In the winter, as folks fire up their furnaces, the warm smell of piñon pours out of chimneys and lingers in the adobe streets. It follows us as we make our way through the alleys, to the plaza, and past the city’s ancient cathedrals. The sweet, woody scent is pervasive throughout Santa Fe. Before I … More Santa Fe
The week I came back from Hawaii I had a terrible stomach ache, I felt miserable, and I was one hundred percent sure that I was doomed to feel that way for the rest of my life. Yet only days earlier I was living the lavish life of a wannabe Hawaiian monarch. My retro paradise … More The Royal Hawaiian
There’s a gazillion ways to do the holidays, but everyone has their favorite. One of mine is an annual ugly sweater party hosted by the lovely Robles family. The event features Mexican staples served to ugly-Christmas-sweater adorned guests. The centerpiece of the evening is a big steamy pot of menudo soup — a Mexican holiday … More Ugly Sweater Fiesta
My mom and I set off to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands on Thursday in mid October. We flew from San Jose to Long Beach. I lugged my work laptop along with me, seeing as my work would be going on vacation too. In the days prior to our trip, I was so occupied with … More To the Equator: part one
Penned by Alina K. A. 