• About
  • Solo Travel
    • Cool Zürich
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    • My Boston
      • 24 Hours in Boston
      • 10 Signs You’re Back in Massachusetts
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  • Writing Samples
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Alyssa O Writes

Life Abroad Tips, mindfulness
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April 2, 2023

12 Micro Mindfulness Tips For Travellers

Meditation trips for travellers. How to meditate even when you're busy.

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Travel
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September 9, 2019

11 Best Solo Female Travel Tips for Jordan 2023

If you're anything like me, just the word "Jordan" conjures up images that set your inner Indiana Jones on fire. Along with these images may come some very real questions. Is solo female travel to Jordan safe? How do I make the most of my visit to Petra? What's the best time of year to travel solo visit Jordan? What's the real[...]

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Life Abroad Tips, The Expat Files
/
December 15, 2018

How To Prepare For An International Move

So you've got a new gig abroad? Maybe you've just been hired for that dream job overseas, or perhaps you're going back to school? Whatever it is, go you! Setting up a life in a foreign country can be a headache. Fear not though, there are plenty of things you can do in order to prepare for a move abroad. Read on for my top tips to make su[...]

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Life Abroad Tips, The Expat Files
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November 11, 2018

Impressions Of A Swiss To Scotland Transplant

It's been two months since I washed ashore in Edinburgh. Eight weeks of letting go and digging in. Discovering both the new outside of me and the things forgotten on the inside. I feel like I'm expanding rapidly-- The proverbial glass of spilt milk running across the table in all directions. My life cannot be contained, absorbed. I don't[...]

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Life Abroad Tips, The Expat Files
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August 11, 2018

I Still Haven’t Seen The Matterhorn: The Top Things I Regret About Moving to Switzerland

It feels surreal to put it in writing, but my expat life in Switzerland is officially in the rearview. I have so many mixed emotions about the time I spent living in Switzerland right now. I'm currently plopped right in the middle of life-limbo-land. I'm between jobs, I'm between apartments and I'm temporarily hanging out in America visi[...]

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Life Abroad Tips, The Expat Files
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April 17, 2018

My Experience With The Swiss Healthcare System As An Expat

What is a typical doctor's visit like in Switzerland? Will my Swiss doctor speak English? How does the Swiss insurance system work? And here's a burning question you were probably too embarrassed to ask: What's it like going to the gynecologist in Switzerland? Well, lucky for you, I have zero shame, so I'm about to explain it all to you.[...]

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Life Abroad Tips, Travel
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March 4, 2018

Cheap And Cheerful: 21 Tips For Safe, Fun And Affordable Solo Female Travel

With years of solo travel under my belt, I've discovered a lot of ways you can make sure solo female travel is safe, fun, affordable and empowering. So here we go, here are my top 21 tips for having a kickass solo fe

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Scotland, Travel
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February 26, 2018

10 Ideas For An Amazing Road Trip In Scotland’s Isle of Skye

The best way to road trip in Isle of Skye, Scotland. Sweeping emerald landscapes straight out of middle earth, cozy fishing villages, whisky distilleries and the scent of peat moss fires on the air everywhere are only a few reasons to go. Here are my tips for having an amazing road trip to Skye.

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European City Breaks, Travel
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February 12, 2018

5 Reasons You’ve Got To Experience Fasnacht Luzern

Fasnacht Luzern is a completely grassroots, totally DIY and essentially Swiss party. The people of Luzern spend six months using their own ingenuity to prepare for a kickass party that feels utterly spontaneous. From incredible handmade costumes that take months to create, home-made parade floats that double as pay what you can bars, to p[...]

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European City Breaks, Scotland, Travel
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February 5, 2018

7 Incredible Things To Do in Yorkshire, England

My travel guide to Yorkshire, England.

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Hey, I’m Alyssa

Hey, I’m Alyssa

Alyssa O Writes

I'm a travelling writer and all around sassy lady with a very low tolerance for comfort zones. I've got a decade of experience with life abroad as a solo expat in Switzerland & Scotland and my passion is helping other women in their 30s and 40s live their solo travel & life abroad dreams. I moved abroad solo and so can you!

