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Bumblings Of Miss Button

~ Finding travel inspiration at home and abroad…

Bumblings Of Miss Button

Tag Archives: Travel Musings

Miss Button’s Packing List: Costa Rica

23 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by sarabutton in Destinations, Travel Musings

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Costa Rica, gear, packing, Travel Musings

I apologize for the sparse updates. Balancing graduate school, 2 jobs and settling in to a brand new city has been thrilling but exhausting, and my focus has been on those things. I have not forgotten about you, though, dear readers!

As you know, I went to Costa Rica! I rocked out on a surfboard, climbed some volcanoes, got myself some sloth besties, swung like Tarzan, and a whole lot more that I haven’t told you about yet.

A beautiful day to inhale noxious fumes! Just kidding. Mostly.

A beautiful day to inhale noxious fumes! Just kidding. Mostly.

The end product of this–other than the frickin’ awesome time I had–will be a guidebook for solo female travelers to Costa Rica with Go! Girl Guides! If you’re as excited about this as I am, let us know!

Anyway, as a packing aficionado, I was puzzled as to how to start packing for a 7-week trip to the tropics.

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My First Interview

24 Saturday Aug 2013

Posted by sarabutton in Bumbling Chats, Travel Musings

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Announcements, interview, Italy, Travel Musings

Gooooood morning!

I just wanted to share with you all a fun interview that I was asked to do for Sparkles & Crumbs–a delightful blog run by charming fellow Italophile, Caroline!

As someone who usually writes the interview questions, it was an interesting and pleasant experience being on the other side of the inquiries. One lesson I learned, though, is that it’s really hard, too! Especially doing written interviews, because you have the time to craft a response but then second guess everything you’ve written, leading to a lot of doubt and agonizing over word placement and tone. Such is the writing life, I suppose.

Anyway, a big thank you to Caroline for featuring me on her wonderful Champagne Tea series–my first interview representing Bumblings of Miss Button as an interviewee on the interwebs!

Check out my interview on Sparkles & Crumbs!

Check out my interview on Sparkles & Crumbs!

 

Dear America: A Birthday Letter

04 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by sarabutton in Travel Musings

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Fourth of July, holidays, home, Independence Day, July 4th, travel, Travel Musings, USA

Dear America,

Happy Birthday!

I’ve missed you. I really have.

Wide open spaces. US of A.

Wide open spaces.
US of A.

I’m sorry I’ve skipped so many of your recent birthdays. There was the time I was digging in Italy in 2008. And that other time I was digging in Italy in 2009. 2010 I made it to New York! In 2011, I almost forgot it was your birthday at all and spent it in Rome with friends, trying to find a good burger (for the record, that was not my idea that time). We had figured Hard Rock Café was our best bet; when we arrived, we realized it was more crowded than usual because it was July 4th.  The wait was 90 minutes. We ended up eating at a bar near Piazza Bologna.

And last year. Well, last year I didn’t technically miss it. I saw your fireworks from the plane as we departed the capital; on the tail of the fireworks was a storm, I think. Booms filled the air, in any case. Your favorite colors did, too.

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How Living in a Small Town Taught Me About Travel

09 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by sarabutton in Travel Musings

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Italy, Travel Musings

Agatha Christie is one of my favorite mystery writers. Most folks love Poirot, but I loved Miss Marple, the old lady from a tiny town who was a genius sleuth. Characters were always very skeptical about her detective skills, because who was she? Just some spinster who  never left her little corner of the world. But Miss Marple knows something that people forget: it doesn’t matter where you come from to garner lessons about humanity and life.

At this point in my life, I’ve spent a bit more than an accumulated year in  Italy. Most of that time was passed living in Orvieto. Now, Orvieto isn’t very large. Wikipedia says it’s 20,000 people, but I”m skeptical. In any case, Orvieto was certainly the smallest place I’ve ever lived. And guess what?

The Orvieto duomo and skyline of Orvieto

Orvieto: where I learned how to travel.

I learned some of the most important lessons about traveling by living there.

Lesson 1: Be flexible. 

In a small town–especially an Italian one–shops close early, they might be open at random times (i.e. the grocery store randomly closed every Wednesday afternoon), they might go on vacation *gasp!* for two weeks and you won’t be able to find your favorite bread or whatever.

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How to Buy Awesome Souvenirs (Without Overloading Your Bag)

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by sarabutton in Travel Musings

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clothing, Czech Republic, Istanbul, Italy, shopping, souvenirs, Travel Musings, Turkey

As you know, I’m a light packer. And as much as I love shopping (when I’m in the right mood), I have a hard time justifying buying souvenirs unless I’m on a short trip and don’t have to lug stuff around too long.

