Abroad in Greece (Athens, Mykonos & Santorini)

The first stop on my Greece trip was to Athens. I was only going to be there for a day and a half. I would not spend a ton of time there but wanted to take a few hours to enjoy the city. I was luckily staying at a Marriott. I had points of course. If you are looking for a great place in a wonderful location with great views. You can’t go wrong with the King George Hotel,  A luxury collection Marriott location. The coolest part of the hotel is not only the luxury quarters, but the amazing view of the Acropolis from the restaurant.

The King George is walking distance to the wonders of Athens. In Athens, the Acropolis is an iconic symbol which stands 156 meters above the sea level and it can be seen from most parts of the city. 

When I arrived I found a great place to grab dinner and walk around the city to just explore. As I was walking around the city, I had a realization. I had all these great plans of things to see and do and I decided to ditch them all. I would spend my time in Greece eating, drinking and walking along the water. Nothing else. I blogged a few weeks ago about my time just focusing on self-care in the British Virgin Islands. This trip would focus on just taking in the culture of Greece, the food, the people, the natural beauty.

The next day I got up early to watch the sun rise from the restaurant, which again comes with a view of acropolis. After a light breakfast, I walked around the city and made my way to Acropolis to catch a few pictures to capture the moment. I spent the rest of the evening just exploring Athens and enjoying the sights. The next day I had a flight to Mykonos.

After a quick ride to the airport and a quick flight, I was in Mykonos. I was staying at a little boutique hotel in Little Italy. The room was perfect. It was quaint, the staff was great and it had an ocean view. I would only be in Mykonos for two days so in order to remain in the moment I had no plans but to enjoy. I walked along the water and first stop was to find food. It is the moment I found a delicious side with each meal. Saganaki cheese! I literally had this with every meal while there.

I spent the next day do much of the same as day one. Walk along the beach, eat a ton of Saganaki along with a ton of wine. I walked along the old beach and stop by a Mykonos staple. The Mykonos windmills. The old windmills can be seen from all over Mykonos. They sit high on a hill. Fun fact- most windmills face towards the north where the island’s has the strongest winds. That night as the sun set over the island, I watched from my patio with a cold alcoholic beverage of course. I sat on patio until it was pitch black. After watching the stars sparkle for a few hours, I decided to get some sleep. I would spend the morning in Mykonos but had an evening flight to the last stop in Greece. Santorini.

The next morning, I spent the morning having a delicious breakfast and do a little shopping before heading to the airport to head to my last stop.

After shopping (and having to repack to fit my new finds) I would head to the airport. Another short flight and I was stepping on the last island. Santorini. It was just as the pictures you see online. The water is bluer than blue, the people are nicer than nice and the cave room I booked was amazing. My room had a small patio that overlooked the classic blue domes in Oia. The first day I spend taking on all the beauty of Oia. The people and the food was amazing, and of course more Saganaki cheese. Over the next two days I would experience the famous red beach AND exploring and loving my first black sand beach. I took a rock from each one to remember my time listening to all the waves role in.

My last day in Oia, the wonderful lady I rented from insisted I meet her and her family for dinner. She would take me a local spot called “The Meat Doctor”. They had delicious food all the way around but the lamb was DELICIOUS. As they dropped me back off at my room, I watched my last sunset in Oia. I would be leaving in the morning and heading back stateside. I definitely had a great time in Greece with any pre-planned activities. I may have to do this kind of trip again in the near future. 

Now to plan the next adventure

Abroad in Wilenstad, Curacao and Oranjestad, Aruba

Before I started my time in Aruba, I had a chance to first go over to Curacao for 36 hours. I found a cheap flight so of course I jumped at the opportunity. There are no ferries to hand the A (Aruba) B (Bonaire) and C (Curacao) islands. Since my time was short, I decided to check out the beach, of course. If time permitted, I would do a bit of shopping. 

As soon as landed, I had a car arranged to take me to the hotel. I was staying at the Hilton Curacao in Wilenstad.  I am Diamond at Hilton as well so I used 30k points for a free night. Fortunately or unfortunately, the hotel will no longer be a Hilton but a Dream resort. Next time I check out the Renaissance. I do love a Marriott resort. The hotel can use a little updating (hence the remodeling)  but the view of the ocean is spectacular and my patio gave me a great view of the sunset. No complaints at all. I did a little window shopping down at the mall and grabbed a bite to eat. I would be leaving in the morning to head back to Aruba for the remainder of my vacation. 

So I wake early, head to the airport and take the quick flight back to the airport. I arrive in Aruba and grab a taxi to head to the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino It’s in a great spot near downtown and is close to the Palm Beach. The hotel rooms are not spectacular but it has a true gem. Access to a private island which is a short water taxi away. 

After a quick check in, I would change into my swimsuit and head to the dock to take the private ferry over to the 40 acre private island. The island has flamingos and some of the largest iguanas I have ever seen! While I sat under an umbrella and listened to the waves roll in, I took a nap only to find a bird in my drink. I have to say it was quite funny to see him steal the fruit from my drink. This would happen several more times before I left that day. After a ride back to the hotel, I would change and grab some dinner. Earlier that day I was told I had to head to Driftwood. I had heard that suggestion a few times, so it was a definite. I must say I was not disappointed. I had the Chilean Sea Bass and it has to be the BEST I have ever tasted. DELICIOUS is an understatement. The restaurant is walking distance so a quick stroll back to the hotel and I was calling it a night. 

The next day I woke early to see the sunrise. I was great. I would spend the day doing a submarine tour. The Renaissance is an ideal location as I was walking distance to many excursions site including the submarine tour. A short walk across the street and I would be off with Atlantis Submarines. One, its a real submarine. We went all the way to the bottom (check out how far down we were). I have shared I am a bit claustrophobic and not a good swimmer but was reassured that is was U.S Coast Guard approved! It was also fully air-conditioned. We saw some really cool reefs and a shipwreck and several schools of fish. It was pretty similar to the tour I did in Fiji, but it was a bit bigger which was great. The tour is pretty short so I would spend the rest of the day lounging by the pool with several drinks. 

The next day I would take an all day off road tour to see the other side of the island. I would abandon the beautiful beach and explore the Aruban off-road side. We would venture through the Arikok National Park. We would first hit the road and head to the natural pool. It’s a hike down but so worth it.It is one of Aruba’s most popular locations and the tour guide Williem was great. We went to Baby Bridge. It is along the north coast of Aruba. Along  limestone cliffs there are several natural bridges including our current Baby Bridge. It’s a bit scary to stand on it (you can only go so far) but it is a really cool spot to see as well. We went to the California Lighthouse which was built in 1914 to signal ships coming to Aruba. We made a stop at an old gold mine and a historic church. All in all it was a great tour with a great guide and breathtaking views of Aruba. 

