Travel Blog

Taking Your Dream Trip!

8/19/2020

Taking your dream trip may seem out of your reach. After all, it's just a dream, and dreams don't become reality...right? WRONG.

Making your dream trip a reality is totally possible! It just requires a plan. You've got to be prepared:

1) financially
2) mentally
3) physically
4) professionally
5) socially

Financially, you have to have saved enough money to take this trip. Ideally you also have a flexible budget built in for unexpected costs. Because they will be incurred.

Mentally, you've got to be prepared for the journey you're going to embark on. Can you handle traveling alone for 5 weeks? How about 5 months? 5 years?

Your body must be prepared to handle whatever strain you'll be putting on it. Whether it's hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or crawling through the tunnels of the Red Pyramid in Egypt, make sure you've trained for the activity/ies you will partake in and that your body is well-equipped to handle the challenges ahead.

You'll need to make sure that you'll actually be able to make the time for the trip. And that you'll be able to fully appreciate and enjoy it without worrying. This may involve a conversation with your employer, deciding to leave a job, or making your own arrangements if you work for yourself.

You'll need to think about relationships and how this trip will affect them. Your family, children, partner, roommates/friends and so on. Who will accompany you on your journey? How will those people not tagging along with you feel about your physical absence?

7 months around the world. 5 continents. 21 countries. That's my story. And, in accordance with the above five categories, here's how I accomplished my dream of taking a world trip:

- I saved up enough money for the trip by taking on a full-time client contract, and avoiding unnecessary spending
- I prepared myself for the upcoming challenge mentally by researching the countries I would visit and the activities I would embark on, so I had an idea of what to expect
- I prepared physically for the challenges that lay ahead through a variety of exercises spread across a weekly workout routine at the gym
- I finished a work contract and didn't line another professional engagement up immediately afterwards
- I found an amazing replacement to sublet my spot in my apartment

What does your dream trip look like? When it makes sense, where will you go and for how long?

If you've already taken your dream trip, please share your experience! What was it like and how did you make it happen?

A Trip Around The World...Literally!

2/18/2020

I had taken long trips and extended backpacking trips throughout different regions of the world before this, but wanted to challenge myself on a new level with a trip around the world! Mission accomplished. If I did it, so can you!

I couldn't possibly list all the details below, but allow me to share a few highlights. Each highlight has a corresponding picture below:

- Lounging on Seven Mile Beach in Negril, Jamaica
- "Swimming" with dolphins in Nassau, Bahamas (during a cruise in the Caribbean)
- "Leaning" on the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Strolling through the streets in Santorini, Greece
- Checking out the skyline at night in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Soaking in the view from atop Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa
- Going on a safari in Masai Mara, Kenya
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
- Visiting the Giza Pyramids just outside of Cairo, Egypt
- Joining Oktoberfest 2019 in Munich, Germany
- "Walking" with the Beatles in Liverpool, England
- Sitting on the world-famous Escadaria Selarón in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Spending a day with rescued elephants in Phuket, Thailand
- Witnessing the world's biggest people crossing at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan

Barcel-Ownin' It!

3/17/2019

Barcelona is a very international and progressive city! There are a lot of tourist attractions, mostly centered around the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi's work. If you're looking for nightlife, this city sports a very late, loud and fun scene! It is unfortunately also the pickpocket capital of the world, so keep your belongings close (especially at popular tourist attractions). A few items to mention, in no particular order:

- tomato/tomato paste goes on almost everything, pa amb tomàquet (tomato bread) being one of the most traditional and popular dishes
- people may call you "tío" (uncle) or "tía" (aunt), usually in an endearing way that can be translated as "buddy" or "friend"
- The primary language is Catalán, but everyone speaks Spanish
- The Spanish spoken in Barcelona rises and falls throughout words, giving it a melodic feel

Let's talk about food, drinks, and where you should get them:

