Travel Blog

Costa Rica'n It -- Pura Vida Mae!

3/26/2022

I just returned from Costa Rica and wow, what a marvelous country it is! It was my second visit -- I felt I needed to head back to see more since I wasn't in the country for long and didn't see too much during my first visit.

This time, I saw everything from stunning beaches to incredible jungles and everything in between.

Tamarindo is a fun beach town that has a party feel to it. Sámara is a bit further south from Tamarindo and has a more relaxed and quiet feel to it.

Drake Bay is a bit of a challenge to get to from San Jose, but worth it in my opinion due to all the amazing nature it has, and its proximity to Corcovado National Park where you can find many interesting animals. I found it to be a great birdwatching spot.

La Fortuna is a great spot for seeing volcanoes, breathtaking waterfalls, and rivers with stunning colors.

I recommend Monteverde for the hanging bridges overlooking the cloud forest, along with the adventure activities such as ziplining! I did a fabulous night hike here and we found insects and reptiles!

I also enjoyed the chill reggae vibes of the Caribbean side, and found sloths in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita :)

For this trip, I set the following intentions:
- Reconnecting with nature
- Practicing and improving my Spanish
- Evaluating my business from another angle to generate new ideas

And I achieved all of the above!

I didn't have every moment of the trip planned out beforehand, and that was alright. Since I had set intentions behind this trip, I had a direction to follow.

As this was my first international trip in over 2 years, you could imagine how delighted I was to get back out into the world to learn, grow and challenge myself!

The pictures don't do the trip justice, but they do give a bit of insight into the beauty of the land, so check them out :)

Dabbling in the Domestic Domain

12/21/2021

Since the pandemic began, I hadn't traveled internationally, and had barely traveled domestically. I decided to change that.

This past October I set off on a trip to New Mexico, California and Texas!

I spent my time in New Mexico checking out Albuquerque's infamous International Balloon Fiesta! I got to see the morning glow, where the balloons light up against the dark sky and create quite the effect :) I was disappointed however, that due to concerns related to the weather, the balloons were unable to take off both days I visited. And I had visited the final weekend of the fiesta. Pro Tip: go during the first weekend of the fiesta if you can. This allows for more time to see the balloons take off in the event of inclement weather on one or multiple days. Also, I learned that most of the poor weather conditions occur toward the end of the fiesta, resulting in a cancellation of roughly 30% of planned activities. Nonetheless, I got to learn a lot about the history of the fiesta, how it operates, the changes it's seen over the years, and make many fulfilling connections. So, I left satisfied and with the desire to return another year to see the balloons take off!

My time in Los Angeles was spent with friends. I got to explore Tapenga, the areas of Sunset Strip, Santa Monica, and Venice Beach among other spots. I was reminded of the soothing and temperate weather that this city has year-round, yet also of the focus people have on their image (which one could argue is too strong), along with the need for a car if one lives there.

I finished my time in and around Dallas, where I connected with some of my professional contacts, and got to enjoy the slower, southern pace of life. I recall making the connection that in New York, I often feel that waiters who engage in "small talk" with customers can be seen as inefficient and wasting time when other things need to get done. In Dallas, at every restaurant I went to it felt the opposite to me -- that engaging in conversation with customers not only wasn't a bad thing, it was actually seen as part of their job -- part of creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

I love experiencing other regions of The United States and of the world because it allows me to gain new perspectives and re-evaluate my current ones. Are there any locations you have visited which had this impact on you?

Travel Has The Ability To __________

7/15/2021

I would fill it in with the word "transform". Through my experiences traveling, I have grown immensely and transformed into a new person.

I would also fill it in with the word "connect". Through travel, I have created and strengthened invaluable connections with others, myself, nature, wildlife, and other elements of the universe.

How would you fill in the blank? Leave your response below!

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.