The next day would be my last. I had a late night flight so I would spend the early morning at the private island and the afternoon I would spend at the pool. A late 4pm check-out was ideal so I can enjoy the island just for a few more relaxng hours. The time would come and I would have to get out of the pool, change into my traveling clothes and head to the airport. 

I will definitely be back as I want to explore more of Curacao and I need to make it to Bonaire. But until I return, I will appreciate the beauty I was able to  experience over the previous few days. 

Abroad in Fiji

I don’t know about you but Fiji has been in my top three for many years. The problem was always the cost of a flight. One Saturday morning solved this issue for me. Let me give you a bit of background. I have been to over 25 countries and I have never spent more than $600 for a flight. This holds true for Fiji as well. I follow a ton of travel sites, have alerts for places and typically spend an hour a day just looking for deals. One day in March I hit the jackpot. A flight to Nadi for less than $600, less than $500, I was in DISBELIEF a flight less than $400! I could not click fast enough. I know you have had that feeling before!

So now that my trip was booked, I needed to book a hotel ( I had a ton of points at Hilton) and planned to blow them all on this trip. That would keep my five day trip well under my $1000 budget I was trying to keep. Especially as when I returned, I promised a friend I would meet her in Aruba for her “Dirty Thirty” and that was 9 days after I landed back stateside. Make sure you read all about those fun shenanigans. Back to Fiji. 

I wish the flight was direct but for that price I will take a connection. I am a 1k on United so I just used points (I swear its like cash) to get me to San Francisco. That also kept my cost down. I also used points for 4 of the 5 nights to stay at the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa. I would only pay for one night, remember I am trying to keep this trip under a grand. 

Let’s fast forward to the day I am FINALLY heading to Fiji. I was soooo excited and ready to see the beautiful beaches. Fiji definitely did not disappoint. When I arrived, the island feeling just surround you in it’s love and amazing beauty. I had the hotel set up transportation so the car was waiting for me when I exited baggage claim. I was only there for five days and would be living in a bathing suite so need to even check a bag. 

Once I am whisked away from the airport, I arrive at the Hilton. I am excited as they upgraded my room to an ocean- front 1 bedroom suite with a pool. It was spectacular. Make sure you pop over to my IG page and take a look at the room. 

Once I had a quick shower and refresh, I was off to the first stop on the trip. An authentic Fijian Cultural Experience. It was very cool to hear all about the history of the country and the real heart of Fiji, its people. I was able to experience three really cool things on this day. 

Kava Ceremony – This traditional drink made of ground kava roots and water makes the mouth, tongue (and the mind if you have too many) go numb. The Kava Ceremony is traditionally performed when someone new enters a village. In the villages- we were told you can not bring alcohol so the Kava definitely feel a little drunk. 

The Lovo – A feast slow-cooked in an underground oven. It was DELICIOUS. 

The Meke – Traditional song and dance telling the legends, history and love stories of the islands. There were many songs that were sung by all and we even had a chance to join in on some of the festivities. 

After the wine ( and the kava) the delicious meal and the festivities, we were loaded up and taken back to our hotel. I would sleep well for sure. 

The next day I would spend at the beach of course. I mean who comes to Fiji and not check out the amazing beaches. The beach day would start out with a nice boat ride to South Sea Island. I don’t think I have seen water so blue. We were welcomed to the small island with a song and a cold drink as we got off the boat. 

The day would be spent relaxing and doing my favorite..listening to the waves roll in. So I claimed my chair, got a drink and applied my sunblock for a day at the beach. Do you use sunblock, yes even my melanated friends should! Before i fell asleep on the beach, I was able to take a quick submarine tour. It was pretty cool, i was a bit claustrophobic but I got over it. I saw a few cool coral and fish and before I was overwhelmed being in such small quarters, we were ending the trip underwater. 

My day trip included open bar, a buffet meal, snorkeling and a submarine ride. It was a perfect day to relax. The weather was PERFECT, the wind was blowing and I had a perfect spot to watch and listen to the waves come in. As the sun set, we boarded the boat back to Nadi and would be taken back to the Hilton. I would be enjoying a delicious seafood dinner..on the beach of course. 

The next day I would not leave the resort. I booked an ocean front massage and a facial  in a cabana and would just spend a day of self-care. I have committed to taking at least one day on vacation to unplug and at minimum get a massage. I also did it in Aruba the following week!! The day was pretty chill. Just a massage and facial, lots of wine, time in the pool, lots of good food and reading a few chapters in my new book- The subtle art of not giving a F$CK..lol

The last day would be heading to the heart of what I feel is the heart of Fiji. I am heading inland to one of the villages. In order to get there, we are going the best way to see the heart of Fiji. We are traveling up the river. We have a nice little hike where we meet our guide for the day, but it is so worth it. We are on the river for about an hour. We see people waving as we zip by. We see people bathing in the river, we see people washing their clothes in the river, we see animals drinking from the river. This is Fiji, unfiltered and in its natural beauty. We make it to the village and we are welcomed with song. We get a tour of the village and they share a little bit of the history of the village. Later we participate in a kava ceremony ( FYI it looks like dirty water) and they have a nice spread of food for us. They sing a few more songs for us and we as visitors present them with gifts. You don’t have to but I and many others wanted to. We danced with them as the men sang. As we were preparing to leave they shared one last tradition with us. They put powder on each check and placed flowers around out neck. Lastly they prayed for our safe journeys home and told us that we are not part of their family and we are always welcome. It was a very loving, humbling experience I would highly recommend. The tour ended with us heading back down the river. We did some crazy 360 degree turns and got drenched! We had Captain Freddy and he was AMAZING! We had a cool photo op at the end and we were off to the hotel. 

I would have another amazing dinner while the sun went down and enjoy a glass of wine. 

I would leave the island in the morning. I would also leave a piece of my heart in Fiji. The people were so kind and welcoming and I will definitely be back. Have you been to Fiji? Share your thoughts and suggestions for when I make it back. 

Abroad in Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Typically on my trips abroad I have rough idea of what I want to do. I have a few things booked and let the locals guide me the rest of the way. This trip was different. I think I have shared in a previous blog post, ( you should definitely check them out) I am not a good swimmer and I get nervous in open water. The BVI is a divers paradise, so that brings up the question of why would I come here?

Over the last three years I have flown over 300k miles domestically and abroad. When I am traveling for work, I have a fierce agenda. When I am traveling as The Black Girl Abroad, I keep a pretty tight agenda. I am always on the go trying to take in as much as possible in the days I am there. As you can image, that can be a bit tiring to say the least.

This is what has brought me to Tortola. It would force me to slow down and to relax. The scenery is beautiful, the blues of the water are amazing and the crashing waves take me to my happy place. This trip reminded me that I need to do a bit more self care. Sleep in late, sip tea on the balcony, meditate, and get an overdue massage.

