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

United Arab Emirates

Dubai

Amazing view from the plane.

View from the top of the Burj Khalifa--get ready for your ears to pop. I took the tallest service elevator up 2,716.5 feet and arrived at the observation deck of the tallest building in the world. Not going to lie, it was AWESOME. It is really humid up there, but the views are breath taking. I was staring at this man made city surrounded by miles of golden desert sand and I couldn't help but think I was staring at a mirage.

Of course I had to take a selfie on top of the world.

Most people in Dubai take taxis because it is SO HOT. It was 105 degrees at 10:00AM and we decided to walk over a mile to the train to save money. I wore cotton pants and a tshirt because we were headed to the mall-- there are certain dress codes to follow. I was melting, breathing in fire, you get the idea--it’s the desert. I did take a minute to take a picture at the marina. 

Luckily, when you get off the train there is an above ground passageway to the mall. It seemed to be about a mile--but at least we were inside. There were signs about proper mall etiquette--no holding hands, no kissing and no provocative clothing. There were mostly high end stores--nothing I could afford! They did have a section on local goods which specialized in gold jewelry. I also found my favorite macaron shop, Laduree, and had to stop for just one. They were not cheap either.

Ok, enough with the mall. My second craving for macarons set in and I was eyeing them at the hotel cafe. 

Today is dedicated to just relaxing at the beach and poolside. Only problem--the pool feels like you are walking into a hot tub! 

OK, maybe the beach will have a breeze? You seriosuly have to book it to the persian gulf because the sand feels like hot coals. We lasted only two hours at the beach. It had gotten to 110 degrees and I started to feel like I was walking through the desert without any water. 

At last, sunset! It cooled down a little bit, it’s probably about 100 degrees now. The sunset was amazing. It felt like we were in an Arabian nights tale.

 FOOD. I am stoked to finally have a traditional Arabic dinner. We may have went a little overboard, but it was our last night and we wanted to try everything.

Take aways from Dubai 

• It is really hot (no one walks around outside)

• AMAZING middle eastern cuisine

• Emirates Airline was the best

• I was on top of the tallest building in the world

• I felt very comfortable throughout my whole trip

Sweden

Malmo

We took a quick train from Copenhagen over to Malmo. It seems like a standard commute for many of the locals. 

The Turning Torso Tower is a residential tower in Malmo. Unfortunately, they wouldn't let us up to the top BUT the view from the ground was just as good. 

I found the "Raw House" restaurant for a quick lunch. I was pretty excited with all the yummy vegan options. 

Walking through the park we came across beautiful statues and trees straight out of Alice and Wonderland. 

Swedish strawberries are known to be the best in the world. They are a really big part of the summer culture and are sold at the farmers market. 

Continuing on our self guided walking tour--we came across another beautiful piece of architecture, The St. Petri Laroverk. 

Takeaways from Sweden

• Try the strawberries

• Soak in all the beautiful architecture

• Walk through the parks and relax

• The city is very walkable

• Have a traditional Swedish pastry

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

Iceland

Reykjavik

Blue Lagoon

First stop on the way to Reykjavik— the quintessential Blue Lagoon. It was like bathing in a mystical, steamy bath with black sand and a surplus of DIY sulfur masks. Can this happen after every flight?

Iceland has free transportation from the blue lagoon to your hostel. Most tours will pick up/drop off too—one less thing you have to pay for. I met up with a couple friends at Hostel Floki—a hostel within walking distance of the city centre. 

The beds are comfier then they look. The hostel exceeded my expectations—there was free breakfast, ample living space and clean bathrooms. The only issue—you have to pay for blankets—which next time, I indubitably will. I woke up in the middle of the night FREEZING and the only thing I could think of was to put my feet through the sleeves of my jacket—not my best idea, but it worked.

Also, if you're afraid of the dark, Iceland is the place for you. If you're not, pack an eye mask. It was light out all through the night, causing quite the confusion when it was actually time to "wake up".

This beautiful church, Hallgrimskirkja, was only a few minute walk from the hostel. If you stare at it long enough, it looks like a bunch of dominos ready to be knocked down. 

Behind the church was Cafe Loki—an affordable place where you can try traditional Icelandic cuisines like fermented shark, or more normal dishes, like rye bread ice cream. Whatever you try, get ready for rye bread… a lot of rye bread.  

If you like rice cakes—you will LOVE riskakas. They are chocolate covered rice cakes sold at local cafes. 

