A personal travel blog written by a travel-obsessed girl, featuring tons of tips, stories, guides, videos and photography from around the world. Ninety-nine countries and counting! I’m so happy you’re here! Welcome.

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It’s a Good Day to Bombay: My Day with the Dabbawallas!
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How to Camp on The Mall (Or Die Trying)
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Drowned, Decapitated and Drop-Dead Crazy: The Island of the Dolls
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Weird Science: Unwrapping a Mummy
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Gimme Five! Safari by the Numbers
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Castles in the Sky: Your Fairytale Guide to Portugal!
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Hungry Like the Wolf: My Search for the Best Black Forest Cake in the Black Forest!
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Beethoven’s Bewitching Bonn!
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Beethoven’s Bewitching Bonn!
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Hi! I’m Sandy, a fierce Virgo with a serious case of wanderlust that is rivaled only by an equally spectacular case of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. I’m Native Texan to the bone, although I was actually born in the Black Forest under a gibbous moon. Speaking of black, I love black licorice, black crystals and black humor.

Sandy

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Latest Blogs

Castles in the Sky: Your Fairytale Guide to Portugal!

Castle, castle, fortress, castle. Swoon! Hopping from castle to castle is enough to get any traveler excited. Throw in mind-blowing medieval villages bolstered by staggering ...
June 7, 2022

Beethoven’s Bewitching Bonn!

Germany is celebrated for many things.  From fairy tales and fast cars to castles and classical music, you’re spoiled for choice on where to begin ...
August 20, 2022

Hungry Like the Wolf: My Search for the Best Black Forest Cake in the Black Forest!

Exploring the Black Forest requires stamina, y’all! You have to park the car, get out of the car, walk through insanely picturesque villages and towns, ...
September 1, 2022

Drowned, Decapitated and Drop-Dead Crazy: The Island of the Dolls

Deep in the heart of the canals of Xochimilco lies an island. An island with a tragic and terrifying history. An island that will send ...
October 29, 2022

Weird Science: Unwrapping a Mummy

Encased in temperature-controlled glass cabinets, mummies are often a star attraction at some of the world’s greatest museums. For centuries, mummies were viewed as nothing ...
November 24, 2022

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The Daily Journal

Ban Ka Long Train Station

Bangkok, Thailand

24 Dec 22, 4:14 p.m.
Christmas Eve finds me on the outskirts of Bangkok. Broadly speaking, I’m about 50 miles outside Bangkok’s city center. Specifically speaking, I’m standing at the Ban Ka Long train station on my way to the so-called Life-Risking Market. Yes, you read that correctly. Life-Risking Market. Naturally, I have to investigate

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The Travel Gallery

Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Bogota, Columbia
Bogota, Columbia
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico
Teotihuacan, Mexico
Teotihuacan, Mexico
Jöksulsárlòn Glacier Lagoon, Iceland
Jöksulsárlòn Glacier Lagoon, Iceland
Paris, France
Paris, France
Paris, France
Paris, France
Paris, France
Paris, France
The Hanging Church, Cairo, Egypt
The Hanging Church, Cairo, Egypt
Snaefellsnes, Iceland
Snaefellsnes, Iceland
The Black Church, Iceland
The Black Church, Iceland
Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Salento, Colombia
Salento, Colombia
Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda
Lake Victoria, Uganda
Lake Victoria, Uganda
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London, England
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UK and Ireland
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Geiringer, Norway
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☄️Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! I hope yours is filled with happiness and joy. x Sandy ☄️.
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#thanksgiving #cheers #florence #italytravel #italytrip #momentsofmine #travelblogger #travelbloggers #travelbloggerslife #travelbloggersofinstagram #traveldiaries #traveldiary #duomo #travelphotography #traveladdict #beautifuldestinations #postcard #postcards #florenceitaly #thesandypapers #womenwhotravel #womenwhoexplore

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☄️Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! I hope yours is filled with happiness and joy. x Sandy ☄️. . . . #thanksgiving #cheers #florence #italytravel #italytrip #momentsofmine #travelblogger #travelbloggers #travelbloggerslife #travelbloggersofinstagram #traveldiaries #traveldiary #duomo #travelphotography #traveladdict #beautifuldestinations #postcard #postcards #florenceitaly #thesandypapers #womenwhotravel #womenwhoexplore