Current Location

Current Location

Scotland
Scotland

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alyssaowrites
@alyssaowrites
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Meet me by the pool, darling... ⛱️ 

Another cool thing about Jupiter Artland? You can actually book a paddling session in 'Gateway' by Joanna Vasconcelos. 

Yes, that's right, for £10 you can have 30 minutes of splashing around plus some time in the geodesic dome of a changing hut. 

It's too bad I didn't bring my bikini and flip flops, but this just gives me another excuse to go back. 

Jupiter Artland is one of my fav day trips from Edinburgh so far, and honestly, it's one of the weirdest places I've been in Scotland. 

How do I top this one? 
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#Edinburghdaytrip #Edinburghscotland #explorescotland #artgalleries #contemporaryart #visitscotland #poolparty #travelblogger #travelwriter #travelphotography #scotlandphotographer #experiencescotland #weirdexperiences #swimming #scottishmuseums #scottishart #scottishtravel
Meet me by the pool, darling... ⛱️ 

Another cool thing about Jupiter Artland? You can actually book a paddling session in 'Gateway' by Joanna Vasconcelos. 

Yes, that's right, for £10 you can have 30 minutes of splashing around plus some time in the geodesic dome of a changing hut. 

It's too bad I didn't bring my bikini and flip flops, but this just gives me another excuse to go back. 

Jupiter Artland is one of my fav day trips from Edinburgh so far, and honestly, it's one of the weirdest places I've been in Scotland. 

How do I top this one? 
°
°
°
#Edinburghdaytrip #Edinburghscotland #explorescotland #artgalleries #contemporaryart #visitscotland #poolparty #travelblogger #travelwriter #travelphotography #scotlandphotographer #experiencescotland #weirdexperiences #swimming #scottishmuseums #scottishart #scottishtravel
Meet me by the pool, darling... ⛱️ Another cool thing about Jupiter Artland? You can actually book a paddling session in 'Gateway' by Joanna Vasconcelos. Yes, that's right, for £10 you can have 30 minutes of splashing around plus some time in the geodesic dome of a changing hut. It's too bad I didn't bring my bikini and flip flops, but this just gives me another excuse to go back. Jupiter Artland is one of my fav day trips from Edinburgh so far, and honestly, it's one of the weirdest places I've been in Scotland. How do I top this one? ° ° ° #Edinburghdaytrip #Edinburghscotland #explorescotland #artgalleries #contemporaryart #visitscotland #poolparty #travelblogger #travelwriter #travelphotography #scotlandphotographer #experiencescotland #weirdexperiences #swimming #scottishmuseums #scottishart #scottishtravel
alyssaowrites
alyssaowrites
•
Follow
Meet me by the pool, darling... ⛱️ Another cool thing about Jupiter Artland? You can actually book a paddling session in 'Gateway' by Joanna Vasconcelos. Yes, that's right, for £10 you can have 30 minutes of splashing around plus some time in the geodesic dome of a changing hut. It's too bad I didn't bring my bikini and flip flops, but this just gives me another excuse to go back. Jupiter Artland is one of my fav day trips from Edinburgh so far, and honestly, it's one of the weirdest places I've been in Scotland. How do I top this one? ° ° ° #Edinburghdaytrip #Edinburghscotland #explorescotland #artgalleries #contemporaryart #visitscotland #poolparty #travelblogger #travelwriter #travelphotography #scotlandphotographer #experiencescotland #weirdexperiences #swimming #scottishmuseums #scottishart #scottishtravel
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
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#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, Another ° ° ° #womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
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#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
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#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
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#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
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#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
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#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
alyssaowrites
alyssaowrites
•
Follow
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, Another ° ° ° #womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
Crawling into the weekend like...

'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. 

I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones.

Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. 

Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel?

What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces?
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#artpark
#artgallery 
#artinstallation 
#scottishart 
#sculpturepark 
#scottishmuseums 
#edinburghdaytrip
#edinburgharts
Crawling into the weekend like...

