From CPA in San Francisco to Yoga Instructor in Athens
I try to be measured when I talk about my life in Greece because I never want to make other people envious. But the truth is, I feel like I need to rub stardust out of my eyes every day when I wake up in my adopted country. I can’t believe how lucky I am.
My Day-to-Day Life
My one-bedroom, 750-square-foot home lies directly beneath the Acropolis, and I teach night yoga classes on my roof deck under the stars with an illuminated view of the Parthenon. It’s a magical setting, and I love that an entire community has grown around these classes. Locals and visitors alike participate, and last summer a new student told me, “I heard about your classes from my friend who lives in Barcelona.” I guess the word is getting out.
From Frozen North to Beach Life With a Mexican B&B
When it seems you’re ready to give up on your dream, one email can change everything. That’s what happened to Dave and Lesley Buckerfield, two Canadian B&B owners who now call Mexico home.
Dave and Lesley own Sin Duda Villas, a beachside B&B (and winner of a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award) in a small Mexican beach town called Xcalak. Only eight miles north of the border with Belize, Xcalak (pronounced “ish-ka-lak”) is at the far southern tip of the Yucatán peninsula. This is the same strip of Caribbean coast where you’ll find the spring break metropolis of Cancún, resort-rich Playa del Carmen, and trendy Tulum. It was also one of Mexico’s first regions to reopen after the coronavirus lockdown.
15 Amazing Things Not to Miss in Krakow, Poland
Krakow, Poland’s second largest city, has become one of the ‘must see’ cities of Europe. While most of the major cities of Eastern Europe suffered damage during WWII, Krakow remained mostly untouched. The old town contains many unique architectural wonders to explore and enjoy. The food is fantastic and the nightlife is active, varied and lively.
1. Explore the
Old Town
The center of Krakow is more than just the big square and the Cloth Hall. The streets leading off surprise the visitors with wonderful delights. In 1978 it was designated as the first UNESCO site. There are churches, architecture wonders, bars, museums, and strange little shops. Soak up the sun with a beer in one of the little squares. Enjoy local food and entrainment. Take a free walking tour. Enjoy the atmosphere.
Hiking Mount Olympus in Greece – The Home of the Gods
Mount Everest may be the highest point in the world, but Mount Olympus holds the title of the most legendary mountain. Measuring 9,570 feet, the tallest mountain in Greece was the ancient home of the twelve most powerful Olympian gods. Zeus, the king of the gods, used it as his stronghold when fighting the Titans, and ever since that battle was won, the mountain weaves its way through hundreds of Greek stories.
Situated 260 miles north of Athens, modern-day Mount Olympus has a lot to offer. It became Greece’s first national park in 1938, and the 92-square mile surrounding area referred to as the Olympus Biosphere Reserve features over 1,500 plant species, 100 species of birds, and 25 species of mammals.
Celebrating the Lunar New Year in Vietnam
The Tet holiday,
Tet Nguyên Đán (“Feast of the First Morning of the First Day”) feels like a combination of New Year’s Eve, with aspects of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, all rolled up into one fabulous, frenetic weeks-long celebration. In addition to ushering in the Lunar New Year, it’s also considered every Vietnamese person’s birthday and the first day of spring.
The Tet season actually begins about two weeks before the first day of the Lunar New Year, when everyone shops for new clothes, cleans their homes from top to bottom, and strives to pay off any debts that they have accumulated over the year. They decorate their homes with kumquat trees and fresh flowers, and bring home budding, flower-laden branches to herald the arrival of spring a profusion of delicate pink peach blossoms in the north or vibrant yellow