Cape Verde

Praia, Santiago

I love islands and traveling to weird destinations that take you out of your comfort zone, so naturally Cabo Verde, West Africa popped up. I wanted to live like a local and experience the culture, and that is exactly what I got.  Welcome to Praia, Santiago, the capital of Cabo Verde. The culture hits you right when you get on the plane, everyone is so friendly and knows one another. We took the red eye, but that did not stop the party on board. There was free wine and a pretty solid meal. If you're lucky, the nice guy sitting next to you will poke you to let you know when the food has arrived. 

We stayed at the Pestana Trópico, arriving just in time for a delicious, all inclusive breakfast. 

Fresh cheese, bread, and lots of fruit.

I could barely wait to start exploring--our first stop, the Plateau. It’s as high up as it sounds. We hiked up a very long, steep set of stairs onto a street filled with locals and markets galore. We were in for quite an experience. Bright colors lined the street and everyone seemed to be out and about, relaxed on island time.

The market at the plateau had fruit, vegetables and fish. Navigating through the small aisles was both challenging and exciting. The colors were vibrant, the air was filled with aromas of fish and produce, and everyone was eager to help you. We did not speak portuguese, so communicating was mostly nonverbal. 

The view from the Plateau was quite spectacular. It looked like differently shaped, colorful legos, that went on for miles. 

My favorite place on the Plateau was Art Kafe. I was drawn in by the art, people and music. Local artists sold their work and live bands played weekly. I came here three times during my stay and soaked up the good vibes. 

Day 2: We attempted to rent a car and drive around the island--that mission failed very quickly. We got to the center of Praia and could not figure out where we were. We had a compass, a map, and we were at a loss. I know they say not all who wander are lost, but we certainly were. There were no signs, too many rotaries, and no house numbers, at all. We were in the suburbs and had NO IDEA which way to go. I was afraid we may run out of gas, so we stopped being stubborn and found our way back to return the car. This time, better safe than sorry. 

After a long day and only filling up on breakfast from the hotel, we stopped at the Restaurant O Poeta to grab some cheese and bread, lots of bread. Wine and beer is also very cheap in Cabo Verde--about three escudos a glass. I ordered two! 

Restaurant & Bar O Poeta

SAL

A mini vacation, from our vacation. We took a domestic flight to Santa Maria, Sal, for the weekend to celebrate our Two Year Anniversary. When we got there, our reserved "hotel" was under construction.

We got SO lucky and found the Melia, an all inclusive resort, for only $180 a night. I have never stayed anywhere so fancy. I almost felt guilty it was so nice. There was a swim up bar, wine on tap, and an endless supply of food.

The room, or should I say Villa, was completely opposite from Praia. It was a two bedroom, two bath villa with a balcony! It was a nice balance to have both on our vacation. I have never stayed in an all inclusive resort before and never thought I could afford it, but $180 a night for all meals included is an absolute steal. 

The Master Bedroom

Master Bath

The villa was a short walk to the gorgeous beach. Black volcanic and hard rock sand filled the shoreline. It was unlike any beach I've ever been to. 

Oh and there are sharks at Shark Bay. I was convinced I spotted one, but it turned out to be a scuba diver! Bummer. 

Takeaways 

If you want an inclusive resort, go to SAL. If you want culture, go to SANTIAGO. If you want both--travel to both islands.

SANTIAGO 

• Santiago was packed with CULTURE and pushed me out of my comfort zone (in a good way)

• The plateau is lined with local shops and restaurants--there are no US chains

• Fish and produce markets are a must see

• You will enjoy fresh fish, cheese and inexpensive wine (much like the Azores)

• Renting a car is very hard--there are no signs, the houses are not numbered, it is near impossible unless you know where you're going

• It is not too safe to walk around at night

• Locals exercise before sunrise/after sunset to avoid the heat

• There are many stray dogs--they may chase you, you may have to run

SAL

• We took a propellor plane--only 25 min flight

• All inclusive resort-Mostly a European travel destination

• No cultural at all--you do not leave the resort

• The beaches are beautiful--lined with black volcanic sand

• Wine is on tap, everywhere you look. I did not stop drinking or eating. Good thing we were only there for the weekend

Arizona

Grand Canyon

Adam surprised me with a road trip from Pheonix to the Grand Canyon and Sedona. It’s as big as they say it is and the pictures simply don't do it justice. You have to see it to believe it, just gorges!

We left at 5 o'clock in the morning and were able to catch the beautiful sunrise.

You really can't tell from the pictures how colorful and multi dimensional the Canyon is.  

Visiting the canyon will overwhelm your senses. There are so many opportunities to stare off in the distance and just dream, think, be. 

Look at that skyline.

Driving along the canyon, there are many pull offs with similar views but different angles. 

Takeaways from the Grand Canyon

• Go EARLY in the morning before it gets really crowded

• It costs about $20 for a standard car

• The views and photos you will take are well worth it

• It is hard to describe, you really have to see it to believe it

California

Ojai

If you love yoga, farmers markets, relaxing, and did I mention YOGA? Ojai should be on your travel list. We rented an Airbnb in the center of town and it was the most tranquil, unique home  I have ever seen. We enjoyed fresh picked oranges in the al fresco kitchen and got friendly with the cat in the yard, Beale. 

Beale the cat

The airbnb was a 5 minute walk into town and there you could find unique shops and tasty restaurants like Bonny Lu's country cafe.  We also stopped at Bart's Book Store to take a look around. You can buy books outside of normal business hours. They go by the "honor system" that you will put money in the box. 

Every morning I woke up to go to yoga at Lu Lu Bandha's and the people I met were more moving than the vinyasa flow. I had the pleasure of practicing alone with the teacher Julia, and she and I stared at each other while doing Lions' Breath, it was fun, we laughed, and it was a moment I will never forget.  

We ventured to Los Padres National Forest and swerved around the mountain side looking at the beautiful scenery that surrounded us. 

We enjoyed the freshest of the fresh. Cheese, Lavender, and local fruits and veggies. One woman made lavender essential oils from her french lavender plant in her yard. Very fitting of a such a spiritual, earth friendly place like Ojai. After the farmers market, hiking the meditation mount is a good way to enjoy your essential oils and soak up the relaxing vibes. 

Takeaways

If you love yoga, farmers markets, relaxing vibes--Ojai is the place for you. 

• Fresh farm to table food--we had an orange tree at our Airbnb

• Art studios, Al fresco book store, Spiritual and wellness shops

• Yoga studios, meditation mounts, and organic grocery stores

• Scenic mountain climbing ( or driving)

• A lot of people come here to retire, or simply just relax from the hustle of LA

• WINE--lots of wine, tastings, vineyards

Azores, Portugal

Ponta Delgada, São Miguel

Lagoa das Sete Cidades—are two lakes situated in a massive volcanic crater--you have to experience for yourself to truly understand the beauty. In the meantime, these pictures will have to hold you over. The Azores are only a five hour flight from Boston and with the four hour time difference, you get to wake up in a magical place. We stayed in Ponta Delgada - walking distance to the water, shops, and restaurants. The hotel included breakfast—a whole lot of it. I had fruit, cheese, yogurt, juice, cereal and was satisfied for the day. I was also able to save money because I was too full for lunch.

Hotel do Colegio made you feel like you were in an ancient castle with the floors and walls lined with back lava stones.

The breakfast room.

This was the rent a car—perfectly sized for the narrow roads, windy mountains and avoiding cows. 

The first stop was Villa Franca de Campo to see Ilheu Vila Franca Campo, a crater island only a stones through away from land. If you're wondering why there is a random dog in the picture, I am too.

 Sete Cidades was the next stop. Look at that view!

After Sete Cidades, you can drive down into the small village and have a bite to eat. We stopped at a little cafe in the " Centro" of town to grab some cheese and flan—it only costs a few euros.

Next stop, Furnas. They serve cozida, food cooked from the earth for over seven hours. Restaurant Tony's is a must try if you are feeling adventurous. 

There are around 22 mineral waters you can try from the earth that are very—well, earthy. As you walk through town, you are surrounded by steam and the smell of sulfur. The sulfur turns the rocks into this green/orange color, but the water below was perfectly safe to drink.

The COOLEST part of Furnas was the hot springs. Nestled in the Terra Nostra Garden was what appeared to be a scene from Jurassic Park. The giant tropical ferns and lush trees made you feel like you were in prehistoric times.

The geothermic pool was so warm and the bottom was VERY slimy from the sulfur sticking to the leaves and moss. The water was a burnt orange color and was so thick and salty—you could barely float or swim. It was more like walking in slow motion. Our skin also turned this funky yellow color and our bathing suits looked like we peed in them. 

Off to Mosterios. The "centro" of town was just one cafe and a lot of men smoking cigarettes. The coast was by far the highlight. Turquoise waves crashed onto shore and created a ripple effect of colors and sounds. 

Can't you just stare off into the ocean for hours? It was so peaceful and limitless. Although it was worth it, the walk down to the lighthouse was not as peaceful as the view - my calves were BURNING.  There is a sign to not drive your car because it is too steep...there should also be a sign about not walking. 

Just a normal day in the Azores--cows causing traffic delays. 

Capelas—YIKES. This cliffside "road" barely fit the smart car. A SMART CAR. It could not have been more than six feet wide.

One last stop of the day—pineapples! The Azores are known for their sweet pineapples. We visited Faja de Baixo—the pineapple plantation. They let you tour the greenhouses for free. It is interesting to see the different stages of growth and try some of the pineapple liquor. 

On our way to Nordeste, we stopped at Lagoa do Fogo, the crater lake with an amazing view. This "restricted" industrial road descended on both sides and had my hands shaking and my ears popping.  I honestly thought the smart car was going to blow over. As you can see, we were nearly at the same level as the clouds. 

We were able to find someone to take this gorgeous picture. The background looks perfect—I swear we weren't photoshopped in! 

We made it to Nordeste—the farthest eastern point on the island. There is a beautiful cobble stone bridge that leads into the Centro of town. 

There are just amazing views everywhere you look. 

Another free tour. This time, all liquor. You could try any of the flavors they made—passionfruit, banana, and of course, pineapple. It is amazing how all these tours are free here. In Boston, it costs you an arm and a leg to go to the MFA.

Another amazing view. Is it me, or is there a cave looking tunnel on the lower right hand of the cliff?

Back at the pier in Ponta Delgada. The island had ample signs and was fairly simple to navigate around.

Takeaways from the Azores:

This is not a "relaxing beach" trip. The water is very rough. BUT if you like anything below, I definitely recommend visiting the AZORES.

• AMAZING panoramic views of the oceans and lakes

• Scenery is UNREAL...mountains, cliffs, farms, cows, lava rocks, lush vegetation, craters, sulfur

• Food-fresh cheese, octopus, wine, flan, chocolate milk

• Free tours of the tea, liquor, and pineapple plantation

• Mineral water tastings

• Geothermic pools

• Small local villages

• Easy navigation around the island

South Korea

Seoul

I stayed in Hongdea at the hostel "Come Inn Korea" in an eight person room. It was only $15 and central to the city. Minus the millions of stairs you climb to make it to the door, the hostel was exceptional. Free toast and eggs, and the front desk guy, Bobby, was SO friendly. The living room, where everyone gathered,  was a place where I made friends that I still keep in touch with today. 

FOOD. We had Pajeon with octopus and squid. The restaurant was very inexpensive and you have to take your shoes off at the front door. If you have to go to the bathroom, you can slip on the provided sandals in the hallway. We sat indian style on the floor and had a array of octopus, kimchi, and much more--but as a newbie, that is all I could handle for the first time. 

There was SO MUCH Hello Kitty. I was besides myself. I even stumbled upon the Hello Kitty Cafe--right next to my hostel. YAY!

Photo booths in Korea are awesome. Free popcorn, endless props, and if you can dream it, you can create it--in the photo booth. 

Bongeunsa Buddhist temple was in the center of the busy financial district of Gangnam. To think people can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and meditate in this peaceful temple. The smell of incenses, the lush gardens and the calmness of people meditating was enough to make me cry with happiness. 

Jinju

We traveled south to the suburb of Jinju City, where our friend, Lish,  teaches English. It was about a four hour bus ride-- felt like we were driving from Boston to NYC. One of our first stops was obviously, food. We got Dakjjim, some steamed chicken and veggie dish, yum! For dessert we had  Bingsoo, its like shaved Ice with red beans and a "surprise" at the bottom. I could eat it every day. 

The next day we ventured to the market where there was a huge section of fresh, dried, and mysterious fish--the dried squid is a very popular snack. They even sell it in the local convenient stores! 

FOOD-It does seem like we have not stopped eating, but yet I have lost weight here. I think because there is no coffee, chocolate, or diary. OH, and all the stairs, there are SO many stairs. Below is some delicious Dak Galbi--spicy chicken with cabbage, sweet potato, and scallions. It was like eating fire, really delicious fire. 