I was here for 4 days so let me share how I truly enjoyed myself and feel recharged.

Tortola is not a difficult place to get to which is always a plus. You can fly into San Juan PR or into Saint Thomas, USVI. I flew into San Juan. What I didn’t know, is I would be flying over in a litte 10 seater (including the pilot) Cessna over to Tortola. It was a BREATHTAKINGLY beautiful flight. Unlike the Cessna flight over Ambregris Caye in Belize, we had to turn our phones completely off for the short 35 minute flight. I had a little camera in my luggage. Although I missed my chance flying in, I won’t make that mistake flying out.

When we arrive in Tortola, I find out since my flight was full (and the last of the day) my bag was still in Puerto Rico. No big deal, I would arrive the next morning.

A short ferry ride over to Scrub Island and Operation Realz was in full effect. After a small hiccup on the assigned room ( marina and ocean view are not the same thing) I was off for a quick bite, a glass of wine and a good night’s sleep.

The next day, I was privy to a delivered breakfast to my door based on status. Scrub Island is home to an amazing Marriott property.

The day began on the patio- just relaxing. Listening to the waves come crashing in. Anywhere on the globe I can hear that- I am a HAPPY girl. The day continued as I strolled down to North Beach, Grabbed a chair and an umbrella and read a book. I must have been so relaxed I fell asleep. I was only awaken by the staff asking if I needed anything. The answer was yes and that would be food and a rum punch. I mean, what else do you really need?

After a little while I headed back to my room to freshen up and get ready for the Wednesday Managers reception that would be followed by dinner on the beach with all the fixings. Roasted pig (I passed, new Pescatarian here) and some of the best curry shrimp! We had a nice bonfire going and was entertained by two stilt walkers. The night ended with more rum punches and decadent dessert and I was off to another peaceful night’s sleep. This time with the patio doors open so I can let the sound of the crashing waves lull me off to sleep.

The next day entailed a wonderful massage after spending a few more hours on the patio. I was able to do a little yoga at sunrise, a little mimosas with breakfast and a lot of meditation on where to next. Not just on my journey to explore the world, just my journey of life. After I have a good game plan for the next few months, I am off to explore. I was able to book a tour where we just went around and saw the islands in the BVI. It was a bit sad to see some of the devastation to the islands and the homes build on them. We rode around for a few hours and then captain took us to a great spot to watch the sunset. It was amazing. As we waited for the sun to go down, we had a few rain showers and was able to see a beautiful rainbow. As the sun dropped we headed back to Scrub Island, it was definitely time for dinner. I didn’t venture far, just to the hotel restaurant. I had delicious scallops and rice and my favorite, a glass (or 2)  of Syrah. It was still pretty early and I was well rested, so I decided to head to the pool and relax a bit with a few other adult travelers. The night ended with meeting cool people who were real “yachties” who had been coming to the BVI since they were kids. I decided that night, I needed to get serious and take some swimming lessons to conquer my fear. I was once very afraid of heights and I conquered that fear by climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Auckland Bridge, Walking on the top of Skypoint AND Zip Lining in New Zealand. I can definitely overcome this as well.

The next day I was up early as I wanted to walk around Road Town and shop a little bit. I didn’t find much but so the only hospital on the island which as a nurse is always pretty cool. I also headed to Pusser’s to grab a bite for lunch and order the mandatory Painkiller. The food was just alright but the drink was amazing. I had to order a second to make sure it was not a fluke..lol. A quick call to my driver and I was heading back to Trellis Bay to catch the ferry back to Scrub Island.

I would be leaving the next day, but I am excited to come back. There are so many things to see and do, especially diving. I want to be able to enjoy this when I return so I am excited to conquer my fear and become a better swimmer. When I return to the BVI, I will be ready. But until then, I have enjoyed my time, relaxing, unplugging, meditating and enjoying a few days of complete self care.

Abroad in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Middle East? Do you think searing hot temperatures, camels, sand dunes or even men in a Kandura or women completely covered? Well, you will definitely see all of that. What may surprise you is the sense of safety and the warm welcome I received not once but both times I ever visited Dubai. It was the exact same when I ventured to the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

There was so many things to see and do and I was welcomed every step of the way. My suggestion is to grab a copy of the Time Out DXB at the airport. It is a great resource, especially if you only have a few days.

If you have read my previous blogs, you know that I try to go to the top of buildings with a view of the city. That being said, my first stop would be the Dubai Frame. The Frame is a really cool structure. It has a clear glass bridge (reminds me of the London Tower Bridge glass floor) and it is exactly like a massive picture frame. Walking across the floor was like walking into thin air. The frame gives you two different perspectives. One view shows you old Dubai with surrounding souks. The opposite view gives you a picture of the splendor of new Dubai and the massive skyscrapers, well lit marinas and the amazing feats of modern engineering with the tallest building in the world. I got there at a great time. I was able to see the frame before the sunset with the sun shining against the frame as well as when the sun went all the way down and say the frame lit up with changing colors of pink, orange and blue. It was definitely a must see. Although when you get up there they say 15 minutes, it is not highly enforced. After a quick bite, I was off to the hotel to get some sleep. I was excited for my next day of exploring.

The next morning came and I popped up with even more excitement. I was going to ride over to see the Burj Al Arab. Many refer to it as the sailboat building. It is actually a hotel (a very expensive one) but if you want to go in, I would suggest having brunch. It is pretty pricey as well but a way to experience the hotel and not have to have a room. Tip- make a reservation and don’t be late. After a quick pic of the Burj Al Arab, I was off to take a desert tour. I was going to go sand dune bashing in a 4x4. Then we would would have a good meal, see native dancing and of course a camel ride.

The sand dune bashing was really fun. The SUV was sliding all over the place and it felt like we were on a roller coaster. Afterwards we were treated to a chance to ride a camel and take the obligatory selfie. The camels were cool. It was interesting to get on in a dress, but even more interesting as to how they get up to take us off on a stroll. After all of that I was starving. It was time to eat and enjoy the dancers. It was really a cool experience and I highly recommend. It was a little bit of a hike to get back to the hotel but again totally worth it.

