How to Ride the Subway in New York City
And this week, I'm in New York City; a stopover between my cousin's wedding last week in Guatemala and my graduation from Trinity College in Dublin next week. Away now from smog-and-chicken-bus thick Guatemalan traffic, I re-adopt my erstwhile favorite […] read more
Eindhoven for a day – Travel Tips for a Layover
A layover in the little Dutch city of Eindhoven proves to be a charming affair, with a great museum and some wonderful architecture to explore. […] read more
How to Take Photos of Yourself When You’re Traveling Alone
Picture it: Lake Amatitlán in Guatemala, 2006. Me, on the pier, posing for what has since become one of my favorite pictures of myself. Somehow, everything just seems to work: the landscape, the ghostly effect, the fact that you can hardly see my face. A […] read more
How to survive an Irish wedding
Whether as a guest or the bride or groom, surviving an Irish wedding is not nearly as difficult as planning one! […] read more
How to have an Irish wedding (a real one…)
Planning an Irish wedding can be the adventure of a lifetime. […] read more
How to Survive Heartbreak When You’re Far From Home
You moved thousands of miles to be with him or her and now it's over. He left; you made him leave; she's in jail; she's in a coma; whatever – it's over and now you're all alone in a strange place, with your loved ones hundreds or even thousands of miles away. […] read more
Photo Essay: Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland
Spend even a couple of days in Dublin, Ireland and you'll more than likely find yourself on Grafton Street - one of the city's busiest thoroughfares and shopping centres. Once a humble country lane, Grafton Street was developed by the Dawson family in the […] read more
FAQs for the Serial Expat
In 2006, I shocked friends and relatives by announcing that I was moving to Japan. “Don't worry,” I said. “I'll be back in a year.” Four years later, I've just completed my third international move in as much time. From New York City to Osaka to Dublin to […] read more
Must-Try, Don’t Miss Restaurants in Dublin
Ten months ago, I wrote about having made three international moves in two-and-a-half years. Well, hold on to your hat, 'cause I'm packing again - this week, I begin Phase 1 of Operation Move to Terracina, Italy; a.k.a, my fourth international move in three […] read more
Flying Safely – A Captain’s View
“Sláinte – Safe home!”, the message on the ticket receptacle says as one drives out of the parking lot of Dublin’s Burlington Hotel. Although it has been several years since I’ve had the good fortune to stay at “the Burlo”, as some locals affectionately call […] read more
The Five Senses of Dublin
Molly Malone at the bottom of Grafton Street, forever wheeling her wheelbarrow through streets long and narrow. Blue and yellow double decker Dublin city buses giving auld Molly a run for her money.Signs always printed in both English and in Irish: Dawson […] read more
Beating Tourists: Off Peak, Off the Beaten Path
[caption id="attachment_3219" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Volcan Pacaya, Guatemala"][/caption]Nothing ruins a photo op like some stranger's fat head blocking your shot. Popular travel destinations are too often ruined by hordes of people who, […] read more
What’s Normal, Anyway? Shifting Constants in Expat Life
[caption id="attachment_3136" align="aligncenter" width="371" caption="Sumo wrestlers - they're just like us!"][/caption]NameNew York City: Is it Ee-va or Ay-va?Osaka: Eba (エバ).Dublin: Is that Aoife? Ah. You mean Ay-va.HeightNew York City: […] read more
Georgian Doors of Dublin
Beautiful, colorful, iconic, historic, functional; now those are a group of adjectives you don't often see in the same place. Yet, they perfectly describe Dublin's famous Georgian doors. These bright, luxurious portals were built mostly in the 1700s; a time […] read more
Gearing Up For St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland
It's starting to look like spring on the Emerald Isle; tight white buds on the trees, a thermometer that hovers around 5 degrees, and out in the lush green countryside, calves and kids playing hide-and-seek with the sun. St. Patrick's Day is coming and, for […] read more
To the Beach: A Visit to Bray Seafront in Ireland
February 7th, 2010 in Dublin: overcast and 5 degrees Celsius. A fine day to head to the beach!Bray is a seaside town in Co. Wicklow approximately 20km south of Dublin City; a popular escape for stir-crazy Dubliners. I dress appropriately for an afternoon at […] read more
Expat Life: Finding a New Butcher, Baker, and Candlestick Maker
So you've really gone and done it - started a new life abroad, that is. You've got your purpose. You've got a place to live, or at least to crash until your new home materializes. But who's going to fix your shoe heels when they get worn down after weeks of […] read more
Four Christmases
Whether you're religious or just in it for the food, the days after Christmas can be a letdown. Take heart - you're only done with your own country's Christmas. I've got 4 more international Christmas stocking stuffers for you right here, brought to you from […] read more
Open Postcard from Berlin
Dear tripwolf readers,Hallo from Berlin, meine Damen und Herren, mes dames et messieurs! I know it's been a while since we last talked. The last things I remember telling you about were some easy day-trips from Dublin. Now - all fired up on Glühwein from my […] read more
Get to know your tripwolf bloggers – Eva
Eva currently lives and studies creative writing in Dublin, Ireland. Her perspective often reflects that of the woman traveler and the American expat. She has also written some introductions for us, see some of that writing here.About me: Bi-racial, […] read more
Red Faced in the Emerald Isle: Getting Used to Everyday Life in Ireland
The honeymoon days in any new place are often an exciting blur. Sometimes, that sense of wonder gets marred by the shame of making a cultural faux pas. As Vincent Vega said in "Pulp Fiction," "It's the little differences." Just as with Irish-English, there […] read more
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