking To: Lucie Merieux, France
Lucie Merieux is a marketing consultant and avid traveler who lives in Paris. We first met while working for a travel marketing agency in Los Angeles, connecting over our mutual deep love of exploring the world. Read on for our letter from lockdown conversation to learn what life has been like in France during the COVID-19 pandemic.