The next day, I was planning a pretty light day. I was going to shop a bit, eat and drink a bit and just relax. It is also going to be the site of the Ain Dubai. The world’s ferris wheel and it is on the Bluewaters. It will hold up to 1, 400 passengers at a time and have 360-degree views of Dubai when it is finally completed. I was going to walk back over to my hotel to take a midday nap, one of the best things on vacation.  Later that day I wanted to spend it exploring the tallest building in the entire world. The Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa is a modern feat of engineering. It is 154 stories high WITH an outdoor deck. AMAZEBALLS! I highly suggest the At the Top tour. It takes like a minute to get to live the 124th floor. As you go up, the video shows you other tall building you are passing at that height. As the sun was setting I saw the skies turn colors and was able to enjoy a glass of bubbly and a few fancy canapes. I stayed and watched the water show from the top and it was also pretty cool. I would head back to the Marriott Marina and head to the Observatory restaurant and have a cocktail. The next day I would be heading out to Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is only about an hour outside of Dubai. It gives you a moment to see outside the city limits. The Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the world’s largest mosque. The mosque has an open door policy an allows you to walk around and see the beauty of the mosque. I can not put into the words the beauty and detail how to really describe how magnificent it is. They have the world’s largest , of course, single carpet and biggest chandeliers. You definitely have to see it for yourself, no matter your religion. I spent a few hours at the mosque. I was able to see it in the sun, as the sun set and when the sky turned dark as the colors against the mosque changed to a beautiful blue.

As I enter my ride back home, I take a moment to reflect. It was an amazing opportunity that I encountered to experience hundreds of people from different religions and walks of life, yet we are were able to enjoy the beauty of the architecture of the building. It was a great experience.

The next day, I would enjoy my last  breakfast in Dubai and head to airport. I have to start planning my next adventure.

Abroad in Ambergris. Caye Caulker and Belize City, Belize

I have been trying to city Belize for over five years. I have a really good friend who has been telling me all about it, and I am finally able to see it with my own eyes. Booking my trip on United was easy. I booked this trip pretty far in advance after using a few Ecredits (issued for a few mishaps) I was able to book a first class trip and use two Global Upgrades to fly first class for my 5 hour flight from O’Hare. My day started pretty early. It was totally worth it to FINALLY get down to Belize.

We were having a pretty uneventful flight until I heard the flight attendant called for assistance of medical personnel. As a nurse, I hear this from time to time and always am willing to help. It’s in my nature as a nurse. The gentleman had a little trouble breathing but was ok. After he was deemed ok (by the doctor on board) we were not diverted to Mexico City but would continue on to Belize.

As soon as we landed it was a sense of relaxation. We were greeted with a cool drink and a quick breeze through immigration. I secured another stamp in my passport. Are you like me? Do you get a sense of excitement when you get a new stamp?? Since our flight was a bit delayed, I had a really tight connection to get to San Pedro. I was staying over in Ambergris Caye. It’s a 40 minute ferry ride or a 14 minute flight. I opted for the flight on a small cessna.

Arriving in San Pedro, the first thing I noticed is the enormous amount of golf carts. It’s the main source of travel. I was staying at Mahogany Bay Resort. As a traveler who depends on points, it is a Hilton and accepts points. Not to mention I am a Diamond member at Hilton. The resort cost me $180 for four days. It would have been free except this resort has a mandatory $45 per day in resort fees. The resort is still growing and building but it was very nice. They have a boat that takes you to the private island is a nice perk.  

The first day was spent hanging by the pool and drinking multiple drinks and simply laying out and relaxing.The next day I would be spending on the resorts private island. They have a boat that takes you to the island and it’s a really nice perk.  The weather was not the best on the island but I was away from double digit negative degree weather in Chicago so I was happy.

The next day I had a full day. I was going to see the Mayan Ruins. It was going to be a long day. My day started before sunrise. My trip would require a short car ride to the airport, a 15 minute flight, a one hour car ride from Belize City to Orange Walk to finally take a 45 boat ride before we FINALLY reached the ruins. It was truly an amazing site. Make sure you take a look at the pictures on my IG page to see pics from the boat ride.

The trip to Lamania were amazing. Our tour guide was very thorough and detailed. We learned so much and I have a greater appreciation for the Mayan people and their intellect.

On my birthday, I planned a flight to tour the Blue Hole. I was so excited. Then the weather would not cooperate and my flyover was pushed back. Then pushed back again. Then cancelled. They offered us flights the next day, but I had to fly back to the cold windy city. I guess I will have to come back. Not to waste a good day in paradise, I made the most of my birthday. I jumped on a ferry and headed over to Caye Caulker.

The Caye is small enough to walk all around and practically see water on both sides. My first stop was to eat. I found a local place that was owned by a native Belizean. The food was DELICIOUS. It was some of the best curry shrimp ever tasted. I took a stroll around for a little while, shopped a little bit and had a few drinks on the Caye. It was not as I planned for my birthday, but it turned out to be a really nice back up plan. I took the last ferry ride back to San Pedro and ended my birthday with a few drinks at the bar near the pool. The pool is where I started this trip so not a bad place to end the day. The next day I would wake up early, watch the sunrise at the private island and have my last breakfast on the island. At noon I would have to head back, make it back to the small airport and take my last 15 minute flight back to Belize City. My birthday trip to Belize was over and it was back to the WIndy City.

Abroad in Bridgetown Barbados

As soon as I stepped off the plane you can feel the great vibes of Barbados. As you walk under the covering, you see the awnings of famous Bajans. It is a very proud country and the people were friendly from my first interaction. We are welcomed with cool drink and are off to the queue for my favorite part of visiting a new country- the stamp on my passport! As soon as I am about to get my stamp, I look up and see the most known Bajan- Rihanna. I will definitely be making the trip over to see Rihanna Drive to see her childhood home.

As I grab a taxi, I make my way to the Marriott Courtyard in Bridgetown. I try to travel and pay only with points and this trip is no different. A simple but great location near St. Lawrence Gap and the boardwalk. As well as a great spot for hotel pick ups for the excursions I have planned for my stay. I always try to get the best out of each one of my adventures, being a part time traveler with full time life duties each day is important. This trip I was in Barbados for 5 days and I had a lot I wanted to see and do.

So a quick check in and I am off to explore. There is a boardwalk five minutes away so that is where my adventuring begins. It was close to sunset so perfect timing. I walked down, grabbed a drink at the beachfront bar and looked out. Hopefully you will learn that listening to the waves roll in is VERY peaceful for me. I can sit in the sand, listen to the waves and meditate in those moments. It is when I am most centered. Did you know Barbados has the largest population of the Hawksbill Sea Turtles? Because I did not! The boardwalk graced me with a beautiful sunset and exquisite blue waters to match. After the sky went dark I made my way to grab a bite and get some sleep. The next day I would be spending it in a cabana on famous Nikki Beach Barbados with several drinks and a good book.

