Duggan’s: Cozy coffee hideaway in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Story by Crystal Gabrielle. Photos Copyright © Crystal Gabrielle. AS A FULL-TIME HOUSE SITTER my storage unit is very important to me. My storage unit is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a place I go to visit family for the holidays . . . and to change seasons. Changing seasons for a house sitter is something...

April 16th, 2019 | FEATURED ARTICLES, STAFF, USA MAINLAND, COFFEE | Read More

Funky Signs: Park Your Pet Here

Text & photos Copyright © Estrella Azul During our latest trip, we came across this funky sign in Athens, Greece, located in front of the Starbucks in Palaio Faliro, a coastal district and municipality in the southern part of the capital. I loved the idea of having a doggy on the sign next to its...

February 1st, 2019 | FEATURED ARTICLES, EUROPE, FUNKY SIGNS | Read More

The simple joys of Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz, California

Story by Crystal Gabrielle. Photos Copyright © Crystal Gabrielle & Matt Steinmetz. Thanks to Santa Cruz local Matt Steinmetz for contributing photos for this story. ——— RAIN, RAIN AND MORE RAIN. I was excited to be at my new house-sitting job in Corralitos, California, but for...

January 19th, 2019 | FEATURED ARTICLES, STAFF, USA MAINLAND, Beaches, OUTDOORS EATING | Read More

Spectacular views, commanding structure, mountaintop camping: Millennium Cross, Republic of North Macedonia

Text & photos Copyright © Estrella Azul A COMMANDING SPECTACLE AT THE summit of Vodno Mountain, and proudly overlooking the city of Skopje in the Republic of North Macedonia, is the 66-meter (217-ft) high Millennium Cross. Millennium Cross on top of Krstovar Peak At 1,066 meters (3,497 feet), Millennium...

January 11th, 2019 | FEATURED ARTICLES, ACTIVITIES, STAFF, EUROPE, Scenic Wonders, WALKING/HIKING | Read More

Two hikes for a bird’s-eye view of Brașov, Romania

Text & photos Copyright © Estrella Azul MY FIRST TIME IN Brașov, Romania was on a girls’ trip in the spring of 2013 with a dear friend who visited me from Australia. It was such a special trip! Since then, I’m really happy to have been able to visit Brașov a few times during winter...

December 28th, 2018 | FEATURED ARTICLES, ACTIVITIES, STAFF, EUROPE, WALKING/HIKING | Read More

Winter boating on Lake Matka in beautiful Matka Canyon, Skopje

Text & photos Copyright © Estrella Azul DURING OUR STAY IN SKOPJE, MACEDONIA we took a couple of day trips as well. One of them was to Dolna Matka Village to see the Matka Canyon. River view of the canyon About 15 kilometers from downtown Skopje, Matka Canyon is a natural gorge, with the Treska...

December 14th, 2018 | FEATURED ARTICLES, ACTIVITIES, STAFF, EUROPE, Boating, Scenic Wonders | Read More

The frozen Bridal Veil Waterfall aka Răchiţele Falls, Romania

Text & photos © Estrella Azul LOCATED IN BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED forestry and an area surrounded by high cliffs, the Bridal Veil Waterfall (or Răchiţele Falls) is considered one of the most beautiful smaller waterfalls in Romania. Snowy pine-lined forest road A large sign shows the map of the area...

January 27th, 2017 | EUROPE, FUNKY SIGNS, ★ Rewind 3 | Read More