But traveling for 8 months and seeing things you’ve never seen before sometimes prompts a desire to take home a relic or two. Here are some of my favorite souvenirs that not only fit into my bag, but will also remind me of my fabulous trip and the incredible people I met along the way.

Look for Unique and Practical Garments

If you buy a t-shirt for every destination you travel, you might end up with a lot of extra weight in your pack. Trust me, there were so many clever and cute t-shirts I wanted (Appelman in Berlin, anyone?) but really often at souvenir shops they’re kitschy and overpriced.

The good thing about buying t-shirts as souvenirs is that if you’re traveling long-term, you’ll probably have to toss or donate your old, ruined ones at some point. And what better to replace them with than ones that are both practical–I mean, you can wear them!–and have a story behind them.

The trick? Look for items that you might not be able to get anywhere else. And that you WILL USE AND WEAR.

Example 1: In October, I traveled in Italy with the fantastic Emily & Logan. While they were off being their badass selves cycling 135 km through the picturesque Tuscan hills, I was eating porchetta and watching as people came in at the finish. Oh, and I also perused the L’Eroica market place.

There, I stumbled upon the tent for Borracce di Poesia, a project joining the joy of cycling with love of reading. Literally translated to “Water Bottles of Poetry,” its founder inserted poems he’d written that focused on urban cycling. I LOVED the idea behind this, and they had the coolest design for their t-shirts. The founder and I had a really great chat, and I asked myself: Where else would I get something like this that was paired with this experience?

Overlooking Siena and promoting poetry!

Overlooking Siena and promoting poetry!

I love my Borracce shirt and can’t wait until there’s warmer weather to wear it all the time again–I did in Italy!

And by the way–now you can get their t-shirts online! They are super cool and come in many colors.

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Topkapı Palace: Stomping Grounds of the Ottoman Sultans

23 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by sarabutton in Destinations, Travel Musings

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Things to do, Travel Musings, Turkey

When I think of a palace, I think of Disney. And lush gardens, and over-the-top architecture, and lots of bling. Although my trip to Topkapı didn’t include a Cinderella sighting (I suppose that’d be more of a castle, wouldn’t it? Is there a difference? Someone help me out with this…), I was certainly impressed by its grandeur.But wait…Topkapwha? 
 Here are the basics:

  • Topkapı Palace began being built in 1459 by Sultan Mehmed II, who was responsible for conquering Constantinople.
  • It was home to the sultans and their courts until 1856, when the sultan moved to Dolmabahçe Palace.
  • It has been a museum since 1924.
  • A treasury, kitchens, mosques, stables, baths and even a circumcision room are all part of the palace complex
  • There are 4 main courtyards

Obviously there is a lot more history and information about the palace, but you get the idea. The people who lived on the palace grounds essentially never had to leave–they had everything they needed there!

Topkapı Palace: Stomping Grounds of the Ottoman Sultans
Entrance to Topkapı-The Imperial Gate
The Street of the Council was used for imperial processions. It leads to the next courtyard.

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On Turning Twenty-Six: 14 Birthday Goals

15 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by sarabutton in Travel Musings

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Travel Musings

Happy Birthday cake (Susan Kambalu) / CC BY 3.0

25 was a good year. Since I turned 25, I’ve traveled to eight countries and spent time in more than 30 cities or towns. Before I return to the US, I’ll have added at least 4 more countries to that list. I’ve learned a lot and have forged a lot of friendships along the way.

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4 Ways To Save Money in Istanbul

05 Saturday Jan 2013

Posted by sarabutton in Destinations, Travel Musings

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food, Things to do, Travel Musings, Turkey

Istanbul is one of those cities that is surrounded by some sort of mystery. Enchantment, some might call it. And enchanting it is. Just walk along the pier and watch the fishermen, meander through the bazaar, or soak in the minaret-studded skyline at dusk and you’ll know it is somewhere special.

The view from our (super cheap) ferry ride.


Like any other big tourist hub, though, Istanbul is certainly a place where–if you’re not careful–your money will slip through your fingers. So how to avoid it? Here are 5 tips to keep your pocketbook balanced and your wanderlust sated!
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A White (Istanbul) Christmas

26 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by sarabutton in Travel Musings

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

photo, Travel Musings, Turkey

2012 marked my first year away from family for Christmas. Thanksgivings I’ve done, 4th of Julys, New Year’s Eve, but Christmas and, now that I think about it, my birthday, have always been spent in the raucous company of my beloved family.
Admittedly, I was apprehensive about this. I am very close with my family, and I”m a sucker for tradition, so I wasn’t sure how well I’d adjust to being away from Tucson for this holiday. I expected to cry a lot over Skype.
I’m glad that’s not what happened. 
Belgrad Forest
 
