I Won’t Let Terrorism Scare Me From the World

by Nicole Hobday

Today I write with a solemn heart, in light of the atrocity committed in Orlando. 50 Americans were gunned down in an LGBT club in an act of radical Islamic Terrorism.

I couldn’t possibly express the sorrow and outrage that this causes, and my heart is with the victims and their families, and amazing law enforcement and medical responders who bravely worked to stabilize the situation and save whatever lives they could.

All of this brings us a startling reminder. There is a global force of hate in the world that frequently targets congested groups of people, particularly in Europe and America. The sad truth is that it could happen anywhere. No one in the Bataclan went to a concert with even the vaguest thought that they would be involved in a massacre. Club-goers in The Pulse nightclub in Orlando just went out like any normal Saturday night. To hang with their friends. To dance. Maybe to kiss someone new.

Makeshift memorial for Orlando’s Pulse nightclub

Flowers outside Paris’ Bataclan concert venue

The prominent presence of terrorism in the world is scary. It’s meant to be. It’s meant to frighten us. To make us feel as though no where is safe. And yes, the hand of ISIS is a long one, spreading like a disease.

I have a trip to Europe planned for September. My father, educated and ex-military, has made it quite clear that he is very much against me going anywhere in Europe, out of concern for my safety. I knew he would. I didn’t even mention it to him before I bought my  plane tickets.

We must be vigilant. We must always be aware of personal safety, whether we’re going to catch the city bus for work or traveling to a different country. But we must not stop living. We must not stop traveling. We must not stop seeking new places and meeting new people.

I am not going to let bullies keep me from seeing the world. I am not going to let bullies keep me from making human connections. Travel inherently spreads love and understanding. It reminds us that we are all part of this world. It’s more important than ever for the human race to function like we’re all one. To function as though we share this world. We need to share this world, in harmony.

So yes, we must be sharp. We must be safe. But we must not let fear hold us back. We must not let this dark wave smother us. So yes, I this fall I am going to Amsterdam, Prague, and Berlin. And I’m not going to let anything stop me. You shouldn’t either. Because you are a force for good in this world, and that should not and cannot be stopped.  Travel on ,and travel safe, my friends.

 

The Wild and Lonely Places

In February of 2010, I woke up in a cottage in the Irish countryside. Snow was falling gently and there were two stray sheep just out the window.

For an undergrad from Philadelphia, it couldn’t get much closer to a fairytale. My then-boyfriend and I were on internships in Dublin, and spent the weekend with his extended family he’d just met. They lived a short drive from Westport, County Mayo, Ireland. Westport is a tidy little town, but like most other cities in Ireland, it takes barely a ten minute drive to find yourself in the middle of nowhere. And I mean like, driving on a one-way farm road and then coming face to face with an oncoming car, then one of you has to slowly reverse thirty yards until you find a spot where one of you can pass the other kind of middle of nowhere.

The view from the McDonnall’s cottage is a pretty perfect view of the local icon, Croagh Patrick, a small but distinctly cone-shaped mountain, aka the Reek.

Our sweet and gracious hosts drove us through the region, around Clew Bay, through Doolough Pass. It’s serene, especially in the stillness of winter. A short drive down the road takes you to a valley where the mountains make you feel so small and insignificant.

I found this feeling in a few of my favorite places during my all-too-brief time abroad. The awesome beauty of Ireland and Scotland is impossible to deny. I have a special place in my heart for these sort of places, in the middle of the wild, the places that are so desolate and beautiful it makes you feel lonely.

It’s a peaceful sort of loneliness, though. The pleasant kind of serenity you find when you have a nice walk by yourself, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday. When you don’t talk, and there’s nothing to listen to except that pure, touchy-feely thing called “nature.” There’s a longing you feel in these places. A primordial longing for our wild roots–an unfamiliar feeling considering how keen I am on commodities like hot showers and comfy bedding.

  Me as a college childbaby in Glencoe, Scotland. Taken during the dark ages of my Kodak point-and-shoot camera. 

In these incredible isles, it doesn’t take much effort to find yourself lost in a spacious valley that feels almost untouched by civilization. This is the Wild. But often, these places are far from untouched. Often, these majestic highlands are sites of ancient tragedies, like the mass starvation of travelers in Ireland’s Doolough Pass, or the massacre of the MacDonald Clan at Scotland’s Glencoe. You can feel a certain solemnity in these places. The Wild has seen more than any of us. I love a good city, but my ear is always out for the silence of the beautiful, lonely places of the world.

5 Favorite Philly Eateries

I’m an alum of Drexel University, and after half a lifetime of incessant moving around the country, my college years gave me a city I felt like I could call a hometown. Sadly, most of my time in this underrated city were spent busy and broke.

But these days I get back up to my Philly crew whenever possible. Since we’re all “adults” now, the gang has moved into Center City and now whenever I go to visit them, I make them take me to their latest favorite food holes. These are my favorite local spots to eat my way through Philadelphia. (The Cambridge, Pizzaria Vetri, The Foodery, Plenty Cafe, Revolution House)

The Corner Foodery

Booze and brunch are our king and queen. One of our favorite little spots to hit up combines those two with a magnificent brunch special. The Foodery houses an eclectic-industrial interior with dark wood offset by big bright windows. There’s a full wall of over 600 varieties of craft beer that you can pick up whenever your little heart desires.

But we typically hit up The Corner Foodery for a post-party night brunch to continue abusing our livers via their Kegs n’ Eggs brunch special. It’s featured on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-3pm, and includes a small but delicious menu of egg and deli dishes. Each of these bad boys comes with a glass of beer or cider (options rotate), and the combo runs you at about $6. My favorite is the Bambino Bianco ($2 extra because it’s that delicious). A fried egg, mortadella, mozzarella, and balsamic sauce all on a lovely bun. It’s messy and divine.

The Bambino Bianco. Sadly not pictured: the precious egg inside.

We’re too obsessed with the breakfast sandwich and beer special that we haven’t bothered with the rest of the menu. But it’s all deli-style deliciousness. There’s a simplicity to The Foodery that’s refreshing. You order at the counter, sit in a booth or by the windows, drink and socialize.

1710 Sansom St.
Philadelphia, PA
19103

 

Pizzeria Vetri

Sweet baby Jesus, Pizzeria Vetri. It’s a funky little space, sometimes difficult to get a seat in, especially if you’ve got a group. But it’s worth it. The restaurant dedicates itself to working with the freshest ingredients, and they make quite a lot of it in-house from scratch, including the dough. They specialize in wood-fired pizzas, but there’s also some other stuff on the menu (but honestly you’ll be missing out if you don’t just get your own pie).

The pizzas are insane and beautiful. The Maurizio is comprised of mozzarella, rosemary, olive oil, and sea salt. Simple and decadent. The Crudo is delicious with prosciutto, bufala mozzarella, and parmesan. Frankly, it’s hard to go wrong with one of their pizzas. If you go as a group, I recommend getting a few different kinds of pizzas and sharing them all, so you can sample a bit of everything!

Pizzaria Vetri has two Philadelphia locations:
1939 Callowhill St,
1615 Chancellor St

 

The Cambridge

The Cambridge is a pub for the modern age. Heavy wood and artfully-peeling walls are offset by contemporary fixtures and wide open windows. It’s quite lovely, and the food is oh so satisfying. The menus have a delicious array of pub grub–sandwiches, burgers and the like. The brunch menu is delightfully varied, with unique dishes like Breakfast Mac & Cheese (yes, that’s right), a huge Farmers’ Market Scramble bowl, omelettes, etc. There’s bound to be something for everyone.

I didn’t check out the brunch drinks because I was having tense and tentative negotiations with a violent hangover all day that day. But I’m sure they’re as wonderful as the food.

Vicious hangover aside, my roll with pork, eggs, sautéed peppers, and chipotle aioli was amazing. 

1508 South St.
Philadelphia, PA
19146

 

Plenty Cafe

I found Plenty Cafe near Rittenhouse because my bff lives just around the corner from it and man, I love it. It’s teeny tiny but I absolutely adore the vibe. The trendy, rustic interior is so cozy. I prefer to sit by the windows to get some bright sunshine–or peaceful rain with a sensational cup of tea. They specialize in hand-crafted sandwiches, specialty coffee, and exquisite loose-leaf teas. Oh, and there’s a full bar, too.

The menu is a little pricey…but I’ll forgive it because the food and bevs are quality. The sandwiches are wonderful, and I had my favorite cup of tea ever here (chamomille/lavender/mint yes pleeeeeease).

It’s perfect.

Plenty Cafe has two locations with a third on the way:
1602 Spruce St.  &  1710 E Passyunk Ave.

 

The Revolution House

The appropriately-named Revolution House is in a hot spot at the corner of 2nd and Market, right in the Old City area of Philly. (It also has a sick, Americana-themed slogan: UNITE AND DINE!) All too few places in Philadelphia really embrace the city’s proud history as the birthplace of the American Revolution. Much of the interior is crafted from reclaimed wood and other treasures.  BONUS: The rooftop outdoor space is sick. It’s absolutely beautiful.

Of course there’s a fine selection of very worthy beers, and the food is pretty bangin, too. I was stuffed by the time we rolled out of there. The food is varied enough for everyone, with sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, and a nice array of appetizers.

A fine appetizer of baked brie, honey, strawberries, and walnuts.

There’s an authentic vibe and spirit here that really speaks to what I love about Philadelphia–The Revolution House has not forgotten the romanticism and gusto of the criminally-underrated city’s roots. Argue over the best cheesesteak if you wish–The Revolution House is what Philadelphia is about. Live free, dine well, drink good beer.

200 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA
19106