'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. 

I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones.

Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. 

Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel?

What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces?
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°
#artpark
#artgallery 
#artinstallation 
#scottishart 
#sculpturepark 
#scottishmuseums 
#edinburghdaytrip
#edinburgharts
Crawling into the weekend like...

'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. 

I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones.

Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. 

Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel?

What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces?
°
°
°
#artpark
#artgallery 
#artinstallation 
#scottishart 
#sculpturepark 
#scottishmuseums 
#edinburghdaytrip
#edinburgharts
alyssaowrites
alyssaowrites
•
Follow
Crawling into the weekend like... 'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones. Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel? What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces? ° ° ° #artpark #artgallery #artinstallation #scottishart #sculpturepark #scottishmuseums #edinburghdaytrip #edinburgharts
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
Spooky season is in the mail, and I am here for it! 👻 🎃 💀 

I think it might be safe to say that the Great Scottish Heat Wave of 2023 (all 24°c of it) is OVER.

The wind has been out of the north lately, but the days are bright and sunny, meaning it's a great time to roam around with my camera and capture some hidden gems.

First up was the cemetery at North Leith Parish church. My inner goth loves visiting gravestones. 🖤 

Scotland is chock full of interesting places to snap a 📸 or two. I can't decide where to go next.

Should I:

1. Keep it creepy roaming around Glasgow's Necropolis?

2. Take an outing to a beautiful Japanese Garden?

3. Something I haven't thought of yet?

LMK ⬇️

Xoxo

A
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#edinburghphotography #ghostsandgravestones #spookyseason #graveyards #churches #lifeinscotland #lifeintheuk #lifeabroad #expatlife
Spooky season is in the mail, and I am here for it! 👻 🎃 💀 

I think it might be safe to say that the Great Scottish Heat Wave of 2023 (all 24°c of it) is OVER.

The wind has been out of the north lately, but the days are bright and sunny, meaning it's a great time to roam around with my camera and capture some hidden gems.

First up was the cemetery at North Leith Parish church. My inner goth loves visiting gravestones. 🖤 

Scotland is chock full of interesting places to snap a 📸 or two. I can't decide where to go next.

Should I:

1. Keep it creepy roaming around Glasgow's Necropolis?

2. Take an outing to a beautiful Japanese Garden?

3. Something I haven't thought of yet?

LMK ⬇️

Xoxo

A
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°
#edinburghphotography #ghostsandgravestones #spookyseason #graveyards #churches #lifeinscotland #lifeintheuk #lifeabroad #expatlife
Spooky season is in the mail, and I am here for it! 👻 🎃 💀 

I think it might be safe to say that the Great Scottish Heat Wave of 2023 (all 24°c of it) is OVER.

The wind has been out of the north lately, but the days are bright and sunny, meaning it's a great time to roam around with my camera and capture some hidden gems.

First up was the cemetery at North Leith Parish church. My inner goth loves visiting gravestones. 🖤 

Scotland is chock full of interesting places to snap a 📸 or two. I can't decide where to go next.

Should I:

1. Keep it creepy roaming around Glasgow's Necropolis?

2. Take an outing to a beautiful Japanese Garden?

3. Something I haven't thought of yet?

LMK ⬇️

Xoxo

A
°
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°
#edinburghphotography #ghostsandgravestones #spookyseason #graveyards #churches #lifeinscotland #lifeintheuk #lifeabroad #expatlife
alyssaowrites
alyssaowrites
•
Follow
Spooky season is in the mail, and I am here for it! 👻 🎃 💀 I think it might be safe to say that the Great Scottish Heat Wave of 2023 (all 24°c of it) is OVER. The wind has been out of the north lately, but the days are bright and sunny, meaning it's a great time to roam around with my camera and capture some hidden gems. First up was the cemetery at North Leith Parish church. My inner goth loves visiting gravestones. 🖤 Scotland is chock full of interesting places to snap a 📸 or two. I can't decide where to go next. Should I: 1. Keep it creepy roaming around Glasgow's Necropolis? 2. Take an outing to a beautiful Japanese Garden? 3. Something I haven't thought of yet? LMK ⬇️ Xoxo A ° ° ° #edinburghphotography #ghostsandgravestones #spookyseason #graveyards #churches #lifeinscotland #lifeintheuk #lifeabroad #expatlife
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
4/4

@alyssaowrites

@alyssaowrites

  • This is  what I've always wanted for myself. 
PSA: When your kid is ready for their first show at Edinburgh Fringe or their first slice of real Italian pizza in Rome, send 'em my way. 

