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Cartagena, Colombia
I recently embarked on a winter jaunt to Cartagena, Colombia with my best friend Steph. We had a yen for a warm-weather getaway, but wanted something different than the standard all-inclusive experience found in Cancun or Punta Cana. Cartagena had been on my short list for some time. I’d read about its burgeoning food scene and historic walled Old City filled with colorful Spanish Colonial mansions, cafes, boutiques, galleries, and artisan street markets. Steph was on board the moment I…
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Old City, Jerusalem, Israel
I recently returned from a two week mission adventure to Israel, and it was an experience like no other. Naturally, I’ve been asked by friends and family what I loved most, and I find it difficult to respond. Spending so much time immersed in the history and culture of the Holy Land was mind-blowing. It’s hard to choose favorites when I loved just about everything that crossed my senses. I will say, however, that the afternoon I spent exploring the…
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Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy
It started off as an overcast October morning in eastern Tuscany’s Val di Chiana. Charles and I had spent the prior day, in the rain, exploring San Gimignano and Siena, both beautiful historic cities—but both overrun by tawdry tourist shops and overpriced restaurants serving mediocre food. We were seeking a more authentic Tuscan experience, and it was suggested that we visit Arezzo. A city known to art lovers, Arezzo is home to Piero della Francesca’s most celebrated fresco cycle, Legend…