29 articles tagged with local markets
The moment my feet touched Mahajanga's rust-colored earth, I felt that familiar sensation—the one that signals I've arrived somewhere with ancient wisdom to share. This coastal gem on Madagascar's northwestern shore isn't just a waypoint on the tourist map; it's...
The moment I stepped off the metro at Baixa-Chiado, I knew Lisbon would steal a piece of my heart. Not because of the postcard-perfect tiled buildings or the iconic yellow trams (though they're definitely Instagram-worthy), but because of the city's...
The morning light in Toulouse possesses a quality I've encountered nowhere else—it bathes the pink terracotta buildings in a glow that transforms the entire city into a living canvas. Perhaps this is why artists have been drawn to La Ville...
As someone who spends most days in a lab coat analyzing environmental data, my shopping expeditions are usually limited to online science supply catalogs. But when my research recently took me to Jacksonville with my daughter for a weekend conservation...
Who would have thought that leaving my comfortable HR director's office in Winnipeg would lead me to treasure hunting in places like North Charleston? Yet here I am, 60 years young, with my shopping bags and bargain radar fully activated...
The name Versailles conjures images of opulent halls, manicured gardens, and the ghosts of French royalty. But beyond the gilded gates of the palace lies a town with its own quiet poetry – streets where locals live their lives in...
When most travelers think of Jamaica, their minds drift to all-inclusive resorts and pristine beaches. But after decades exploring how communities adapt to their environments, I've learned that true cultural understanding happens in the spaces where everyday life unfolds. Last...
When most travelers think of Suriname, Paramaribo typically steals the spotlight. But just 20 minutes south of the capital lies Lelydorp, the country's second-largest urban area and a cultural melting pot that deserves your attention. I stumbled upon this gem...
I've traipsed through the American Southwest's crimson canyons and soaked in Thailand's steamy hot springs, but nothing quite prepared me for the raw authenticity of Ganta, Liberia. This vibrant market town near the Guinea border isn't on most travelers' radar,...
When most travelers think of Uganda, images of mountain gorillas and safari adventures immediately come to mind. But after spending a week in Entebbe on what my university colleagues mockingly called my 'budget luxury adventure,' I discovered a cultural tapestry...
When most travelers think of Puerto Rico, San Juan's colorful streets and Rincón's beaches typically top the list. But my investigative instincts recently led me to Caguas—a city that flies under the tourist radar but delivers big on authentic Boricua...
G'day, food lovers! Just wrapped up a ripper week in Speightstown, Barbados, and crikey, what a feed I've had! This charming historic port town on the northwest coast is a deadset treasure trove of Caribbean flavors that won't break the...
The first time I glimpsed Dinant from the winding road above the Meuse Valley, I understood why Victor Hugo once described it as 'the most extraordinary place in the world.' Nestled between dramatic limestone cliffs and the serpentine Meuse River,...
There's something about Oakland that reminds me of my beloved Marseille—a port city with gritty edges that cradles profound cultural richness within its neighborhoods. After numerous visits to the Bay Area for sustainability conferences, I've developed a deep appreciation for...
The first time my daughter Amara and I ventured beyond our all-inclusive resort in Puerto Plata, we discovered what vacation memories are truly made of—authentic flavors that tell the story of a place better than any guidebook. Five years later,...