(But please send your credit card with them because auntie A hasn't gotten her big break yet!) 

One of the beautiful things about being child free that people don't always talk about is that sometimes, you get to be there for young people in a way that their parents aren't able to. 

You don't have to participate in raising kids to have purpose in society. But if you enjoy having children around, it can be such an amazing privilege to introduce them to things they might not otherwise get to explore. Things like arts, travel, languages, culture...or maybe just the idea that if you don't fit in where you grew up, there are places out there where you will find your people. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are a million ways to be happy and having kids is only one of them. 

I always dreamed of being a child free world traveller, now I am one.

*this reel was inspired by @shesatripblog! Go check her out! 
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#childfreebychoice #childfreelifestyle #childfreetravel #travelaunt #lifeabroad #womenabroad #worldtraveller #wanderwomen #womenwhoexplore #findyourself #findyourpeople
  • Meet me by the pool, darling... ⛱️ 

Another cool thing about Jupiter Artland? You can actually book a paddling session in 'Gateway' by Joanna Vasconcelos. 

Yes, that's right, for £10 you can have 30 minutes of splashing around plus some time in the geodesic dome of a changing hut. 

It's too bad I didn't bring my bikini and flip flops, but this just gives me another excuse to go back. 

Jupiter Artland is one of my fav day trips from Edinburgh so far, and honestly, it's one of the weirdest places I've been in Scotland. 

How do I top this one? 
°
°
°
#Edinburghdaytrip #Edinburghscotland #explorescotland #artgalleries #contemporaryart #visitscotland #poolparty #travelblogger #travelwriter #travelphotography #scotlandphotographer #experiencescotland #weirdexperiences #swimming #scottishmuseums #scottishart #scottishtravel
  • When I found out I qualify for Italian citizenship I was shocked! 🇮🇹 

I grew up thinking my wicked Italian American family was exaggerating about how freaking Italian we are... but nope! 

It turns out Italy has one of the most generous citizenship by decent policies in Europe. 

You don't need speak the language or  have parents or grandparents who were born there to qualify. All you need to do to get started is find out if you can prove an unbroken line between you and a direct Italian ancestor born after the unification of Italy in 1861. 

I began my Italian citizenship journey this year and I'm excited to begin sharing more of my path with you. 

So class, is this something you're interested in learning more about? 
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#expatlife #lifeabroad #italianamerican #wickedboston #bostonitalian #italianimmigrants #americansinitaly #expatsinitaly #italiancitizenship  #italiancitozenshipbydescent  #ladolcevida
  • Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
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#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
  • Has dating in another country changed you? 

It changed me! Now I feel so much more comfortable being clear about what I want. 

At first I was taken aback at how blunt Swiss people are (compared to Americans). But then it set me free! 

When I went back into the dating pool in the US and UK, I was disappointed at how everyone seems to dance around what they want in an effort to be polite. 

Why not just say what you need? Everyone wins and I get to order truffle fries! 

Are people more direct or more indirect where you are currently dating and does that work for you? 
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#datingabroad #expatdating #americanabroad #expatlife #cultureshock #lifeabroad #americanabroad #culturaldifferences #lifeintheuk #lifeinswitzerland #expathumor
  • Crawling into the weekend like...

'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. 

I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones.

Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. 

Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel?

