Travel Memories
Rome: Art, Ancient Stones, and Two Priests Who Saved the Evening (1/4)
My dad had always wanted to go to Europe, so we went. Rome gave the three of us ancient ruins, Vatican art, wonderful food, one giant suitcase and two American clergy who rescued us when we couldn’t find our way.
Read MoreIquitos and the Amazon: Humidity, Piranhas, and a Macaw That Supervised My Shower (Part 6/6)
Trading Andean stone for jungle lodges, altitude for heat, and llamas for things that bite. Part 6 of the Peru series · Updated for Travel with Sheridan After days at altitude in the mountains, landing in Iquitos is a full sensory reset. The humidity hits you the moment you step off the plane, which at…
Read MoreHuayna Picchu: The Climb You Will Not Regret (5/6)
Early alarm, steep trail, low clouds, and a view that made every single one of those things worth it. Part 5 of the Peru series · Updated for Travel with Sheridan The debate happened while I was falling asleep. Early morning. Another admission ticket. Another bus fare. We were leaving on the afternoon train back…
Read MoreMachu Picchu: No Photo Has Ever Done It Justice (4/6)
There is a reason it is one of the seven wonders. Standing there, you finally understand why. (Part 4 of 6) Part 4 of the Peru series · Updated for Travel with Sheridan We boarded an early train from a station outside Cusco and settled in for the three-hour ride to Aguas Calientes, the small…
Read MoreSanta Fe, New Mexico: A Desert Town We Keep Falling For
Santa Fe is a town steeped in history and culture, synonymous with the Southwest. It leans into its Mexican and Native American heritage in a way that feels woven into daily life rather than staged for visitors. We’ve been twice now, both times drawn back by the art, the food, and (if we’re being honest)…
Read MoreThe Sacred Valley: Ruins, Rivers, and a Kid Who Knew More About California Than I Did (3/6)
The Incas mirrored the Milky Way in a valley. Then they built things on top of it that still defy explanation. Part 3 of the Peru series · Updated for Travel with Sheridan The Sacred Valley of the Incas runs between Cusco and Machu Picchu, following the Urubamba River through some of the most dramatic…
Read MoreCusco and Pisac: Altitude, Alpaca, and the Incas (2/6)
Where ancient stone streets, a bustling market, and some genuinely excellent vinegar conspire to make you fall in love with Peru. Part 2 of the Peru series · Updated for Travel with Sheridan The flight from Lima to Cusco is short. Suspiciously short, actually, because the whole time you are climbing. Cusco sits at 10,859…
Read MoreLima: First Impressions at the Edge of the Pacific (1/6)
A brief but memorable stop that sets the stage for everything Peru has to offer. Part 1 of the Peru series · Updated for Travel with Sheridan Lima was never meant to be the main event. We arrived tired, slightly disoriented, and already thinking about Cusco. But the city had other ideas, and we ended…
Read MoreVirgin Voyages – West Coast Mermaiden (and The Perks of Being a Rockstar)
Virgin Voyages Rockstar Status: My Brilliant Lady Experience (And Why I’d Sail Again Tomorrow) When presented with an opportunity to go on a maiden voyage of most anything, I am game. When that maiden voyage is one of the Virgin brands, I am definitely game. Since my better half was unavailable to accompany me,…
Read More