A Day in Vatican City is not only about seeing masterpieces—although you will see many—but it is also about observing how art, belief, and beauty are merged into a singular vision. It is consuming, awe-inspiring, and an experience you will always remember. Although a spiritual endeavor, it can be intimidating and overcrowded. People swarm in…
One of my favorite things to do while on a solo reading retreat is to learn from a country. I love the charm and architecture of old cities. I enjoy browsing their bookstores and museums, and walking their cobblestone streets. There is something safe and serene about taking a walk through a place where time…
There is something intimate about letter writing. I cherish the art for its transparency, simplicity, and truth. I have enjoyed epistolary novels like Kafka’s Letters to Milena and Mariama Bâ’s So Long a Letter, so I was elated to have Natalia Ginzburg’s The City and the House as an addition to the list of books…
Portugal’s literature embraces lyric poetry and historical writing. One of my favorite Portuguese writers, José Saramago, is celebrated for how he infuses historical elements into his novels, particularly about periods of political conflict that are woven into Portugal’s history. His novel, Raised from the Ground, set in the Alentejo region of Portugal, captures tensions as…