TAPAS:
- Nou Can Codina - try the croquetas
- Vinitus - eat the Spanish Omellete
- La Pepita - get the Pepita Napolitana and the pa amb tomàquet (tomato bread)
- Quimet & Quimet - order whatever you want, this place is too good to have anything bad on the menu!
- Sasha - don't miss the nachos and chips with guacamole
- try patatas bravas -- each spot has it's own version of this well-known dish

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN:
- Quinoa
- El Trocadero

PIZZA:
- Pizzeria La Strada - the margherita pizza is wonderful, as is the calzone (which is opened up after cooked, and arugula and cheese are then placed inside)

CAFES:
- Pans Cafe - don't miss the Mozzarella Pesto Bocadillo (sandwich)
- 365 Cafe (chain) - try the cafe latte, it is phenomenal!

The City of Brotherly Love

12/3/2018

Philadelphia is a cool city with a fair amount of things to do and see.

For history, check out the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Entrance to the entire complex is free of charge. Tours of Independence Hall are given every 30 minutes and require tickets (also free), but they must be obtained from a nearby location prior to the tour.

For nightlife, try either downtown Philly (on and around Sansom Street) or Fishtown. Each area has its own vibe, and both are fun!

City Hall and Rittenhouse Square are nice areas to check out too.

The Passyunk Square area is quite unique and has some cool artwork. There's a cozy cafe called Gleaner's that has an amazing homey atmosphere, great drinks, and insanely sweet staff!

Don't miss out on Wiz Kid either - their vegan rendition of a Philly Cheese Steak is out of this world!!

Marvelous Medellin

10/27/2018

I visited Colombia about a year ago and was quite impressed. I recently revisited one of my favorite cities there - Medellin. I enjoyed listening to the tonal nature of Colombian Spanish. Parque Lleras is a progressive neighborhood, filled with many great spots! Below are a few of my favorites:

- Pergamino Cafe: One of the trendiest coffee shops in Medellin. World-renowned coffee.

- Cafe Zorba: A phenomenal (vegetarian) experience for your taste buds. Best known for their amazing pizza pies!

- La Marietta: A great vegetarian spot boasting fresh and delicious food, drinks, dessert, and daily specials!

Pergamino Cafe

Pizza from Cafe Zorba

Quesadilla from La Marietta

The Perfect End-of-Summer Getaway: Montreal

9/9/2018

Montreal is an awesome city. Big enough but not too big. Clean and bicultural, with lots to do during the day and night! Try going out in the St. Catherine Street/Crescent Street area for an experience catered toward tourists. Try the St. Laurent Street/St. Denis Street area if you want a more local experience. Don't forget to try poutine and crepes. In summer, you can enjoy the annual Jazz Festival. In Winter, it gets so cold that businesses operate underground!

Key Lime Pie Anyone?

8/6/2018

Key West is part of The Florida keys, a chain of islands in Southern Florida that are connected to one another via bridge. I went on a day trip to Key West from Miami, but wish I had more time to spend there. The downtown area has a lot of fun restaurants and bars to check out. Take the trolley ride - it is a very fun way to learn about the island and its history!

Do you like Key Lime Pie? Did you know it originates from Key West? The most famous spot to try it on the island is definitely Kermit’s - don’t miss out on this deliciously awesome experience!

Aside from being the birthplace of Key Lime Pie, Key West is also home to the southernmost point of the continental United States, some amazing beaches, and the earliest happy hour you will find anywhere: 6:00am! The ongoing question is if people in Key West are spending their days relaxing or drinking. A combination of the two might be the most logical answer.

Miami...Vice?

8/4/2018

Miami is a vibrant city with a lot of Central and South American influence, due in large part to its proximity to these places. It is also a city where people like to exhibit flashy cars, clothes, etc. to give off the impression that they are affluent. Whether or not the characters you will encounter in this city are actually wealthy requires further investigation on your part - I'll leave you to it. If you're really determined, try Star Island, where many celebrities own properties.

