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It’s been a long time since my last post, and to be honest, I didn’t think there would be another one. Not only had I lost my motivation to write and my connection to myself, but I’ve felt like I’ve lost my spark. I used to be so naturally high off life itself and felt like the human experience was the most beautiful thing, including the heartache and pain that comes with it. This past year has felt mundane and dull. That doesn’t mean it was void of extremely difficult moments because, trust me, there were a few months when I questioned if I was going to be able to make it. I had to constantly remind myself of one of my favorite personal sayings, “the only way to is through.”
For months, I’ve had the feeling that I needed to start writing again, but I kept subduing my inner voice by focusing on everything else. The fact is, when you’re constantly in survival mode, creativity takes a back seat—Writing? Instead of working and making more money? In this economy? Not ideal.
Therefore, my sole focus was to hustle to survive. Survival mode looks different for all of us. I’m aware that for some people, survival mode is surviving war, famine, assault, disease, etc. For me, survival was trying to afford life. Taking time to write felt like a selfish act. I felt like I wasn’t spending time on something that could get me closer to my goals; therefore, it was a waste of time. I realize now that it was a cheap excuse, but at the time, it was how I felt, and that version of myself didn’t know any better then. I forgive her.
This brings me to now, the reason why I am writing this. My “why” for starting my blog was to drag myself out of a deep, dark hole of depression and grief after the death of my stepdad. Writing is the most powerful tool that made me connect with that spark. I would sit and pour my soul onto my laptop and not think twice about it. And yet, this entire time, I’ve been searching for that same spark and I’ve refused to do the one thing that I know reignites it. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t think I’m a great writer. I’m far from it, but the one thing I do know is that when I write, it comes from my heart and soul. When I write, I am the truest version of myself. There is no denying that version of me. Which brings me to ask myself, was I not writing because I was trying to survive, or was I not writing because I was trying to ignore my emotions? Honestly, I don’t have that answer.
Sometimes the answers to our questions/problems are right in front of our eyes or rather right within us, but we refuse to listen. That voice that kept telling me to start writing again was begging for a chance to prove that it knew the way, and yet I kept ignoring it. As I said, I forgive that version of myself. She was just trying to make it.
As I mentioned earlier, this year has been filled with a special amount of trials and tribulations because, well, “adulting.” I don’t want to even get started on the trash-ass subject that is adulting but trust me when I say that if I could go back and tell God to make me a child for eternity, I would. This year, I’ve lost friendships that I thought were meant for a lifetime. A decision that I made years ago made a full comeback and smacked me straight in the face. It would lead to months of stress trying to figure out how to resolve it. Then, to add some spicy sprinkles on the top of the crazy cake that has been 2023, I decided to put myself back out into the dating world. I QUICKLY regretted that awful life choice. Zero out of ten, would not recommend.
Even though this year came with its own life lessons, I’m grateful that throughout it all, I’ve been healthy and capable of making it through. I’ve reconnected with some of my morning rituals that I had discontinued and started offering Reiki again. In the first part of the year, I travelled to Ireland and Scotland and visited one of my closest friends, which helped remind me how much I love to travel and how much I missed it. Slowly but surely, I’ve been starting to reconnect with my true self—the one that I had abandoned and ignored. The missing piece was what you have in front of you, my writing. I’ve decided that I’m not going to put any pressure into writing. I gave up the dream of having a famous travel blog a while ago because, let’s be honest, most people prefer to watch videos than read a blog. But I’m going to continue to write to find the words that connect me to my true self, and who knows, maybe they will connect someone else to theirs.
This post is dedicated to Daniela. The words will come back, I promise.
I recently met someone who reminds me a lot of myself in certain ways and yet we are different in others. However, we have one huge thing in common. We know we’re not happy living where we are currently living. He lives in Portugal and I live in the U.S. two places that most people would love to live in here we are living in each respective country because we have to, not because we truly want to.
We were both discussing how we have this deeper knowing that we weren’t meant to be where we are currently. After multiple discussions about where we would each rather be, I started to reflect on my decisions and life circumstances that led me back to Louisville, Kentucky, a place that I said I would never return to.
When I officially left Louisville to move to Panamá and “begin my life” I said I was never coming back to live, only to visit. Then my dad died and my plans flew out of the window. There is a saying in Spanish, “Si quieres verle sonreír a Dios, cuentale tus planes.” Which translates to, “If you want to see God smile, tell him/her your plans.”
I feel like the last three years of my life have been a true testament to that saying. My plans before my dad died were to move to Panamá, get established, become successful, build a home, and live happily next to the water. Flash forward and the closest body of water near me is the most polluted river in the United States. As appealing as that may sound (inserts sarcasm), it’s definitely not where I imagined I’d be right now in this moment. Part of me hates that I’m here and the other part of me truly believes that everything happens for a reason.
I decided to move back home when my dad died for a temporary six-month stint. I was going to come back, and grieve his death surrounded by family and friends who knew him and others who knew just me but understood the relationship he and I had and the impact that his death had upon me. I thought, “If I’m going to heal, I need to do it surrounded by people that I don’t have the explain the depth and complexity of our relationship to.” I also thought, plus, I’ll make money waiting tables and bartending, save up and go back to Panamá with some extra money and start focusing on starting my own business. Again, God/The Universe/Higher Power/Whatever you believe in is laughing their ass off right now because three years have passed and yet here I am.
For the longest time I’ve felt stuck and yet I know that I am not stuck.
The reason why I say that I am not stuck is that I’ve felt stuck before. I used to work a corporate job that I absolutely hated. The money was great, but I was miserable. I was treated like trash because I was an intelligent woman with an opinion who wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself. Unsurprisingly, those are the exact characteristics that the majority of corporate America hates. I felt stuck because the money was great and everyone told me how lucky I was to earn so much and to have a great job. The doubts and insecurities of not being able to find a job and finding a job but making less of an income are what kept me sitting at a desk being miserable five days a week. I knew it wasn’t the place for me but because I was making an above-average income, I ignored the voice inside me that kept saying, “Get the hell out of here.”
I knew eventually the day would come that I had enough and I would just walk away. Apart from being treated horribly, the company started to do things that went completely against my morals. I didn’t know exactly when, but I knew eventually it would happen because one thing about me is that when my soul feels like I’m not listening to my intuition, something drastic will happen and I will be forced to listen. Knowing that eventually that day would come and I would need some encouragement to finally leave, I wrote a quote on an index card and put it in front of my computer so I was forced to read it every day.
“If you don’t like where you are, move! You are not a tree!” – Jim Rohn
The day finally came when life said, if you’re refusing to leave, we will have to shake things up a bit. That day was mysteriously the day right before I was going on vacation back to Panamá. A place that had already won my heart previously. I didn’t quit but I decided, I’m going on vacation and when I get back I’ll decide whether I stay here or I leave.
While sitting on a boat in the middle of some of the bluest water in Panamá, I looked over at my mom who was with me and I said, “I’m quitting my job and I’m moving to Panamá.” My mom being old enough and wise enough to pick her battles, knew this wasn’t one she would win. She knew that it didn’t matter if she was against the idea, my strong will was going to do whatever my mind decided, her only response was, “OK.” We returned to the U.S. Sunday evening and I was set to return to the shitty job that I hated at 8 a.m. the next day. I woke up and instead of preparing to go to work, I sat at my computer and wrote my resignation letter. The company I worked for would accept two weeks’ notice but because we had access to private information they would remove you from the building immediately. I didn’t give them the pleasure. I typed the resignation and hit send at exactly 8 a.m. and never looked back.
I look back on that moment in my life and I realize that the entire time that I felt stuck, I never was. What made me feel stuck was the security. The knowing that every two weeks I would have a paycheck and I would be able to afford the expensive things that I enjoy such as travel.
I’m currently looking at my life now and I realize that I’m not stuck, I’m secure. I am stable and secure. I have the stability of knowing that I’ll be paid every two weeks enough to allow me to survive another two weeks and I have the security that my family is here.
And yet – I still do not want to be here.
This brings me back to how this whole thing started. While my friend and I were complaining about our current situations and the circumstances that prevent us from living where we truly want to be, (him in the U.S. and me in Panamá) we also both discussed just how absolutely lucky we are. Most people in third-world countries are dying to make it out. They either want to head to Europe or the U.S. to live the “American dream” and yet we’re sitting here expressing how miserable we are while living what others can only dream of.
From the outside, it looks like two privileged people whining about how bad they have it when in reality, they’ve got it pretty good. The truth is, yes, it is somewhat ridiculous but it is also valid. Both of our souls know what they want, life and circumstances are just standing in our way. It takes looking at your own life from a different perspective to realize that even though we aren’t where we want to be at this moment, we are where we are meant to be in this moment. What the conversations that he and I have shared lately have taught me, apart from there are people who feel exactly the same way that I do, is that I will no longer use the words, “I’m stuck.”
I’m not stuck.
I’m stable, I’m secure and I’m surviving. Stability and security are essential parts of life that not everyone can say they have. I understand that I am lucky to have them.
I also know that eventually life will come and force me to jump without the parachute again. And in that free fall, I will trust my intuition and my instincts yet again. I will expand my wings yet again. The push from the Universe will happen, when it will happen is the unknown.
All I know is that Panamá will be what breaks my fall.
I found this coral heart on the shores of an island in Panamá. An instant reminder that “home is where the heart is.”
P.S. This post is dedicated to João. Life determined that our paths were meant to cross. I’m glad that they intersected. We both needed to hear that we are not alone in our pursuit of the place we call “home.” I’m confident that our paths will reunite again either in Portugal, the U.S., or Panamá. Obrigada pelo nosso tempo juntos, tua companhia e nossas conversas. Besos y ya sabes que cuando quieras regresar a Panamá y conocer más la otra parte de tus raíces, ya tienes una guía. – Tu amiga Janel
Part of this journey of finding the pieces of me that I feel have been missing or hiding lately is rediscovering my passions. You would think that’s an easy task. You just go out and do the things that you like. The crazy thing about life is that if you don’t prioritize time to do the things that you enjoy and before you know it has been months since you’ve actually done them. For example, all of 2021 I can’t tell you a single time that I did something for myself that I truly enjoyed.
An entire year without going hiking every weekend, spending time in nature, photography, and dancing. You can add writing to that list too since my only blog post last year was when my cousin Ethan died. I was so career-focused and concentrated on advancing my career that I forgot to actually enjoy living in the meantime. It’s crazy to sit and think wow – all I did was work and study and go to the gym but that was my life for a solid year and it carried into the beginning of 2022 too. I think focusing on my career would put me in a better position and now that I’ve accomplished what I set out to do, my life really hasn’t changed much because of it. Do I regret focusing on my career? No. Do I regret not making time to enjoy life while focusing on my career? Definitely. That’s why I decided that for the rest of this year I’m focusing on myself.
This brings me back to my passions. Rediscovering your passions is like dating. Except there is no one sitting across from you at the table. It’s just you and whatever you like to do. Rediscovering each other one day at a time. It’s a simple act of saying, “Today I’m going to take my camera out and take pictures. Of what? No idea. But I’m going to do it anyway.” Dedicating an hour of your time to just being present. We get so wrapped up in routines and simply surviving the day that we forget that we’re here to do one thing and one thing only – to live.
As we age, our passions change as well. If you would’ve asked me in my twenties what it is that I enjoyed the most my answer would’ve been partying, drinking tequila straight from the bottle (still a fan of tequila), and eating any and everything. My body and my brain are both grateful that we’ve passed that mess of a stage. Now, if you ask me what my passions are they are anything that makes me feel present and grateful for the beauty in my surroundings and just life in general.
If you happen to have an online dating profile you know the generic question for your passions is “What are your interests?” and we all just fill in the blanks with simple things that make us seem cool to others. Hiking strangely seems to be the most popular, but I don’t see half of the people I know out on the trails so it makes me wonder. Are we saying that we like things just because we think they’re cool or is it because we actually do love them?
Our passions should be the last thing that we lie about and yet it tends to be that we either over exaggerate how much we care about something to make us “fit in” or act unenthused about something that might make us seem less “cool.” I’m at the point in my life where I know I’m weird and I embrace the things about me that make me different. If we were all the same the world would be boring as Hell.
For example, one of my weird passions is blowing bubbles. Hand me a bubble wand and some soap and water and it’s over. Cheap entertainment for hours. I will even admit that my personal birthday gift to myself this year was a bubble bazooka that lights up. The best $35 that I’ve ever spent on Amazon. There’s something about blowing bubbles that takes me back to my childhood where I was carefree and life was rent-free – the glory days.
Obviously, I’m not just dedicating my time to playing with bubbles, I’m adding time into my busy schedule to go for a walk in my favorite local park. Going to art events like the immersive Van Gogh experience that was recently in my city and even throwing in a few concerts here and there. The point is after so long, I feel like I’m finally starting to find those sparks of joy that I’ve been so desperately searching for. If you have felt similar to me as if a piece of you has been missing, I suggest taking 30 minutes of your day to do just one thing that brings you joy and puts a smile not only on your face but on your soul too.
P.S. If you need me, I’ll be over in the corner playing with my fancy bubble gun.
Before me making my first blog post this year I kept hearing this calling to write but I refused to listen to that voice in my head that kept saying, “Write again. You need to write again.” The words kept whispering in my mind for months until I finally sat down and opened a blank word document and let my fingers start flowing to the background music.
The day prior, I had gone to a spiritual event and saw a medium who said that my cousin had a message for me. His message was to start writing again. I burst into tears because no one could possibly know that I had been thinking of writing again. My cousin said that I hold my emotions in and writing would help me to process and release them. It was the missing piece that I was searching for. He knew that it was the push that I needed from the Universe to finally start listening to that whisper.
Since I can remember my form of expressing my emotions has always been writing. When I was little my grandmother used to tell me that I was born to be a writer. I would write poems and short stories and she would tell me how great of a writer I was. It was how I knew to use my imagination. I can’t draw or paint to save my life so the only way to translate the things that I saw in my mind was by writing them down. I can’t remember exactly when I quit writing, but I remember feeling like writing was no longer fun. It was a task. I think after so many essays and research papers and writing with a purpose and not just for the fun of it, I was burned out. What I didn’t know is that abandoning that part of me also meant abandoning my emotions.
I can’t help but think that by starting to write again, I opened the floodgates for an emotional tsunami to take place. Here I was, drowning in emotions, wailing my arms above the tidal waves of life that kept crashing over me and hoping someone would pull me out or at least that my feet would find sand below and bury themselves into the ocean floor.
The emotional tsunami was a mix of events that have happened this year and have happened over the past few years that made me realize just how much I miss certain people and places. I also miss the rush of discovering new destinations and cultures. Somehow the person who craves adventure, mystery, and exciting experiences have reluctantly settled for the comfort of the known and I’m disappointed in myself.
How did I end up here? Why am I allowing myself to remain here? These are questions that I’ve been ruminating over. I still do not have the answers, but I do know that the life that I crave and the life that I was meant to live is not one of conformity. I’ve never been known to settle so why do it now? I need to start writing again to realize that I want and deserve so much more than what I’m living for right now.
In a previous post, I told you that I invited you along for the ride to rediscover and find my missing piece. This is part of it. Riding the tidal waves of emotions and questioning everything. We all want to know why we’re here. The almighty question of “What is my purpose?” Maybe we don’t have a purpose and maybe we do. Maybe mine is to write my journey through struggles and success. Maybe not. Who knows?
All I know is that if I’m going to be riding tidal waves of emotions, I might as well be surrounded by palm trees, and coconuts, and riding actual ocean waves. This means sooner, rather than later, I’ll be returning to the tropics and in a way returning to myself.
Until then, I’ll be envisioning myself near a massive body of water (that isn’t the Ohio River) and soaking in the sun while I sit on my bedroom floor and try to meditate.
P.S. This picture was taken during my first (and only) surf lesson ever. I was so excited because learning how to surf is something that I’ve wanted to do for years. I was stung by a sting ray shortly after this photo was taken. If that day isn’t the perfect analogy for life, I don’t know what is.