What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces?
°
°
°
#artpark
#artgallery 
#artinstallation 
#scottishart 
#sculpturepark 
#scottishmuseums 
#edinburghdaytrip
#edinburgharts
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@alyssaowrites
@alyssaowrites
•
Follow
This is what I've always wanted for myself. PSA: When your kid is ready for their first show at Edinburgh Fringe or their first slice of real Italian pizza in Rome, send 'em my way. (But please send your credit card with them because auntie A hasn't gotten her big break yet!) One of the beautiful things about being child free that people don't always talk about is that sometimes, you get to be there for young people in a way that their parents aren't able to. You don't have to participate in raising kids to have purpose in society. But if you enjoy having children around, it can be such an amazing privilege to introduce them to things they might not otherwise get to explore. Things like arts, travel, languages, culture...or maybe just the idea that if you don't fit in where you grew up, there are places out there where you will find your people. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are a million ways to be happy and having kids is only one of them. I always dreamed of being a child free world traveller, now I am one. *this reel was inspired by @shesatripblog! Go check her out! ° ° ° #childfreebychoice #childfreelifestyle #childfreetravel #travelaunt #lifeabroad #womenabroad #worldtraveller #wanderwomen #womenwhoexplore #findyourself #findyourpeople
5 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/6
Meet me by the pool, darling... ⛱️ 

Another cool thing about Jupiter Artland? You can actually book a paddling session in 'Gateway' by Joanna Vasconcelos. 

Yes, that's right, for £10 you can have 30 minutes of splashing around plus some time in the geodesic dome of a changing hut. 

It's too bad I didn't bring my bikini and flip flops, but this just gives me another excuse to go back. 

Jupiter Artland is one of my fav day trips from Edinburgh so far, and honestly, it's one of the weirdest places I've been in Scotland. 

How do I top this one? 
°
°
°
#Edinburghdaytrip #Edinburghscotland #explorescotland #artgalleries #contemporaryart #visitscotland #poolparty #travelblogger #travelwriter #travelphotography #scotlandphotographer #experiencescotland #weirdexperiences #swimming #scottishmuseums #scottishart #scottishtravel
Meet me by the pool, darling... ⛱️ 

Another cool thing about Jupiter Artland? You can actually book a paddling session in 'Gateway' by Joanna Vasconcelos. 

Yes, that's right, for £10 you can have 30 minutes of splashing around plus some time in the geodesic dome of a changing hut. 

It's too bad I didn't bring my bikini and flip flops, but this just gives me another excuse to go back. 

Jupiter Artland is one of my fav day trips from Edinburgh so far, and honestly, it's one of the weirdest places I've been in Scotland. 

How do I top this one? 
°
°
°
#Edinburghdaytrip #Edinburghscotland #explorescotland #artgalleries #contemporaryart #visitscotland #poolparty #travelblogger #travelwriter #travelphotography #scotlandphotographer #experiencescotland #weirdexperiences #swimming #scottishmuseums #scottishart #scottishtravel
@alyssaowrites
@alyssaowrites
•
Follow
Meet me by the pool, darling... ⛱️ Another cool thing about Jupiter Artland? You can actually book a paddling session in 'Gateway' by Joanna Vasconcelos. Yes, that's right, for £10 you can have 30 minutes of splashing around plus some time in the geodesic dome of a changing hut. It's too bad I didn't bring my bikini and flip flops, but this just gives me another excuse to go back. Jupiter Artland is one of my fav day trips from Edinburgh so far, and honestly, it's one of the weirdest places I've been in Scotland. How do I top this one? ° ° ° #Edinburghdaytrip #Edinburghscotland #explorescotland #artgalleries #contemporaryart #visitscotland #poolparty #travelblogger #travelwriter #travelphotography #scotlandphotographer #experiencescotland #weirdexperiences #swimming #scottishmuseums #scottishart #scottishtravel
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/6
@alyssaowrites
@alyssaowrites
•
Follow
When I found out I qualify for Italian citizenship I was shocked! 🇮🇹 I grew up thinking my wicked Italian American family was exaggerating about how freaking Italian we are... but nope! It turns out Italy has one of the most generous citizenship by decent policies in Europe. You don't need speak the language or  have parents or grandparents who were born there to qualify. All you need to do to get started is find out if you can prove an unbroken line between you and a direct Italian ancestor born after the unification of Italy in 1861. I began my Italian citizenship journey this year and I'm excited to begin sharing more of my path with you. So class, is this something you're interested in learning more about? ° ° ° #expatlife #lifeabroad #italianamerican #wickedboston #bostonitalian #italianimmigrants #americansinitaly #expatsinitaly #italiancitizenship #italiancitozenshipbydescent #ladolcevida
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/6
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
°
°
°
#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
°
°
°
#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
°
°
°
#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
°
°
°
#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
°
°
°
#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
°
°
°
#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
@alyssaowrites
@alyssaowrites
•
Follow
Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, Another ° ° ° #womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/6
@alyssaowrites
@alyssaowrites
•
Follow
Has dating in another country changed you? It changed me! Now I feel so much more comfortable being clear about what I want. At first I was taken aback at how blunt Swiss people are (compared to Americans). But then it set me free! When I went back into the dating pool in the US and UK, I was disappointed at how everyone seems to dance around what they want in an effort to be polite. Why not just say what you need? Everyone wins and I get to order truffle fries! Are people more direct or more indirect where you are currently dating and does that work for you? ° ° ° #datingabroad #expatdating #americanabroad #expatlife #cultureshock #lifeabroad #americanabroad #culturaldifferences #lifeintheuk #lifeinswitzerland #expathumor
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
5/6
Crawling into the weekend like...

