Autumn in a Flash

November 4, 2013 by Meghan Johnson

These days, it takes being stuck in bed with a fever to get me to sit still and write something that isn’t for work.  The positive side of getting sick in different countries is that it reveals local beliefs about remedies and convalescence (usually some combination of tea, lemon, and honey), and some castigation for whatever I did to cause the illness in the first place (in Russia, it was running outdoors).  Here in Georgia, the advice has been to […]

Categories: 2013, Eurasia, Friendship, Georgia, Tbilisi • Tags: autumn, Eurasia, fall, Friendship, Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, Tbilisi

Arrival and Versailles

September 1, 2013 by Meghan Johnson

Upon landing in Paris, I was immediately whisked away to moonlit Avenue des Champs-Élysées by my Parisian host.  Coming from Tbilisi rather than New York, I was shocked by the grandeur, the wealth, the diversity, and the sheer number of people packing the sidewalks.  It was dazzling. We chose a random restaurant with outdoor seating and ordered an icy-cold bottle of rosé.  Thus began a week of culinary indulgence.  Sadly, I didn’t take any food photos, because I tend to consider […]

Categories: 2013, Europe, France, Friendship, History, Paris, Travel • Tags: France, Photography, Travel, Versailles

Paris highlights

August 29, 2013 by Meghan Johnson

Paris withdrawal, day 2:  Symptoms are manifesting in expected and unexpected ways.  Currently drinking white wine, eating Camembert cheese, and watching episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1.  I suspect this has something to do with the Captain. This was my first trip to the City of Light.  I had tempered expectations of Paris, based on the advice of many friends and coworkers: “Parisians are awful to anyone who doesn’t speak perfect French.”  “The Eiffel Tower is nothing […]

Categories: 2013, Europe, France, Friendship, Love, Paris, Playtime, Travel • Tags: France, Paris, Photography, Travel

Carpet shopping

August 20, 2013 by Meghan Johnson

Some things I saw on a casual Saturday in Tbilisi, accompanying two Swedish visitors as they shopped for Georgian carpets in the Old City.

Categories: 2013, Eurasia, Europe, Friendship, Georgia, Graffiti, Tbilisi, Travel • Tags: Eurasia, Georgia, Photography, Tbilisi, Travel

Shashlik for four, please

June 29, 2013 by Meghan Johnson

All photos by Amy Yu Mao The last leg of the journey with Amy took us south and west.  We set out early on a Friday morning with Khvicha and his young assistant (whose name I do not know, because he was introduced to us as the “master of shashlik”), who was recruited to help with preparation of the meal that awaited us. We made two logistical stops along the way.  The first was in Khashuri, where Khvicha and his […]

Categories: 2013, Driving, Eurasia, Europe, Food, Friendship, Georgia, History, Playtime, The Great Outdoors, Travel • Tags: Driving, Georgia, History, Photography, Roadtrip, Travel

Megi in Kazbegi

June 19, 2013 by Meghan Johnson

All photos by Amy Yu Mao, or Khvicha. “MEGI!” So begins every conversation with Khvicha, the taxi driver with whom I’d trust my life.  “Meghan” seems to be tough for many Georgians to grasp, so I usually introduce myself as “Meg,” which turns into the Georgian name “Megi.”  Thus, I am now Megi. While Amy was visiting last week, Khvicha designed and implemented the perfect three-day tour of Georgia.  We covered most of the country, with the exception of the […]

Categories: 2013, Driving, Eurasia, Europe, Friendship, Georgia, The Great Outdoors, Travel • Tags: Friendship, Georgia, Hiking, Kazbegi, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Roadtrip, Stepantsminda, Travel

Flower children in Kakheti

June 11, 2013 by Meghan Johnson

I’ve found a cure for a heavy heart and culture shock.  It’s the combination of an old friend, unspoiled landscapes, mountain air, and wine.  Amy was my roommate at what I fondly refer to as “nerd camp” (research internship with NASA) ten years ago.  We hadn’t seen each other in many years before she came to visit this week. Our first destination was Kakheti region, in the east of Georgia.  Think vineyards, blue skies, and green fields rolling on for miles.  Our […]

Categories: 2013, Driving, Eurasia, Europe, Friendship, Georgia, Playtime, Tbilisi, The Great Outdoors, Travel • Tags: Davit Gareji, Flowers, Georgia, Hippies, Hippy, Kakheti, Oenophile, Peace, Photography, SIghnaghi, Travel, Wine

And the winner is…

April 10, 2013 by Meghan Johnson

I’m so happy to say that Rosie of barefootbliss is the winner of the celebratory book giveaway!  Please pay a visit to her blog and send her lots of love. As promised, my top commenters will also receive a gift.  They can choose their favorite from among the books above.  I also happen to be a huge fan of their writings, photographs, and personalities.  Send them some love too! Nicole of Thirdeyemom Ceri of Not in the Pink Alison of Despatches From Timbuktu Su […]

Categories: 2013, Books, Friendship, Giveaway, Touchy Feelies

Gratitude and Giveaways

April 1, 2013 by Meghan Johnson

I greeted last spring in Austin, Texas with someone I loved very much.  That trip feels like a memory of a past life, given how much has changed since then.  From Switzerland to Israel, Russia to Colombia, and finally landing in Georgia.  Euphoria to heartbreak to disorientation to fulfillment, and just about everything in between. Along the way, there’s been at least one constant in my life, and that has been Soulshine Traveler.  Writing here has cushioned the falls and […]

Categories: 2013, Colombia, Eurasia, Europe, Friendship, Giveaway, Touchy Feelies, Travel • Tags: Austin, Colombia, Geneva, Gift, Giveaway, Gratitude, Israel, Love, Russia, Spring, Thanks