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  • Home
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    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Eastern Europe
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  • Travel Awesome
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The Sandy Papers

A personal travel blog written by a travel-obsessed girl, featuring tons of tips, stories, guides, videos and photography from around the world. Ninety-nine countries and counting! I’m so happy you’re here! Welcome.

It’s a Good Day to Bombay: My Day with the Dabbawallas!

August 7, 2023 0 comment

How to Camp on The Mall (Or Die Trying)

May 15, 2023 0 comment

Drowned, Decapitated and Drop-Dead Crazy: The Island of the Dolls

October 29, 2022 0 comment

Hungry Like the Wolf: My Search for the Best Black Forest Cake in the Black Forest!

September 1, 2022 0 comment

Beethoven’s Bewitching Bonn!

August 20, 2022 0 comment

Castles in the Sky: Your Fairytale Guide to Portugal!

June 7, 2022 0 comment
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It’s a Good Day to Bombay: My Day with the Dabbawallas!

by Sandy August 7, 2023
written by Sandy

Dressed in their white kurta pajamas and traditional Gandhi caps, Mumbai’s fabled army of dabbawallas has been satisfying the hunger of the city’s commuters daily since 1890.  A minor miracle of logistics, this carefully-choreographed tiffin service is celebrated around the world and has even been studied by the likes of Harvard Business School.  In fact, this Indian meal service is so efficient that it is the envy of FedEx! Maybe you’ve never heard of the dabbawallas and that’s okay.  You have now and I’m here to help explain how it all works.  So, let’s get into it!

But, first:  Yes, I’m old enough to remember when Bombay was called Bombay.  Unsurprisingly, like millions and millions of other people, including Indian

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August 7, 2023 0 comment
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How to Camp on The Mall (Or Die Trying)

by Sandy May 15, 2023
written by Sandy

Staking out your campsite on The Mall is serious business, y’all. Tent placement, power supply, food and beverage, weather considerations, personal hygiene.  And, if I do say so myself, I think my brother Jack and I did a brilliant job!

As you can see, on our first night, we managed to secure a prime, front-row spot only yards away from Buck Palace and we were super-excited to try our new camping gear — like this two-person pop-up tent!   Inside, I have my cot set up;  Jack has his blow-up mattress.  We each have a sleeping bag, of course, along with cozy bamboo pillows. Here, Jack is setting up our mini camping chairs for our mini lounging space.  A Waxing Gibbous

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May 15, 2023 0 comment
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Drowned, Decapitated and Drop-Dead Crazy: The Island of the Dolls

by Sandy October 29, 2022
written by Sandy

Deep in the heart of the canals of Xochimilco lies an island.  An island with a tragic and terrifying history.  An island that will send shivers up and down your spine.  Over the years, rumors have run rampant about this tiny island being cursed or inhabited by something (or some things?) darker.

If you are easily frightened by the supernatural or the unexplained, you may want to read this post with the lights on because I’m about to share with you the tragic, true story of one of the most haunted places on the planet:  The Island of the Dolls.

I first heard about the island a few years ago when researching a trip to Mexico City.  While

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October 29, 2022 0 comment
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Hungry Like the Wolf: My Search for the Best Black Forest Cake in the Black Forest!

by Sandy September 1, 2022
written by Sandy

Exploring the Black Forest requires stamina, y’all!  You have to park the car, get out of the car, walk through insanely picturesque villages and towns, sometimes strolling beside — gasp! — spectacular riverbeds, get back in the car and then drive to the next dazzling destination. Nightmarish indeed!

How’s a girl supposed to find the staying power to manage such Herculean feats?  By eating Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte of course! That’s right, y’all.   While driving the famed Fairy Tale Route, I began a crusade to find the best Black Forest Cake in the Black Forest!

At this point, you might be asking yourself, Sandy, why do they call it Black Forest Cake?  Excellent question!  So, before I reveal the results of my

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September 1, 2022 0 comment
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Beethoven’s Bewitching Bonn!

by Sandy August 20, 2022
written by Sandy

Germany is celebrated for many things.  From fairy tales and fast cars to castles and classical music, you’re spoiled for choice on where to begin your German adventure and what to include. So spoiled, in fact, that designing an itinerary that covers everything you want to see, taste and experience can be a serious dilemma.

The solution?  A kick-ass road trip!

Late summer and early fall are my favorite times of the year to visit Europe. The crowds are leaving, the temperatures are cooler and, historically, the rates are a bit more favorable. Unsurprisingly, I want to cram as much as humanly possible into the two months I’ve allotted for my latest German adventure, chronicling my antics all along the

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August 20, 2022 0 comment
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About Me

About Me

Hi!  I’m Sandy, a fierce Virgo with a serious case of wanderlust that is rivaled only by an equally spectacular case of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. I’m Native Texan to the bone, although I was actually born in the Black Forest under a gibbous moon. Speaking of black, I love black licorice, black crystals and black humor.

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