Andrea

Very posh shopping spot. Once all the stores are open, it will be really something.

I can check this place off now after visiting during the Christmas/New Year’s holidays. I liked it very much, in no small part thanks to my wonderful, thoughful tour guide…

I finally went last week. It was wonderful. The bamboo paths, the houses, the little shops… Loved it. I especially loved Otagi Nenbustuji, where there are hundreds of unique Jizo. Great photography opportunities.

I was working on an excavation in Pompeii for a summer when a friend and I decided to go check out Amalfi. Of course, it was wonderful. The bus trip was not to be attempted by those who suffer from motion sickness!
On the way back from Amalfi, we hopped off the bus in Positano, walked down all those stairs from the road and paid the rather steep cost to be allowed onto the beach. We basked in the sun for, oh, about half an hour when out of nowhere, big black rain clouds rolled in and a severe lightening storm erupted. It was chaos! Everyone was stuffing their possessions into their beach bags, knocking over the umbrellas and running for shelter in the snack bars. So, our Positano day was cut a bit short. I did get some cool photos of the clouds hanging low over the terraced houses, though – I should really scan them one day!

I spent 3 weeks here on a high school language exchange. I thought it was a very pleasant, liveable city. We spent a lot of time doing activities as a group of students (a tour of the LU buscuit factory and the chateaux of the Loire were highlights!). Still, it was the first time I got to navigate my way alone around a foreign city. It was a good skill to learn as a teenager – it built up my confidence for future adventures in more exotic locales.

Can’t believe I spent a year in Kansai and never made it to Arashiyama… Never mind, I plan to spend a day there when I visit in the fall. I want to wander around the bamboo forest, drink tea in a garden, see monkeys and enjoy the autumn leaves.

I like saying the word Teotihuacan.
Teotihuacan! Teotihuacan! Teotihuacan! Teotihuacan!

Also, I’m an archaeologist so I’m into this sort of stuff. Moreover, I like climbing things because the sense of accomplishment is, like, so tangible.

It’s where my maternal grandfather’s family is from (anyone know Clan McCaskill of Skye?).

I’ve been around Scotland a bit but haven’t made it quite so far yet. Some day!

Viva Italia! <3 <3 <3

When I was a kid, we went there for March Break every year. Now that I’m a grown up, I prefer to spend my holidays somewhere more interesting… Hot weather and theme parks – shudder!