Welcome to Porto. Porto is the stunning, magical sister of Lisbon, Portugal’s capital. Upon arrival in its historic center, we are struck by its blend of old and new, its tiled facades, its welcoming walkability. Porto is where I found some of Portugal’s traditional treasures to take home with me and chased the golden light wherever I could. This deeply romantic city is, in my opinion, perfect for when you’re ready to just stare at something beautiful with someone you love. Its delicious restaurants and easy-going attitude make for relaxed explorations, especially in the early mornings and ..read more

There are destinations that are worthy of a thoughtful visit once in a lifetime— and once might just be enough. And then there are places that beckon you right back, even as you depart. Douro Valley is one of those places for me.    Portugal has so much to offer travelers, and many spend most of their precious visit in Lisbon and Porto. I don’t blame them; time is of the essence, and both cities are fantastic. But during our recent trip, our visit to Portugal’s vine-laced countryside was by far my favorite. Located in the northern part of Portugal, just east of Porto, the Valley i ..read more

Portugal is magical. From its dramatic light to its somber Fado songs to its authentic friendliness, there is so much to love. Whether you travel fast or slow (and we recommend slow), it’s only after you’ve departed Portugal that you realize the richness you’ve imbibed.   Lisbon is the usual Portugal jumping off point and is well worth a couple of days to appreciate it beyond the tourist rush. Portugal’s beauty is in its details, and it takes time to notice them. Each neighborhood has distinctive character and majestic views all its own. Take it slow and you’ll discover flavors and sou ..read more

Happy 2023! As I type this, I realize the last time I wrote a “hello new year” post was when we entered 2020 (here it is). What a whirlwind swept us all— all of humanity— shortly after those days. I’m not sure how to measure the stretch of time from one January to the next, other than to notice the strangeness that all of us are alive, right now, having endured immense difficulty in the last several years, and are looking ahead to immense possibilities before us. Without years of graduate school to mark the passage of time (Aaron and I both finished our degrees in 2020), we lean deeper into ..read more

My mom tells a story of how there was a period in my infancy when I refused to eat anything but peach-flavored baby food. Worried about my nutrition, she took my pediatrician’s advice and mixed in a bit of cooked egg yolk, hoping I would not notice (apparently most babies in this predicament do not). Unfortunately I noticed immediately and refused to eat my adulterated peach-egg slop. I’ve always loved (tasty) food, but my understanding of food sourcing, sustainability and sovereignty are growing. One of the beautiful things about living in California is that we have an incredibly long growi ..read more

Between mid-June and late July this year, I started to really feel it: an incoherent, rootless bone-tiredness that settled in and couldn’t be lifted. 15 months of pandemic endurance, and my defenses had finally crashed. I felt entirely depleted.  And I’m embarrassed to say that I essentially did nothing about it. We had hoped to go on a relaxing international vacation at the end of this month, only to renege with caution as the news cycle changed. We’re now re-evaluating our options of travel within the United States, but somewhat slow in making decisions.  The truth is, everything ..read more

Expansive bluffs that tumble into rich turquoise waters. Nearby ancient forests that tell stories of old. This is Mendocino, a wild and tranquil retreat from the Bay Area. It’s an absolute delight. It’s no secret that I’m in love with the California coast. Growing up near San Jose, it was a frequent weekend trip to Monterey where we would visit the aquarium and walk along the beach in Carmel. But Mendocino always felt slightly out of reach, and it took me until college to finally visit with my mom. Recently I went back again— this time, with Aaron— for a socially-distanced retreat after ..read more

“I had always thought that I would read more if I had the time but I’ve discovered that I would not.” These are the words of a meme comedian (I don’t remember whose), posted on Instagram shortly after the world shut down in March of last year. Those were the early, naive days of the pandemic— we thought it would be over in 2 weeks, we started baking banana bread, we fought over toilet paper, and we posted our Zoom screenshots. Now a year in, even as cases fall in the US and vaccines roll out, some of us have not reaped as many benefits as we thought we would from the reduction of our pre-covid ..read more

The beauty of California’s coast is no secret. People have lived between its rocky bluffs and wild forests for centuries, drawing life from this stunning edge of the continent.  Growing up in Silicon Valley, I can hardly remember when I started coming here. Just 1.5 hours south of San Jose, the coastal area that begins at the Monterey Peninsula is one of the most accessible destinations you can find— and thrillingly beautiful if you know where to look.  Our new pandemic road trip orientation As I write this, the popularity of local roadtrips is increasing due to a lack of cross-cou ..read more

Many of us think of the great outdoors as a place to be active— complete with gear from REI. National parks are for hiking, rockclimbing, fishing, mountaineering, and sleeping only if you can manage to carry your belongings on your back. For some (and sometimes for me), these activities are exactly what we need in order to experience rejuvenation. At other times, what we need is to soak up the beauty of our surroundings, without an obligation to strenuous activity. This is why I love the idea of forest bathing: the Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku, which means “taking in the f ..read more