La Bougie Travels

A site for the traveler whose tastes are a little bougie

Tag: international

  • bologna: a damp journey through a foodie paradise

    bologna: a damp journey through a foodie paradise
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    Our group of mostly American tourists followed Caterina of Secret Food Tours through the winding streets of old Bologna like little ducklings. We stopped in one shop and tasted little pastries, then in another shop we picked up a parcel, then tasted slices of almond-flavored cakes called torta di rizo, then acquired another parcel, then… Read more

  • memories of italy

    memories of italy
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    Italy has always called to me. When I was a sophomore in college, I participated in a summer abroad program that studied ancient civilizations, taking us students to Athens, Rome, and Tunis (Carthage in classical times). It was my first trip abroad, aside from freshman year spring break in Mexico. Of these three destinations, we… Read more

  • a non-camper’s guide to camping

    a non-camper’s guide to camping
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    My friends and I traipsed along a wooded path. Pine trees towered above our heads, and their needles and cones formed a blanket beneath our feet. Beams of sunlight darted through the sparse canopy, warming the air that was still cool even in June. Scrubbier greenery lined the path, and a bunny scampered away at… Read more

  • photoessay: the colorful lakes of the canadian rockies

    photoessay: the colorful lakes of the canadian rockies
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    A big part of visiting the Canadian Rockies parks of Banff, Jasper, and Yoho is exploring their various lakes, famed for the array of colors you’ll find among their sundry waters. Lakes in the Rockies come from glacial melt. Glaciers erode rocks, which turn into finely ground particles that suspend in the lake water. The… Read more

  • chasing wildlife through the canadian rockies

    chasing wildlife through the canadian rockies
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    My friends and I were driving south down Rt 16 toward Jasper. I was sitting in the driver’s side backseat, peering into the distance toward the Athabasca River, looking for wildlife drinking by the riverside. Nearer to the road, I glimpsed pale shapes moving. They were whitish, or perhaps tan or grey. My brain frantically… Read more

  • 3 reasons to travel while grieving

    3 reasons to travel while grieving

    I’ve been absent here for a while. And it’s not because I haven’t traveled. I spent a week in Banff, Canada and its environs at the end of June, a trip I hope to write about in coming weeks. I just haven’t been up to writing. On June 5, in the middle of the night,… Read more

  • all about alaska’s glaciers

    all about alaska’s glaciers

    When people ask me how my trip to Alaska was, my quick, flippant response is, “a lot of glaciers and whales.” Which may sound as if I’m being dismissive of the experience, but the truth is, the glaciers and whales were both amazing. More to follow on the whales in my next post. Today, we’re… Read more

  • alaska: a tale of whales and glaciers

    alaska: a tale of whales and glaciers

    I awoke on our first morning at sea and snuck out onto the chilly balcony. The sun rising behind spotty clouds gilded the sea in ribbons, while further in the distance, a mountainous landscape drifted by. Up on the tenth deck, I got distracted on my quest for coffee and joined other bundled passengers at… Read more

  • wandering vancouver

    wandering vancouver

    “It’s the perfect drink for a hot day like this,” said the server at the Fairmont Waterfront of the Harborside Spritz, helping me decide which cocktail to order. We both laughed when I observed, “I love that this is considered a hot day in Vancouver.” The entire day had been sunny while barely topping 70… Read more

  • practical tips if you’re planning a trip to dominica

    practical tips if you’re planning a trip to dominica

    You definitely should plan a trip to Dominica if… You are the type of person who enjoys slightly more off-the-beaten track travel and don’t mind being deprived of some of the comforts of home. If that’s you, and you enjoy hiking, snorkeling, or diving, there are tons of options. We only hit a couple of… Read more