This past Thursday I woke up in one of the worst moods. It was a super full moon and my mom always says full moons affect our sleep. Well, this one truly unleashed my insomnia. When I finally fell asleep, the next thing I knew it was time to get up and start my day. I woke up so exhausted that the only thing I want to do was sleep for 48 hours straight but we don’t get paid for sleeping so I had no option other than to get out of bed.
After waking up knowing my day was not off to the greatest start, my sister’s dog that I’m currently dog sitting decided it was time to be a total jerk. I struggled with her on our morning walk and was extremely annoyed that she was acting out. Then I get into the house and my sister’s bougie coffee machine wouldn’t work. Lack of sleep, a super full moon, general fatigue, and my body being decaffeinated made my mood go from bad to foul.
I leave the house and head to work annoyed and pissed off at the world. As Monica would sing, “It’s just one of them days, don’t take it personal.” Anyways, I get to work and decide to recap my horrible morning to my boss when we go to lunch together. While I’m talking about how awful my morning is, I’m also realizing how ridiculous I sound but I’m exhausted and just want to talk about how horrible my day is.
That’s when the Universe decided to humble my overly privileged ass.
We finish lunch and walk out into the restaurant parking lot. I look over and notice a middle-aged homeless man digging through a trash can in the alley. The man was digging through the garbage as if his life depended on it. I didn’t immediately say anything to my boss because I didn’t want the man to hear me. Once we got in my car I told my boss that seeing the man dig through the trash was bothering me and I didn’t know what to do to help. He immediately says, “Hey! I can give him my leftovers.” My boss had a ton of leftover fried rice and then I said, “I think I have $5 let me check and you can give it to him.” With a carry-out box and $5 in his hand, my boss walks over and hands the man the food and money.
While my boss is walking back to my car he doesn’t notice, but I see the man open the box and take a massive bite out of the food. This poor soul was legitimately starving to death. I felt awful. Here I am a few minutes prior complaining over how awful my day is because of a stupid coffee machine and my dog niece acting like a jerk. I felt like a horrible person. To make matters even worse, my boss says, “Tell me again about how you’re having a bad day.”
I started to reflect and think about how I was complaining over something so pointless and minimal. I also started to think that I was turning into the same people that I cannot stand.
When I first moved back to the U.S. one of the things that I noticed is how much people complain over stupid shit and how rude they are towards people. The first year I was back I was so highly annoyed by the number of times I saw someone mistreat someone simply because they weren’t getting their way. The U.S. is the land of the extremely overprivileged and the “you must do what I say because I say” group of people in the world. Entitled is the overstatement of the century. And here I am, becoming what I detest the most.
I had to check myself because I refuse to become ungrateful.
My day continued on and my mood changed for the better. I couldn’t believe how ridiculous I had behaved in the morning and I was grateful for life reminding me that, “Things could always be worse.” I started to think of the things that I’m grateful for in my head and remind myself just how fortunate I truly am. I thought that what happened that afternoon would be the most impactful event of my day.
Then life had other plans.
That evening I decided to stop by Walgreens and pick something up on my way home. While I’m searching for what I wanted to buy, I overhear a Walgreens employee say, “The machine is in English and I don’t speak your langue so I won’t be able to help you.”
My first instinct is to try to help. I speak 4 languages so I think to myself that maybe I speak this person’s language. I walk over and ask the lady, “Where are you from? Maybe I speak your language.” She tells me that she’s from Afghanistan.
I don’t speak Farsi but I still wanted to help her. I asked her what she is trying to do. In broken English, she explained to me that her daughter lives in Russia and she needs to send her money via Western Union. The Walgreens employee is standing there and she tells me that the Western Union machine doesn’t work after 9 p.m. and it was 9:01 p.m.
So I thought, ok. How can I help this woman? I told her I was going to write down the information in English on a piece of paper so that when she went to Walgreens the next day she can show them the information and they can help her send her daughter money.
Thank God for Google Translate because between that, her broken English, and my non-existent Farsi, we got it all written down.
She explains to me that she doesn’t have a car and she had walked to Walmart, Kroger, and now Walgreens to try and send her daughter money and wasn’t able to. I offer to drive her home so she doesn’t have to walk alone in the dark.
While driving her home I ask her how long she’s been in the U.S. and she tells me she has been here for 10 years and 4 months. She said she has no family and no friends here. She says to me that her whole family was killed in Afghanistan by terrorists who bombed her home. She lost her parents, siblings, husband and two year old daughter. The only reason why she is alive is because her and her other daughter were in the hospital together at the time of the bombing. When they returned home they couldn’t recognize any of their family members in the rubble of the bombing.
I’m driving and trying my hardest to hold back tears.
She also has kidney problems and if they get worst she will not be able to travel and she’s crying telling me she may never be able to see her daughter and grandchildren again in Russia if she has to go on dialysis.
My heart literally broke.
She is crying telling me her story and I’m just devastated for her. I told her I’m going to pray for her and she will see her daughter again. I just know it.
We get to her house and she tells me to come in and she will make me tea or give me juice and she keeps thanking me for helping her. I politely tell her not to worry about it and that she doesn’t need to thank me for anything.
She looks at me and says, “You are an angel from God.” (Clearly, she doesn’t know me.) And she asks to kiss my hand. I didn’t want her to feel like she needed to kiss my hand but I also understand cultural norms and I told her that if she felt like she needed to kiss my hand she could. She kisses my hand and says “thank you!”
I give her my name and phone number and tell her to call or message me on WhatsApp if she has any problems trying to send her daughter money and I will try to help her the best way that I can.
After I drop my new friend off, I drive home and think to myself, if that were my mom in another country where she wasn’t fluent in the language, I hope someone would help her.
I get home and start to process the conversation and the day that I’ve had. Then I think.
How fucking lucky am I?
I’ve not lost my entire family to a bombing. I am healthy. I have food to eat. I don’t have to dig through the trash. I don’t have to worry about being healthy and able to travel to see my loved ones.
I am beyond blessed.
I share this story to show how we are all guilty of taking life and what we have for granted. We are all struggling in different ways, some way more than others, but we can always take a look around and be grateful for the things that we do have. As much as I try to practice gratitude and be mindful, there are still days when I forget just how lucky I am.
I also share this story as a reminder to be kind and empathetic towards others. It cost me absolutely nothing to help this woman. It also cost me nothing to help the homeless man. I know some would argue that it did because I gave him $5 but $5 to me isn’t anything in the grand scheme of things.
Kindness and empathy cost nothing and they typically provide you with the greatest reward of all; the reward of knowing that you did the right thing.
The next day I spoke with my new friend and asked her to let me know if she is able to send her daughter money and if she needed my help I would help her. I’ve added a screenshot of our conversation. Her sweet words mean the world to me and are proof that people doing the right thing is always the right thing.
P.S. My new friend’s name means Star in Farsi and I think she
Maybe lately you’ve been thinking, “Where in the world is Janel?” She doesn’t post anything anymore, she doesn’t tell crazy stories on Instagram anymore, and she hasn’t posted a selfie in ages. She’s disappeared. Honestly, I’ve been thinking the same.
Where in the hell am I?
I haven’t felt like myself for months. I tried to search for myself in old photos, with walks through the park, and through periods of solitude and the truth is I’m not sure where I’ve gone. I know it may seem weird that I’m talking about myself like this but the truth is, I don’t feel like me and no matter how hard I try I still can’t locate myself. Writing this is my attempt to find myself and reconnect to the person who thrives off of passion, adventure, travel, and an unquenchable thirst for life.
First, let’s review start where the shit hit the fan. In October of 2021, my family received news about one of our family members’ health. It wasn’t fatal but it was a shock. It was also the first domino to fall. Next came my cousin Ethan’s suicide. After that, it seemed like life just kept unraveling in front of my eyes. 2022 has felt like one smack to the face after another. I’ve felt like my life was a colossal dumpster fire and that no matter how many times I would try to take a step forward, life would push me ten back.
2022 started off with me catching COVID at New Year for the first time since the pandemic started. Not to be outdone, the flu and strep throat thought it was time to make a visit as well and then tendonitis in my foot decided to enter the chat. The emotional mess was less disappointing than the physical ailments. My physical health is the one thing that for a while I felt I had control over and then 2022 came in and said, “Control, what control?” My body forced me to rest. The one thing I detest more than anything is not being able to be on the go.
For a while, the only thing I wanted was life to be uneventful.
Finally, that time has come.
Life has been pretty uneventful for the past two months and I’ve felt like I’m in recovery. Recovering from the emotional upheaval and the physical hell that I’ve endured since the beginning of the year.
2020 forced me to stay still, 2021 made me remain on pause, and in 2022 all I wanted to be was on the go.
Being the forever realist/optimist that I am, I have to admit that it hasn’t all been bad. I passed some of the hardest exams that I’ve ever taken and made advancements in my career but with everything else being on fire around me, I didn’t even celebrate my wins. I felt like they were small on the scale of things.
Most people think I’m being ungrateful for my successes but that’s not the case. I’ve always held myself to the highest standard. My parents expected the best from me and I expected nothing less than excellence. My mom has always said, “You put so much pressure on yourself when you don’t have to.” And my response to her has always been, “If I don’t, then who will?”
That inner desire to constantly prove myself not only to others but to myself, more than anyone else, has been the fuel to the fire that lives inside of me. I remember years ago a friend of mine told me that the thing that she admired most about me is that when I set a goal and say I’m going to do something, I always do it. Sooner or later it was accomplished. She said, “You always accomplish your dreams. Every single thing you’ve told me that you’ve dreamt of doing, you’ve done it. Then you start chasing the next dream.”
Lately, I’ve felt like I don’t have dreams or goals. For an ambitious person to say that last sentence – it’s soul-crushing. But here’s the thing, my soul has felt crushed. The me who always sits down and writes a list of the top 10 places she wants to see and the top 10 things she wants to do by x date has been missing and the truth is – I miss her. I want that part of me back so badly.
Part of why I’m even writing this right now is because writing has always been what has led me back to myself and my truth. When I was in the biggest, deepest, darkest depression after my stepdad died, what forced me to return to myself was writing. I started this blog months after my dad died because I needed to find myself. The optimist, crazy, and life-loving person that I typically am. I knew she was still here but I had to put in the work to find her.
So here I am, yet again, writing in order to find my missing piece. Of course, I’m sharing it with the world but I’m writing this for me. It’s me pleading for my soul and my essence to return home.
Let’s just say this post is my “MISSING – HAVE YOU SEEN HER?” ad except I don’t have a cute puppy face to attach to it.
Therefore, I’ve decided that I’m going to start writing again and share it with the world. It will be personal stories, adventures, travels, and events. I know people follow me for travel tips and stories about my journeys across the globe and I still plan to include these types of pieces but for now, my writing is going to be about a different journey. The journey back to me.
You’re all invited to come along for the ride if you like.
Janel
P.S. This first piece is dedicated to my cousin, Ethan. Thank you for the push from above. <3
Today marks exactly one month since my cousin took his own life. On November 11th, 2021, the unimaginable happened. My baby cousin decided to leave this world behind in hopes to end his suffering.
Death and loss are not foreign subjects to my family. We’re very well versed in death and grief, but to lose someone so young and by suicide has been by far the hardest thing my family has had to deal with and is still dealing with. I wanted to write something in regards to my cousin’s death because mental health, and especially men’s mental health, is a topic that we avoid, sweep under the carpet and negate.
Depression is real and it is a silent killer. Maybe this post will help someone find help or reach out for help. Maybe it will help someone going through the same type of loss feel like they’re not alone. Writing is my creative medium to process my emotions and I couldn’t keep this built up inside of me any longer. If what I write doesn’t help anyone else, it will help me and that’s a good enough reason to write it.
Suicide is often looked at as a selfish act. I have to disagree. Suicide is the ending of personal suffering that no one can comprehend besides that person. I don’t want to accept what my cousin did but I also refuse to blame him. Our minds can be our own personal infernos that we either feed the fire or try to fan out the flames. For some people, it’s impossible to escape. Ethan couldn’t find the way to end his internal battles even though he tried and unfortunately he lost his war with depression. He didn’t act out of selfishness, he acted out of desperation.
Losing Ethan has left a huge gap in my family and we’re all walking around with an invisible open, bleeding wound, that we’re trying to figure out how to cauterize and eventually heal. None of us are ok and we shouldn’t be expected to be either. When we first found out, it felt like we were trapped inside of an endless nightmare. I had a tiny dot of hope that it was just that, a nightmare that I would wake up from. In my mind, it couldn’t be real. Not Ethan.
Now, a month later, the hopes of it being just a nightmare have disappeared and the heartbreaking fact that this is reality has taken over. The holidays are right around the corner and no one in my family is looking forward to them. I can’t imagine a Christmas without Ethan telling jokes and his distinct laugh. I can’t imagine eating Christmas dinner and not discussing politics and the deplorable state of the world with Ethan. This is not the way it was meant to be yet I have to accept that this is now the way things are.
To better understand why this loss is so devastating you must understand Ethan’s legacy. He was the kid with a heart of gold. The guy who would give you his shirt off his back or the last dollar to his name if you needed it. He helped others who were struggling and oftentimes those who he helped had no idea of his own internal struggles.
In 2020, when the world seemed to be on fire and the number of injustices that happen in this country seemed to be at a record high, Ethan took to the streets to protest and fight for justice. Just like his late father, he refused to stay idle. He was heavily involved in fighting for what he believed in and did all that he could to make this world a better place. We would always discuss what a mess the world was even before 2020 and how it seemed that no one cared. Ethan cared. He cared so much that seeing all of the suffering and cruelty in this world was too much for him to bear.
On the day of his funeral, hundreds of people showed up to say their goodbyes. It was amazing to watch how many lives Ethan impacted. My aunt said that if only Ethan could have felt the love that was in that room then maybe he wouldn’t have done what he did. The guy with the biggest heart and who loved so deeply didn’t realize how much he was loved in return. I know in my heart that if he would have thought for a moment that he would be hurting anyone by taking his own life then he would have never done it. He would never intentionally hurt or harm anyone much less the people who loved him so much.
The terrible truth is we will all have to live with an unknown for the rest of our lives. We don’t know Ethan’s thoughts or what led him to make his decision. None of us were in his head and we can only speculate. What we can do is continue to honor his legacy of being a good human being. We must continue to show through examples of love and caring that there are still good people out in the world. That’s what he would want us to do and that is how he should be remembered.
At the funeral, one of my bosses told Ethan’s sister, “I’m sorry for your loss.” and replied to him, “I’m sorry for the world’s loss.” That sums up exactly how I feel. I’m sorry for the world’s loss. My family didn’t just lose someone who we love with all of our hearts, the world lost the biggest heart and a beam of light that day.
A few days after his service, I had multiple dreams of just Ethan and in each of them, he was smiling and laughing. I could hear his laugh so clearly and it was so realistic that I felt like I was physically with him. I woke up crying because of how realistic the dreams were. I believe that those dreams were his way of telling me that he is happy and at peace. I know that at this moment, he is with my Uncle Michael, his father, and the rest of our family members who have passed before him and he is happy and at peace.
Death marks an ending and a beginning. It is an ending of a beautiful life and the beginning of a long process of healing and learning to continue on while someone is missing. Now my family and I are left to heal our broken hearts knowing that we will never be the same.
Ethan, you are loved and will be forever missed.
P.S. I will always remember you as the little boy running around his house in his favorite Robin t-shirt with Woody cowboy boots on and a red, plastic firefighter hat on top of your head.
When any year comes to an end, we all reflect on what the year has been for us. Most of the time, we run down the list of accomplishments, failures, or major life events such as deaths, weddings, babies, etc. This year, everyone’s most significant achievement is surviving.
We often don’t give ourselves enough credit for simply making it through an awful year. If you are reading this and are beginning to reflect on what you accomplished, what you should have done, what you wanted to do, and couldn’t, let me stop you right there. You are alive, and you are breathing. This year dug its claws into the sides of most people and wreaked havoc. If you’ve made it to December 31st, 2020, then thank yourself. Thank yourself for being able to endure a roller coaster ride that none of us asked to ride.