Pink sunrises are my favorite. x Sandy.
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#sunrisephotography #venice #veniceitaly #travelblogger #travelgram #travelling #traveler #traveladdict #moments #traveljournal #traveldiary #traveltheworld #beautifuldestinations #womenwhoexplore #thesandypapers @italycharme @italymagazine @visititaly #visititaly @weareclassicvacations #travelers #travelphoto

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Pink sunrises are my favorite. x Sandy. . . . #sunrisephotography #venice #veniceitaly #travelblogger #travelgram #travelling #traveler #traveladdict #moments #traveljournal #traveldiary #traveltheworld #beautifuldestinations #womenwhoexplore #thesandypapers @italycharme @italymagazine @visititaly #visititaly @weareclassicvacations #travelers #travelphoto

🔥 Notes from the road, Firenze, 9 Nov 23, 11:18 a.m.

🔥 Giggling as we zip through another — what do you call those kinds of short, walled underpasses where there’s only room for one car to get through at a time? — at a relatively high rate of speed, I can’t help but wonder if my taxi driver is trying to kill me.

🔥 If so, it’s not working. Do better, Lorenzo! Do 👏🏻 better 👏🏻

🔥 Lorenzo did, however, manage to murder my case. Lorenzo was in a hurry. And, while taking one of the hairpin turns from the A11, I heard my case slam from one side of the boot to the other. A few more turns into the ride, I continued to hear a loud-ish rattle but couldn’t quite place it. I didn’t have anything breakable in my bag. So, I refocused my attention on the faces of the people who watched us pass through the streets of Firenze. Dante’s Divine Comedy indeed. Maybe this is the Fifth Circle?

🔥 Soon enough, my death-defying ride came to an end. Lorenzo ripped my case from his boot, set it along his shoulder, carried it across the street and set it inside the foyer of my hotel. I thanked him, exchanged goodbyes and watched him slip into his car and disappear. Feeling bougie AF, I walked toward my bag — and that’s when I noticed it: One of the four wheels on the bottom of my case had been entirely, completely, wholly ripped away.

🔥 Whatever. I arrived alive in Florence! Conveniently, the House of Dante is just around the corner. I’ll pay it a visit after brunch. Blood orange mimosas are my favorite. x Sandy

“Follow your path and let the people talk.” - Dante.
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#dante #hell #travelblogger #travelling #travelblog #traveler #traveladdict #thesandypapers #firenze #florence #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardsfromitaly #travelphotography #traveltheworld #travelgram #traveldiary #traveldiaries #italytravel #italygram #traveling #streetscape #momentsofmine

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🔥 Notes from the road, Firenze, 9 Nov 23, 11:18 a.m. 🔥 Giggling as we zip through another — what do you call those kinds of short, walled underpasses where there’s only room for one car to get through at a time? — at a relatively high rate of speed, I can’t help but wonder if my taxi driver is trying to kill me. 🔥 If so, it’s not working. Do better, Lorenzo! Do 👏🏻 better 👏🏻 🔥 Lorenzo did, however, manage to murder my case. Lorenzo was in a hurry. And, while taking one of the hairpin turns from the A11, I heard my case slam from one side of the boot to the other. A few more turns into the ride, I continued to hear a loud-ish rattle but couldn’t quite place it. I didn’t have anything breakable in my bag. So, I refocused my attention on the faces of the people who watched us pass through the streets of Firenze. Dante’s Divine Comedy indeed. Maybe this is the Fifth Circle? 🔥 Soon enough, my death-defying ride came to an end. Lorenzo ripped my case from his boot, set it along his shoulder, carried it across the street and set it inside the foyer of my hotel. I thanked him, exchanged goodbyes and watched him slip into his car and disappear. Feeling bougie AF, I walked toward my bag — and that’s when I noticed it: One of the four wheels on the bottom of my case had been entirely, completely, wholly ripped away. 🔥 Whatever. I arrived alive in Florence! Conveniently, the House of Dante is just around the corner. I’ll pay it a visit after brunch. Blood orange mimosas are my favorite. x Sandy “Follow your path and let the people talk.” - Dante. . . . #dante #hell #travelblogger #travelling #travelblog #traveler #traveladdict #thesandypapers #firenze #florence #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardsfromitaly #travelphotography #traveltheworld #travelgram #traveldiary #traveldiaries #italytravel #italygram #traveling #streetscape #momentsofmine

🛵 Notes from the road, Florence, Italy, 8 Nov 23, 4:01 p.m.

