by Kathy Hegedus-Beeksma Kings and Queens and medieval battles, Hungary has seen all of that! This is a story of foreign occupation, revolution, the struggle to reclaim territory, and the fight for freedom! The first stop on the chronological tour of Budapest is the Basilica of St. Istvan. In 895, the Magyar (Hungarian) tribes settled…
by Jenna D’Anna (staka’ shun) /n. / a neologism used by modern day Mrs. Mortimers and real-life Homer Simpsons who choose not to travel and prefer to unravel the mysteries of the world from the comfort of their living-room couches. –Horatio Silva – New York Times Style Magazine, Holiday 2007 ***** With the exception of…
by Natalie Bahadur Bright, blinding, flashing lights beckon you closer. There’s an energy in the air. There’s the unmistakable smell of money and the promise of unrivaled riches. Lady Luck whispers you should take a gamble. Place a bet. Roll the dice. The faint sound of slot machines wafts through the air. Thinking of Las…
by Felicia Kamriani About an hour north of Manzanillo Airport and two hours south of Puerto Vallarta lies the serenely decadent getaway of Costa Careyes, or Turtle Coast. This breathtaking oasis, consisting of the 48-room El Careyes Beach Resort, charming Las Casitas de Flores, and multimillion-dollar private villas surrounded by 30,000 acres of natural habitat…
by Patti Mangan Men yelling, cussing, arms thrashing, chains clanging and slithering, sinking quickly with the weight of nearly 100 impaled fish. Alarming adult panic. I was eleven. A wiry cousin had lost his sweaty grip on the day’s haul. First time I witnessed grown men cry. I flashed on this vivid memory of…
by Melissa Josue I miss kayaking at dawn on the tranquil sapphire waters of Laguna Bacalar. Here, the faint crows of roosters summon the day. Crystal clear waters ebb and flow beneath hammocks swinging from a thatched-roof dock. Fresh tropical fruit and homemade breads beckon from the open-air dining room. Orchids adorn the trunks and…
by Michelle McAlister I fly down the hallway and frantically dig out the yellow pages from the kitchen drawer. I look under “H” for Hurricane. Hurricane Concrete, Hurricane Fencing, Hurricane Shutters… Sheets of rain slap the King palms that earlier shrouded my rented residence in lush secret coverage. The palms lay flat, flapping, wagging in…