For me, 2020 wasn’t my worst year. I know people are shocked when I say that 2020 wasn’t my worst year, but trust me, I’ve hit rock bottom and found that it had a basement years ago. For me, 2020 was a blessing, and I’m grateful for the gift that this year has been for me. While saying this, some people are being evicted from their homes, young children are starving, someone is breathing their last breath in an ICU bed alone, and some people’s mental health is at its worst. I recognize that to be able to say that 2020 is a blessing is a privilege, and I acknowledge it fully and my heart truly goes out to those who have lost everything this year. I hope and pray that 2021 brings you nothing but blessings.
For me, 2020 wasn’t the year in which I accomplished anything, and being someone who prides themselves on checking everything off on their long list of goals, that’s a hard pill to swallow. In fact, I lost a lot when most people look at what happened, but I feel like I gained so much more.
Starting from the beginning of the pandemic, I lost my jobs; all forms of income flew out of the window. I had no clue how I would survive. I had agreed to take a position and move to Italy in May pre-pandemic. We all know how that eventually went since I continue to sit in the U.S. Since Italy was no longer part of the picture, I interviewed with a specific government branch. I made it through the entire hiring process and was 95% guaranteed the job. This was a huge relief considering I had been three weeks without employment and was losing my mind on how I would make money.
At the very end of the hiring process, I was only waiting to receive the formal paperwork; they informed me that they couldn’t offer me the job because I had lived outside the U.S. 3 out of the last five years. I guess I can spend the entire first 18 years of my life in the U.S., and those count for nothing. Who knew. Either way, I didn’t get the job, and it was one that I wasn’t going to have a single financial worry, ever. Finding out that I wasn’t qualified for a government job because I’ve lived a life outside of the U.S. triggered me to thinking of just leaving the country altogether, again. I considered moving back to Panamá since I figured if I have to be stuck somewhere might as well be stuck somewhere with nice weather.
The roller coaster ride of figuring out what I was going to do continued for months. I had no clue what I was going to do with my life, where I wanted to be, what I wanted to be. No clue. I honestly still don’t have all the answers to those questions, but let’s be honest, who does?
This roller coaster ride also included a moment of emotional vulnerability. At the height of quarantine, I decided it was time to confess my feelings for a friend. After years of not wanting to admit how I felt, not acknowledging that I have feelings, and having more walls built around my heart than Fort Knox, I decided it was time to be vulnerable. Besides, what else did I have to lose this year?
I had the genius idea of writing a handwritten letter to a friend and confessing my feelings for them. It was like a flashback to kindergarten when we wrote those notes to each other, “Do you want to be my boyfriend?” Circle yes or no. Except this was the 31-year-old version where I explained how I had feelings for him but never had the guts to say anything because I feared messing up our friendship. I didn’t want to ruin years of friendship by having feelings for him, but I figured it’s now or never. I poured my heart out onto the pages and left nothing unsaid. He kindly returned me to the friend zone in which I belong.
Although confessing my feelings, something that I never do if I honestly like someone, was a huge step as far as I’m concerned. I probably would have never told him if it hadn’t been for this crazy year. It would have been my secret that I took with me to the grave, and we would have continued being friends, him having no clue how I felt and me pretending that I didn’t care when deep down, I do care. It was also a friendly reminder that it’s ok to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is what most of us avoid, but we would probably see more rewards if we were more willing to risk it. I may have ended up in the friend zone, but I am proud of myself for taking the risk and also getting the weight of my feelings off of my chest. Zero regrets.
Although I just explained some of my many low points this year, thankfully, one disappointment after another this year led me to continue to go within and figure out who I am, what I want, and what is for my highest good. Facing myself and my fears of not being successful, being rejected, being stuck in one place, not traveling, etc., and work through every one of them has been the biggest blessing 2020 could have given me. Any other year I would be too busy traveling, working, living life to the fullest that I wouldn’t take the time to go within and ask myself, “What is it that you want?” I don’t have all of the answers; no one does, but I’m still searching for them, and that’s the best anyone can do.
2020 stopped me in my tracks and forced me to take the time to sit with myself and work through a lot of the things that I kept pushing to the side. Most of us want to leave everything behind in 2020 and start fresh tomorrow when we wake up. However, I want to carry some things that I’ve learned in 2020 with me into 2021.
The first one is gratitude and being grateful for everything. I’m grateful for this year of hard lessons, my health, my family’s health, and my many friends who have supported me this year. I’m grateful for it all. The second one is vulnerability. Remembering that showing feelings and having feelings isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength. The third is my health. I want to continue to stay on a healthy path where I focus on my physical, mental and emotional health. As they say, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” so I am going to continue to fill mine so I can serve others.
2020 may have been the year we never wanted, but it is the year in which a lot of our eyes opened to see what matters the most. In the end, all we have is our health, our family, our friends, and our thoughts and feelings. The rest of it means nothing. Instead of saying, F*** You, 2020, I’d like to say Thank you, 2020.
Happy New Year friends,
Janel
P.S. This video of Snoop Dogg thanking himself is what all of us need to be doing at the end of 2020.
This year the holidays look very different for a lot of us. Many of us will not be able to celebrate with our families or friends like we typically do. To help bring some holiday cheer to those who cannot celebrate the way they are used to, I’ve found the top 5 spots in Louisville to see Christmas lights for FREE.
For those families whose children are sad because they can’t see their grandparents or friends who have no one to celebrate with but want to feel some holiday cheer, here is a list of places you can see from your car that will help brighten your spirits. Tonight, on Christmas Eve, if you need some Christmas magic to make it through these next few days, look at the lights and remember, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
This list is my gift to all of my followers and a way to say Merry Christmas from me to you.
1. 1249 S Clay St, Louisville, KY 40203
By far, my favorite is Clay St. Christmas. It is created by a local DJ who puts on a fantastic light show with music. It is free to watch, but donations are appreciated. You can donate via Venmo. Christmas Eve & Christmas Day show times are 6 PM-11 PM, Saturday 6 PM- 10 PM, and Sunday 6 PM- 8 PM.
2. Ashfield Lane, Louisville, KY 40220 off of Lowe Road.
There is no specific address for this one because the ENTIRE neighborhood is lit up. Each house is decorated, and three houses stand out. One has it’s one light and music show, and another had a very special guest- SANTA! That’s right, the big man himself made an appearance, and the little girl inside me screamed louder than Will Ferrel in the Elf, “SANTAAAA!” My favorite is the one with the music and light show because I’m a sucker for music, but all of them did an amazing job.
3. 8711 Brittany Drive, Louisville, KY 40220.
A hidden gem in Stoneybrook and a real spectacle. The decorations are in memory of Brian Humpich, who passed away from cancer. They ask for donations to Kids Cancer Alliance (KCA) if you enjoy the lights. Some of the items that you can donate are markers/crayons, coloring books, playing cards, small puzzles, play dough, etc. or you can make a monetary donation to https://www.kidscanceralliance.org/
4. 2804 Cleveland Ave, Louisville, KY 40206.
Like the house off of Brittany Drive, this house is over the top with Christmas decorations. There is no way to miss it while driving down Cleveland. It gives off enough light that I’m pretty sure NASA can see it from space. There is a church parking lot in front of the house where you can park to take a picture.
5. Chestnut Ridge Circle, Louisville, KY 40245 (Lake Forest neighborhood.)
Growing up, Lake Forest was known to have some of the best Christmas lights to see from your car. They even had reindeer at one point. This year Lake Forest isn’t as decorated as years past, but one house specifically decided to show up for the entire neighborhood. When you drive into the Lake Forest neighborhood from the Old Henry exit, you will take the second left, and the house will be on your right. You cannot miss it. Tune in to 92.5 FM to hear the music with the lights show.
With one week left before Christmas and we are right in the middle of Hanukkah, I know my fellow last-minute shoppers are probably searching high and low for the perfect gift for their loved ones. 2020 has been a challenging year for us all, especially small business owners. I’ve always supported small and local businesses because the people who run them are just like you and me. The best way to support my favorite local businesses was to do another Unique Holiday Gift Guide with all of my favorite spots that keep Louisville weird and make us all Kentucky proud.
The following are all local businesses and people within the Louisville and Lexington area where I shop and personally know the owners. They are in no particular order, and each of them holds a special place in my heart because they are owned and run by amazing people. Check out what their shops are all about and some of the lovely faces behind them.
1. Poetic Moon
If you are looking for handmade jewelry, bath soaks, oils, candles, etc., all made with intention, then look no further than Poetic Moon. Bridget Case owns it, and everything in her store is handcrafted by her. She puts her heart and soul into what she does, and since discovering her place, I cannot deny that it is my go-to shop for any and everything self-care. If you want to take a long relaxing bath after a tough day, week, or even year (AKA 2020), then I highly suggest buying her Goddess Bath Soak. It smells fantastic, and you can feel the stress lift right out of your body. Other items that I recommend are her oils and handmade candles. They both smell so wonderful, and each item has a specific use. You can stop in her shop located at 109 S Bayly Ave, Louisville, KY 40206, right off of Frankfort Avenue, or you can browse her products on her Instagram page or shop from her website. https://www.instagram.com/poeticmoon.boutique/
2. Produce from Faul Family Riverside Farm
Andre is a local farmer who raises organic poultry, beef, pork, and shrimp. He uses a farming style that ensures that the animals are always moving around the farm and that they have plenty of space. I featured him and the farm on my blog last year and discussed his farm’s fantastic job of delivering an organic, fresh, and delicious product. They currently have a meat subscription box where you can get fresh meat delivered to you monthly. It’s the perfect gift for any meat-lover or anyone who wants to know that their product is ethically farmed and produced. https://faulriversideky.com/
3. By Any Means Fitness
2020 is the year that reaffirmed that our health is our wealth. With gyms either being partially closed or at limited capacity, it doesn’t change the fact that they are a vital tool to maintain ourselves as healthy as possible. My favorite locally owned gym in Louisville just so happens to be owned by two of my close friends, Jordan and Djuan Means. They are both personal trainers themselves, and Jordan also handles nutrition/meal plans for their clients. When the gym was unable to remain open during the pandemic restrictions, Jordan created an online program so that everyone could workout and stay healthy at home. I immediately signed up for their program, and since I started it, I have lost 15 lbs. I swear by their meal plans and workouts because I have gone to their gym for years and followed their nutritional guidance, and to be honest, no one can get me into shape as good as they can. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one, then give them the gift of health. Djuan and Jordan have several different programs and options to work with them. You can check out what they have to offer on their website. https://www.byanymeansfitness.com/
4. Camila’s hot cocoa bombs
Camila is my friend’s daughter turned entrepreneur. Thanks to being stuck at home, Camila decided she wanted something to do that was productive that she enjoyed and could make some extra money for Christmas. About that same time, the mad craze over hot cocoa bombs began. She asked her mom if she could bake hot chocolate bombs and sell them because she loves to bake. Her mom said that she could do it, thinking she may sell one or two. Flash forward, and Camila’s hot chocolate bombs have been so popular that she has been filled with orders for the past month. Camila’s parents, Palmira and Chaz, quickly realized their daughter couldn’t do it independently and that she needed help to continue making her Christmas money. They promptly set up shop. Now it is a family affair where both Palmira and Chaz help Camila make the hot cocoa bombs and deliver the orders. It’s the winter version of a lemonade stand, but instead of lemonade, it’s hot chocolate, which is way better, in my opinion. Camila sells her hot cocoa bombs at $5 each or 4 for $15. She has both white chocolate and milk chocolate options. They are adorably decorated, filled with hot cocoa and marshmallows on the inside and delicious chocolate on the outside. They taste amazing. Camila has decided that she will only be making the hot chocolate bombs during the winter, so get yours while you can. To place your orders, you can contact either Palmira Jefferson via Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/palmira.sarmiento.5
5. Norwalk Furniture
The team at Norwalk offers custom upholstery, window treatments, new and antique rugs, custom bedding, and gifts, as well as a range of home design consulting and services. They are a one-stop-shop for everything interior design and decorating. Owned by my personal friends and husband duo Bryant Stanley and Justin Morris and their best friends Tawana Palmer and Kellie Clarke, these fabulous four make their customers’ homes an actual statement piece. They work with all ranges of budgets, and there is something for everyone in their store. There is not another group of people in the Kentucky area that I would trust with designing or decorating my home. Since so many people bought a new home in 2020, what’s a better way to show it off than having fabulous décor and design. Bryant is also a real estate agent, so if you are looking for a home in the Lexington area, not only can he help you find the perfect place, but they can help you design the perfect home! They are located at 2200 War Admiral Way Lexington, KY 40509. If Lexington is too far from Louisville, then no worries, they travel! You can check them out on their Facebook page or website. http://norwalklexington.com/
6. Goldheart stones and such
If you follow me on Instagram, then there is a good chance that you have noticed that I’m a stoner. Yes, a stoner. Not the illegal type of stoner but the one who collects crystals, rocks, and stones, that type. My favorite place in Louisville to go get “stoned” is by far Goldheart stones and such. Casey Goldheart is the owner, and he has one of the most impressive collections of crystals that I have ever seen. He carries everything from your classic rose quartz hearts to your fossils and highly sought out crystal flames (I now own four thanks to Goldheart and my crazy crystal addiction.) Due to the pandemic, his store has not been opened to the public since March, but to keep the business going during these strange times, he runs Facebook Live sales with a different collection of crystals each day. His live sales usually take place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. You can place a purchase and have them shipped to you, or you can schedule a time to stop by the shop and pick them up. You can pick up your purchases at 980 Barret Ave, Louisville, KY 40204, and I’m sure once this is all over, the doors will reopen, and you can experience the glory that is Goldheart stones and such in person. https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=goldheart%3A%20stones%20and%20such
7. Greater Art Soulutions
The old saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” in today’s world, not only is a picture worth a thousand words, but it can also be worth thousands of dollars for your business or brand. Society is currently driven by digital marketing and image. To have a successful online business or online presence, you must-have photos. Whether it be of your company, product, or yourself, a high-quality picture can make a world of difference when trying to market yourself in the digital world. Since most everyone has gone digital this year, then it is now more critical than ever. Choosing the right photographer to not only portray your product or company but, more importantly, yourself is one of the hardest parts. Guillermo Sollano is the owner and head photographer of Greater Art Soulutions, and he is who did my photos for my tutoring business website. I explained what I had in mind and let his creativity take over. It was more than evident that Guillermo’s heart and soul go into his photography during my photoshoot. I’ve never experienced a photography session where the photographer wanted to get to know me personally and not just take photos to have enough selection. If you are looking to update your photos, then look no further than Greater Art Solutions. You can check out more of Guillermo’s work by visiting his website. https://greaterartsoulutions.com/
8. Play with Clay
My favorite local painter has been and probably will always be Clay Mata. Not only is she a personal friend of mine, but she is also extremely talented. She does custom design pieces of art. You can request any and everything. Her newest item is a mini canvas that she uses to paint different singers, actors, influential people, comic characters, etc., on them. You can have a mini painting of your favorite singer on your desk, or if your friend or significant other is obsessed with baby Yoda, you can gift them a mini-canvas painting of baby Yoda for their home office. Not only does she do canvas paintings, but she also paints jackets and shoes. Everything is custom made, and no two pieces are alike. Last year, I purchased handpainted holiday mugs from her, and my Grinch mug is now my everyday mug during December. If you are looking for a truly unique gift, then look no further than Play with Clay. To check out more of her work and to place an order. https://www.instagram.com/playwithclay/
9. Serena’s Soaps and Salves
Mother/daughter duo Lora and Serena sell homemade goat milk soaps, lotions, and healing salves for a variety of skin conditions. They use all organic products to make the soaps and salves, and I can vouch that they smell and feel amazing. Serena, has Down Syndrome, and they created the business because they wanted her to prove to herself and others that her condition will not keep her from accomplishing anything. Every product is packaged and labeled by Serena herself, and she is very involved in the business. Hearing her story instantly inspired me, and when I checked out their products, I fell in love. Not only are their products incredible, but the fact that they are local and Serena’s story makes supporting them that much better. During the winter our skin tends to get dry and crack, give someone the gift of smooth, healthy skin by gifting them a soap or lotion from Serena’s Soaps and Salves. Check out their variety of products on their website. https://www.serenassoaps.com/
10. ALAS Language Tutoring
Yes, I am shamelessly plugging my own business on this post. For those who don’t know, I am a language teacher/tutor. I tutor and teach both English and Spanish, and this year I decided to offer my tutoring services to the world by creating my own tutoring business, ALAS Language Tutoring. My number one passion has always been and will always be travel, but languages and teaching are other big passions of mine. I teach and tutor all ages and create customized lesson plans that tailor to each student’s needs. For those who have been wanting to learn another language or brush up on Spanish but feel like they need a more personalized experience, that is exactly what I offer. My lessons cater to each individual’s needs with the target language. Right now, I only offer English or Spanish, but I will be offering one of the other languages that I speak in the future. ALAS Language Tutoring isn’t just a tutoring business; it’s a passion project. ALAS means wings in Spanish, and I truly believe that by learning another language, we are able to expand our “wings” in a multitude of ways. If you are interested in learning Spanish, need a tutor for your child’s Spanish classes, or just want to pick back up where you left on, then check out my website and my different tutoring packages and options. https://www.alaslanguagetutoring.com/
Happy Holidays and remember when shopping for your special someone, your family, or yourself, shop small! These are some of the many faces that you will be supporting by shopping small and local. To quote Djuan Means, “If we don’t support us, who will?”
