Tag Archives: travel stories

From New Zealand, With (SERIOUS) Jetlag

I hardly ever get jetlag.  Me and my bottle of Ambien usually become good friends whenever I fly long haul trips. It helps me keep my sleeping schedule normal. Whenever I land, I take another Ambien that night, pass out, and wake up feeling like sunshine and moonbeams.  Yet all did not work out for [...]


The Four Things I Hate About Europe

I love Europe. I really do. So much so that when I stop being Nomadic Matt, I want to move to Paris (or maybe Amsterdam). I love the cafe culture, the wine, the free health care, the liberal attitude towards life, the ability to travel to so many different places cheaply- it is all great. [...]


Munich is Better than Berlin

After being less than thrilled with Berlin, I had low expectations for Munich. I only knew a few things about the city: Oktoberfest is there, Hitler had his beer hall putsch there, and it has a famous (and overrated) clock. I mean everyone has heard of Munich but I really knew nothing about it. [...]


Getting Sick in Madrid

I had big plans for Madrid. I was going to be here for a week which would allow me to catch up on work, explore lots of the city, and find out all the cheap things to do. This post was going to be a great primer for traveling to Madrid. Then I got sick. [...]


The Flying Tomatoes of La Tomatina

Around the world huge festivals attract tens of thousands of people because everyone likes a good party. More importantly, everyone likes a party with a good food fight, which is why everyone descends on Bunol, Spain on the last Wednesday of August. Each year around 30,000 people come to the city to take part in [...]


Leaving for Europe

In a few hours, I’ll be heading to the airport to board my flight to Spain. Spain is the start of another long round the world journey. After three years, I’ve finally managed to time my schedule with La Tomatina and will joyfully be throwing tomatoes at the event on Wednesday. But Spain is [...]


The (Un) Windy City

In 1871, most of Chicago burnt down. The summer had been really dry and the city’s wooden houses, built closely together, were a matchbox waiting to be lit. There had been small fires all summer and it was only a matter of time before the city erupted in a major blaze. Around 9 p.m. on [...]


Another Year Gone

After a good birthday celebration in Edinburgh, Scotland, I am now back in London. Tomorrow, I head back to Boston for two months. There are weddings to attend, doctors to see to make sure I’m healthy, food to eat, and trips to make.  I’ve been away 11 months and the next two months are to [...]