by Vladia Jurcova Growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, traveling abroad was more or less out of the question. Thus, Bratislava became my world. The city’s opulent past and its bold vision of the future had both destroyed and preserved the unique place where I grew up. Although Slovakia’s capital is located only thirty-five miles north…
by Amy Mallett Ah, Paris. Just saying the word conjures a feeling of wistful longing and evokes a little, breathy sigh. I can attest that everything you’ve ever heard about it in a song or seen in a movie is true: Paris is a magical, mystical place. With the exception of picking up a flu…
by Avi Kramer Train stations in seemingly every city in China are packed with country folks, “nongmin” or peasants as they’re called, crouched on the curb, waiting for a job. They are tiny people with wide eyes dressed in old military fatigues. Next to them are puffy, thin-canvas bags that hold all of their worldly…
by Sharon Spence Lieb Chiang Mai, Thailand… In my fantasy, I am Keeper of the Royal Elephants for his Majesty, The King of Thailand: “Bring me a female White Elephant,” my King commands. “Sacred and rare, they’re not easily found. I hear they are charmed by purple orchids.” “Your Majesty,” I stammer. “In all my…
by Kristine Ambrose Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, California is quickly becoming the hippest place to eat and shop. Ten minutes from the airport, you can find yourself experiencing the best of food and drink for a very happy hour or hours. The place to begin is Primitivo Wine Bistro from 5:30pm – 7:00pm, Sunday…
by Madeleine Zinn In considering my first article for Tango Diva, I contemplated writing about my time spent abroad or perhaps in New York, but finally settled on a subject much closer to my heart—my home. I hail from New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment: home to aliens, nuclear test sites, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Growing…
by Kelly N. Patterson “This bus is going to fall,” I cried out in my Swahili 101. It was both a statement and a question. The Buddha-bodied, sarong-wrapped woman to my right laughed at my big worried eyes. “No, young sista,” her electric white teeth glowed through me. Hamna tabu, no problem. Her corpulent arm,…