I have so much to be grateful for and not just this year but every year. I’m healthy, I have my family and friends, I was able to travel at the beginning of the year, and I’ve rediscovered some of my passions. Honestly, my gratitude list could go on forever. However, we are all aware of what a roller coaster ride 2020 has been. I’ve had two long periods of writer’s block during this year. This is the first blog post that I publish in weeks because I’ve had the worst round of writer’s block of my life, but even with the downs of 2020, this year has been a blessing in disguise for me.
I know you may be thinking to yourself, say what? The girl who catches flights, the one who is always searching for the next big adventure, is calling 2020 a blessing when she hasn’t been able to travel since March? I know, shocking! The truth is, 2020 is a blessing in its own way. Having to stay in one spot and go on the most intense journey, the journey within myself, is probably one of the best things that could have happened this year.
I’m grateful for the moments of solitude that 2020 has brought me. Being “stuck” in one place has given me no other option than to go within and take a look at what has been missing, what has been ignored, and what it is that I desire. Do I have all the answers? No, I don’t. However, I have more insight into what I want, who I want to become, and what I want to do. Trust me; I don’t plan on giving up travel because one of the answers to what I want to do with my life is still to travel the world, but without taking the time to soul search, I would probably still be roaming the world to look for the answers that have always been within.
This year has been difficult and challenging for almost everyone I know. Some have lost loved ones, some have lost their jobs as I did, some have dealt with unexpected health issues, and others have faced some of their worst moments. This year’s trials feel more prominent than the triumphs, but I choose to remain positive and look at this year as a challenge. A time to step up to the plate and show the universe what you are made of.
The truth is it doesn’t matter what year it may be; there will always be problems and challenges to face. Maybe this year is the one that came in to remind us to remain grateful. To quit taking for granted the small things like going for a walk in the park, talking with friends and family, and sharing a meal with a loved one. These are the things that matter the most. The more we lead our lives in gratitude, the more we realize that we have an abundant amount of items to be grateful for.
With all of this being said, I want to say that I am grateful. I am thankful for this year; however screwed up it may be. I’m grateful for my health, family, friends, passions, talents, and faults. I’m thankful for 2020 and all of the tests, lessons, and blessings it has brought. Last but not least, I am grateful for every single one of you. Those of you who read my blog, follow me on social media, call yourself my friend or family, and am thankful to have each of you in my life. Thank you for following me along this crazy journey called life. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
An excellent way to avoid the hustle and bustle of city life is by spending time in nature. One of the popular ways to do this in Bali is by visiting a rice paddy. The most popular being Tegallalang in Ubud is the one featured in my photo. If you are interested in a total chill moment, I would suggest visiting a different one. Teglalang is beautiful and is the most popular, and it means that it is packed with tourists. It’s a must-see while in Bali. Now you know where all of the photos of rice paddies on your Instagram feed are coming from.
To book a tour to the rice paddy and other places of interest in Bali check out Adpada Bali Tours by clicking here: https://www.adpadabalitrans.com/
2. Try the world’s most expensive coffee.
I sh*t you not, (pun intended) the world’s most expensive coffee comes from Bali, Indonesia, and more specifically, it comes out of an animal’s feces. That’s right. An animal called a civet eats coffee cherries and digests them, and once they poop them out, they are cleaned and turned into coffee.
I love coffee, and I figure, I’ve tried some weird things in my lifetime, so why not? Kopi Luwak coffee doesn’t taste awful, but I also don’t think it is worth the price that it is sold worldwide, which is about $600 per pound. In other words, I’m not a huge fan.
The other part is that there has been such a high demand for this coffee worldwide that now the animals are put in caged and force-fed coffee cherries to mass-produce the highly sought out coffee. I tried it at a local farm that doesn’t produce on the mass scale and doesn’t force-feed their civets, nor do they partake in things such as animal cruelty. The truth is most people don’t know about the process involved; they hear “World’s Most Expensive coffee” and try it without knowing the backstory.
I’m not blaming anyone. No one randomly googles searches “World’s most expensive coffee” unless they are in the industry or a coffee connoisseur. However, I am a wildlife advocate and want to save our natural resources, so I feel compelled to inform my readers.
One of the popular things to do while in Bali is to visit a monkey forest. The main one on the island is the Ubud Monkey Forest.
Before visiting any Monkey Forest in Bali, you should know a few things;
They are used to tourists, and therefore they will approach you. Do not make a big scene like running, jumping, or screaming. It will scare them and quite possibly make them aggressive towards you.
They will steal your glasses, cell phones, hats, wallets, jewelry, etc. If you don’t want to lose something, put it in your backpack.
Because they are used to tourists, they expect food. Make sure you have plenty of nuts to feed them because they will get aggressive.
Monkeys in the Monkey Forests are known to do things like bite and throw sh*t at people. These things usually happen when tourists have not brought enough food or have started screaming or scaring them.
You are in their habitat. Respect them and do not try to hurt them. Remain calm and remember, it’s their territory, not yours.
My biggest suggestion is to not go to the popular Monkey Forest and go to a small one. Why? The monkeys are not nearly as aggressive, and they don’t focus on tourists. They prefer to keep their distance.I went to the Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest, which is much smaller, and as you can see, one of the monkeys approached me, and it went smoothly.
It’s an exciting experience. The monkeys are not in cages or mistreated by locals, but anytime any animals are involved with tourism, it is best to do your research and know how the animals are being cared for.
4. Visit a Hindu Temple
One thing that is abundant in Bali are Hindu temples. You can find them all over the island and you do not have to go far to find them. The Hindu temples are not only a representation of the Hindu religion which is the most prevalent religion on the island, but it is also a staple part of Balinese culture.
While I traveled around Bali with a new friend that I made who happened to be a local. I asked why I kept seeing people with baskets filled with fruit, flowers, and even money. He explained to me that part of Balinese Hindus traditions is to make a daily offering. If they cannot reach a temple, they will take their offering to one of the many small shrines spread throughout the cities and towns.
My new friend told me that if I wanted to make an offering, I could do so. He went with me to buy what I needed to take it to one of the local temples.
Honestly, it was a unique experience. I guess people will jump and say I tried to recreate an Eat, Pray, Love moment, but I’ve always been spiritual. I like to participate in a country’s culture actively, so for me, it was more about the experience than religion.
5. Visit Nusa Pineda
Nusa Pineda isn’t part of Bali, it is actually a separate island but if you are already in Bali then I highly suggest making the trip to Nusa Pineda. Why? Well, apart from being the second most popular spot for photos for the gram in Indonesia is Nusa Pineda just look at the views.
This small island is a short ferry ride from Bali, and although many tourists visit, it doesn’t feel overcrowded or packed at all. I suggest booking a tour guide or someone to show you around since getting around the island will be tough without a vehicle or motorcycle.
My guide while I was on the island was Tony who can be found on Instagram by clicking https://www.instagram.com/tonygila420/, highly recommend Tony. He is super down to Earth and laid back. He’s also extremely knowledgeable about Nusa Pineda and Indonesia in general.
A fun fact about the island is that Indonesians believe that the island is where evil spirits/black magic resides. Don’t let that scare you, though. Balinese believe that both good and bad must exist to create balance. Indonesian’s aren’t afraid of visiting the island, nor should you be. The island isn’t scary, and you feel like you are in paradise while you are there.
I love small islands because there is an immediate relaxing feeling when you arrive. Less traffic, less noise, fewer worries. I think 2020 has made everyone want to stay on an island for at least a month, and what better location than Nusa Penida?
If Bali wasn’t already on your bucket list then I hope after this list of things to do while in Bali has convinced you to add it. Below are more photos from my trip to Bali that I did not include on Instagram.
Stayed tuned for next weeks post where our virtual journey takes us to Thailand!
The third stop on our virtual tour is in my favorite Australian city, Cairns. Yes, Cairns beats Sydney in my book. I know, call me crazy, but there is a good reason why I fell in love with Cairns immediately. First and foremost, the climate. Cairns has a very tropical climate and anywhere with a tropical setting automatically wins a place in my heart. What can I say? I am a sucker for humidity, rainforests, palm trees, beaches, and the sun roasting my skin. Apart from the climate, Cairns is one of the most inviting places in Australia. What do I mean by inviting? The locals are your classic laidback, surfer, “carpe diem” type of crowd, which makes you feel like anything goes, which for the most part it does. The following are my top three things to do while visiting Cairns.
1. Visit the Great Barrier Reef
First ever Scuba Diving experience in the Great Barrier Reef.
The first item on my to-do list is the most obvious of all. If you travel all the way to Queensland how are you going to skip on seeing the world’s largest reef system? There are many different ways to visit the reef, one of them being scuba diving and snorkeling. My very first scuba diving experience was in the Great Barrier Reef. I am a swimmer and have been snorkeling plenty of times before but I had never truly experienced the beauty below the surface until I went scuba diving. I loved it so much that I became a certified diver and have been on countless scuba excursions since then.
When I went I used the company Tusa Dive for my introductory scuba experience. They provide both scuba and snorkel excursions. If you prefer not to scuba dive but are comfortable with snorkeling and want to get up close and personal with the reef then definitely check them out.
For more information on Tusa Dive company and their pricing check out their website here: https://www.tusadive.com/
2. Visit Cape Tribulation
In the name of transparency, I will admit that I had never heard of Cape Tribulation. When I was planning my trip I did what everyone does- I googled places to see in Cairns. One of the areas that continuously popped up was Cape Tribulation. After looking at photos of Cape Tribulation, I decided I had to see it. Port Douglas is about an hour drive from Cairns and apart from it being a beautiful beach, it is also part of the Great Barrier Reef so for those who do not want to adventure into snorkeling or scuba diving this is another excellent option to see the reef without even getting your feet wet! Why is Cape Tribulation on my list? Port Douglas and 4-mile beach are gorgeous beaches that are surrounded by a beautiful, green, and lush rainforest, which brings me to my third thing to do while in Cairns.
3. Visit the Daintree Rainforest
Daintree Rainforest Lookout.
When looking for ways to visit Cape Tribulation, I came across a tour that takes you to Port Douglas, 4-mile beach, and Daintree Rainforest on the same day. I am so glad that I opted for this tour because I feel like I got my money’s worth times ten. First of all, for those who do not know (like I didn’t), the Daintree Rainforest is the oldest continually surviving rainforest in the world. It may not be the biggest (the Amazon) but it is the oldest. While walking through the rainforest I felt like I was in Jurassic Park. The views felt like they were from another world. I could have spent an entire week in the rainforest alone.
The other reason why I feel like booking this tour was the best is because the tour guide that I had was incredible. Extraordinarily informative but also had a very approachable and laid back personality. Basically, he knew his facts but knew how to laugh when people told jokes. The tour company’s name is Uncle Brian’s, and I will 100% book another tour with them when I return to Cairns.
The Great Barrier Reef, Cape Tribulation, and the Daintree Rainforest are the best things to do while in Cairns and are each something I will recommend to anyone that is planning a visit to Cairns. You seriously cannot go wrong with any of these, and I can almost guarantee that you will wish that you would have spent more time in Cairns after your visit. Please don’t take my word for it though, get out there and explore Cairns for yourself!
Your virtual tour guide,
Janel
Interested in checking out more posts on Australia?
If you have been following my virtual journey on Instagram, you know the second city we visited in Australia is Adelaide. Adelaida is in South Australia, and if you are like me, you probably have never heard of it until now. I’m going to be fully transparent and admit that I had never heard of Adelaide, Australia until one of my close friends moved from the U.S. to Adelaide. I knew nothing about Adelaide except that she lived there.
Since I had a friend living there and I knew that I would be staying with her, I left the planning up to her to show me around her new town. I’m glad I decided to let her take over the planning because she showed me some excellent spots that I highly recommend to anyone visiting Adelaide. The following is my list of recommendations for activities to do while visiting Adelaide.
1. Jacob’s Creek Winery
While in Adelaide, I quickly learned that it is Australia’s wine capital. Immediately, it earned a place in my heart. I love a good glass of vino, what can I say? Knowing my undeniable love for good wine, my friend took me to a popular winery called Jacob’s Creek. Jacob’s Creek is a must-see while in Adelaide. The landscape of the Barossa Wine Valley is stunning, as you can see in the picture, and it makes me wonder why more people don’t mention Adelaide considering just how gorgeous it is. As for the wine, I bought a wine flight because if I’m going to spend the day at a beautiful winery and not try them all, what was the point? I savored each glass to the very last drop and enjoyed the views of the vineyard. If you live in the U.S. and you would like to try Jacob’s Creek before flying to Adelaide, you can buy it here, but I will say that there is something extra special about having a glass of their wine on their gorgeous vineyard. They offer tours around their vineyard, and their tasting room has lovely views of the vineyard.
Time to take a break from city life and bask in nature. It wouldn’t be a trip to Australia if there wasn’t a koala involved. Am I right? Let’s be honest, most of us learned about the animals of Australia thanks to Steve Irwin, and while everyone else can enjoy the array of poisonous snakes, spiders, and great white sharks that are plenty, I prefer the cuter, friendlier furry friends. Gorge’s Wildlife Park allows you to get up close and personal with several of the animals. While visiting, I was able to hold a koala. They smell like eucalyptus and love. Ok, just eucalyptus, but I loved being able to hold one in my own arms. I mean, how often are we able to be so up close and personal with nature?
Apart from koal-ity time, I was able to hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies as well. Kangaroos and wallabies are hopping around everywhere at the park, and some of them even have babies in their pouches. One even held my hand while I fed it. It’s another experience that I highly recommend while in Adelaide or Australia in general. You can feed the kangaroos and watch them play with each other. Make sure that you provide them with the food at the Wildlife Park and not something else.
To find out more information about Gorge’s Wildlife Park and to plan your visit, check out their website here: https://gorgewildlifepark.com.au/
3. Morialta Conservation Park
If you love wildlife and nature and prefer not to visit a wildlife park but see the natural habitat, I highly suggest visiting Morialta Conservation Park. The trails provide Adelaide’s stunning views, including a waterfall, mountainous lookout, and even koalas freely roaming and climbing trees. Being someone who likes to walk at my local park a lot, my mouth dropped when I saw koala’s just hanging out in the trees above me. It was a very unique experience and one that I probably wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for my friend taking me there.
My beautiful friend and I finally reunited.
