Simply put, the French countryside is a special place. I have visited many times, and no matter the season, there's something that resonates within me, reminding me that I don't have to travel far to find peace and balance outside of Barcelona. It's as easy as hopping in the car and driving north just a couple of hours, and before you know it you're driving through a rolling landscape blanketed with hundreds of mature vineyards and ancient hilltop castles for as far as the eye can see. I knew this would be the perfect escape for my Mom and sister, Jamie, two country mice visiting the big city in mid-February.

February 9, 2013 in a nutshell

"Do not throw me a party. I don't want a party!"

In the months leading up to Jeff's birthday, I had tossed around a handful of ideas to celebrate the big 3-0. It is, after all, a milestone year and a milestone birthday can't be treated like just any other day.

The alpine town of Mittenwald

Christmas in Bavaria is something straight out of a storybook. Majestic mountain peeks are blanketed in sparkling white snow, the countryside is peppered with little German hamlets draped in garland and decorated in twinkling lights, and even Munich, the big city, dons its holiday best that would even inspire Mr. Scrooge himself to feel the cheer.

Photo Journal: European Roadtrip 2010

I often think of Betty, our 1976 Volkswagen bus, who was more like a family member than a hunk o'junk hippie van. The simple fact that she had a name gave her an identity and a personality.

"Cant de Barça" sung before and after every game. Listen while you read!

Though I never played sports myself, I've always considered myself a sports fan. No, I was never addicted to ESPN or paid any attention to the ticker during the news. I don't care about stats or rankings or betting on odds. I don't lose sleep over a hard loss. But there's something about being part of a roaring crowd, a band of fanatics, that draws me in and sweeps me off my feet.

Anyone who has attempted to solve a Rubik's Cube is familiar with that feeling of rising excitement when you've aligned all nine squares of one color on one face. "I'm going to do it this time!" you think when the next colors fall into their fateful position. You're overwhelmed with confidence when nine greens, nine blues, nine reds all fall into place. You may even take a step back to admire your brilliant handiwork. Nine whites, nine...."Nooo!" Now you're at a crossroads.

 Photo Journal: Edinburgh and the Highlands

As children, we grow up listening to the stories of generations past. We have a natural curiosity to better understand our world and who we are, all the while coming closer to finding our place within it. The younger we are the grander the reality of the tale, imagining the characters and events to be larger than life.

Traveling up and down the Catalunya coast has become a way of life over the last four years. With a coastline dotted with countless seaside towns all boasting their own little slice of heaven, there's no shortage of weekend destinations to choose from.

Looking out over the Bay of Biscayne, waiting in excited anticipation for hurricane Isaac to make his fateful mark in Southeast Florida, I find myself coming to the inevitable realization that summer vacation will come to a screeching halt in a week's time.