🛵 Santa Maria del Fiore — the Duomo of Florence — is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. When I’m in Florence, I take every opportunity to walk past her because I simply cannot believe how lucky I am to see something so spectacular. In all the years I’ve been coming to Florence, she’s never looked prettier than she does today. She takes my breath away.

🛵 Especially from Piazza Michelangelo! Beautifully positioned on a hill along the south bank of the Arno River, Piazza Michelangelo offers stunning views of the city. If you’re staying in the city center, it can be reached by bus, car or on foot. If the weather is decent, I highly recommend walking. If the weather isn’t cooperating or you simply choose not to walk, you can easily hire a taxi or take the bus. If you choose to drive, there is a small, affordable parking lot which accommodates around 70 cars. (Please, for the love of God, do not drive in Florence, unless you’re a local. In that case, by all means, carry on.)

🛵 However you choose to arrive and no matter the time you arrive, Florence seen from above is spectacular. You’re looking at the city that gave birth to powerhouse artists, philosophers and scientists! In the space of a couple of generations, Florence gave us Brunelleschi’s dome, Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David. This is the birthplace of the Renaissance! Let that sink in for a minute.

🛵 Yes, everything about Florence seems to be wrapped in sugar and stardust. And, in the coming days, we’ll explore her on foot (and Vespa) together. Benvenuti a Firenze, y’all!.
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#firenze #florence #duomo #traveltips #travelblogger #travelblog #traveladdict #travelbloggerlife #travelblogginglife #travelblogging #travelling #traveler #thesandypapers #beautifuldestinations #panorama #visititaly #visititalia @visititaly #travelphotography #travelawesome #traveldiaries #travellife #traveltheworld #travelgoals #womenwhoexplore

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🛵 Notes from the road, Florence, Italy, 8 Nov 23, 4:01 p.m. 🛵 Santa Maria del Fiore — the Duomo of Florence — is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. When I’m in Florence, I take every opportunity to walk past her because I simply cannot believe how lucky I am to see something so spectacular. In all the years I’ve been coming to Florence, she’s never looked prettier than she does today. She takes my breath away. 🛵 Especially from Piazza Michelangelo! Beautifully positioned on a hill along the south bank of the Arno River, Piazza Michelangelo offers stunning views of the city. If you’re staying in the city center, it can be reached by bus, car or on foot. If the weather is decent, I highly recommend walking. If the weather isn’t cooperating or you simply choose not to walk, you can easily hire a taxi or take the bus. If you choose to drive, there is a small, affordable parking lot which accommodates around 70 cars. (Please, for the love of God, do not drive in Florence, unless you’re a local. In that case, by all means, carry on.) 🛵 However you choose to arrive and no matter the time you arrive, Florence seen from above is spectacular. You’re looking at the city that gave birth to powerhouse artists, philosophers and scientists! In the space of a couple of generations, Florence gave us Brunelleschi’s dome, Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David. This is the birthplace of the Renaissance! Let that sink in for a minute. 🛵 Yes, everything about Florence seems to be wrapped in sugar and stardust. And, in the coming days, we’ll explore her on foot (and Vespa) together. Benvenuti a Firenze, y’all!. . . . #firenze #florence #duomo #traveltips #travelblogger #travelblog #traveladdict #travelbloggerlife #travelblogginglife #travelblogging #travelling #traveler #thesandypapers #beautifuldestinations #panorama #visititaly #visititalia @visititaly #travelphotography #travelawesome #traveldiaries #travellife #traveltheworld #travelgoals #womenwhoexplore
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