About
Emily in Santorini
I’m Emily Starbuck Crone (formerly Gerson–I recently married), a 20-something travel junkie and professional writer. I’ve sailed to Santorini, strolled through the red light district of Hamburg, gawked at glaciers in Alaska, bathed in a hammam in Istanbul, explored ruins in Belize, and embarked on a variety of other adventures.
Some of my travel experiences have been incredible, and others not so good. I’ve roughed it with backpacking and gone on fancy cruises (my preference is somewhere in between). I’ve taken both long trips and short trips. I don’t believe there is one right way to travel. No matter how big or small, all of my journeys have opened my eyes, broadened my horizons, and given me deeper perspective into both my life and the world around me. I am here to share what I have learned in addition to travel tips, photos, reviews, interviews, news, destination highlights, and more. I hope you find my blog to be a resource and inspiration for your own adventures, whatever they may be.
I live in Austin, Texas, and have a wonderful husband. My background is in journalism, and I am currently a writer/marketing manager at a company in the travel industry (unrelated to this blog). I also write and edit on a freelance basis (view my portfolio here). In addition to traveling and writing, I love photography, I play the cello (classically and rock–I have played in Carnegie Hall and recorded with bands), I’m a film buff, and I’m obsessed with LOST. I adore my rescue dog, and leaving her behind is one of the hardest parts of traveling.
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Ditto about leaving your rescue dog. That’s the hardest part about traveling to me too! It’s refreshing that you acknowledge that’s there’s no one right way to travel. I completely agree, even though sometimes seems there are two distinct camps in the travel world.
It is so insanely hard to leave our cats behind when we travel! They end up fine, and I end up a guilty mess!
I would love to guest blog for you if you ever need posts. We are going to San Francisco/wine country again in 2 weeks, then, as you saw, Ireland to visit family in January. Also hoping to get back to Iceland and to the Pacific NW this year.
I can’t believe I didn’t read your blog before, I love it! Yay for 20-somethings.
Now I know to be more respectful of public property when I’m traveling, even if my shoes are clean,” Gerson says.
Just wanted to remind you that your shoes are not clean if you every wore them outside, or in a public restroom, etc.
[For others who aren't aware, Ernie is referring to my quote in a Fox News piece about travel taboos: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/09/24/local-taboos-trip-travelers/.
Ernie, thanks for your comment. I understand, but those shoes were just bought and brand spankin’ new with no visible dirt on them. Also, I didn’t put them on the actual cloth seat cushion–just the plastic edge of the seat. But as I said in the article, lesson learned!
Mr. Hinz — there are more microorganisms on your hands than on the bottoms of your shoes! We live in a profoundly unclean world, which is just as well, because that’s what keeps our immune systems functioning!
When I was young (I’m 67), we were taught that putting (especially shod) feet on chairs or seats was rude and inconsiderate. Some countries take this very seriously. For example, in Italy, train conductors may fine people who do on the spot–no hearing, no appeal. Most of the people you see putting feet on seats in the U.S. are under 40. I once saw a 25 year old hard hat put his mud dripping boots on a Chicago area commuter train seat. Is it really necessary to put feet that have been on the dirty ground on surfaces that contact the clothes of other people when they use those surfaces for sitting? Who should decide that shoes are “clean enough” to place on seats?
Thanks for your comment, John. You’re right, many young people do this in the States, and it’s not considered a big deal here compared to other countries (hence the point of my story in the Fox News article). However, I would never think of putting my dirty shoes on a public seat like that. As mentioned, I only did it because my shoes were brand new and extremely clean, and I felt that I wasn’t dirtying the plastic seat my feet were resting on. And as I said before, I learned from the experience that it’s not acceptable elsewhere and won’t do it again.
I’m a little surprised to read that putting feet on seats is somehow acceptable in the US. Unless one checks in detail whether the soles are clean there is a chance that it will just make the seats dirty for the next person to sit on ! My dad used to say “seats are for sitting on ” and that meant not for bags , shoes or litter! It comes down to common sense and good manners really .
E. Morris: Yes, it is not uncommon in the US for people to put feet on their seats, unfortunately. Though I would never do it unless my shoes were extremely clean and it was a casual place. As mentioned, I only put my feet on the train seats that time because my shoes were brand new and clean.
Ever been to Africa, Emily. We’d love to welcome you to St-Louis, Senegal, West Africa
Thanks Amadou! I have never been to Africa, but I would love to visit sometime.
Hey, just thought I’d say I’m new to your blog and very much enjoying it
Happy to have found this great site. I do a similar thing but with a twist of food and art at my own site. Hope you stop by. I will be sure to follow this great blog!
The Wanderfull Traveler
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Good luck with your future travels and writing, cheers!
Yay I have two rescue cats. Def the way to go.