Tailwinds and Tall Tales

The Italian Alps: Cowbells, Witch Brooms, and No Air Conditioning

We left Milan with Randy and Alisa and headed north to Bolzano, a small-but-not-too-small town...

The City of Marble and Late Reservations

Milan has energy. Not the frantic energy of New York where everyone looks slightly annoyed...

A NY Graduation, Several Michelin Stars, and One Very Proud Mom

The entire McGowan gang descended on New York City for Annie’s graduation from Pratt Institute....

Appendix(es), Flat Tires, and Other Ways the Universe Keeps Me Humble

So I recently sent out a very confident, borderline smug email declaring that “everyone is...

From Ruins to Retail Therapy: Our Final Days in Peru

After our highly ambitious “let’s casually hike into Machu Picchu like we’re in a Patagonia...

How We Accidentally Took the Hard Way to Machu Picchu

Wow. What a day. It began, as all great adventures do, with someone cheerfully announcing...
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Where Pachamama Said “Stay Longer” (and My Boots Said “Absolutely Not”)

I wasn’t about to come all the way to Peru and not hike at least...

Side Planks, Cherry Trees, and Saying Goodbye to Samadhi

Well this has been one of the fastest weeks I can remember. It feels like...

From Yoga Mats to Saddles: Adventures at a Sacred Valley Retreat

Here at Samadhi in the Sacred Valley, morning arrives gently. Around 5:15 a.m. the sky...

Despacho, Wild Bathrooms, and the Pumahuanca Climb

At the end of our first full day at Samadhi Retreat, we were told we’d...