Surfing is different from other sports in that it can’t be done just anywhere. It’s so dependent on the weather and the waves that only a handful of beaches stand out as excellent surf spots. This exclusive nature turns hardcore surfers into nomads, traveling the world in search of the next big swell. There are a lot of beaches out there, but for the die-hard surfers, these are the six[...]
A weekend in NYC is always a fun way to get away from our daily routine and take a mini-vacation without going far at all. Even when we lived in Manhattan, staying in NYC hotels for a night or two was a fun activity for us, as it allowed to take in the city as tourists - something I recommend everyone to do every once in a while in order to better appreciate your city. We stayed at the bea[...]
On my visit to Maui, HI, I had the great opportunity to do some hotel hopping, which was pretty great because I was able to get a feel for a few lodging options on the island. The various options I got to experience appeal to a nice variety of travelers, and their budgets as well. The Old Wailuku Inn is a charming 7-bedroom, Bed and Breakfast which is not only listed in Hawai‘i Registry[...]
Ok. Let me clarify: I didn't sing with actor, singer Tyrese Gibson - at the same time - but he performed on the same stage, on the same night that I performed at the Apollo's Amateur Night. At the time I was a single mom, and too old already to be seriously considered by any producer or talent agent. The prize for winning the Apollo's Amateur Night competition - at least this particular o[...]
Costa Rica helped us identify happiness in a way that we usually take for granted. That is our greatest take away and the biggest gift from our recent visit. I share more on that in Happiness, Tico Style: Adventures in Costa Rica. Below are some of the images that we captured along the way.read more[...]
Costa Rica ranked as the Happiest Place on Earth, on the Happy Planet Index, a survey conducted by the New Economics Foundation. Ecological footprint and a sense of well-being and life expectancy of its population are what is most measured and of the countries in the world, Costa Rica outranks them all. I had to wonder, "Is it really true?" So I asked every Tico (local term for Costa Rican[...]
There are few places that have really stayed with me long years after my first visit. Italy is one of those places for me. Since my teenage years, when I first set foot in this beautiful country, I have been in love with its Northern countryside, the people, the food, the culture. I wanted to share some photos I took along the way to help to inspire you and hopefully motivate a visit.read[...]
I am still on cloud nine from my adventures in Scotland. You can read more about that in Exploring Scotland. Here are some photos, starting with the Scottish Ceilidh, where I danced and danced and danced. Ah, pure joy. It was a wonderful way to end the trip and say farewell to our new found friends and gracious hosts.read more[...]
"Let's pick a rock, any rock, and sit for a moment in complete silence and take in our surroundings."I was a few feet away from the summit of Cairngorm Mountains, which stands over 4,000 feet tall and is the highest mountain massif in the British Isles.read more[...]
“Food is so important for us. Culturally, it represents family, celebration.” I was talking about food with a native Italian woman, Carmela, who sat down next to me on my plane ride to Milan, Italy. She spoke only in Italian, having committed herself to the responsibility of warming up my rusty Italian - which I hadn't used regularly in decades – before I reached my final destinat[...]