'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. 

I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones.

Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. 

Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel?

What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces?
°
°
°
#artpark
#artgallery 
#artinstallation 
#scottishart 
#sculpturepark 
#scottishmuseums 
#edinburghdaytrip
#edinburgharts
Crawling into the weekend like...

'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. 

I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones.

Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. 

Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel?

What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces?
°
°
°
#artpark
#artgallery 
#artinstallation 
#scottishart 
#sculpturepark 
#scottishmuseums 
#edinburghdaytrip
#edinburgharts
Crawling into the weekend like...

'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. 

I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones.

Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. 

Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel?

What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces?
°
°
°
#artpark
#artgallery 
#artinstallation 
#scottishart 
#sculpturepark 
#scottishmuseums 
#edinburghdaytrip
#edinburgharts
@alyssaowrites
@alyssaowrites
•
Follow
Crawling into the weekend like... 'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones. Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel? What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces? ° ° ° #artpark #artgallery #artinstallation #scottishart #sculpturepark #scottishmuseums #edinburghdaytrip #edinburgharts
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
6/6

Categories

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  • This is  what I've always wanted for myself. 
PSA: When your kid is ready for their first show at Edinburgh Fringe or their first slice of real Italian pizza in Rome, send 'em my way. 

(But please send your credit card with them because auntie A hasn't gotten her big break yet!) 

One of the beautiful things about being child free that people don't always talk about is that sometimes, you get to be there for young people in a way that their parents aren't able to. 

You don't have to participate in raising kids to have purpose in society. But if you enjoy having children around, it can be such an amazing privilege to introduce them to things they might not otherwise get to explore. Things like arts, travel, languages, culture...or maybe just the idea that if you don't fit in where you grew up, there are places out there where you will find your people. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are a million ways to be happy and having kids is only one of them. 

I always dreamed of being a child free world traveller, now I am one.

*this reel was inspired by @shesatripblog! Go check her out! 
°
°
°
#childfreebychoice #childfreelifestyle #childfreetravel #travelaunt #lifeabroad #womenabroad #worldtraveller #wanderwomen #womenwhoexplore #findyourself #findyourpeople
  • Meet me by the pool, darling... ⛱️ 

Another cool thing about Jupiter Artland? You can actually book a paddling session in 'Gateway' by Joanna Vasconcelos. 

Yes, that's right, for £10 you can have 30 minutes of splashing around plus some time in the geodesic dome of a changing hut. 

It's too bad I didn't bring my bikini and flip flops, but this just gives me another excuse to go back. 