4. Mount Lofty Summit
If you want some insane views of Adelaide, then head to Mount Lofty Summit. It is found in Cleland Conservation Park, and even though it was cloudy when I visited, the views were still impressive. I’m an outdoor enthusiast, and anything that involves mountains, greenery, and views, I’m there.
The stunning views at Mt. Lofty.
5. The Beach
It wouldn’t be a visit to Australia without visiting the beach, now would it? Adelaide has a gorgeous coastline and a boardwalk in Glenelg, filled with tons of cute shops and places to grab a bite to eat. While I visited, it was too cold for me to go in the water because I was there at the end of their winter. Hence the jacket and jeans at the beach.
I never imagined I would be wearing jeans and a jacket to the beach.
I highly recommend anyone visiting Australia to make the trip to Adelaide because it is a nice and refreshing slowing down of pace from the busier cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. I hope you have enjoyed my top 5 things to do while visiting Adelaide and if you get the chance to go, let me know if you added any of these to your itinerary.
Welcome to the land down under! Or for my fellow Americans, the other side of the world–literally. Our first stop is Sydney, Australia, and this post highlights my must-sees and must-dos while in Sydney!
First up, the must-sees. This includes areas and attractions to visit while in Sydney
AREAS TO VISIT
BONDI BEACH
One of the must-sees, in my opinion, and if you ask anyone else around Sydney, is Bondi Beach. One of Australia’s most iconic beaches and where you can see surfers and swimmers alike during all seasons. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if the water is arctic cold; you can spot someone in it.
Bondi Beach has a trail that wraps around the beach for about 6 km/4 miles. The path is easily accessible and is filled with stunning views of cliffs and coast.
Apart from the views, Bondi Beach is also filled with cute cafes, restaurants, shops, and bars. While I stayed in Sydney, I actually stayed in Bondi because after doing my research, it seemed to have the atmosphere that I wanted. Laid back, surfer, and care-free. Basically, me, minus the surfer part. (If you know how to surf, TEACH ME!) If you are looking for more of a metropolitan vibe, then I wouldn’t stay in Bondi, but I would definitely visit. It is a must-see while in Sydney, it doesn’t matter if you are not a surfer or swimmer; the views alone are worth visiting!
2. THE ROCKS
The Rocks is a neighborhood in Sydney near the Sydney Harbour Bridge that is filled with vibrant shops, pubs, and restaurants. Yes, there will be lots of tourists, BUT there are a lot of locals as well. It is a popular hangout spot where both locals and Sydney Siders mingle. I didn’t know about The Rocks prior to my trip, and I discovered it while walking around the city. Let’s just say, it turned into my go-to area to eat and drink. The Rocks has an official website that features a guide of the shopping and gastronomy available in the area. It also has the latest events happening in The Rocks. If you go to Sydney and you don’t go to The Rocks, then you truly will miss out on one of the coolest areas of the city, in my opinion.
The Sydney Opera House can be found in the Sydney Harbour, and not only is it one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, but it is also one of the most photographed buildings in the world.
Why is the Sydney Opera House so iconic? Because it is one of the most photographed buildings in the world and an architectural dream come true. The Sydney Opera House is just as impressive in person as it is on t.v. It is an architectural dream come true, and seeing it in person takes your breath away.
There are several ways to visit the Opera house. You can book one of several of the tours they offer, eat and drink in the restaurant inside or watch a show. Which you choose to do depends on a few factors, your likes/dislikes, and your budget. I chose the general tour of the Opera House, and then I had dinner at a nearby restaurant in the Harbour afterward.
For more information on how to visit the Sydney Opera House, you can visit their official website here: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/
Is it the Sydney Opera House, the only thing Sydney has to offer? Not at all.
2. THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS
If you’ve been following me for a while, then you know I love nature. If you’re new to the blog, then allow me to explain; I love nature and outdoor activities. As soon as I heard that there was a botanical garden in Sydney, I knew I had to visit.
The Royal Botanic Gardens are like an oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Australia’s most populated city. It’s a place where you can go and relax and take in the views. What are the views? Well, the Sydney Opera House can be seen from the gardens and so can most of the Harbour. It’s a great way to take a break from rushing around Sydney and just take it all in. Before visiting, you will want to see their website and see if they have any events or exhibits on display that you would like to see. The gardens are massive, and you definitely want to plan ahead.
Let me preface this by saying, I’m terrified of heights. The only thing that involves heights that don’t totally scare me is riding in a plane even though the older I get, the more nervous it makes me. Which is crazy considering I fly a lot. But fears are meant to be faced, or at least I believe so. The Sydney Tour Eye is the tallest building in Sydney and provides some of the best views of the city. The Sydney Tower Eye Tour allows you to walk outside and around the building while you are harnessed in and attached to the building. I’m not going to lie, I was terrified at first. I felt my heart in my throat when I stepped outside and saw how tiny the world looked below. The great part is that the guides are very knowledgable, and they understand that people are afraid, so they make you feel as comfortable as possible during the entire tour. They take a photo of you for you to keep, and I obviously felt so comfortable that I decided I would jump on a glass floor. Would I do it again? Hell yeah! The experience was totally worth it, and it is one of my favorite Sydney memories.
The Sydney Tower Eye wasn’t my only adventure with heights. I know what you are thinking, “Didn’t she say she is scared of heights?” I promise they terrify the hell out of me, but I guess something about being on a different continent, a new country, and thousands of miles away from home that just screams, “FACE YOUR FEARS!”When I researched things to do in Sydney, one of the attractions or something to do that popped up was the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. I thought to myself, “How many times in my life will I be able to climb across a bridge and not get arrested?” Considering this would probably be my only chance, I booked it. I would be a bold-faced liar if I said I wasn’t totally terrified. The good news is that you are secured in by a harness that is attached to the bridge by a cable, and once you start walking and soaking up the view, you almost forget you are walking across a bridge. The experience was 100% worth it, and I would totally do it again.
*The photo at the head of the article is from the Bridge Climb.
This past Saturday, I attended a wedding that was nothing less than magical. It occurred on June 20th, 2020, which happened to be the same day as the Summer Solstice, otherwise known as the longest day of the year, during pride month and a global pandemic. Apart from these factors, what made this wedding so special? It was between two of my dear friends, Bryant and Justin.
I was finally able to witness two of my friends’ Bryant and Justin, unite as one, in a beautiful, socially distanced wedding ceremony. I felt honored to be able to witness two me that I love and who love each other exchange heartfelt vows that could make even the hardest of hearts crack open and shed tears. Bryant and Justin are madly in love. Seeing them love each other the way they do only makes me hopeful that I may one day be able to experience something so powerful as their love. Is their relationship perfect? No relationship is, but they are, in fact, perfect for each other.
When Bryant first started dating Justin, he told my mom about him and how he wanted us to meet him to give him our thoughts. I’ll be honest, I’m incredibly protective of my friends and family, and so it’s hard for me to warm up to someone at first, but I immediately liked Justin. I saw how happy he made Bryant, and that was all that mattered to me because, in the end, it’s someone’s heart and the way that they treat you that truly matters.
During their wedding ceremony, one of the guest speakers said that when he was asked to say something at their ceremony, he couldn’t think of anything better than the Supreme Court decision to declare gay marriage legal. His speech was the Supreme Court’s decision, and he replaced the names of the petitioner to Bryant and Justin’s names. As soon as he began to read the Supreme Court’s decision, the tears started to stream down my cheeks. Without that decision precisely five years ago tomorrow (June 26th, 2020), their wedding would have never happened.
I remember when gay marriage became legal within the United States on June 26th of 2015, and I thought to myself, “Finally! My friends will be able to marry each other, just like everyone else.” I am not part of the LGBTQ community, but many of my friends and family members are, and I have always supported their rights. I remember congratulating my closest friends in the LGBTQ community and expressing my feelings of joy for them. It was refreshing to feel like society was progressing towards including everyone, not just some.
The month of June is a time of celebration for one specific community within the U.S., and that is the LGBTQ community. Pride month began years before gay marriage was legalized, but it has always celebrated that love is love. Pride means a lot to the LGBTQ community seeing how they have had to fight and are still fighting for their rights to be themselves and love each other freely.
The news of gay marriage becoming legal in the U.S. received both negative and positive feedback. Some people do not agree with and or approve of homosexuality. It can be religious beliefs, upbringing, or quite simply a lack of exposure to the gay community that keeps some people from understanding why being gay isn’t a crime, nor should it be illegal. People in the LGBTQ community are human beings, just like the rest of us.
I am very fortunate that while growing up, my parents taught me that being gay isn’t a choice; it’s something that you are born being. I believe this to be true. I have heard my gay and lesbian friends stories about the fear of coming out to their parents, some being rejected by their families, some being bullied in schools, and others publicly shamed for being “too feminine” or “too masculine.” These stories have reinforced my belief that gay isn’t a choice. No one willingly chooses to be treated poorly by society. I didn’t choose to be a heterosexual female, but here I am, straighter than an arrow. If I cannot explain why I am attracted to the opposite sex, why should someone who is attracted to the same sex have to explain themselves? They shouldn’t. If I, as a heterosexual female, can marry whomever, I please, why shouldn’t my friends be able to do the same?
This post and these words are dedicated to my dear friends, Bryant, and Justin. I am grateful to know you both and call you my friends. I cherish the fact that I was able to witness your beautiful union. You are both incredibly blessed to have found each other and to have found love within one another. Please continue to be the beautiful souls that you are and to share the love that you share with the rest of the world. Finding what you two have is rare, magical, beautiful, and everlasting. Cheers to a month of pride and a lifetime of love! ❤️
Exchange of vows
First kiss as husbands
My mother, Bryant, myself and Justin
My mother & I celebrating Pride at our local Pride parade in 2016.
If you’ve been following me for a while, then you know that my blog’s primary focus has always been travel. Whether it be descriptions of destinations, top things-to-do lists, or retelling stories of my adventures around the world, the main focus has already been travel. Therefore you may have noticed that my blog has shifted a little outside of travel. Why is this?
Considering that the entire globe is dealing with a pandemic and travel is extremely restricted in most places around the world, I find it out of place to talk about travel and all of these fantastic places to visit. It feels insensitive to me to discuss travel when there are people who are sick, dying, on locked down, taking care of the ill/dying, or dealing with the loss of a loved one due to COVID19. I understand and respect that there are still people discussing travel, and I do not condemn them in any way or doing so. It’s my personal feeling of not being able to discuss travel while there is so much suffering happening across the globe and be comfortable with it.
Does this mean I’m never going to discuss travel in the future? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I love traveling. It is my passion. Under other circumstances, I would advocate travel and discuss why I believe everyone should make it a priority at least once in their lifetime. For right now, I think this is a moment for me to take a step back and discuss things that are also near and dear to my heart.
I understand that some would love my blog just solely to focus on travel and trust me, I have upcoming travel posts and special announcements for when I feel like it becomes an appropriate topic again. I also know that others are interested in reading my thoughts and experiences in different areas of life. Whether it be about humanitarianism, life experiences, my struggles, grief, my different views about life, spirituality, dating, and the list goes on.
I want my blog to be multifaceted because I, myself, am multifaceted. I’m more than just a travel blogger. I’m a storyteller. I want to introduce more of my other qualities to the world through my personal stories. All of the posts that I create have been, are, and will always come from my authentic self. Just as the world changes, so do we and along with it, our beliefs. Who I am and what I believe today are likely to change with time, but they will only change to align and shift with my authentic self. My promise to the world is to stay true to who I am and what I believe in this present moment. I’m always willing to objectively look at myself and admit when I am wrong or when a belief no longer serves me. I believe that is an essential part of personal growth.
The reason for this post is that I felt compelled to explain to you, my audience, why I’ve been silent and also why my posts have shifted in regards to focus. Is travel still going to be the main topic? OF COURSE! Just now, I’ll include some more personal posts along the way.
I’m looking forward to what will come of this decision and hope that my audience is open to this new addition to my blog. I’m excited to see where this journey will take me and overjoyed that my wings are spreading even further.
Before you read this post, I find it necessary to first say to you, my audience, that I write this piece without the intent of offending anyone. I do not write this post to speak on the black experience in the U.S. or to take anything away from my loved ones who live it every day. I write this piece from the depths of my heart and soul and as a way to share my beliefs and express my love for all of humanity.
These past few weeks, while living in the United States, have been filled with sadness, fear, turmoil, and, unfortunately, lots of hatred. I cannot speak for the black community because I am, in fact, not black. I do not pretend for one second to say that I understand the black experience, especially not the black experience in the United States of America, because I have never lived it. What I have lived is a life filled with friends and family from all different walks of life. People who do not share the same color skin, nor the same religion, nor the same sexual preference as I, but we share one thing in common, and it is the most important of all. We share an undeniable love for one another.
This love is the same love that I was taught to show to others. It is a love for humanity and the souls that lay within the physical bodies of each person. As a way of teaching me this love, my parents made sure that I understood that we are all equals. The famous “never judge a book by its cover” was something always said in my house. My parents always said that you should determine who a person is solely based on their heart. It is something I’ve used throughout my life to decide who I allow to remain in my life and who I let go.
One day, when I was around five years old, I came home and asked my biological father why my best friend was black, and I was white. My father gave me what I believe is the best explanation anyone could give a young child, and this is what I plan to repeat to my future children. My father said, “You know how there are rainbows in the sky, and they are all different colors? Well, God made us all different colors so that there would be a rainbow on Earth like there is in the sky.” That was all my father had to say to me to understand that we may all look different, but we are created the same. To this day, this simple explanation forms part of my core beliefs.
As most people know, I am a traveler. I have traveled 6 of 7 continents, and I have had experiences outside of the typical human experience of staying in one country for the majority of their life. I recognize that this is a privilege. I am beyond blessed to have had the ability to travel and experience other cultures with my own eyes, ears, and heart. Travel has opened the doors for me to meet new people and listen to and learn from human experiences that are not my own. It has also allowed me to view my culture from other viewpoints and be a spectator standing on the outside looking in.
What I have been able to see while on the outside is a country that says it prides itself on being a melting pot, but it insists on creating a divide within the pot. This divide is amplified through politics, race, religion, sexual preference, profession, and gender. The main idea that divides us is the idea that we cannot be different and love each other at the same time. My friends and I prove that differences of opinion, race, gender, religion, and sexual preference do not make us hate one another. It’s the opposite. It makes us love each other. I love my friends for being different than me. I value the voices of my friends who have lived a human experience that is unlike mine. I listen to their stories, and I learn from them. I may not know what it is like to “walk a mile” in their shoes, but I try my best to listen, educate myself, and comprehend the emotion behind their human experience.
Through my friends, I have heard stories of what it is like to be black in the U.S., what it is like to be an immigrant in the U.S., what it is is like to be a Muslim in the U.S., what it is like to be gay in the U.S., and the list goes on. I do not pretend to understand their experience fully because I cannot fully understand an experience that is not my own. Still, I acknowledge it, I respect it and push myself to learn from it, and most importantly, I empathize with it. To me, Black Lives Matter is much more than just a hashtag; it’s a reality that many of my friends live.
The recent events that have taken place in this country have broken my heart. I have physically felt my heartbreaking. My heart breaks for my black friends who continually feel the need to defend their worth. My heart breaks for the mothers who have lost their sons and daughters to racism and injustice in this country. My heart breaks for the peaceful protesters who have been given a bad name by people who have a different personal agenda. My heart breaks for police officers who signed up to do a job that they believed would create a better society. My heart breaks for humanity.
It breaks my heart and infuriates me that I am the third generation in my family to protest for black rights because things have not changed since my grandmother marched for Civil Rights or since my mother, along with her family, protested against segregation. I am appalled and dismayed that it is 2020, and my friends are not treated as my equal. Not only are they not treated as equals by a specific group of people, but the system still treats them as less than. This is the case for all minorities in America. Yet, in this current moment, the focus is on black people in America and the fact that after hundreds of years of black people fighting to be seen as equal, the system continues to fail them. We, as a society, have failed them. I do not believe that what is happening in the United States right now is Black v.s. White, nor is it People v.s. Police, it is THE PEOPLE v.s. THE CORRUPT SYSTEM.
