Visiting a friend in Pennsylvania in late April, we took advantage of the warm spring weather to explore Longwood Gardens. I had only recently learned of these gardens, and while I knew they’d be full of springtime loveliness, I wasn’t prepared for the dazzling beauty we found. What began as a 400-acre farmstead for the Pierce family […]
North America
Friendship and Chocolate in New York City: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
My travels around the East Coast continued last week with an all-too-brief sojourn in New York. Having once lived in the city, I have many friends there and try to go back as often as I can. I usually take the bus from DC, relaxing with free WiFi until the famous skyline first comes into […]
Snapshot: Miami Beach, Florida
As we prepare for our impending move to Riga, Latvia, I’ve been trying to spend quality time with my friends and family. We’ve happily hosted some here in Washington, DC, but I’ve also been gallivanting up and down the east coast. Last weekend I visited a friend in Pennsylvania and went with her to the […]
A Guide to the Washington, DC Cherry Blossom Festival
The Washington, DC cherry blossoms are a most extraordinary gift. In 1912, Japan gave the United States 3,020 cherry trees in a grand show of international friendship. First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador planted two of the trees along the banks of the Tidal Basin. Little did they know the […]
Touring the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress
Washington, DC is home to many iconic American buildings, which have been immortalized in films ranging from classics like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Citizen Kane, to blockbusters such as Independence Day and Forrest Gump. While the White House and the Washington Monument might have more worldwide fame, the U.S. Capitol is perhaps the […]