I got to Nikki Beach early to claim my spot. I wanted to be able to hear the music but not all the pool so I opted for a beach cabana. It was perfect! I took a few pictures in the swing and sat out on the netted portion of the deck. The warm sun and the cool water from the waves rolling in was great. Nikki beach is really beautiful. It is on the northwest part of the island and has over an acre of pristine beachfront! They offer a restaurant with delicious food, a pool and oceanfront seating. There is not a bad seat in the house! Although it was a few bouts of rain, the weather was great and the vibe was amazing. I was going to enjoy a relaxing day at the beach as the next few days would involve an island tour in an off-road vehicle and a catamaran tour to explore the island by sea even a trip down below in a cave. After a long day at the beach, a little lunch and more reading my day was ending and I headed back to Bridgetown. On the way back to my hotel, my driver took me to see the childhood home of one of the most famous native from Barbados. Rihanna childhood home. Seeing her childhood upbringing was great but hearing how proud her fellow Barbadians are of her is even better.

The next morning started pretty early, but it was fine as I took a quick stroll back to the boardwalk with no phone or camera just me and my thoughts to watch the sunrise. When I am planning my trips abroad, I try to make a list of cool things to see and do. Then I take advice from the locals to decide where to land! I heard several times to make sure I do the Island Tour Barbados. It was a really fun guided on AND off road island tour to some really breathtaking and scenic parts of Barbados. We got really cool history lessons of the island. We went from parish to parish from the top to the bottom. We saw the historic Morgan Lewis Windmill, Hackleton’s Cliff and saw Bathsheba Beach and North Point where I got pretty wet in spite of being on the top! Totally worth it for the view. The trip was great but came to an end and I was off back to the hotel to hang out by the pool and order some room service.

The next day would be a bit more relaxed. I was planning at lunch time cruise with Tiami. The tour comes with round trip transfers from my hotel which was great. We had a few stops along the way to snorkel and swim with the turtles. I decided to just lay out on the deck and read a book. The unlimited rum punches packed a real punch for sure. We went past some of the most expensive places on the island best seen by sea. We dropped anchor and enjoyed another delicious Bajan lunch and continued open bar. As we made our way back to the dock, we danced and had a blast. It was great and the crew was awesome. Making my way back to the hotel, I remembered it was my last night but still had time in the morning to go out to see Harrison’s cave. So as set up transportation for the next morning to my last adventure on the island, I would hang out at the pool again after a late night snack.

The next morning the driver came pretty early as the cave was about an hour away. I was excited as I have never been in cave, but nervous because I did not want to encounter any bats! When I arrived, I was thrilled to hear there were no bats. I did not have a ton of time so I was prepared to take the tram tour. It would take about an hour to see it all, PERFECT! I got to have an underground experience and see the amazing sights and sounds of running streams and waterfalls while under the knowledgeable care of our expert tour guides who also sang for us. It was really great. Make sure you head over to my IG page to see the pictures!

After a trip back to the hotel to grab my bags, I was back off to the airport to head back stateside!

Abroad in Dublin, Ireland

What do you think of when I say Dublin? I am guessing, Guinness beer, four leaf clovers, leprechauns or maybe even kissing the blarney stone. Dublin, capital of the Republic of Ireland, is on Ireland’s east coast. It has great historical buildings that have lasted centuries.

I have to share that I was only going to be in Dublin for about 60 hours, so this blog will be a bit shorter. In spite of the limited time in Dublin, I was determined to see as much as possible.

The first stop after checking into my hotel, I was going to take a tour of the oldest, Dublin Castle, dating to the 13th century, and imposing St Patrick’s Cathedral, was founded back  in 1191. As soon as I entered the gates, i could see the old wall that had four tall corner towers connected by a high wall and all of that enclosed a huge central enclosure where they had  actors playing famous role in Ireland history, both men and women.

Inside the castle was quite striking. Some rooms were done as a replica and some were in their original state. Seeing the Grand ballroom and the staircase, was pretty cool.

After the castle, I walked over to the famous Temple bar to get the obligatory pint. The Temple Bar is one of the most famous pubs in Dublin. ... His son, Sir John Temple, went onto developed what we know as Temple Bar after a 'sea wall' was built in 1656 to hold back the Liffey. The Liffey is a river in E Republic of Ireland, rising in the Wicklow Mountains and flowing west, then northeast through Dublin into Dublin Bay.

After finishing my pint (I don’t even like beer) I took a stroll over the Ha’Penny bridge.

The Ha’Penny bridge a few cool fun facts. About 30,000 pedestrians cross the bridge every day, it’s 85 % original even after refurbishments and it was the only pedestrian bridge for 184 years.

It was a long day, so I was off to my hotel to get some sleep. I had one full day to explore before I had to jump on a plane and head home. As I walked back to the hotel, I decided to book an all day trip to Wicklow.

After a good night’s sleep and a big breakfast, I was off to the pick up spot to begin the tour.

The tour to Wicklow and Glendalough was great. I was able to see the countryside. The tour gives you a chance to see the best of Dublin city in the morning and then explore "the Garden of Ireland" County Wicklow all in one day. Explore Glendalough during a two hour stop. This is one of the most spectacular glacial valleys in all of Ireland. St Kevin established a famous monastic settlement in the valley of two lakes during the 6th century. We even had a visit to Guinness Lake. We had a chance to walk through the valley of two lakes and saw upper and lower at Glendalough. Beautiful!

We also went through the Wicklow Mountains National Park and saw its We saw remote glacial lakes, waterfalls and spectacular mountain passes. And as a bonus- we saw the film locations of PS I Love You, Brave Heart, and Vikings. After a several hour tour, we boarded the bus and headed back to Dublin city center.

After the tour I strolled along O’Connell street to grab dinner and another pint. After dinner I made a point to walk over and see the statue of Mr. O’ Connell and get pictures of the statue built in his honor. It was then time to head back to my room . A midday flight would only allow me to grab breakfast before it was time to take off.

The next morning, I was off to grab a traditional breakfast at O’Neills. They are one of the oldest restaurants in all of Dublin. They have been serving Dublin for over 300 years and it was DELICIOUS. A quick stroll back to my hotel and I would be off to the airport. That my ladies and gentleman is my 60 hours in Dublin. If you plan on doing a similar trip, I would love to hear about it!

As always darling stay tuned to see where we are headed to next! Also follow me on Instagram =)

Abroad in London, England

So who hasn’t thought of all the things that make London ..well London. When I thought about London I imagined all the iconic red telephone booths and classic black taxis. I soon found that there is so much more to the city. It was so much to see and do, the question was where to start since I was only there for a few days.

So as soon as I made it through customs at London Heathrow, I grabbed a book for tourist and started circling things I had to see and do while there. I like to plan my itinerary on the fly. I always plan where I am going, but I leave the details to when I get there. I like to ask my Uber drivers what they do when their family visits them. I like to explore the city like a local, in spite of the handful of must do touristy stuff.

