All Posts - Ashley Abroad Travel Blog

A Grand, Google-filled Weekend in Dublin’s Fair City

February 14, 2014October 24, 2012 by Ashley Fleckenstein

Strangely enough the story of my Dublin trip begins in Chicago. It all started when I met an Irish guy named David at a bar called the Irish Oak. After a brief chat, David handed me his Google business card. While we never got together in Chicago, I sent him an email a few weeks … Read more

The Best Travel Credit and Debit Cards for Backpackers

March 18, 2016October 23, 2012 by Ashley Fleckenstein

Next week I leave for France for more than nine months, and it’s high time I change my international money management strategy. For too long I have been the victim of budget-killing $5.00 international ATM fees and 3% foreign transaction fees- so I started doing some research to find the best travel credit cards out there.

5 French Expressions That Will Help You Survive Paris

October 7, 2019October 21, 2012 by Ashley Fleckenstein

Paris can feel intimidating to the first-time traveler. It’s not the herds of Peugeots careening around one-way streets or the plenitude of dog droppings on the sidewalks; it’s the Parisians. Like New York, Paris is a busy place where most people are in a hurry. Parisians just don’t have time for the poor French of us tourists (ahem, travelers). … Read more

Saturday Snapshot 3

February 14, 2014October 19, 2012 by Ashley Fleckenstein

So I have some big (and good) news! One – I received my au pair visa in record time and ended up buying my ticket to France yesterday. I will be leaving in 10 days and I am beyond excited. Secondly, and please excuse the exclamation points – my dad surprised me with an early … Read more

Doors from Around the World

October 16, 2012October 15, 2012 by Ashley Fleckenstein

It turns out that over the years I have amassed a sizable photo collection of doors, who knew! The doors are surprisingly very interesting and really reflect the countries in which I took them.

The post would be more aptly titled “anything you walk through”, considering the collection also includes lots of archways and gates. I cobbled this post together after I made the photo series Street Art from Around the World.

A Traveler’s Confession – Camera Lust

June 3, 2018October 14, 2012 by Ashley Fleckenstein

I made a hard decision today – I am moving on from my beloved Nikon D40X. The break up went a little like this – I’m sorry, it’s not me, it’s you. You’re getting old, you process things really slowly, your SD slot is broken and your LCD screen is cracked. Don’t get me wrong, … Read more

Street Art from Around the World

February 14, 2014October 9, 2012 by Ashley Fleckenstein

I love street art and like to snap pictures of it wherever I go. Here is some of the best I’ve seen all over the world; from European cities like Barcelona, Paris and Brussels to South American cities like Santiago and Valparaiso. There is also some art from less visited places like Portugal, Uruguay and … Read more

One Beer-filled Night in Brussels

April 21, 2017October 8, 2012 by Ashley Fleckenstein

Brussels – the beautiful and beer-centric capital of Belgium. Admittedly I ended up there because the Ryanair flights to Greece were a lot cheaper out of Brussels than Paris, but I’m glad to have finally made it.

Saturday Snapshot 1

February 14, 2014October 6, 2012 by Ashley Fleckenstein

Please meet the first post of my Saturday Snapshot series! I wanted to post a photo each week of the coolest or most inspiring thing I had seen all week. As I am currently living in Michigan my life is not that interesting, but bear with me – I just got news from France that the ministry of labor approved my au pair papers! I should be in Paris in less than three weeks.

The 10 Most Crazy Delicious Foods You Must Eat in Paris

October 18, 2019September 27, 2012 by Ashley Fleckenstein

So, what’s good to eat in Paris? Um, if memory recalls, everything. As I sit and wait for the French ministry of labor to send back my visa documents, I’ve been musing over some of the most delicious meals I’ve enjoyed in France over the past three summers. Hopefully the ministry sends the documents soon … Read more