Stephen RatnerAuthor of 33 Articles

I collect pottery from every country I visit, find the best local spots through relentless wandering, and believe the best travel memories come from saying yes to strangers' recommendations. Based in Florida, usually planning the next trip.

Northern Light: A Bowl from Stockholm

Stockholm surprised me. I expected cold efficiency, Scandinavian reserve, a city of blonde people minding their own business. What I found was designed within an inch of its life—but...

Hills, Waves, and Ceramics: Pottery from Lisbon and Nazaré

Lisbon is hills. I cannot overstate this. Every direction involves climbing or descending at angles designed to destroy your calves and your confidence simultaneously. I was wrong, of course. The...