March 9, 2019

Rincon, Puerto Rico: Five Fabulous Things

 flag on a door

Read the article for all the fabulous things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico. But first check out the view! There are lots of things you can do to prepare for winter in Manhattan. In no particular order, it’s important to have: liquor, face masks, heavy slippers, large books, cozy blankets and plane tickets. The plane tickets are the most sure-fire solution. With my 2019 warm weather escape, I decided to kill two birds with one stone. 1. Escape the drudgery of cold Manhattan. There is only so much time a girl can devote to shivering and playing with the steam heat radiator.2. Rediscover Puerto Rico! Since Hurricane Maria I…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in travel fabulous

February 9, 2019

Ice, Ice Baby: When the Mountains Are Calling

Since getting back from my recent trip to Ecuador, I’ve been thinking a lot about ice. Why?! You are dying to know. When I said here that I was eager to travel outside of Quito, that was only the half of it. The reason I was in Quito at all was because I had booked a nine-day mountaineering course with American Alpine Institute. “Mountaineering” (loosely defined as “the sport of activity of climbing mountains”) generally becomes rather intertwined with ice-carved features. On this particular trip we had: –An ice “chunk” the size of a VW Bug come pounding into our glacier training site, literally chasing one of the participants down…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

February 2, 2019

Quito, Ecuador: Five fabulous things

Hola de Quito!  I haven’t been to South America in a long time, and haven’t ever been to Quito before.  I wanted to write this post for two reasons. 1: Fabulous things in Quito. Duh. 2. For me, there is something intimidating about a major city in South America, especially as a woman traveling alone.  In Europe and the USA, I generally feel safe prancing around, getting lost on dreamy little streets or striding with purpose down major boulevards.  In New York or Madrid, I don’t think twice about going out late at night (point of clarification: 9 PM.  Generally if I’m not out by then, I’m fast asleep.) Anyway,…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in travel fabulous

July 14, 2018

Manhattan: Five Fabulous Things (Upper East Side edition)

Moving back to New York I’ve had the wonderful remembrance that there are endless things to do in NYC! The temperature has miraculously stalled out around 90 80-ish degrees, and a breeze has materialized that is actual cool wind, not just the wafting smell of hot garbage floating through the air. I’ve been having the time of my life wandering through the neighborhoods of my childhood, happily fighting discussing with my mother where the grocery store/movie theater/David’s Cookies/pizza shop on our block used to be. The Upper East Side gets a bad rap. ‘Boring’ they say. ‘They’ are idiots! (Aren’t they always?) Here are five things to do in NYC…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

June 14, 2018

The Importance of Valencia

Here is how my boyfriend gets me to go on an easy weekend trip to Valencia: Step 1: One month prior Bring it up and dutifully listen to me as I spend two hours debating if “we” (read: I) have enough time to go. Step 2: Two weeks prior Wait for me to bring it up again and change my mind about if “we” (see above) have enough time to go. Suggest we look at train tickets at some point just to get an idea of price. Step 3: One week prior Look at train tickets. Remain patiently waiting as I change my mind between two and six more times….

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in travel fabulous

March 28, 2016

The Best Things About Easter

 multi colored easter eggs in a brown nest sitting on the grass

Happy (late) Easter from Madrid!  After an action-packed Semana Santa in Bordeaux, I am inching back into normal routine.  We came back to a Professional Development day at school (teacher-talk for a day with no kids in the building, when you can actually get work done in what I assume imitates a normal adult environment?).  PD days are a really nice to get back to the work routine.  Today, I am writing report card comments for my students and drinking copious amounts of free coffee. Yesterday I celebrated Easter by eating vegan food and drinking detoxifying hot lemon waters (spring break in the South of France involved unsurprising, but copious,…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

August 17, 2015

Adventure Continues…

 things you need to buy plane tickets

This Swiss adventure continues! First, you will be glad to know I successfully evaded the fly family from the Istlewald hostel. This morning we packed up and got back on the road. The travelogue continues with driving stories and, of course, lots of food. Highlights below:   1) The drive on Jaunpass road was wonderful. The road cuts through the middle of Switzerland from German-ish Bernese Oberland to French-ish Gruyere. It’s decorated with a changing landscapes of cows, mountains, and lovely cottages. 2) It also swerves rather dramatically at the beginning. Therefore, the monent we found the Jaunpass road instead of accidentally driving to Italy was certainly a highlight of…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

August 15, 2015

On Growing Up

 The location for my thoughts on growing up: beautiful Switzerland

Given that I’m starting my third decade on the planet, I dedicate a fair amount of time to thoughts on growing up. This week was a real milestone. Why, you ask? Because this week I decided I’m too old for my hostel. I’m 32 and sitting in the communal room at Lake Lodge in Istelwald, Switzerland. The conversations in the room include:    First, a girl and her Korean roommate talking  about a tv show called New Girl. Also, about how many cities in Italy it is possible to visit in 5 days (it sounds like 6? Which seems high.) Additionally, apparently traveling in the summer is more expensive than…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

July 31, 2015

Hello from New York!

 Empire State Building New York

Now that I have successfully redecorated my bookshelves in my current home, I am thrilled to be writing from my forever home, New York City. Details on my flight below.   The flight from Madrid Barajas to New York John F Kennedy takes approximately 7 hours (longer on the way back going against the wind). I have broken the experience into time intervals for easier reporting.   Minutes -30 to 125 Minute -30: Spanish nationals start lining up for the plane. Spanish people simply adore standing in line–it’s very puzzling.  Minutes 0-45: Board and promptly fall asleep. All going well according to ‘napping and reading’ flight plan. Minute 46: Helpful…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in travel fabulous

July 22, 2015

How to Buy Souvenirs

 a lot of magnets

In my many neuroses about traveling, you may not be surprised that I think a lot about how to buy souvenirs.  For example, I was traveling with a friend in Bulgaria this year and we found an adorable handicraft shop (in the lobby of Bulgarian National Art Gallery and Ethnographic Museum in Sophia, in case anyone is interested). Turns out Bulgarians make delightful pottery, woven rugs and these adorable red thread friendship bracelets.  Who knew?    After a few minutes hours in the shop, we had our purchases lined up. After careful consideration, my friend bought an amazing set of dishes, mismatched in that purposeful, whimsical way and complete with…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous