Writing archive
New writing lives on Substack — essays, notes, and the conversations I’m having now. This page is the Vagabondess Blog Archive: articles published August 2012 through March 2024.
It is complex, fraught with tension and not particularly safe. It is fascinating, for this half-anthropologist, half-writer (and 100% curious human being), and it is sad. Cape Town, specifically, is diverse, vibrant, disjointed, anachronistic, cosmopolitan, wild, chilled, cohesive and embattled, all at once.
This guy knows what I’m talking about.Just a short one for today, as I want to spend the remainder of my day off out there in the sunshine!
I watch waves break and sparkle offshore as my minibus taxi races down the coastal road from Hout Bay to Cape Town.The views are magnificent. Spectacular.Although, my fellow passengers seem desensitized to the sight, for which we pay 12 rand ($0.75) each.
What I have to say is in no way a judgement of any individual reader or responder. I don’t know you, and I withhold any opinion about your life, social beliefs or general good-will as a person (in fact, I’m sure you’re all good people—most are).
The view from my patio, Hout Bay, Cape Town.Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa“You need to watch that the gate closes to make sure no intruders get in,” says my neighbor.
Helsinki Snapshots — an essay from Toby’s on-site writing archive, written before new work moved to Substack.
The Bittersweet Beauty of Goodbye — an essay from Toby’s on-site writing archive, written before new work moved to Substack.
Happy New Year!This is not the typical style of work I share here, but I’ve been sitting on this whimsical little poem for quite a while now, and I figure now is as good a time as any to share it.
Chapman’s Peak, near one of my possible next homes.The flights are booked.Philadelphia —> NYC —> Amsterdam —> Helsinki. Flights, once booked, are very difficult to reroute.Why Cape Town?Summer.Why else? Rather, Cape Town felt right, and the rational reasons followed.Too “woo woo” for you?
Will the Real Santa Claus Please Stand Up — an essay from Toby’s on-site writing archive, written before new work moved to Substack.
Greetings from Tallinn!On Monday, my friend and I took the 2-hour ferry from Helsinki, Finland to Tallinn, Estonia.Our mission? Like nearly every other passenger on board, buying alcohol.
Believe it or not, this is right in Stockholm!I’ve fallen behind. And so now I’m revisiting not only in person, but also in spirit as I backtrack to bring you these snapshots.Stockholm first.(Evidently I have almost no pictures, so these will mostly be word snapshots.
Revisiting — an essay from Toby’s on-site writing archive, written before new work moved to Substack.
“We’re on our way to bible study,” says my friend. (He likes to make up stories, but let’s get real, who doesn’t?)It’s 10:00 pm, and we’re on the Circle Line, retracing our steps into Central London after hopping the wrong train.
[This is only an excerpt from a longer piece about this project written for elephant journal. For the full story please click here.] The afternoon sun is kissing the tops of the pines surrounding my friend’s house, and I am packing.
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