When I was initially invited to be a guest at the Lodge at Nakoma, I admit I had to look up its whereabouts. I was very familiar with the Tahoe region of Northern California, what with the numerous skiing and camping trips I used to indulge in (and still do occasionally), but hadn't explored past Lake Tahoe. The Nakoma Resort is less than an hour northwest from Truckee/Lake Tahoe and is nestled amidst the pine trees, with the majestic Sierras as … [Read more...]
From Camping with Nomads to Exploring Tehran
The past few days I've been enjoying life with a group of nomads who move around the deserts of central Iran. They regularly herd large numbers of sheep and goats; I was able to join them as they moved one such herd from the flat lands up into the mountains. It is a life in motion for the herders and their animals; both are moved around continuously in search of food and water. Donkeys accompany the herds carrying shelter and additional food and … [Read more...]
Far and Away, Flat Out, The West’s Best Road Trip
It feels like we’re driving to the edge of the world where the water falls off. Infinity is just ahead. To the right are mountains that arc up from the basement of time. On the left, a dry lakebed now glassed with salt. This is the driest state in the country, not so surprising, but it is also the most mountainous, with some 300 ranges. If you look at a satellite photo of earth at night one of the brightest pixels is Las Vegas in … [Read more...]
5 Reasons why Disney is better with Older Children
Don't get me wrong, there really is something magical about taking the little ones to the Disney Parks. They marvel at the castle being larger than life, their favorite characters in person and the sheer joy of a Mickey bar. Visiting Disney with little ones creates a lifetime of memories. But ... I have had a ton more fun visiting Disney with my older, pre-teen children. Let me step back a moment. We live in the Orlando area and while we … [Read more...]
The American’s Guide to Martinique
We decided to go to Martinique purely because we found extremely affordable tickets nonstop from Boston. Norwegian Airlines (yes that is a real airline) now has a direct flight from Boston to Fort de France for $220 which almost sounds too good to be true. Prior to stumbling upon these flights, we knew absolutely nothing about the island, but after our week-long adventure we consider ourselves experts and wish to share our new-found knowledge … [Read more...]
Celebrating the Best of Food & Film in Nova Scotia
Foodies and film lovers gathered to celebrate 'A Taste of Devour!' in Los Angeles, in one of a series of global events leading up to the Devour Food Film Festival which takes place in Nova Scotia in November 2016. Devour is the largest film festival devoted to all things culinary and cinematic arts. This epicurean celebration was first launched in Nova Scotia in 2009. What a perfect setting on the eastern Canadian shores - from a landscape … [Read more...]
Philadelphia State of Mind
For an L.A. girl, Philadelphia beckons with the charms of time – stratums of culture, history, beauty – that result in a city pulsating with energy. Sure, sunshine, palm trees and sandy beaches sparkle on the surface, but the City of Brotherly Love, enriched by centuries, fascinates in a way newer American cities cannot compete with. With the Democratic National Convention coming in July, this 17th century town is about to explode. With 18 … [Read more...]
Celebrating King’s Day (Koningsdag) in Amsterdam
Holland celebrated their own King's birthday (Willem-Alexander) for the 3rd year in a row in April 2016. This fun event is known as "Koningsdag" or "King's Day" and is held on April 27, a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Two of the Netherland's largest brands, KLM and Heineken, joined forces to celebrate this special occasion in variety of ways including bringing a lavishly decorated bright orange boat to the canals of … [Read more...]
The Hardest Place in the World to Visit
The covering has the disconcerting effect of obnubilating as well as illuminating the woman behind it. Shrouded in black niqab and ankle-length abaya, she floats towards me. Behind, her friends are firing salvos of cell-phone photos, as though we foreigners are exotic beasts in a zoo. She stops, and through her veil, in perfect English, asks, “Where are you from?” “California.” “What city?” “Los Angeles.” “What part?” … [Read more...]
My Climb of Mount Ararat
Climbing Mount Ararat was a dream of mine since childhood! I would stare at the picture posted above the chalkboard exactly in the center of the room at Armenian School and think, “Why are we just looking at? Why can’t we climb to the top?” I have been blessed that my life has taken me to nearly 60 countries where I connected with Armenian communities in South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Our language, food, and music … [Read more...]
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