Geysers, oh my! I was lucky enough to catch this one erupt scalding water and steam above the earth. Geysers only exist in a few places around the world, so catching one is a pretty rare phenomenon. I have to admit, I was swept off me feet. 

Taking a Golden Circle tour is a really good idea in Iceland. You will get to see geysers, waterfalls and amazing views--like the one below. 

I was told by a local, do not step on the moss—you never know if you will fall right through. I'd say that is a good enough reason to look and not touch. 

Icelandic horses are arguably the most beautiful horses in the world. After seeing them, I'd have to agree. They are more the size of ponies, but they are still called "horses".

It is not unusual to find random hula hoops on the sidewalk.

Its even more common to see eclectic artwork on the sidewalks. This was hard not to stare at and wonder—what in the world? 

Takeaways from Iceland

• Bring layers, A LOT of layers

• Skyrr yogurt is the BEST

• The blue lagoon and sulfur masks are worth every penny

• Bring an eye mask—Sunset was 12:04 and sunrise is at 2:55AM

• NICEST people I have eve met

• There are minimal American chains

• Rye bread ice-cream is Amazing

• The waffle truck at 4AM is a must

• The Golden Circle Tour is worth it to see the top attractions

England

London

I woke up in London after my red eye from Boston. My first stop, the British Museum. It's FREE and the amount of Ancient Egyptian artifacts is amazing. They have the Rosetta stone- THE ROSETTA STONE. 

The hotel was right in Russell Square—SO close to the British Museum. 

Calling all Harry Potter fans! After unsuccessfully searching INSIDE the train station, I finally found Platform 9 3/4 outside and it is a BIG tourist attraction.

Harrods was amazing. They have a whole floor dedicated to gourmet foods. By the time you leave, you will be so full from all the samples you may have to walk back to Russell Square—I did! 

View fullsize

The tube is WAY cooler than the MBTA. "Mind the gap", how polite. In Boston, you'd be lucky to fill the gap on an overcrowded train. 

London bridge is falling down, falling down. The nursery song comes to life in this photo. 

It is mostly overcast and rainy in London, but if you can catch a nice day to ride the London Eye, DO IT!

River Thames is filled with kayakers, boats and some brown water. I did take a pretty nice river cruise that provided a unique view of London. 

My favorite photo of the whole trip—BIG BEN. It is gorgeous in person and in this picture. 

If you take the London Eye at night, it provides a spectacular view of the city all lit up.

Bath 

I took a tour that made a stop in the city of Bath, England. It was a really cool experience that took you back to 1897. 

Wiltshire 

Stonehenge—one of the wonders of the word is more than a circle of rocks, t’s a prehistoric monument. I stared at these giant stones wondering, what is the purpose and how did these rocks get here? 

How did someone lift these stone!?

There was plenty of farm land on the way back to London. I tried to snap some photos from the bus. 

Takeaways from England:

• The British Museum is the BEST and FREE

• The tube is really easy to figure out

• The food in London is way better than people tell you

• There are many Hookah bars

• The city is very walkable and I felt really safe walking around at night

• There are many free things to do: museums, churches, and parks

• Prêt A Manger (which is now in the states) is a really yummy cafe. The chicken pesto sandwich is my fav and the fudge brownies are great

• Fish and chips and afternoon tea is quintessential London... so try them both—maybe not at the same time

Netherlands

Amsterdam

Biking in Amsterdam is the most popular form of getting around (they are everywhere)! It makes sense that there are more bikes than inhabitants.  I stayed at Shelter Jordan, a hostel a 15 min walk to the red light district. It was a really convenient location and breakfast was included—french toast! The bunk beds were pretty comfy and their was a sink in the room which was a bit odd—but useful? 

I ventured past four canals and I was in the red light district. It is SO busy—You have to watch out for bikes, trains, and cars as you cross the street. 

There were beautiful flower shops along the canals with lush gerber daises and tulip bulbs. It is no surprise that Amsterdam is home to some of the most beautiful flowers in the world (except for my moms flower shop)!  

There are many "coffee shops".

Since it was raining, I decided to take up jewelry making for the day. 

I may have eaten my fair share of dutch pancakes. They are SO good and melt in your mouth.

YUM. 

"Venice of the North" The canals of Amsterdam are a city symbol and of great cultural value. 

Takeaways from Amsterdam:

• Try the Dutch pancakes

• Shelter Jordan hostel is a really nice, clean place to stay--for VERY cheap

• Walkable city--you can walk from the train to the red-light district, hostel etc

• Watch out for all the bikers

• If you like beer, check out the Heineken Experience tour at the old brewery. It is a bit $$

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