First thing was to take the tube to my hotel. I must say it was very clean and very easy to get to my hotel. The may was very similar to the color coding to the Chicago Transit Authority, with more options. My hotel was in the perfect location. I was a two minute walk from the St. James Park tube station. A quick check in and I was off to explore. Location is so important when you have a limited number of days to take in as much as possible. My hotel had a really cool history. It was once the the headquarters to WWII covert operations. I was literally a five minute walk to Buckingham Palace. I was thinking maybe I can catch a glimpse of the queen. Sadly that did not happen..lol

In spite of not seeing the queen, I did get to experience a cool thing. The changing of the guards. What is that you ask?/ It is when the new guard exchanges duty with the old guard right outside of Buckingham Palace. It was 10:45 am and it actually lasted about 40 minutes. The actual “handover” happens promptly at 11 am. The entire ceremony is accompanied by music and what i correlate it to is a small parade. I was great to experience a bit of a display of British pomp and pageantry and is all free.

Next up was a walk over to Westminster Abbey. At that moment I was a complete tourist. Just walking around and taking in the beautiful architecture. A bit of history- it dates all the way back to the 13th to 16th centuries, Westminster Abbey also presents a unique pageant of British history – the shrine of St Edward the Confessor, the tombs of kings and queens, and countless memorials to the famous and the great. It has been the setting for every Coronation since 1066 and for numerous other royal occasions, including sixteen royal weddings.

Next was a walk over to the clock tower of London or Elizabeth Tower at the House of Parliament. It is most commonly called Big Ben! It is an iconic London landmark. It looks amazing at night when all the four clocks are illuminated and glowing on the River Thames. Fun fact- the bell inside the clock tower weighs over 13 tons!

A quick stroll across the Westminster bridge and I am off to my next adventure. I ride on the famous London Eye. The London eye attraction takes about 30 minutes to make a complete rotation. The really cool is to take in the beautiful views from high above the River Thames. I could see Big Ben which i just walked from and how it towers above the House of Parliament. I could see the St. James Park all the way down to Buckingham Palace where my day started. Another fun fact was learned on the ride. I learned that if the Queen was home (she wasn’t) you can spot a flag at the Palace.

It had been a pretty full day so I was going to take a slow stroll back towards my hotel. I grabbed a bite and made it back to my hotel for a good night’s sleep. I wanted to get up and watch the sunrise the next morning.

My morning started by popping my head in the traditional red phone. A quick photo op and my day begins. I decided to take a stroll and grab some breakfast. Take my time and stroll down the River Thames. I snacked and walked and snacked some more. It was great. I took some time and did some shopping along the way. Shopping is always fun no matter what country you are.

I decided to take a river cruise to see the city from the water. The River Thames runs through the heart of London. It was a little chilly that day, so I welcomed a chance to take a rest and see the city from yet another view. I saw things up close, up high from the London eye, now from the water. The river cruised was by far the best way to see the city. We were able to hear the entire tour about the history of London and all the building and bridges. It was really cool. The boat ride was relaxing and informative and provided a panoramic view of everything.

After the boat ride, I realized I had walked quite a ways from my hotel. So I had an opportunity to take a ride in the iconic hackney, the traditional black cab. I had a full day and I was beat. A quick dinner at my hotel and I was off to bed.

The next morning, I would be off to THE Tower Bridge. Not to be mistaken with the London Bridge which was my mistake. Tower Bridge is the correct name. It is in fact London’s oldest and most historic river crossing. It’s one of the most recognizable landmarks in London and a must-see on anyone’s visit to the city. The bridge is suspended over the river. It is so cool because it has a glass walkways which gives give you unparalleled views and the Victorian Bascules are on show in the Engine Rooms – they still operate the bridge lifts to this day. If you are afraid of heights, you can walk along the side of the glass walkway and see the view over the river. The high walkways allows you to walk across the two towers.

I ended the day with another stroll along the Thames, more great food and city watching. Not to mention a little more shopping in a few cliche boutiques. I love to take a piece of the city back with me to the states. The next day I would enjoy another delicious breakfast at a little cafe and make it back to Heathrow.  

So stay tuned to see where we are headed next.

Abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands

What is the first thing you think of when someone says Amsterdam? Come on, admit you thought of legal weed and legalized prostitution. Although that is an option for those who partake, no judgement here, there is soooo much more to Amsterdam.

When I arrived, I realized that like London, the train system is incredibly easy to maneuver. I was staying in Central Amsterdam and the train took me practically to the front of my hotel.This was looking good already. So after a bit of a nap (had a bit of jetlag) I wanted to walk around and explore. The first thing I  noticed is that there are more bikes than cars. I also noticed that EVERYTHING is on the canal and I would have to pay close attention to where I was wondering or I would need an Uber to find my way back.

Now back to exploring. As I was wondering and doing my new found love of finding cafes and finding delectable backed good to try. I was amazed at how pretty the city was and how nice the people were. Although there were tons of people speaking in Dutch, there was also a ton of people speaking in English.

As I was walking I was making mental notes of things to see when things were open the next day. It really was a beautiful city to explore. As the day ended. I decided to make it an early night and get a fresh start the next day. The first stop was to food. I read about a great place to eat my way through Amsterdam. I went to a cool area called the Oud-West. It’s a mecca of arts and fashion and more importantly at that moment FOOD. I was in heaven when i made it to Food Hallen. It is a food and drink spot were i could munch through a TON of upmarket street food. It was delicious.

After I was full I headed over to the museum. No trip is complete to Amsterdam without visiting the Vincent Van Gogh, as he was a Dutch impressionist. The museum is really cool and has over a 1000 personal paintings, drawings and letters.

After the museum, I took a walk over to the Museumplein. It is one of the most popular museums and definitely the most grandest of them all. It houses over 800 years of Dutch history including Van Gogh of course but also Rembrandts as well. After touring the inside, the gentleman suggested I take a stroll in the gardens. It was a great way to relax for a moment and take in the surroundings and stroll to see the sculptures and it was free. When I was leaving I noticed the cool “I AmSterdam” sign. I must take the obligatory picture.

I spent the evening just taking in the sights and enjoying random conversations with the locals it was great. They were so nice and everyone kept sharing things i have to do while I am there on holiday. After grabbing dinner at a little local shoppe, I was off to bed. The next day was to get a bit of culture at the Anne Frank Museum then a trip to the infamous Red Light District.

A must see when visiting Amsterdam is really not complete without visiting the Anne Frank Museum. My first memory of Anne Frank was reading the book as a child. If you remember, Anne Frank was a Jewish girl living during World War II. She and her family had to go into hiding to escape the Nazis. Anne kept a diary while hiding at Prinsengracht in Amsterdam. The Franks went into hiding on July 6, 1942 shortly after Anne's 13th birthday on June 12th. One week later they were joined by Hermann and Auguste van Pels, their 15-year-old son Peter and Peter's cat. Dr. Pfeffer joined them on November 16, 1942, bringing along his dentist's drill.