I believe that we live in a society ruled by a system that would like to see us divided, but the one thing that will always unite us is love. I refuse to allow what is happening in this country to fill my heart with hate. I refuse to allow the anger that I feel to become fuel for hatred. I refuse to create more of a division within society. I have always stood for and will continue to stand for human rights. I choose to lead by example and demonstrate through my actions that I stand for all of my friends, not just some. I will stand up for you and speak up for your rights when your voice fails you. I do not care about your race, religion, sexual preference, gender, profession, or political affiliation. I have a voice, and I refuse to stand by in silence while I watch my friends suffer. I believe what we see happening in the United States of America right now will have a ripple effect across the world. Racism exists not only in this country but globally, and I genuinely believe that this is the match that will light all of the others. It will spark much-needed conversations within countries, communities, and families. It will force the people who have created and enforce the system to listen. It will create change.
As a humanitarian, I wholeheartedly believe that we should be the change that we want to see in the world. The change that I want to see in the world is one in which we all agree that not only are we created as equals, but that we should be treated as equals. This change will happen if we allow ourselves to listen to the struggles of others and empathize with it. The change will come when we allow that empathy to fill our hearts with love and spread that love to one another. Love one another for our similarities and our differences. The key ingredient to make our rainbow on Earth just as beautiful as the one in the sky is love. Feel it, be it, spread it.
Up until the other day, I had been doing a good job of staying as positive as possible about this entire situation. After seeing several posts on the internet about how someone else’s health and well being isn’t as important as one’s liberty, I lost it. The posts were about public officials requiring that people use masks in public. After seeing so many people refusing to wear a mask because it was an infringement upon their rights, I was engulfed in anger.
I had to sit with myself and ask myself why would someone else’s opinion or actions bother me so much. The best answer that I came up with is that I’m the type of person who would bend over backward to help someone who needed it, and I’m also the type of person who takes care of others. I put my needs and wants second when I know someone else needs my help. It’s just part of who I am, and I wouldn’t change that part of me for anything.
One of the reasons why I believe that I am so empathetic towards the life of others is because I’ve watched numerous family members die since I was a teenager. Watching someone actively die with your own eyes puts a lot of things into perspective. One of those things is the value of human life and how precious it is. We are here right now at this moment, but that can all change in the blink of an eye. We all say this, but not everyone fully comprehends the meaning of “Here today, gone tomorrow.”
Since I’ve stood by and watched several of my family members pass away, it has forever engraved images in my mind that I will never forget. For example, one of my last memories of my grandma is of her in a hospital bed, drowning on her own fluids in her lungs because of lung cancer. The image and sound of her drowning on her own fluids are still vivid memories that I live with.
People dying of COVID-19 are experiencing the same situation. Their lungs fill up with fluid, they can no longer breath, and they die. The difference between this situation and my grandmother dying is that I was able to say goodbye to my grandmother, in person. People now have to say their goodbyes via an iPad. It breaks my heart, knowing that people cannot hug or kiss their loved ones goodbye because I know how much those final moments can mean to someone after their loved one has passed.
Having dealt with death on so many levels over so many years, I’ve become sensitive to human life. I was so upset by others’ comments and actions because I felt like humanity has lost three essential things—love, compassion, and empathy. People saying that their right to choose whether or not to wear a mask is more important than the life of another is in my mind, unfathomable.
I have family members that are at high risk of contracting COVID-19, and it causes me stress and anxiety having to think about if I’m going to have to lose another family member and this time not even be able to say goodbye. The possibility of having to deal with another death has not only caused stress and anxiety, but it has also made me relive moments of grief. Last year, I lost my stepdad due to sudden death, and not having that “final goodbye” still breaks my heart. That is why I try to be compassionate, empathetic, and loving towards others. I try to take into consideration the health and well-being of those around me because I know what it feels like to lose someone, and I do not want to cause that pain for someone else.
After going to bed, mad at the world, I woke up and decided that I’m not going to be angry at the choices and opinions of others. I refuse to allow the beliefs of others to consume me and turn me into someone angry and bitter. The human experience is different for all of us, and although I know how awful it feels to lose someone close to you, many people, fortunately, do not. Although I may not agree with someone else’s opinion doesn’t mean that I need to allow their ideas to get the best of me.
Being empathetic to others can often mean becoming a sponge to other’s negativity as well, and I recognized that I was allowing myself to soak in negativity and allowing it to change my mood. I realized that this was not going to accomplish anything, nor was it healthy for my soul. After reminding myself that I cannot change the world, I can only change myself; I woke up with a different attitude. I truly believe in karma and reaping what we sow, so instead of sowing seeds of anger and hatred because there is already too much of that in our current world, I’m going to continue to be the person who is empathetic, compassionate, and loving.
Love and light to all of those souls who need it now more than ever. Including me. 💖
My sister is turning 30 years old tomorrow. This birthday is going to be like any other because, for the first time in 30 years, I won’t be able to wish her a happy birthday in person, nor will I be able to hug her. Something so simple as a hug has now turned into life or death. It has also become a simple reminder of not taking anything for granted. Realizing that I’m unable to hug my sister on her birthday breaks my heart. Still, it has also made me realize how meaningful my relationship with her is.
My sister and I are 20 months apart, her being the younger one. Growing up, we fought like cats and dogs over toys, clothes, and even friends. She was the annoying little sister, and I was the mean big sister. But no matter how much we fought, we would always make up and be friends at the end of the day. After all, we were partners in crime. The only person I could count on to partake in any kind of crazy plot that I came up with and also the only one who would have my back no matter what.
Over the years, our sisterly bond dynamic has shifted and changed. We are no longer convincing each other to climb on the roof of the house or chasing each other around, ready to strangle each other. Instead, we are each other’s friend that we call when we need someone to listen to us vent, to cry, or to laugh. Don’t get me wrong, our relationship is far from perfect. We still get mad at each other, hang up on each other, and have arguments, but now it’s over real-life situations. Well, sometimes it’s about clothes too, because some things never change. My sister is my best friend and my best enemy. We can talk about everything and fight over anything. Although I won’t be able to give her a hug on her birthday, I can do what I do best and write about how much she means to me and why I love her. The following is my birthday letter to my sister, Diora.
Happy birthday to the person who never ceases to amaze me. The girl who always seems to have life figured out. Your caring heart and desire to help others are an inspiration for all of us around you. Big sisters are supposed to be the ones who lead the path and light the way, but instead, I’ve admired you as you have created your own. Over the years, you’ve become the example that I wish to follow. You are compassionate, loving, determined, and ambitious. It is your drive to excel in whatever you do that will always lead you down the path to your dreams. Although you are an independent, hard-working, driven woman, you have a sense of humor like no other. That childish side that likes to laugh and joke around, it’s that spark of crazy that you only share with those closest to you, and it brightens up our days. If there is one word that I could use to describe how I feel about you besides love, it would be pride. I’m so proud of the woman that you have become. You never cease to amaze me. Not being able to spend your birthday together has only made me realize how blessed I am to have you as a sister, travel partner, and best friend. I love you more than words will ever be able to express, and I hope you have a fantastic birthday.
Quarantine has taken control of most people’s lives by now, which has brought up many ideas on what each of us should be doing to remain productive. One of the things that most people are doing during these times is watching to see what others do via social media. Being on social media during these times has us not only peaking into someone else’s world, but it is also forcing us to take a look inside our own. Watching other people live their best quarantine lives, create fantastic art, or always talk about how they’ve had a productive day can be quite exhausting, and it can also force us to judge ourselves for not doing the same. Don’t get me wrong, I applaud anyone who is taking this time to be productive, but for some of us, we need this moment to rest and reset. We need time to face our inner demons and work on our souls because being “busy” was keeping us from doing the actual work required.
In today’s society, the idea of being productive reinforces a constant need to be busy. The busier we are, the more successful we will be, at least that’s what the world makes us believe. Trust me, even I am guilty of thinking that the more a body is in motion, the more it gets accomplished, but what staying in place has taught me is that being busy isn’t always best.
When we first started to quarantine, my mind was all over the place, and all I kept thinking was, “How am I going to survive without a job?” “What am I going to do with my time?” “How am I going to stay busy and be productive?” “How can I make sure I stay healthy and that my mom stays healthy?” It was a nonstop reel of worry and fear. I went from having a good chunk of my life “figured out” to not having a clue what I am going to do, and this ignited an unexpected dark spiral downwards. While I was freaking out on the inside, I tried to keep my composure on the outside until finally, I broke down.
My breakdown was triggered by doing what once was a simple thing. I went to buy groceries for my mom and me and just the anxiety of finding everything we needed, and not knowing what we would do if I couldn’t find certain things was nerve-racking. Once I got everything into the car, I sat there and just cried. I never imagined seeing myself in a position where I didn’t have a solution or a way to get myself out of a problem, and here I was, no solution or quick fix in sight. I felt desperate, distressed, and pathetic. Crying in my car was the breaking point that I needed. It forced me to let go. The tears streaming down my face were the physical release of all of the stress and fear that had built up in my body and my mind.
It was after my meltdown that I decided that I would not let this situation get the best of me in any way, not physically, emotionally, or mentally. I decided that I wasn’t going to feed into the fear of the unknown, and instead, I was going to embrace the gift that the universe was handing me; time. Time to learn how to rest, to focus on what I genuinely want, and to reset my life.
Having time to relax and to go inside my own thoughts and desires has not only revealed new things about myself that were waiting to be discovered and uncovered, but it also made me question why do I have this constant need to be doing something. The truth is, just like the majority of humans, there are things that I’d prefer not to think about; therefore, I find a way to occupy my mind. This doesn’t just subdue the thoughts, but it also clutters the brain. Now that I’m at home with ample time to think, it has allowed me to see the ways that I try to avoid certain emotions and thoughts throughout the day, and it’s forced me to actually sit with them and confront them.
For some people, the thought of having to face our own thoughts may provoke fear or anxiety, and it’s understandable, but I do believe that this time has been gifted to use to do just that. Although, I find it wonderful that some people are still able to be extremely productive during these times, honestly, kudos to them. But to anyone who is struggling with adapting to these new times and finding themselves not being as “productive” as before, it’s okay. If you struggle to accomplish what were once routine tasks, don’t beat yourself up over it. Allow yourself this time to rest and search within. Ask yourself if these tasks genuinely make you feel fulfilled, or were they just filling time? By forcing us to put our lives on pause, the universe has now opened the door to discover our own truths, passions, and desires. Let this be the moment that you unearth what it is that makes you joyful.
Although the concept of resting and resetting was previously foreign to me, I’m taking advantage of this abundance of time and dedicating it to learning how to not be busy all the time. While others are busy working on their side hustle, inventing the next best thing, making extravagant meals from scratch, or reading a year’s worth of books, I’m working on resting and resetting. I’m living in the present and not worrying over what the future may bring. I’m allowing myself to rest, to feel, and to work through my emotions, and to simply be. And this, for now, is more than enough.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, everyone is facing challenging times ahead. People, like myself, have lost their jobs, and the future is uncertain. One question that I have gotten since mass hysteria hit has been, “As a traveler, how does this make you feel?”
Honestly, as a traveler, this is probably my worst nightmare come true. Having to stay put in one place for an extended period has never been a department that I excel in. I’m always on the go. Even when I’m not traveling, I find a way to be doing something. It can be work or leisure, but it’s hard to stay in my house for longer than a day. My closest friends even say that my Instagram stories exhaust them because I’m always doing something.
When news of the COVID-19 first came out, I was traveling in Panamá. I, just like many other travelers, brushed it off as not a big deal. The world, in general, seemed not to pay it much attention and brushed it off as just a simple cold. I didn’t want to alarm myself over something that appeared to be contained to only Asia while I was, in fact, in Central America far, far away from the epicenter of the madness. Thinking back on this rationalization, it was pretty ignorant to assume that in today’s day and times where travel is so easy that the virus wouldn’t spread quickly. Jump to today, March 26th, and the virus has spread across the entire globe.
Luckily, I was already back at my home before all hell broke loose. As a traveler, I would typically be all in for being stranded somewhere and just taking it day by day and figuring it out. Right now, if I were to be stranded somewhere, not knowing if my family is safe, I would probably lose my mind. My adventurous side has currently taken a back seat, and my family, my health, and their health has taken priority over everything. I’m concerned with the survival of the ones I love during all of this. I’m praying for everyone around the world. The ones who are suffering because of the virus, whether they have it themselves or have lost a loved one from it.
Although my focus has shifted, this doesn’t mean that I have totally forgotten about travel; it has actually made me appreciate more. I have been looking back on photos and video clips of places I’ve seen around the world. Now, more than ever, I realize how privileged I am. I have been able to see many parts of the world and soak in cultural experiences that not many people can say that they have had. I have been watching GoPro videos of my last sunset on the beach in Panamá, looking at pictures with friends around the old part of the city, and other photos and videos I took while I was there. These fleeting moments have now become cherished memories.
Once the quarantine is over, and we are allowed to freely move about the world, I plan on creating more memories and traveling to more exotic locations. If this quarantine has reiterated anything for me, it’s that when this life is over, I will be taking nothing with me. The only thing we will take with us is the memories that we make. What stays embedded in my brain during this chaos are the images of beautiful sunsets, gazing at the stars with my mom during summer, dancing with friends, walking on beautiful islands, listening to a stranger’s story, and sharing a coffee with a new friend. These are the moments that are engraved in my mind. The moments that I value and cherish now more than ever are the ones that seemed so simple at the time that they were happening.
I can’t speak for every traveler around the world because we are all different, and we are all dealing with this pandemic in distinct ways, but for now, I plan to continue to live in the moment. Worry less about the future and focus on the now. This doesn’t mean that I won’t continue to dream about foreign places and possible trips. Right now, dreams of freedom and unfamiliar places are the glue that is keeping me together at times. Until the last day of this arrives, I’ll continue to live through my photos and videos and vicariously through other travelers’ videos and pictures of places I’ve not yet been to. This also may be the spark that will light the fire for others to want to venture out and see the world. I choose to remain hopeful that this will trigger a positive shift in our mindsets and light a fire in our hearts to continue to explore the world. In the meantime, I’ll let my wings rest like the rest of the world.
One of the most popular destinations in Panamá is a small mountainous town of Boquete. Located about 7 hours away from Panama City (the capital) and roughly an hour away from Costa Rica, it makes for a perfect escape from city life and an opportunity to reconnect with nature. Some people refer to Boquete as the “Switzerland of Panamá,” and when you look at photos of the landscape, you can tell why people would give it this nickname. It is surrounded by mountains, a river that runs through the main town, and a luscious land that produces some of the world’s best coffee.
Not only is it a popular tourist destination, but it is also a hub for ex-pats. The reason being is that the climate is much more refreshing than the rest of the country. Although it does rain frequently, Boquete has a milder temperature as in 60 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit or about 15-22 degrees Celcius. The climate, in particular, appeals to ex-pats who look to not sweat to death in the tropics and a way to escape the crazy city life in the capital. Boquete is a win-win situation not only for tourists and ex-pats, but it is also an ideal getaway from Panamanians. Boquete is located about 7 hours away from the capital and is easily accessed via car or public transport (bus).
On my recent trip to Panamá, I was able to return to one of my favorite places, Boquete, and take in all of the waterfalls, nature trails, hummingbird and butterfly sightings, and delicious coffee that this beautiful town has to offer. Here are my suggestions on how to get there, where to stay and where to eat while visiting Boquete.
How to get to Boquete
Option #1- Take a bus from the city to David, Chiriquí.
The first option and the most economical is by bus. Buses leave the city from the Albrook Terminal. The regular bus takes around 8 hours because of the many stops it makes on the way, and it costs $15. The express bus leaves at night and arrives at David, the capital of the Chiriquí province, where Boquete is located at around 6 a.m. It takes 6 hours and costs $18. Personally, I prefer the express option. From David, you will have to take another bus to arrive at Boquete. It costs $1.50 and takes about 40 minutes. The schedule changes, so you must check once you arrive at the bus terminal in David.
