theViatrix | Stephanie Dosch
Insider planning tips, hidden gems, and luxury intel for transformative travel experiences. Drawing from 18+ years of award-winning expertise, I help you explore more meaningfully. Subscribe to theVialist for curated cultural guides and destination insights.
My favorite kind of pre-trip prep
How do you get ready for a trip, Reader? I don’t mean packing and taking out the trash. I’m talking about getting excited. For me, getting ready usually means doing a TON of research for the on-the-ground stuff (sites, shops, restaurants) and, as a film nerd, watching several movies. I should read more than I do, but I also love going to museum exhibitions, if there’s anything relevant to where I’m headed. Right now, I’m prepping for a trip to Italy (immediately after a quick trip to Spain,...
The new luxury
This morning I sat down to write my newsletter and, as usual, had absolutely no clue what to write about. So I did what any self-respecting procrastinator does: opened my inbox. I actually went in with a purpose, which was to look for an email from Tonic Site Shop announcing their new template collection. My website is built on one of their templates and I LOVE it, but I also love drooling over every new drop (which just keep getting better and better). I absolutely do not need a website...
Pinching myself
Fall is creeping in here in Paris. It's a gorgeous sunny day, but the air is crisp and the leaves are starting to turn. I've always found this time of year to be bittersweet: I love fall and those back-to-school vibes, but I'm also a little sad that summer's slow pace and long days are gone. Fortunately, I have some fun fall trips coming up (spring and fall are my favorite—and most recommended—times of year to travel). And of course I'll keep you updated on my travels. In the meantime, I've...
Another round
Did you know I used to be a tour guide in the Basque Country, Reader? Back in the early days of my travel career, I worked for Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door and led groups on their Spain itineraries, particularly the Basque Country tour. So I’ve spent a LOT of time in the area, and a lot of time learning about its unique and fascinating local culture. But apart from frequent trips to Pamplona to visit my in-laws, it had been several years since I explored the region. So when Iñigo...
Rude.
I was outside at one of my favorite cafés yesterday, and the guy behind me had his phone to his ear. Except he wasn’t the only person who could hear what he was listening to. It sounded like that feature on the New York Times app where you can hear an article read aloud; it was in American English, and I heard snippets about “economy” and “Gaza.” And it was loud. I kind of turned around and looked at him, but he was pretty absorbed. I had my headphones in because I was busy editing a Reel...
Just Basque
Reader— Just a quick note to say hey this week since I’m still catching up after almost three weeks away. I wrapped up a great trip to Seattle with more nature walks, lots of quality time with family and friends, and a several-day stint to Boise (an underrated city—stay tuned for more on that). While the reason for the side trip was to celebrate my grandma’s 92nd (!) birthday, the dates coincided with Jaialdi, a Basque festival that only happens once every five years. In the late 19th and...
how did I forget this? 🤦🏼♀️
You know in guided meditations when they tell you to imagine a place in nature and visualize yourself there? Well for me, that’s often the forests of the Pacific Northwest, where I grew up (or the North Shore of O’ahu, but we can talk about that another day). There’s just something about the tall firs, fragrant cedars, and verdant big-leaf maples that inspires that sense of awe, wonder, and spaciousness I crave. And I often forget how much I miss them until I come back. This is what a city...
Uber reject
I refresh the Uber app again and get the same result: a spinning wheel and then … nothing. I was worried this might happen. It’s why I’d asked the driver who dropped me off—in Spanish I pretended was Portuguese—if he wanted to wait for me. He said no and drove away. I’d taken the Uber up into the foothills above Rio de Janeiro to check out Mirante Dona Marta, a less-visited viewpoint with spectacular views of the entire city, with the more crowded Corcovado (home to the famous Cristo Redentor...
We're havin' a heat wave
“Is she breathing??” I’d escaped my hotbox apartment for some A/C and rosé with a friend. On my way home, I turned a corner, and there, in the middle of the sidewalk, was a young woman sprawled face up, her belongings strewn around her. A man was dialing whatever 911 is here (I should figure that out), and a waiter was running from a nearby café with a carafe of water. As a small crowd of concerned pedestrians gathered, they turned her over and checked that she was breathing. All of a sudden,...
Postcard from Rio
Finally carved out a minute between adventures—been moving nonstop for three days and haven't even touched Instagram. But I wanted to share a couple quick photos, because they don't call it the "Marvelous City" for nothing. More stories and full trip report coming when I'm back to proper WiFi and fewer caipirinhas. For now... this view from Sugarloaf says it all. Ciao for now!
Insider planning tips, hidden gems, and luxury intel for transformative travel experiences. Drawing from 18+ years of award-winning expertise, I help you explore more meaningfully. Subscribe to theVialist for curated cultural guides and destination insights.