Recent posts by Marie
Hiding in Beijing’s hutongs
From the moment I arrived in China, I made it my mission to avoid Westerners. Hitting the Beijing historical sites a week before the Olympic Games, then traveling by overnight train to Xi’an (three Chinese and me in a tiny cubicle with four bunks—now …
Tea-horse road to Tibet
Lady, lady, I take you today. No ticket! No tourist!
I’m standing in the town square in Lijiang, China, reviewing my inventory of polite rejections when, lo and behold, my rogue limbic system wrests its way to the forefront and I hear myself saying, “Okay, so where …
Continue reading Add a commentAmazing Awaits in China
I got my visa last week, so the China trip is a go! I was a little worried about obtaining permission to visit because I own a cute Go Team Tibet! scarf and mitten set, and I was sure the Chinese government would …
A giant sandbox
The kids have been out of school for a month now. We’ve been running ourselves completely ragged with endless recreation. I felt like we needed to stop and rest and hang out together for awhile, so I did what my parents used to do to keep us entertained …
Continue reading Add a commentDancing Beijing
I’ve tried at different times in my life to become interested in things that I thought I probably should be interested in. Gardening, baking, needlepoint, mountain biking among many others. Finally, in my forties, I have given up trying to cultivate new …
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes
In the early part of the 20th century, Argentina and Chile were engaged in an ongoing border dispute. Inspired by Pope Leo XIII’s calls for worldwide peace and harmony, the Bishop of Cuyo commissioned a statue of Christ the Redeemer to …
Mental detoxification
Sometimes the only thing standing between me and complete despondency is the mountain.
I try to stay informed about the globe’s pressing issues—homelessness, hunger, war, politics, environment, media, government, healthcare, torture, death. The list of woes is depressing and …
Continue reading 1 commentYerba maté means love
A few years ago, I went with a freind to a new restaurant in Manitou Springs called The Maté Factor. I ordered maté which, it turned out, was tea. Very dark and bitter tea.
On my recent trip to Argentina, I discovered that this very same maté ...
Continue reading Add a commentTrekking to Mount Fitz Roy
Veni, vidi, vici!
I just returned from three weeks in Argentina. This hike to Lago de los tres in El Chaltén was my very favorite day. It took about 9 hours round trip with stunning scenery the entire way, including …
Continue reading 1 commentUnexpected departure
I grew up in a family of collectors. Serious collectors. My dad collected coins to the point where he wasn’t referred to as simply a coin collector, he was a numismatist. My parents also collected art, Indian rugs and artifacts, swizzle sticks, ...
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