Jupiter Artland is one of my fav day trips from Edinburgh so far, and honestly, it's one of the weirdest places I've been in Scotland. 

How do I top this one? 
°
°
°
#Edinburghdaytrip #Edinburghscotland #explorescotland #artgalleries #contemporaryart #visitscotland #poolparty #travelblogger #travelwriter #travelphotography #scotlandphotographer #experiencescotland #weirdexperiences #swimming #scottishmuseums #scottishart #scottishtravel
  • When I found out I qualify for Italian citizenship I was shocked! 🇮🇹 

I grew up thinking my wicked Italian American family was exaggerating about how freaking Italian we are... but nope! 

It turns out Italy has one of the most generous citizenship by decent policies in Europe. 

You don't need speak the language or  have parents or grandparents who were born there to qualify. All you need to do to get started is find out if you can prove an unbroken line between you and a direct Italian ancestor born after the unification of Italy in 1861. 

I began my Italian citizenship journey this year and I'm excited to begin sharing more of my path with you. 

So class, is this something you're interested in learning more about? 
°
°
°
#expatlife #lifeabroad #italianamerican #wickedboston #bostonitalian #italianimmigrants #americansinitaly #expatsinitaly #italiancitizenship  #italiancitozenshipbydescent  #ladolcevida
  • Another year to set boundaries and push my own, to take risks, explore and make mistakes, find dead ends and winding trails I never knew existed, to feel tiny beneath a big starry sky, to throw myself into the unknown, to splash around in the Forth, to listen to music that's so beautiful it hurts, to write and rewrite and write some more, to feel confused and useless and utterly at a loss as to how to get from A to B, to laugh until I'm sore, to explore abandoned Islands, to book launches and new babies and cast tarot cards and cleanse and banish and sprinkle dried herbs and hear my grandmother's chuckle in the corners of a kitchen in a country she's never been to, to remember that London is the center of the universe no I hate London no I love London no, to sit in a theater and feel vivid feelings in the dark with strangers to give up and start over and manifest and cry and feel my heart torn in two every time I get on a plane, to know its still the right thing even when its hard and scary, to dance with my eyes closed on a beach, on a sprung floor, in a softly glowing room with strangers, another year older and wiser and weirder, another year, another year, 
Another 
°
°
°
#womanabroad #lifeinscotland #lifeabroad #expatlife #aging #birthdays #writersofinstagram #writelife #deardiary
  • Has dating in another country changed you? 

It changed me! Now I feel so much more comfortable being clear about what I want. 

At first I was taken aback at how blunt Swiss people are (compared to Americans). But then it set me free! 

When I went back into the dating pool in the US and UK, I was disappointed at how everyone seems to dance around what they want in an effort to be polite. 

Why not just say what you need? Everyone wins and I get to order truffle fries! 

Are people more direct or more indirect where you are currently dating and does that work for you? 
°
°
° 

#datingabroad #expatdating #americanabroad #expatlife #cultureshock #lifeabroad #americanabroad #culturaldifferences #lifeintheuk #lifeinswitzerland #expathumor
  • Crawling into the weekend like...

'Firmament' is a giant outdoor sculpture created by thousands of steel rods. You can check it out at Jupiter Artland, an absolutely massive sculpture park, about 30 min outside of Edinburgh. 

I love visiting art galleries when I travel, and I've been to so many amazing and truly unusual ones.

Jupiter Artland is probably the largest outdoor art park I've ever been to, though. At over 100 acres, it's truly massive. 

Do you love to check out outdoor art parks and other unusual types of museums when you travel?

What are some of your favorite unconventional arts spaces?
°
°
°
#artpark
#artgallery 
#artinstallation 
#scottishart 
#sculpturepark 
#scottishmuseums 
#edinburghdaytrip
#edinburgharts

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Copyright 2023 Alyssa Osiecki/ Alyssa O Writes Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts, images and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Alyssa O/ Alyssa O Writes with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. All photography is mine unless otherwise stated. Site Powered by Pix & Hue.