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London Checklist

24 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by sarabutton in Destinations

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Tags

Things to do, Travel Musings, United Kingdom


Last summer I had the tremendous pleasure of traveling to Londonwith my dear friend, Lauren. I’ve raved about it before, and I knew we had only scratched the surface of London’s bajillion cultural offerings. So it was with a smile that I landed in London for a 5-day stay with a friend.
Along the river and by important buildings. You know, like Parliament.
A few things were on my to-do list this time around.
1.       Go dancing. All the lindy and blues I’d been doing in Ireland invigorated and inspired me to keep it up, and London has one of the most vibrant dance scenes in Europe. How could I pass up some chances to dance with some of the world’s best?
2.      See more free stuff! London is an expensive city, there’s no getting around that. That being said, though, there are a number of ways to save your dough while there. Last year, Lauren & I had done a lot of touristy things that required payment. This year, I wanted to hit up some of the museums that didn’t.
3.       Do Madame Tussaud’s. I’m a huge dork. I have no idea why, but since I was a little girl I’ve wanted to see the famous wax figures of Madame Tussaud’s. Last summer both in Amsterdam and London I suggested it as an activity, but it’s pricey and, honestly, kind of a waste of money. Since it was just me this time, though, I wouldn’t feel guilty about wasting my own cash.
4.      See more Shakespeare! The production of Much Ado About Nothing that we saw last year at The Globe was the best play I’ve ever seen. Hands down. The acting and direction were impeccable, the experience was extraordinary for so many reasons. To experience that again in the form of a different production would be yet another wonder-filled 3 hours I would never forget.
I know you’re dying to find out: did I check all these things off my list? Heck yes, I did!

I went dancing twice; once, to Blues in my Shoes, where the class was a fun gender-bender (where the normal follows lead and leads follow, always a great exercise to improve your dancing), and the fantastic live music during the social dancing made the night great. Then, later in the week I attended another Swing Patrol event, where there were dancers from literally all over the globe swinging out. Super!
As for seeing more free stuff, I headed to the Natural HistoryMuseum for the first time. I thought I’d be able to do that and the Science Museum in one day, and man was I wrong! The NHM had so much to see: dinosaurs, the “treasures” collection, which displays some of the most valuable relics the museum owns (like a skeleton of a dodo bird, and an original copy of On the Origin of Species), exhibits on human memory, what it’s like to be in an earthquake, and so much more! And it’s all free! I also hit up the National Gallery—also free—which houses incredible paintings by the Impressionists, the Baroque painters of Spain, and hundreds of other artists.
I did Madame Tussaud’s. Was it worth it? Well. Yes, I suppose it was, if a total rip-off, pricewise. The one thing I learned, though, is that sometimes silly touristy activities like that are worth doing with friends. It got tiresome having to ask strangers to take my ridiculous photo one after the next doing stupid things with wax figures of Robert Downey, Jr. and Brad Pitt…
Clearly I have no problem embarrassing myself in front of strangers. But hopefully you’ve figured that out by now…Click to make it larger and see me with the Royals, Audrey Hepburn, The King of Pop and more!
And, oh, the Shakespeare! For Christmas, my parents gifted me a ticket to see Twelfth Night, starring Mark Rylance as Lady Olivia and Stephen Fry as Malvolio. See, ten years ago The Globe did an all-male production of the play, just like they would have in Shakespeare’s day (called an “original practices production”.) It was freakin’ amazing. Originally running at the Globe, the play—along with Richard III, also starring Rylance—is now at the Apollo Theatre in West End. Walking in, they truly stick to what we would have seen as audience members in Shakespeare’s day. The actors were getting ready onstage; make-up being done, they were warming up their voices, having costumes adjusted, the whole lot, and what I loved seeing in that time was how they visibly shifted into character, especially Rylance. As his costumer was doing some finishing touches, I noticed his posture straighten, his face begin to grow more serious, his hands calm, all of which befit the character of a mourning, beautiful Olivia. The whole cast did a fabulous job, with a lovely Viola done by a youthful Johnny Flynn and Stephen Fry’s return to the boards after a 10+ year hiatus from stage acting. Stellar.
 
What else did I do in London? I checked out the fantastically curated Pre-Raphaelites exhibit at the Tate Britain, got drinks at a very hip pub in Tooting (haha) in the borough of Wandsworth, South London, got a mini-tour of one of the British Museum’s conservation labs where my friend works, watched Die Hard for the first time (Merry Christmas!), and took a walk along the Thames to the Christmas stalls on the South Bank.
We got candied apples and listened to Christmas carolers along the Thames!
All in all, it was a pretty great stay and certainly not the last one. Cheers, London, and cheerio for now!

Have you been to London? What do you like to see when you go?

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