Have you ever had Makgeolli? It is a very tasty alcoholic beverage--and it comes in many flavors like banana and strawberry. BUT when it comes time to break the seal, make sure you carry toilet paper with you--the bathrooms do not have any. Also, you are supposed to put the toliet paper in the trash. OH, you should probably bring your own soap--that is also not provided.

Busan 

We took a bus to Busan. Then hopped on a train to the cultural village, Gamcheon. It looked like an amazing stack of colorful legos. There were maze like paths with old stone steps, lots of them. It was simply gorgeous. It really felt like a "tropical" island by the water. 

We took a taxi to Shinsegae--the largest department store in the world. We took a picture of the mall so we could show the taxi driver because neither of us spoke Korean, except for the necessities-- hello, thank you, and bathroom. We only went to the floor with the food and the options for macarons were plentiful. On our bus back to Jinju there were rice farms, lush trees, and mountains in the distance. I love bus rides, I can relax and not feel guilty. 

Takeaways from South Korea

• There is octopus in everything

• Fruit is very expensive

• You should take your shoes off in most restaurants

• There are coffee machines in the train station--they are not very good

• They are machines with tea in the train station-they are very good

• Bingsoo is American Froyo

• There are stairs everywhere. Its like climbing a mountain

• There are squatters-bring your own toilet paper and soap

Denmark

Copenhagen

View from the plane--so colorful and inviting. I can't wait to land in Denmark!

We stayed at the Generator Hostel conveniently located near the cruise port and Stroget--the shopping street. The hostel was really clean and had plenty of common areas to relax. There was a bar inside, comfy couches to lounge on, and had very modern amenities. 

Chilling at the cruise port-- pondering whether I want waffles or ice cream. Decisions, decisions. 

The cruise port is beautifully festive and all lit up once the sun goes down. All the restaurants are crowded with customers enjoying a beer and staring at the gorgeous boats in the distance. I love how the restaurants provide blankets on the chairs to keep you warm. 

A MUST SEE in Denmak is the Little Mermaid. My favorite Disney movie has always been "The Little Mermaid" so it was only natural I couldn't wait to see the statue. Its beautiful. 

On a rainy day, a trip to the museum can be a great use of time. This museum had quite an array of cultural artifacts including he Viking exhibit--sadly I was one day too early. 

Tivoli--where do I begin. It is a bit pricey to get in--but you can buy a pass that only grants you access to the park...well worth it. The gardens are breathtaking. The park also holds one of the top ten ice cream shops in the world. OMG--it will make your mouth water. Get the sprinkles!  

Bicycles are EVERYWHERE. I think there are more bikes than cars. The advanced traffic system is very similar to that of London and Amsterdam. Maybe one day, Boston. 

This gorgeous old red windmill is located in Kastellet, a well preserved star fortress in Copenhagen.

Takeaways from Denmark

• Everyone rides bikes to work

• Great place to buy a raincoat

• The city is very walkable

• You can easily take a train to Sweden

• Plenty of things to do that are free

France

Paris

The City of Love. I only had one full day to explore Paris, so I walked over 12 miles--stopping at every bakery along the way.

The Notre Dame--under construction. There was no way getting a picture that did not have a giant yellow crane in it...but the architecture was still remarkable. 

At the popular attractions, people will come up to you and ask for money. It happened to me many times. SO just be cautious. There are also military guards with assault riffles--it makes you feel "safe". 

The Louvre is open every day except Tuesday. I went to Paris on a Tuesday. Sad. But this picture makes up for it. 

My love for macarons started at Laduree, and I've been addicted ever since. At $3 a pop, these flavor packed, bite size "cookies" are considered  a gourmet treat. Don't even try to take a picture inside--"taking picture of the pastries is not permitted". None the less, Laduree on Champs-Elysees should be high on your list.

How do I have such a central shot of the Arc de Triomphe? I got stuck in the middle of the road when the light changed. 

Takeaways from Paris--

• EAT--bread, macarons, chocolate, crepes...with Nutella

• Walk it off-walk throughout the city and you will get a close up look of all the sites

• Be Careful-there are a lot of people who will ask you for money

• It is really hard to find a bathroom in the city, and if you ask, be prepared to be ignored

• There are a lot of free things to see: Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and The Notre Dame