Option #2- Fly from Panama City (Ciudad de Panamá) to David, Chiriquí.
Air Panama and Copa Airlines provide daily flights from the capital to David. They average around $180 round trip. It is the most expensive option but also the quickest. The flight takes around one hour from Panama City to David and the airport that you will use depends on who you decide to fly with. Copa leaves from Tocumen and Air Panama leaves from Albrook. Once you arrive in David, you will still need to arrange transportation from David to Boquete. A taxi can cost you between $20-$30 to take you directly to Boquete. You can also get a ride to the terminal and then take a bus from David to Boquete.
Option #3- Rent a car and drive to Boquete.
Renting a car in Panamá is similar to renting a car in the U.S. as far as the paperwork and processing. You can find excellent deals are car rentals with some rentals being as cheap as $20 a day. The downside to this option is that it takes around 7 hours to drive from the city to Boquete, this is including stops of gas and restroom breaks. Not only does it consume several hours of your day, but if you have never driven in Latin America or Miami, I wouldn’t suggest Panamá being your first experience. Between the insane traffic in the city, drivers who have absolutely no knowledge of necessary driving skills, and not the best road conditions, driving in Panamá isn’t for everyone. I have driven from the city to all different locations across Panamá, but that’s because I used to live in Mexico, and if I could drive there, then I could pretty much drive anywhere in the world.
Getting around while in Boquete- If you chose the bus option or flying and not renting a vehicle, then there are two options to get around in Boquete, one being taxi and the other walking. There are no Ubers in Boquete, so you can solely rely on taxis, which are pretty inexpensive compared to other parts of the country. I would never suggest using a taxi in the capital, but in Boquete, it is a safe and reliable option.
You can search for flights and rental cars on my favorite travel website Kayak.com. The bus times, availabilities and prices can be found at the Albrook Terminal.
Where to stay
Boquete has many options when it comes to lodging. It provides plenty of options for anyone between the penny-pinching traveler to the billionaire travelers like Beyoncé, who want a full-on luxurious experience. The following are options that go according to different travel budgets.
Option #1- Budget-friendly.
Hotel Central Boquete is an excellent option for anyone looking for a beautiful place to stay, but that doesn’t empty the bank account. The average nightly cost is $48 U.S.D. a night. What’s to love about Hotel Central Boquete? They have their own coffee shop, amazing views of the mountains, and there are hummingbirds continually flying around the back of the hotel. (That wins significant points for me, obviously.) Apart from that, the hotel is clean, decent beds, and it is not too far out of the main town.
Hotel El Oasis. It is centrally located so you can walk from the hotel to anywhere in the main town with no issues. Your view is of the local river that flows through the town and the mountains that surround Boquete. The rooms are comfortable and are your average hotel style setup. The average nightly cost is $85 U.S.D., and the level of comfort and convenience validates the cost.
Bambuda Castle. It wouldn’t be an actual travel blog post if I didn’t provide you with the spot to stay to make your Instagram feed as lit like a Christmas tree, now would it? I have not stayed in Bambuda Castle, but I have visited and what I can say is this, THEY HAVE HOBBIT ROOMS. That’s right—literal mini hobbit castles. You and a friend (or a lover or partner, no judgment) can stay the night and overlook the mountains while you reenact scenes from Lord of the Rings. I know, the influencer in all of us is just dying to stay there. The good news is that it is incredibly affordable. The average nightly cost is $79 U.S.D., which makes your hobbit dreams much more attainable. The downside? It’s pretty far outside of the main town, so if you didn’t bring a vehicle, you would probably end up spending a decent amount on taxis trying to get back and forth.
https://bambuda.net/boquete
Option #4- Luxury over expense.
Valle Escondido. If money isn’t an issue and you’re trying to experience what luxurious locations Boquete has to offer, then look no further than Valle Escondido. Valle Escondido (“Hidden Valley”) is a hidden resort that offers peace, solitude and nothing but the best in accommodations to all of its guests. It averages around $175 per night, and having stayed there myself, I can confirm that it is worth every single penny. It is comfort, beauty, and convenience all in one. Though it is hidden, it isn’t far from the main town, and while staying there, you don’t even feel the need to leave. There are flowers, streams, and cute gardens everywhere—plenty of places to get beautiful pictures, not just of the luscious landscape but also of the gorgeous resort.
Hacienda Los Molinos- This is for the traveler who doesn’t know the word budget, or at least it is the very last of their concerns. Averaging at $275 U.S.D per night, Hacienda Los Molinos is the definition of luxury. You can rent a villa and say “Adios!” to the outside world, well at least until you run into one of the other hotel guests, but for the most part, it is pretty private and also provides are more intimate experience than the rest. It is also the destination of many Panamanian weddings so don’t be surprised if you just so happen to be there the same day as a wedding party.
https://losmolinoshotel.com/
Where to eat
Although Boquete is a tourist hotspot, it is still a pretty small town. With that in mind, the food options are limited, but there are plenty of good restaurants around. In this category, I have decided to select my top restaurants for different meals.
Breakfast- Sugar & Spice
It is one of the healthiest options for breakfast that you will find in Boquete. They offer items such as pancakes, omelets, breakfast burritos, and typical continental breakfast. You may be thinking, “That isn’t healthy.” Compared to the traditional Panamanian breakfast options, which tend to be fried, such as fried sausage, eggs, and hojaldre (fried dough). Not only is it a healthier option, but I have never been disappointed in a meal since I started going there. Their food is fresh, delicious, filling, and their prices are reasonable. My personal favorite thing to eat is their omelet, but there are no wrong choices here.
This isn’t a healthy option, but if you want to try a delicious sandwich and strawberry milkshake, then you cannot skip out on Granito de Oro. It is located outside of the main town, going towards David. You can only reach it by car or taxi, but trust me, the ride is worth it. My favorite sandwich on their menu is their pork sandwich or “emparedado de pierna” even though I don’t eat pork often, there is no denying that this sandwich is beyond excellent. One of the main things that the Chiriquí province is known for, besides coffee, is strawberries. When visiting Boquete, you cannot skip out on trying “fresas con creama” or strawberries with whip cream, but at Granito de Oro, they don’t sell strawberries with cream. Instead, they sell the best strawberry milkshake that you will ever drink in Panamá. It is an obligatory stop anytime that I am in Boquete. Just be prepared to take half of your sandwich home with you because the portions are massive.
Location: Calle 4ta Noroeste, Alto Boquete, Panama
Dinner- Retrogusto
A lovely Italian restaurant that is t is on the fancier and more upscale level of dining in Boquete. Although it is on the pricier side, the food and service validate the price. The prices are also less than the costs of fine dining restaurants. My favorite plate is the gnocchi, but their pizza is fantastic as well. It’s a lovely place to enjoy a nice meal either by yourself or with the company of someone else.
Location: Avenida Central & Calle 1 Norte
https://ilretrogusto.com/
There you have it—my suggestions for transportation, lodging, and food while in Boquete. Be sure to look out for next week’s post when I discuss my favorite things to do in Boquete. Trust me; if you love adventure, then you won’t want to miss out on the next post.
The classic Boquete picture of the river that runs through the town.
Strawberry milkshake from Granito de Oro
Emparedado de pierna from Granito de Oro
Omelet from Sugar & Spice
When the milkshake is so good that you can’t resist a selfie.
Blue morpho butterfly. One of many butterfly species that can be seen in Boquete. This just so happens to be my favorite.
Inside of where the have their annual coffee and flower festival.
Boquete at night.
Views from one of the mountainsides.
The welcome sign before you enter the actual town.
The banks of the river that runs through the town.
The flowers in bloom during their love coffee and flower festival.
One of the most challenging parts of trip planning is figuring out where to stay and also what to eat. I mean, everyone needs a good meal and place to lay their head down at night. Am I right? This list is to help take some of the headaches out of organizing your trip to Havana. I’ve created a list of places to dine, the best way to find accommodation, your not so average souvenir shop and a tip on Cuban currency because it can be confusing for anyone who goes to Cuba for the first time. There are tons of restaurants and bars to check out in Havana, but these are my top choices from my most recent trip. As they say in Cuba, ¡Salud! (Cheers!)
Where to eat
Breakfast
El Dandy: A cute
hipster café that has big portions, reasonable prices and serves up great café
con leche.
Location: Teniente Rey, La Habana
Lunch/Dinner:
Azucar Bar &
Lounge: A great place to try the “famous” Cuban sandwich. Their sandwiches
are big and worth the price. It has a very chill vibe and is a great spot for a
coffee or a cocktail. The terrace provides great views and an awesome spot to
take a photo of Plaza Vieja. It is
located on the second floor above Café Escorial.
Location: Mercaderes 315 Teniente Rey & Vieja., Muralla, La Habana, Cuba
Antojos:
Traditional Cuban food that stands out above the rest. By far the best meal that I had in Habana
this time was at Antojos. It was so good that when I go back to Havana, it is
the first place I’m going for a meal. I suggest getting their ropa vieja. It is
a traditional Cuban dish and their take on it is nothing less than delicious.
Their portions are large and their prices are extremely reasonable.
Located: Callejón Espada e Cuarteles y Chacon in Habana
Vieja.
Rooftop
Restaurant/Bar:
Jesús María 20: Thanks to my friend and best guide of Cuba, Marissa, for introducing me to this amazing rooftop spot in Habana Vieja. The restaurant has a first floor and two rooftop terraces, the first being the main terrace. It has a very hidden vibe about it, but it is well known amongst locals. The graffiti that decorates the main walls of the terrace give it the cool, hipster vibe that most people seem to go for these days. Besides the great aesthetic and delicious cocktails, the food is really good. I tried their fish fillet and sweet potato puree and was impressed. My friend had their ropa vieja and said it was wonderful.
Location: Jesús María, La Habana
El Malecón 663: My friend and I just so happened to come across this spot while walking El Malecón at night. It a boutique hotel and restaurant that has a rooftop bar that provides a gorgeous view of El Malecón. The inside is filled with artwork and has a very eclectic vibe. It’s a great place to have a late-night drink or a day time sangria to cool down from walking El Malecón.
Location: 663 Malecon, La Habana, Cuba
Coffee:
Cuba is known for its strong coffee so fair warning. If you have never had Cuban coffee before, stick with one and done otherwise you will be awake all night and probably attached to the toilet for a good amount of time. Yes, it is that strong. If you don’t believe me, well, you’ve been warned.
Café El Escorial: A traditional style café that offers tons of a vast variety of coffee drinks all the way from classics like café con leche, cortaditos, to modern-day frappes.
Where to shop:
Clandestina: They
are Cuba’s first independent fashion brand. It is a great spot to find a cute
shirt or bag and the best part is that you are supporting local entrepreneurs
and it isn’t your typical souvenir.
Location: 403 Villegas, La Habana
Obispo: This isn’t a specific place, but Obispo is one of the main streets in Old Havana and it is filled with shops. It is one of the busiest streets in Habana Vieja and if you visit El Floridita for a daiquiri, then you are already standing on the corner of Obispo. If you continue walking down Obispo you will see open artist markets and shops with plenty of souvenirs.
Where to stay: Skip overpriced
hotels and stay at a “casa particular” (Airbnb) in Vedado.
Most people want to stay in Habana Vieja because it is located near all of the tourist locations, but Habana Vieja at night is a ghost town. The best area to stay in Havana is Vedado. During the day it is a calm, pretty neighborhood and at night it has the best bars and clubs. On this trip, I stayed in Vedado at a super cute Airbnb. The only downside to Airbnb’s and hotels in Cuba is that the Wi-Fi is hardly ever free, the signal is awful, and in most places you have to buy internet cards if you want to use it. Airbnb’s charge 2 CUCs (2 USD) for a card, but you can buy cards at ETECSA (Cuba’s internet provider) for 1 CUC (1 USD) per card and use them at the Airbnb.
Currency: Cuba has two types of currency. CUC Cuban Convertible Peso and Cuban Pesos. 1 CUC is about 25 Cuban pesos. Most places accept CUC as a form of payment, especially from tourists. When you arrive to Cuba exchange your dollars for CUCs because there are very few places that accept U.S. dollars. The current exchange rate for dollars to CUC on the street is 1 USD for 1 CUC. Find someone who will exchange your dollars for you at this rate. You can ask the person running your Airbnb to help exchange your currency for you and they will find you the best price they can. If you exchange your money at a money exchange place they will charge you a ridiculous fee.
Although these tips are meant to help anyone traveling to Havana out, I also suggest roaming the streets and checking out any place that looks interesting to you. Some of the best experiences that I’ve had while traveling is walking into a place that looks like a hole-in-the-wall and discovering that it’s actually a hidden gem. If it looks interesting, there is a 100% chance that it is. Check it out!
Havana seems to be on the tip of every traveler’s tongue these days and with good reason. Havana is a place that ignites warmth within the coldest of hearts as it is one of the sexiest cities you can visit. Havana is intoxicating to the senses. There are gorgeous men and women everywhere, and the rum is some of the strongest your lips will ever touch, and the music in the streets will make you sway your hips even if you have no rhythm.
The other part that appeals to travelers is that many people say going to Cuba is like traveling back into the ’50s. The old cars, dilapidated buildings, and lack of modernization, it’s as if Cuba never caught up with the rest of the world. If you are from the U.S. and you are wondering if traveling to Cuba is still a possibility, the answer is yes. Although travel has been restricted, again, it is still possible. As long as you apply for a visa through one of the visa programs that the U.S. allows, you are still able to travel to Cuba.
If you want to find what all of the hype is about Havana, the best way is to go and check it out for yourself. The following are my tips on what to do if it is your first time in Havana.
1. Walk El Malecon
First and foremost, you didn’t go to Havana if you don’t have a photo sitting on El Malecon. El Malecon is the causeway that separates the city from the sea. When you see pictures of old cars driving against the shoreline, they are driving next to El Malecon. The best time to walk it (in my opinion) is right before sunset. Sunsets in Havana are out of this world and especially at El Malecon because you have the sea and the city as a backdrop.
2. Drink a mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio
Even though this is a tourist trap, it is a must for anyone who is in Habana for the first time. It is the birthplace of the original mojito and has seen a fair share of famous faces since it opened in the 1940s. It is always guaranteed to have a large crowd of tourists, so I suggest going mentally prepared to wait for your mojito. You might as well order two to make dealing with the crowd work it.
3. Visit La Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC):
Located in Vedado, La Fabrica de Arte Cubano is a contemporary art collective that allows modern Cuban artists of all types to share a common space which just so happens to be an old oil mill that they converted into their home. You can expect to see all different types of art on display here, between musicians, dancers, painters, photographers, designers, etc. They are only open Thursday until Sunday from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. They are also home to some of the best local concerts you can find. If you are interested in the arts, this is a must-see.
4. Ride in an old convertible
One of the biggest attractions in Cuba is riding around Havana in an old car. Even if you don’t have much background knowledge on automobiles, the old cars that filled the streets of Cuba are amazingly well maintained, considering that most of them are over 60 years old. A popular thing to do in Havana is a ride in a convertible alongside el Malecón as the driver or guide points on different buildings and historic locations in the city. The cost can range anywhere from 40 to 60 CUC.
5. Go to El Cañonazo
Each night at 9 p.m., a cannon is shot off at San Carlos de la Cabana. It is a tradition that goes back to the colonial times, and back then, it indicated the closing of the harbor for the night, today it is done for tradition. The guards wear traditional colonial outfits and fire off the cannon at precisely 9 p.m. The fee to see El Cañonazo is 8 CUC, which equals around 8 USD. If you don’t want to pay the entrance fee, you can also hear El Cañonazo for free if you walk El Malecón at night.