Take a tour that shows you Miami Beach and Star Island. I recommend a company called Thriller as they provide quick, interactive and action-packed speedboat tours! These tours combine the perfect amount of information with fun, leaving you more informed, with great memories, and with a ton of time left in the day to do as you please!

One of the biggest drivers of the economy in Miami is tourism. You can go out any night of the week on Ocean Drive. There is always something going on there because there are always tourists (more in high season). Other cool neighborhoods to check out for a less touristy experience are Brickell and Wynwood. Brickell tends to be more latin-oriented while Wynwood has more of a hipster vibe to it.

The city has a heavy Cuban influence. Little Havana is where you can find Cuban Cigars and Cuban Coffees - the former I have heard to be great and the latter I personally know to be great! Miami has seen a recent influx of many Venezuelans as well, predominantly because of the current situation in Venezuela.

Miami is expensive, wages are not extremely high, there are not a ton of jobs, the city can get very humid, and hurricane season will make you nervous. If you can survive the aforementioned drawbacks, can speak some Spanish (Portuguese is helpful to know too), enjoy hot weather and beautiful beaches, and aren't opposed to frequent partying, then Miami may be the place for you!

Las Vegas - The Party Never Stops

7/30/2018

Las Vegas is known for its gambling and wild nightlife - probably the reason why so many bachelor parties are held there. Pool parties are epic - head to either Wet Republic or Encore for a solid experience. Hakkasan is the largest club, but famous DJs make their rounds throughout most of them, so anywhere you choose should be a good time. Be prepared to spend money though, a lot of it - Vegas is anything but cheap.

New Orleans and Mardi Gras Madness!

7/29/2018

New Orleans (also known as NOLA) is a festive city filled with a mixture of cultural influences. Po’ boys (baguette sandwiches) and some incredible architecture found throughout the city represent the French influence. Don’t forget to try beignets and a café au lait at Café Du Monde. There are two locations in New Orleans - one in the French Quarter and another (lesser-known) one just outside of the French Quarter in a mall called The Riverwalk. The Riverwalk location is not full service (unlike its French Quarter counterpart), however it is generally much less crowded. Cajun and Creole influences contribute heavily to NOLA's spicy, and seafood-oriented food scene.

The music scene in New Orleans is phenomenal! NOLA is considered to be the birthplace of jazz in the United States. Many famous jazz artists such as Louis Armstrong emerged from here and helped shape the music culture in this country. Louis Armstrong is memorialized in a nearby park, unsurprisingly called Louis B. Armstrong Park. You can hear live music in the French Quarter - there are many extremely talented musicians playing in the streets. People and bands looking to get discovered often perform in/around Jackson Square Park. This is also a spot where artists are known to sell their work. To find jazz in actual venues, head to Frenchman Street - there are lots of great spots to check out, Maison being one of the most famous. You will find music on the streets in this area as well.

The party scene is outrageous – head to Bourbon Street (both during Mardi Gras and not) for loud music, scandalous dance moves and debaucherous shenanigans. Don’t forget to visit a bar with a balcony on the second floor for a drink so you can enjoy the view of Bourbon Street from above and people watch – you’re guaranteed to see something interesting.

As you may have heard and/or seen, Mardi Gras is a time when there is even more ruckus going on in New Orleans than normal. When you take an already wild city and give people a reason to celebrate, you can expect pure madness. Green, gold and purple are the colors you will most vividly and frequently see, along with numerous themed parades going on in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday. Be careful when attending parades as numerous items/collectables are thrown from the floats - getting hit in the face with a bag of large beads stings and may leave a mark. The closer it gets to Fat Tuesday, the more intense the city becomes. The weekend before Fat Tuesday gets really rowdy, particularly on Bourbon Street. Londi Gras (the day before Mardi Gras) is also chock full of parties and celebrations. Be safe and have fun!