The Travel Beast

Walking the Road to Santiago — The Camino, in Pictures

Did we really walk almost 500 miles across Spain? The answer: Yes. And I have pictures to prove it.

The Freedom to Change Our Minds

Nine months ago I bought a one-way ticket for the first time in my life. I’ve since bought many. When we initially set out on this trip, we had a general idea of where we wanted to visit, but no definite plans. The idea was to not think too far ahead, and instead let the [...]

A Day At the Beach

Even at the beach, staring into the Atlantic, you never forget you're in Ireland.

Notes from a Stone House in Ahiohill

Things have been quiet here at the Beast. It’s not intentional, there’s just something about the air in West Cork that has you drifting through the days until you suddenly realize weeks have gone by. We’ve been in Ireland now for two weeks (or is it more?). A few days were spent in bleak, rainy [...]

This Post Will Go Straight to Your Thighs

We’ve been lucky enough to spend the last two months bumming around Paris. I haven’t written much about the city, since I’ve been too busy catching up on old posts and lounging in Luxembourg. And yes, maybe I’ve been a little lazy. (When in France…) But when I realized my days left in Paris were [...]

Postcard: I Amsterdam

“Dick’s Big Duck”, a statue by Los Angeles artist Richard Jackson, sits in front of Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The bizzaro statue and the large “I Amsterdam” letters are symbols of the city, attracting tourists with cameras. Related Posts:Postcard: Heineken Brewery, AmsterdamPostcard: Pit Stop in BrusselsThe Best Part of Waking Up is Wiener Melange in Your [...]

Postcard: Ghent

Traveling without expectations is the best way to travel. I didn’t expect much from our one-night stay in Ghent, but I was blown away. The architecture, the canals, the beer, the beauty. And it didn’t hurt that we arrived during a 10-day free music summer festival. It’s hard not to smile when you’re eating hot [...]

The Best Part of Waking Up is Wiener Melange in Your Cup

On a recent nine and a half hour bus trip from Paris to Amsterdam, we made a pit stop in Belgium to use the bathrooms and grab some food. Bleary eyed, I made my way towards the instant coffee machine. While perusing the options, I was startled when I saw this: melange: an unorganized collection [...]

Postcard: Parc del Laberint d’Horta, Barcelona

Park Guell may be Barcelona’s darling when it comes to leisure space, but when the hordes descend, you’ll likely be searching for somewhere else to take in the atmosphere. Far north of the city center, just off the edge of most tourist maps, lies the tranquil Parc del Laberint d’Horta (or Labyrinth Park). Wander through [...]

Guide to Getting Your Eat On in the Djemaa el-Fna

Known to locals simply as “the place,” Marrakech’s Djemaa el-Fna is the throbbing epicenter of the city. By day, belly dancers and snake charmers commandeer the space, drawing tourists and looky-loos that gawk from their perches at the bordering cafes. By night, the square gives way to a larger spectacle. Smoke lingers in the air, [...]