People – Travels With Tricia

Around the World in 18 Barbers’ Chairs

A man cuts a customer's hair at a barber shop in Split Croatia

From Bulgaria to Vietnam, Shawn visits barber shops around the world.

Malta’s Cliff-Diving Dog Captures Hearts Around the World

A man, dressed in swimming gear, holds a Jack Russell Terrier dog in his arms. The dog has a water bottle in her mouth, and there is blue water in the background. The man and the dog are famous in Malta for doing synchronized dives.

Mingling with Malta’s famous diving dog — a Jack Russell Terrier named Titti.

Into the Blue: A Mediterranean Sailing Trip from Malta to Comino

For millennia, people have sailed the waters near Malta. Even today, a sailing excursion is still one of the best ways to explore this island nation.

A Bittersweet Introduction to Malta’s Celebrated Honey and Bees

Malta has been known for its superb honey for thousands of years. Though the secret’s been out for a while, it’s still worth seeking this sweet stuff out.

From Homeless to Highness: A Reunion with Cocoa the Kitten in Ticino, Switzerland

“Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me.” -Carl sandburg As I went to say goodbye to Cocoa, I found him basking in the afternoon sunlight and grooming his lustrous black fur. Occasionally, he would stop and gaze out the window at the Swiss paradise before him – a landscape sprinkled with palm,Continue reading “From Homeless to Highness: A Reunion with Cocoa the Kitten in Ticino, Switzerland”

Kalofer, Bulgaria: A Story of Life, Lavender, & Lace

Female folk dancers - wearing traditional costume - hold hands in a Bulgarian village.

Arriving in what was to be our home away from home in rural Bulgaria, we knew not a soul. But by the time we left Kalofer, a tiny town tucked away in Central Bulgaria, where the livestock population quite possibly outnumbers the number of humans living there, an impromptu farewell committee was wishing us adieu.Continue reading “Kalofer, Bulgaria: A Story of Life, Lavender, & Lace”

An Apple for an Apple: An International Tale of Citizen Diplomacy

As the midnight train bound for St. Petersburg rumbled through the pitch-black Moldovan countryside, I tried valiantly to remain asleep, but my attempts were futile. The cabin was cozier than expected. We had plenty of room to stretch out and we were given care packages filled with comfortable bedding. However, the atmosphere was sweltering hot and unfamiliar. Romanian-Moldovan and Russian filled the air,Continue reading “An Apple for an Apple: An International Tale of Citizen Diplomacy”

Grape Diplomacy in the Moldovan Countryside

In the late-afternoon light, the gingerbread homes of the Moldovan village, Rosu, were bathed in golden hues. The homes’ green and periwinkle-blue fences, and wooden adornments on their gables cast frilly shadows on the dirt road, as Shawn and I embarked on an evening stroll. The wire arbors over the homes’ driveways were brimming withContinue reading “Grape Diplomacy in the Moldovan Countryside”