saorge door

One of the best things about travel is how it gives you new eyes to the world. I see everything with the eyes of a newborn. Things that would be mundane at home (chips, streets, people) are glorious marvels. I’ve taken a lot of photos of doors. Why? Because doors look different in different parts of the world. They might be old and wooden or glass and modern. This door happens to be one leading to my friend, Gibi’s, outhouse. But it’s beautiful, isn’t it? He probably built the structure himself, lugging stones up the mountain to create what is…

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nyc park

Though I only see her when we travel together, my college friend Cordula is one of the people I have a strong bond with, thanks to our mutual love of exploring the world. This photo was taken in New York  City about four years ago. We had a blast wandering around her favorite city, splitting up to do our own things, then reconvening for dinner and margaritas (it’s always margaritas with that girl). In a few weeks, I’m meeting her in Greece. I can’t wait to have another adventure with her, this time in another country for both of us.…

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mission trails flowers

You may not know this, but San Diego was in an eight-year drought until last month. Pretty much the entire time I’ve lived here. I can think of periods where it had been months since we had even a sprinkle. Pretty unbelievable if you live somewhere where rain is more commonplace. But this winter was incredibly wet (as I’m writing this in May, it’s raining today). Other than giving me an excuse to buy cute rainboots, one of the perks of a wet winter is what comes in the spring. This photo was taken in Mission Trails, where I love to…

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susan and crawfish

I love this photo. I was maybe three, chunky and barefoot in our neighborhood in Houston. My parents would buy live crabs—or, in this instance, crawfish—and boil them for a feast. It was their way of connecting to their Louisiana roots. My mom tells a great story about how, when they took me to Red Lobster, they would usually give me applesauce. But one day, they foolishly gave me a taste of crab. What a mistake. I’d shriek, “crab! crab!” and refuse the paltry applesauce. I don’t remember eating my first crawfish, but I love that this photo depicts my…

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