Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Wander.
Uccello di Firenze
My mother and I had planned to visit Italy since the early 2000s when I was only a teenager. We were living in a small agricultural town in California at the time. She would tell me stories about our Italian heritage and how she was born in New York. Every so often, between that point in time and the fortuitous moment we finally found ourselves in Italy in 2017, I would think about this far-off place and it seemed other-worldly to me. As if part of me assumed it did not really exist. I wrote a report about Italy in 4th grade. So it must exist. I had seen old movies filmed there. Hollywood wouldn’t lie to me. I spent two semesters in college learning the language. Surely, if the language existed, then people on cobblestone paths were actually ordering “un caffè e un biscotto” in the morning on their way to work at the Uffizi or Ponte Vecchio. In these moments of disbelief, I would shake it off and continue with whatever monotonous task was at hand.
Jennifer ThomasPublished 3 years ago in WanderKolchak and Kodak
I got my first camera when I was a kid, and my first role model for a photographer was Kolchak: The Night Stalker. As far as I remember he always had his camera and recorder with him on his investigations as a newspaper reporter. He wasn't really a photographer, but he used his camera to take shots while researching amazing stories that were not always what they seemed. This appealed to me greatly at my young age.
Yvette McDermottPublished 3 years ago in WanderHitch hiking
Hitch hiking Part 1. Jerseyville road, Summer of 1981, Jerseyville, Ontario. From 2625 Jerseyville road west to Ancaster Public Library.
Jim E. Beer - Story writer of fact and fiction.Published 3 years ago in WanderThe London Eye
The London Eye is the World's tallest observation wheel at 135 metres (440 feet), making it the fourth highest construction in London. It stands right next to the River Thames, alongside the former County Hall and very close to the South Bank complex of theatres and art galleries.
John WelfordPublished 3 years ago in WanderWhat I've learned from travelling.
It's quite cute the plans I made in advance. With schedules and fixed routes. Reviews and all the tips I have collected in advance. Travel guides, travel blogs and very important experiential information. Not to mention hours of research on the internet about precise directions, bus connections and the best reviews. How do I get from A to B and back, for how long and for how much money.
Sleeping Under the Stars
Escape to your backyard this summer with at-home glamping Camping can be incredibly rewarding when tents and sleeping-bags are set up in a stunning location beneath a sea of stars. However, there are a few downsides to a difficult trek up a mountain to the perfect clearing or a long drive on winding roads to the right campsite. Many of us — if not the majority — forget something either essential or greatly wanted when venturing far from home on camping trips. Whether that forgotten thing is a lantern for night hikes or a favorite food for breakfast the next day, something inevitably gets left behind. Furthermore, bugs abound, nights grow cold and all food must be elevated after dinner to protect it from bears and other wildlife. Though many of us enjoy “roughing it” for a few days in the wilderness, campsites and park passes can be expensive, carrying heavy packs can be exhausting and missing items cannot easily be replaced or replenished. Thankfully, a charming outdoor alternative exists — often at a lower financial, physical and stress-related cost than true camping. “Glamping” — an adorable portmanteau of “glamorous” and “camping” — combines all the joy of sleeping under the stars with all the comforts of home — or even of luxury accommodations. Save money otherwise spent on an expensive hotel and time and energy otherwise spent on trekking to your campsite by glamping in your own backyard this summer. Gather around a fire pit with friends or family for s’mores and cocktails in the evening and wake up fresh for a champagne brunch in the morning. Follow below for five design and entertaining tips on how to glamp in your own backyard this summer.
Galápagos
After years and years of fangirling over nature documentaries, volunteering at the local wildlife sanctuaries, and a zoology degree later I realized I needed a bigger change. And that change was a trip farther than I had ever gone before, solo that is. Freshly out of undergrad, I made the best decision of my life: to go volunteer abroad on the Galápagos Islands, with none other than my favorite animal, giant tortoises.
Holly CookPublished 3 years ago in WanderDiarist: John Ashbery
I discovered John Ashbery at Barnes and Noble in Ala Moana Mall. Of course, I had heard his name and wasn't the first person to "discover" Ashbery. But I had only heard his name in the genre of poets I should have already known, poets who were so important my ignorance was unheard of. I walked the two miles from my ship to the closest bookstore along Nimitz Highway, losing myself in the bright Hawaiian heat and my thoughts. The industrial, dusty ports turned into downtown blocks turned into the border between old and new: Kaka'ako, Ala Moana Beach, and the mall opened into new beginnings. When I arrived at the air-conditioned entrance to the bookstore I felt a marked difference between where I had come from and where I'd arrived.
A Road Trip - Part 1
It was December of 2020. The last month of the worst year in a long time. I always figured something terrible would happen in the year of perfect vision. Then again, I’m one of those who always assumes something terrible is going to happen.
Places You Must Visit in India:
India is a land of temples, monuments and well known for its culture. The most versatile country you have ever visit. From mighty mountains to deep lakes, from palaces to war zones, from heaven on earth to world heritage buildings. being a traveler it's to explain in India in one word. India has millions of places to visit and each one does justice to your interest and demand. however, I have made a list of some places that you must visit if you fly to India for travel. Let's get started!
That Damn Raccoon
Raccoons have a bad reputation, especially among campers. In my experience the ones living in the Florida state parks deserve it. They will raid your camp, steal your food or any shiny object they decide should be theirs, like some kind of forest pirates. I may seem a little bitter, well I'll tell you a tale that might explain some of it.
Billy KnightPublished 3 years ago in WanderThe Jellico Library
I recently took my twelve-year-old niece Anna out for a day trip. The place she wanted to go: The Library. Since I have been looking for local material for the Jellico area, we agreed to visit the Jellico Library, located on North Main Street, Jellico.
Rebecca Lynn IveyPublished 3 years ago in Wander