Sadly in August 1944 the police raided their secret place and found them in the annex. They were all taken into custody and loaded on a freight train to Auschwitz. Anne and her sister would die the following year in 1945. Otto Frank was the only one of the 8 who survived. He died on August 19, 1980 in Switzerland. If you think about what’s going on in our current society, that is not that long ago. The moments there were a bit surreal.

It was really sad and sombering then but to experience the hidden annex via the moveable bookcase was an experience in itself. You are able to see the exact place they stayed and understand the magnitude when you are in the exact spot they were in for over two years before they were discovered and sent to concentration camps.

As I prepare to leave the museum, I see a powerful quote from Otto. It sadly resonates in today’s society. “ I think it is not only important that people go to the Anne Frank House to see the secret annex, but also that they are help to realise that people are also persecuted because of their race, religion or political views”

With that, I leave and go in search of a large glass of red wine.

After a glass of wine, ok three glasses. I wanted to make my way to see Amsterdam Lights Festival before I headed over to walk over to observe the Red Light District.

Amsterdam is traditionally transformed into a beautiful open light museum during the Amsterdam Light Festival. You get to see modern artists from all over the world make spectacular light artworks that can be found all over the city center of Amsterdam. A closed heated boat was going to be the best way for me to take the tour. It was a bit chilly. And what better way than to than to take a canal cruise. It gave me an open view of the light art while I enjoyed the effects of my three glasses of wine. It was spectacular.

After the canal tour, it was time to see a different part of Amsterdam. The red light district to see it with my own eyes. It is very likely that you have heard about this neighbourhood and to be frank, everything you have heard is probably true!!. From brothels to sex shops, to museums, the Amsterdam Red Light District has it all. And yes, there are women in the window offering their services. I was a total creeper and listen to a man negotiate 40 euro for 30 minutes of “fun”.

What i also noticed was there are quite a few coffee shops near and around the red light district. Now, when i say coffee shop, i am not referring to your starbucks or dunkin donuts. Pinky swear- I did not indulge, but I did go in to see for myself. Since location is key, you can easily recognize a coffee shop. most of the coffee shops have a cannabis leaf or a Jamaican flag on the front door. Yea Mon. Great place to discover the history of coffee shops in Amsterdam and the best places to experience that is in the red light district.

My night ended with me sneaking a picture of one of the women in the window (yes I ran afterwards) and heading to the Museum of Prostitution. It is a MUST SEE. It is a former brothal, in the center of the Red Light District and is LITERALLY around the corner from the Old Church which dates back to around 1213 and is the oldest building in Amsterdam. Sit in the “window” and listen to some sordid secrets of former prostitutes. Confess a secret and leave your own.

I did :-). As I leave the Museum, I walk past the Old Church and head back to my hotel. I would enjoy a classic dutch breakfast before I head back to the airport.

So where is the next trip abroad… stay tuned and subscribe to be the first to know where I am headed next.

Abroad in Auckland, New Zealand

If you make the trip to Australia, you have to take a few days and see New Zealand. Auckland is roughly a two hour flight from Sydney, so since you are so close, pop over and visit the Kiwis. I have to say that the trip to Auckland was a little unplanned. Last minute, I decided to take a few additional days to visit. I would only be there for two days so I had to plan fast to make the most of my time there. I only had one think i know I had to do. If you remember from my Australia, i shared that there are only three bridges you can climb in the world, two in Australia and one in New Zealand. The one in New Zealand even has the option to BUNGY off the bridge. Thanks but no thanks! I will however, climb to the top securely attached to the line.

I have to say that two of the three days I was there was pretty grey and gloomy, with off and on rain. I was determined to make the most of time in spite of the weather. The morning of the climb it was super cold and super windy. Made me a bit nervous. If you have been to Chicago, you know why we are called the Windy City. The winds on the day of my climb was nothing compared to home. Back to the climb. I was going to be the only one, then someone signed up last minute so we had a great very detailed tour of the climb. We both got suited up and we were off. Make sure you take a look at the video of the kind brave soul who did a bungy jump just so we can see it on our climb.

The Auckland Bridge is really cool. Not as high or as scary as Sydney, but cool in its own Kiwi way. Scaling the bridge was both educational and rewarding when we finished. During the climb we got to feel the strong winds, so strong at one point we needed to hold on because it felt as if we would be blown off. Not to worry, its super safe as you are tethered to a safety line the entire time. We saw spectacular views and just like Sky Point, we had a 360 degree view of all of Auckland and the neighboring islands you can take a ferry to. As we made our way to the top, I did the celebratory picture between the New Zealand flags, just as I did at the top of the Sydney Bridge. Two down, one to go. I will be back in Australia next August so will take an extra day to spend in Brisbane again to climb the Story Bridge. But for now, I will take 2 out of 3. As we make the walk back down the bridge, I feel a great sense of accomplishment. Not that I climbed the two bridges, but it was at that moment I could say that i completely conquered a fear. I didn’t state in my early post. I WAS AFRAID OF HEIGHTS. I know crazy right. I used to be afraid to fly, let alone climb a bridge. But I wanted to conquer my fear in a controlled safe manner. The motto is go big or go home and I was not going home.

The day ended with me have a delicious meal of Bream Bay scallops and wonderful glass of native 2013 Man O’ War ‘Warspite’ Waiheke Cabernet Franc/Merlot. It was the perfect end of the day. It was also a good lead for what i would be experiencing the next day. I planned a zipline and wine tour the next day on Waiheke island.

So the next day came and I was again excited for the next adventure. I love a good glass of Shirah and I would get to taste several local wines from vineyards in New Zealand. In order to get there, I  first had to take a ferry from Auckland to Waiheke. It was a short ride at around 45 minutes. When I arrived, it was a greeted by our driver. Simple. I booked a tour for zip lining and wine tour. Thankfully he shared that the ziplining would be up first. Great- I didn’t want to lose my nerves. The ziplining was AMAZING. I made it through the first one and was like “ Great, check you have done it” . The guides told us how great we all did and that would be the easiest of the three. I clearly missed the fine print that it would be three ziplines, each one HIGHER that the last. So at that moment, I began to be a bit nervous and a slightly scared. But again, go big or go home. So bring on the next two ziplines. They were beautiful. We were high in the rainforest and saw parts of the island you can only see by plane, or drone. It was so fast I didn’t have time to even be scared. In spite of the rain that downpoured on the tour it was an amazing adventure, totally recommend it and would definitely do it again.

We hiked back down the forest, we made it back to our starting point and was able to take a few more beautiful picture of the site. You could even see the Auckland Sky Tower in the distance when the rain stopped and the clouds cleared.

Now to rest of the day- WINE TOUR :-).

