A new day, and with it, new possibilities. I was especially excited to see the full-scale replica of the goddess Athena statue housed in the Parthenon at Centennial Park. As had become our routine, we started the day with a light breakfast and drove the short 2.5 miles to the park. At first, we were puzzled—there didn’t seem to be a clear entrance to the Parthenon. We almost gave up, thinking it might be closed, but decided to walk the grounds anyway....
I woke up feeling a little wistful—it was time to leave the camp that had become our cozy home for the past two days. But before we said our final goodbyes, we had room for just a bit more adventure in the Smokies. Figure 1: Saying goodbyes, Under Canvas, Smokies NP I suggested Grotto Falls, and the ever-helpful concierge gave it a nod of approval. That morning, I swapped out the bottomless coffee for something with a little more homegrown flair: Wagh Bakri chai, Mitu’s trusty travel staple....
I had a head full of dreams and sleep still clinging to my eyes when Nidhi nudged me It’s already 5:45! I leapt out of bed, chasing visions of bears and strong morning coffee as we hit the road for our early hike in the Smokies. By 6:30 AM, we rolled past the Cades Cove Visitor Center, only to see a line of cars already queuing up. The loop here is a well known 11-mile one way scenic drive through wide Tennessee meadows, dotted with historic cabins and country churches more than a century old....
Nashville seemed like the perfect mid-year escape when our neighbor Mitu floated the idea. Our travels along the East Coast have been, well… let’s just say, a bit lacking, and the thought of glamping in the Smokies had just the right amount of rustic charm and modern comfort to win us over. In my usual fast-fingered fashion, I booked flights on United before noticing that Delta was offering nearly $900 in savings (that’s no pocket change!...
Figure 1: We ❤️ Baby Coos! We woke up still full from the late-night Thai feast, so we skipped breakfast and headed straight to the University of Glasgow. Gothic, grand, and imposing, the university is meticulously maintained. We entered via the engineering division, where I delighted in nerdy admiration of every department sign. Figure 2: Glasgow University The campus features two picturesque quadrangles connected by archways — a dream setting for amateur photographers (i....
Figure 1: The Wildcat vegan cafe, Fort William Some vegan places pretend to be non-vegetarian — Wildcat in Fort William was one of those intriguing types. The hip vibe pulled us in: minimalist design, moody lighting, and a menu that read like a wellness influencer’s dream. We went for Scrambled Korean Tofu with Mint Sauce and Hummus Chickpea Toasted Bread, paired with smooth lattes. Figure 2: Scrambled Korean Tofu with toast, The Wildcat, Fort William...
Today was our last day on the Isle of Skye, and the emotions were already bubbling. The skies were moody, the lochs were still, and we were…hungry. After wolfing down another hearty Highland breakfast, we loaded up our trusty German steed, and bid a fond farewell to our delightful host, Margaret. Magic in Motion Figure 1: Vast open landscape for Fairy Pools. Next, we headed to the famed Fairy Pools in southern Skye....
Figure 1: Breakfast spread, Gables BnB! The day kicked off with a million-pound view (thankfully, free), and a hearty British breakfast that could’ve convinced even a hardcore dosa-lover. We were all set for an epic day in the Highlands, armed with layers, ladders (well, hiking shoes), and low expectations of WiFi. Old Man of Storr – Take 1 With caffeine in our veins and enthusiasm in our hearts, we jumped into our trusty german steed and galloped toward the iconic Old Man of Storr....
Another Edinburgh morning went without a hitch. Woke up at 8:40am to blaring alarms with a head full of dreams stretching all the way back to childhood (perhaps last night’s advocate’s whisky in the evening has a way of unlocking those guilty mental filing cabinets). Figure 1: Nice breakfast in the train. Booked an Uber XL to Waverley station. Our driver, Ibrahim, was kind enough to drop us near the elevators—bless him for sparing us the luggage-dragging marathon that station entrances usually demand....
Woke up at our usual, very respectable 10 AM, feeling fresh after completing my 4 AM blogging ritual. We stepped outside expecting the usual Scottish gloom, but lo and behold— California sunshine! It’s almost as if Professor Dumbledore himself had cast a weather charm, keeping the rain at bay. Egg McMuffins & A Train to Stirling After days of indulging in grand feasts, we decided to keep breakfast light (relative to our usual)....