We were taken to our first of four stops to taste the local flavors of Waiheke. Let me just say, the tour did not disappoint. We even had a tour of local olive oil making facility. Along the journey, we got a great educational tour about the island and had a chance to see some great views of the island. Once we made it to the last, they must have saved the one with the best views for last. I must mention I liked them all. I purchased wine from each one, even purchased two bottles of olive oil. It was also that good. I have to mention the last location. Mudbrick winery location  was PHENOMENAL. The views were simply breathtaking. You had a clear of downtown Auckland. Make sure you take a look at video. When the tour ended, we had a chance to visit downtown Waiheke, which is about a mile long. But it was great to chat it up with the locals, I love the accent. They all said I was the one with the accent..lol.

The tour came to an end and we boarded the shuttle back to the ferry. A short ride back and I was back in Auckland.

It had been a long day and the only thing I wanted was to sit on the patio of my hotel and watch the sunset with another glass of wine. Soon after my bed was calling. It was my last night in New Zealand. The trip was coming to an end and I had a mid morning flight back to the States.  

So where is the next trip abroad….Amerstdam

Abroad in Australia...... Gold Coast

The Gold Coast definitely lives up to its name. It is breathtakingly beautiful. There were two things that were on the top of my list. Climb Sky Point and go whale watching!  If you haven’t noticed, I like to see the world from the top. Just wait to you see the pic of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai!. Now back to the Gold Coast. Whale watching was first. I had been wanting to go whale watching for years. I was stoked. Whale watching on the Gold Coast gave me a chance to get up close to the largest living animal in the world.

The experiences allowed me to see then closer than I could have imagine. Make sure you look on my IG page to see the entire video. I was able to see a pod of three who circled our boat for over an hour. It was AMAZING. I got to see them breaching, blowing  and even spy-hop. Not to mention several head rises and tails and pec slaps. I was in awe of their size and playfulness. Even our captain and crew was out taking pictures. The captain shared he has never had a pod of three who stayed so long. What was to be a thirty minute viewing ending up being almost an hour and a half. I highly recommend whale watching, especially because most guarantee you will see a whale or you get a free ride to come again.

After an exhilarating trip, I spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach. It was the winter in Australia but being a Chicago native, I will take the weather. I spent the afternoon just relaxing on the beach. The sky was clear, it was a light breeze and I was literally in a tank top on the beach in their “winter”. The water was a bit cold but still had to put my feet in the Pacific. It is a tradition of mine. No matter how cold, I have to get my feet wet. It was not warm, but not so cold that I couldn’t stroll along the beach letting the waves crash against my legs. It was a great end to my day.

That night I went online to purchase tickets for my next adventure.

The next day began really early. I wanted to wake up and watch the sunrise from the beach. It was a perfect day as I would be watching the sunset from the sky. The day was pretty lazy for me. I was staying at the Marriott and they had a wonderful heated pool and even a sand beach. So i spent the afternoon ordering room service and sitting in the sun reading a book. After a quick power nap (i highly recommend them on vacation) I was heading to the highest point in the Gold Coast. I was off to my next adventure, Sky Point. Sky Point is on the 77th floor and is Australia’s only beach side observation deck that offers an unsurpassed 360 degree view of the pristine Gold Coast beaches. It typically would be enough to just see the views, but why not climb to the top!! So of course I climbed to the top. SkyPoint Climb is Australia's highest external (yes I said external) building climb and rises 270 meters in the air. Since i chose to see the sunrise that morning, I decided to take the tour that would allow me to see the sunset. It was really a magical experience as you can see the sun and the moon and the sky line had hues of orange, blue and pink. I was definitely marveling at the view at the picturesque beauty.

The day ended with a climb back down the building and I was off to meet a friend I met last year in Sydney for dinner. A great meal with great company ending my time in the Gold Coast.

So where is the next trip abroad...New Zealand.

Abroad in Australia..... Brisbane

After a few days in Sydney, I was off to Brisbane. Brisbane has a totally different vibe than Sydney. Just like Sydney, Brisbane has a bridge you can climb. I did not partake as I was only going to be there for two days and wanted to hit up a few cool spots. I did have a great view of the bridge from my hotel. The lights from the bridge were iridescent in the water and was pretty cool. To take in the city I decided to take the CityCat. The Brisbane river defines the shape of the city. So this was the best way to see the city, from the water. I didn’t have much time so a quick stop over to  a small park on the cliffs at New Farm around sunset gave me a chance to capture Brisbane’s city skyline poking out from behind the iconic Story Bridge. A quick bite and over to the BRISBANE sign only to realize my phone died was a real bummer. But tomorrow is another day and I am off to the BEAUTIFUL Gold Coast.

Abroad in Australia…Sydney

What’s a trip down under without seeing a koala and a kangaroo. It was on the top of my list of must dos, but I digress. Australia has a ton of things to see and do and great places to grab a bite to eat, no matter your budget. A must is to wake up early at dawn and watch the sunrise above the Sydney Harbour Bridge. One of my biggest recommendations is to climb to the top of the Sydney Harbor bridge. There are only three bridges in the world you can climb, two are in Australia and one is in New Zealand (climbed this one too- stay tuned) and the experience is amazing. Another MUST is to take a tour of the ICONIC Opera house. There are tours and if you’re a there on at sunset, go to the top of the steps and watch the nightly show, Badu Gili — meaning ‘water light’ in the language of the traditional owners of Bennelong Point, the Gadigal people. It tells a story of the experiences of the ancient First Nations stories in a spectacular seven-minute projection. Don’t forget to sail across to Darling Harbor and have a bite for lunch or dinner. Beware of the seagulls- one swooped in and stole the bun right off my burger!

If you are nature lover (even if you are not) and want to take a moment to stop and smell the roses walking along the Royal Botanical Gardens is vast and beautiful. A great place to see the beauty of nature while right in the heart of Sydney. It’s a great place to relax but don’t forget to walk along the grass, smell the flowers and take in the birds that are walking around freely. Please be a good tourist and DON’T feed the birds, it’s kind of frowned upon. The Royal Gardens give you a chance to connect with nature and provides a wonderful view of the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge.

The view has been an iconic view for decades. Inside the Gardens is a bench known as Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair. Legend has it her husband, Governor Macquarie, and it became her favorite spot to look upon the harbor. I made a point to walk over and grab some great shots of that very view.  

If you take a short ride, you can take in a stroll in Bondi Beach. While I was there I realized it is even a reality show filmed there, Bondi Rescue.The famous Bondi to Coogee coastal walk has to be in the top five most scenic attractions. If you start at the Bondi Icebergs (was too cold while I was there) ocean pools and take a stroll. The walk to Coogee will take about an hour each way. Admittedly I only did half the walk. Each spot has its own unique and diverse charm with cafes and beautiful parks spots to take in a picnic.