6. Drink a daiquiri at El Floridita
Cocktail connoisseurs know that El Floridita is the birthplace to the daiquiri, the lovely frozen rum drink that is sure to give you two things, brain freeze, and a buzz. It is also one of Ernest Hemmingway’s favorite spots in Havana. He was such a frequent patron that there is a statue of Hemmingway standing at the end of the bar. Just like La Bodeguita del Medio, it is a tourist trap and is almost always crowded, but since it is the birthplace of the daiquiri, it is a must-see.
One year. Three hundred sixty-five days since I physically felt my heart shatter when I heard my mom say the words, “Your dad had a heart attack and passed away in his sleep.” Honestly, I never expected to listen to those words.
When someone tells you that a loved one has passed away, the very first thing that happens is disbelief. You refuse to believe what you just heard. Your brain hears the words, but it does not process them. A feeling of shock and disbelief sweep across your whole body, and the feeling in the moments that follow can be best described as hollow.
How can you accept that someone that you love is no longer here? Especially when you just saw that person two days prior. People try to console you with words of condolence and encouragement, but mentally and physically, you are numb. A tornado could have come and swept me off of the ground I was standing on, and I wouldn’t have felt a thing. That is how numb and lost I was. Physically, I was on Earth; internally, I was in a black hole of numbness and disbelief.
The initial numbness doesn’t wear off within a few days, like most of us would like or want to believe would happen. Sometimes it doesn’t even hit at first. It comes in waves. And instead of allowing ourselves time to process the information and emotions that come along with the passing of a loved one, we immediately occupy ourselves. There are services to be arranged, flowers to be bought, and making the decision on how the family shall say their final farewell. What follows the time of death is days of constant planning and preparing that keeps your mind occupied and unavailable to focus on your feelings. We don’t allow ourselves the time to process what has just happened, so leading up to the funeral or service, bottle your grief up and place it on a shelf to the side so you can take care of things. It only subdues the grief and pain temporarily. Once the funeral process is over, you truly begin to feel the loss.
The dust settles, and family and friends return to their routines and daily lives, and you sit and wonder how you could live the same life that you did before you lost your love one. You are there, alone, left with the task of gathering the broken pieces of your heart and piecing them back together slowly. No one can prepare you for the mental spiral that is to come — the questioning of what you could have done differently. I asked myself how I could have been a better daughter. I had a good relationship with my dad, and I never thought that I would question if I was present enough in his life or if I spent enough time with him. After he died, I began to replay every single missed opportunity that I could have spent with him and even blamed myself for having a social life and not dedicating more time to my family. I felt guilty for creating a life for myself that didn’t include seeing or talking to him daily.
If being filled with these thoughts while I was awake wasn’t enough, my dreams were also about my dad. One dream in particular that I had almost every night after he passed was him wearing a black tuxedo, and we were standing outside of a concrete building with a red door. He flicked his cigarette out and took a look at me with his bright blue eyes and said, “Let’s do this.” Then he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, kissed me on the forehead, and we started walking towards the door. I had hoped that my dreams would be of something else, something that wouldn’t reflect my sadness, but there was no escaping it, not even in my dreams. I was trapped within my mind, and there was no way out.
Honestly, I never thought that losing my dad would be so painful or throw me into a spiral of intense grief and depression. I had dealt with death and grief previously. When I was 17 years old, my biological father passed away from cancer the morning after my high school graduation. With his passing, I was catapulted into dealing with grief while also transitioning from high school into “the real world” which gave me something to look forward to and place my focus on instead of centering my thoughts on my grief and loss. I’m not saying that I avoided my feelings; I just was able to process them quicker. It seems that because I had so much to look forward to, my mind just pushed me to continue forward. Then jump to 2019 when my stepdad dies, and I’ve already graduated college, done a considerable amount of traveling, moved to another country, and seemed to be starting to create a new life for myself and BAM. My world crumbled right in front of my eyes. This time I didn’t have anything significant to look forward to. I wasn’t dating anyone, not planning on having children anytime soon, and didn’t have any exotic travel plans. What was the next stage in my life that I could put my focus on?
My mind kept telling me to buy a plane ticket and get away and just be alone, but my heart told me to move back home and be with my family. For once in my life, I listened to my heart. The months following my dad’s passing were filled with tears, questioning, soul searching, connecting with friends who were experiencing the same pain that I was, and trying to find my life path. I allowed myself to sit with my grief and truly feel it. Allow it to wash over me, and I gave myself space to be sad, which, if you know me, you know that I have the unhealthy habit of avoiding being sad. I faced the rawest and ugliest emotions that surfaced, and instead of suppressing them, I allowed them and myself just to be. I allowed myself to feel. I made space for the negative. I realized that the more I allowed myself to be washed over with emotions and let myself be vulnerable, the more I began to feel like myself again.
I’m not going to say that allowing yourself to feel these emotions of heartache, incredible sadness, and uncontrollable grief is an easy task. That is a lie. It is extremely tough. It is opening old wounds and new ones and allowing life to dump salt all over them and endure the pain in order to heal your heart. There are days when you just want to feel no longer, and you would pay someone to deplete you of all emotions and feelings. Then there are days that you beg that the sadness and numbness will go away, and your heart will be filled with joy again. You almost feel guilty for wanting to be happy because you want to honor your loved one and the hole in your heart that they left behind, but at the same time, you know that they would want you to feel bliss again and to live your life to the fullest and fill that hole with new memories.
If I were to sit here and tell you that during this past year, I never experience joy or happiness, I would be a liar. There were moments when I experienced joy. There were days when my heart didn’t hurt as much. I had moments that made me smile and made me think, “Finally, I’m getting better.” But as anyone who has dealt with grief will tell you, there is no timeline to grief. You may feel on top of the world one day, and the next day you have this overwhelming sadness sweep over you and feels as though you took 20 steps backward. On days when I would feel this extreme sadness and emptiness, I would blame myself for not feeling better, for not being “better” with processing my dad’s death. I would tell my mom that I was so mad at myself for not being where I thought I should be in the process. I naturally put a lot of pressure on myself to be “strong” and to get over things quickly, but it doesn’t matter how much you want your sadness to go away, your heart doesn’t go according to your timeline, it creates its own.
Death creates an end and a beginning in the life timelines of those left behind. For me, my dad dying also marked the departure of who I was before. The person who I believed myself to be was no longer. I would stand in front of the mirror and not recognize the person looking back. I felt like a shell of the person I once was. I thought I died with him, except I was still physically here. What I didn’t realize is that although part of me ceased to exist on that day, a new piece of me was being born.
Although this new beginning started with sadness and grief from my dad’s death, it has also been filled with soul searching, healing, self-discovery, and self-love. It has sent me on a spiritual journey that, to be honest, if my dad wouldn’t have died, I probably would have never embarked on it. I began to rediscover passions that I felt like I had lost, such as writing. I am constantly evolving and discovering who I am. This isn’t to say that I no longer experience moments of sadness or grief.
02/02/2020 marked exactly one year since my dad died. The weeks leading up to that date felt so dreadful to me. I didn’t want to experience it, and I tried to avoid it at all costs. I was in Panamá, traveling around the country, and visiting friends and one thing that I knew was that day I didn’t want to spend it in the city. I wanted to be on a beach. I tried to convince a friend to come along, but I ended up going alone.
On the morning of his death anniversary, I woke up and looked at pictures of my dad, and instead of crying, I said thank you. Thank you for being with me during this past year. Thank you for pushing me to keep moving forward. Thank you for the signs that you send me that you are with me. Thank you for taking care of me. Thank you for helping me rediscover my passions. Then I thanked him for making it possible for me to take that day and spend it on an island in the middle of the Caribbean.
The island that I escaped to is remote and two hours away from the city, and the best part is that there is no cellphone signal. The only other people on the island were a couple visiting from Chile. I was able to be alone and cut off from the outside world so that I could be with my thoughts and my emotions. I had been avoiding this day for weeks because I kept fearing the extreme sadness I would feel, but on that day, I didn’t feel sad. I didn’t feel empty. Instead, I felt grateful and happy for having my dad be a part of my life for so many years. I enjoyed my own company, and I reflected on how far I had come in the past year.
Being on that beach reminded me of what it is like to feel alive. The waves crashing against the shore and the sand between my toes created a sensation of overwhelming happiness. My heart felt what it hadn’t in the past twelve months. It felt full. For a moment, I felt almost guilty for not being sad the entire day, and that’s when I saw a hummingbird in the palm tree where I was sitting. Hummingbirds and butterflies are my signs from my dad. I knew that it was my dad reassuring me that it was alright to be happy and that he was with me.
Reflecting on that day and this past year as a whole, I can confidently say that it has been a whirlwind of emotions and endless self-questioning. I know that there will be days in the future in which I will cry because I miss him telling me that it is all going to work out or simply because I want him here to share in my happiness. My dad may not physically be here, but he is with me every single second of the day. On my darkest days, when I feel like I need him the most, my reoccurring dream almost comes true, I can feel a weight around my shoulder, and there is a voice in my head that says, “Let’s do this.” And here I am, doing it, one day at a time.
This post is dedicated to the memory of my stepdad, Barry Glenn Gernert. He showed me that being a father isn’t by blood; it is based on the love that you have for your children, and he loved us more than anything. I love you Dad.
A new year typically means a new beginning, and with that fresh start comes new dreams. I figure what better way to start 2020 than publishing my bucket list for 2020. I have chosen the Top 10 Destinations that I would like to visit in 2020. Does making this list mean that I will be able to check everything off? No, it doesn’t, but it takes zero dollars to dream and only you to believe in yourself. I think it will be fun to look back on this list at the end of 2020 and see what I was able to accomplish this year.
1. Bora Bora
This will always be on my bucket list until I visit. I have been dreaming of Bora Bora for as long as I can remember, and with it being one of the most exotic and expensive destinations, it has remained at number one for years. Bora Bora looks like paradise on Earth, and if it is anything like the Maldives, then it is paradise. I’ve had friends go and tell me about how amazing their experience was, and honestly, it just gives me more motivation to go.
2. Day of the Dead in México
I lived in México for three years, and I never went to Michoacán or Oaxaca for Day of the Dead, which is something I wish I would have done. Michoacán and Oaxaca are the epicenters for Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. Although I believe everything happens for a reason and I probably didn’t participate in any Day of the Dead activities back then because I was too young and immature to cherish the moment truly. One of my goals this year is to participate in Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities. Although the name Day of the Dead sounds morbid, the truth is that it is more of a celebration of life than it is death.
3. Burning Man 2020
Burning Man is an annual festival in the desert (Black Rock Cities) where artists and creatives alike come together to create art, passion, and experiences that ensure memories that will last a lifetime. Before Burning Man became a popular event for influencers, it was something that I always wanted to experience. I love art and music, and combining both of those into one event where people feel free to express themselves in whatever way they choose, is the best-case scenario. It’s the modern-day Woodstock with new-age hippies. My friends who have gone said that they did not return as the same person. They were enlightened, and their hearts were full, and I want to experience that same feeling.
4. Cappadocia, Turkey
I am addicted to travel content on Instagram, and one of the things that I see posted the most is Cappadocia, Turkey. I’ve been to Istanbul, and while I was there, I really wanted to make it to Cappadocia, but I was limited on time. What brings so many people to go to Cappadocia? Hot air balloons. Cappadocia has daily hot air balloon rides over rock formations that surround the city. The videos and pictures are almost fairytale-esque. I’ve always dreamed of going on one of the famous hot air balloon rides over Cappadocia, and I will not give up on this dream until it is accomplished.
5. Dublin, Ireland
I have tried to go to Dublin on two different occasions, and each time something happened with the flights, and they had to be canceled or changed to where Dublin was no longer part of the itinerary. Why do I want to go to Dublin so bad? The truth is that through meeting people while traveling and being told their experiences, Dublin sounds like a fun city with such a distinct culture that it must be experienced at least once in my lifetime. Not only do I want to visit Dublin, but I want to experience the Irish countryside for myself. The travel photos that I see are breathtaking, and since I love hiking and nature, what better place to experience both? Plus, the third try is a charm.
6. Machu Picchu, Perú
What is a bucket list without one of the wonders of the world? Unless you have already checked all seven off, then no bucket list is complete without at least one of the wonders. I previously had a trip to Peru planned out, which included seeing Machu Picchu, but destiny stepped in and decided that I would break my ankle a week before the trip. Needless to say, Machu Picchu didn’t happen. My dreams of Machu Picchu may have been put on hold, but that doesn’t mean that they have gone away. I want to be able to sit and look down on the valley in which it sits and take in the panoramic views while trying to breathe it all in. Also, where else can you get an alpaca selfie with epic views?
7. Monteverde, Costa Rica
I lived in Costa Rica’s southern neighbor, Panamá, and on multiple occasions, I said that I wanted to go to Costa Rica. For one reason or another, I never made it. Costa Rica is known for its beaches and jungles, which in all honesty, Panamá has plenty of as well. The real reason why I want to go to Costa Rica has nothing to do with jungle and beaches, although they will be enjoyed while I am there. I want to go to Costa Rica for their hummingbirds. You read that right. Hummingbirds. In Monteverde, Costa Rica, there is a hummingbird sanctuary where not only can you see different species of hummingbirds, but they will land on your hands. I love hummingbirds, and everyone in my family feels a close connection to them. The videos that I have seen of hummingbirds flying around people in Monteverde are what dreams are made of.
8. Cinque Terre, Italy
Although I have been to Italy on several occasions, I have never made it to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is Italian for “Five Lands,” and the reason for the name is that Cinque Terre consists of five coastal towns in Italy. If you google it, you will see that the houses in each of the towns are colorful and vibrant and sit upon cliffs with the sea below them, it creates a beautiful view beyond Instagram worthy. Cinque Terre is what pops into my mind when I think of Italy. Most people think of Rome, Milan, or Florence, but not I. Cinque Terre has been on my bucket list for a while, and each time I have been to Italy, I later regret not going to Cinque Terre. I plan to make visiting Cinque Terre, the number one thing that I do the next time I am in Italy.
9. Petra, Jordan
As I mentioned earlier, no bucket list is complete without one of the wonders of the world, and this bucket list just so happens to have two wonders of the world. Petra is a city created by tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs. It is an archeological site that brings thousands of tourists each year to the middle of the southern Jordanian desert. I don’t know if it is the pink sandstone or the fact that Petra seems to be in the “middle of nowhere” that attracts me the most and makes me want to go there. There is also the other obvious factor that it is a world wonder, but either way, it is a place that I have always wanted to experience for myself.
10. Marrakech, Morocco
Last, but definitely not least, is Marrakech. Since the very first time that I went to Spain, I wanted to take a ferry to Morocco. One of the reasons why I never did was because of time constraints on each of my trips, but it was always something that I wanted to do. Part of the appeal of Morocco is the fact that it is part of Africa, and prior to 2017, I had never been to any country on the African continent. Currently, I have only been to one, Egypt. Morocco has this North Africa meets Middle East vibe to it, seeing how most of the country speaks Arabic and is Muslim, and the preferred form of travel through the desert is still via camel. Not only does it have a distinct culture, but they also have one of the coolest accommodations that I have seen. Riads. Riads are Moroccan guesthouses that you can rent while in Marrakech, they are basically luxury Airbnbs. Marrakech seems exotic, luxurious, and cultured, which are three things that can’t always be found in one destination, and it is one of the reasons why I want to visit so badly.
This wraps up my 2020 Bucket List. Although it is a bucket list/dream list, I also consider it a list of goals. As you can see, some of these destinations and things to do have been on my bucket list for many years, and some are newer. 2020 may just be the year that I accomplish them all. Either way, the best way to turn your dreams into reality is to set them as goals and watch as you go ticking each off one by one.
I hope my 2020 Bucket List has inspired you to start writing down the destinations that you would love to visit during 2020, and don’t forget that no place is either too big or too impossible to visit. Below I have included photos of places that were once bucket list destinations/dreams that over the years I have been able to mark off of my list. Just remember that no dream is ever too big. When there is a will, there is a way.
2019 started like any other year, filled with hope, happiness, and exciting plans to put into action. The only difference to the start of my 2019 ways that I rang it in by jumping on a hotel bed in Nepal with one of my best friends. I said exactly what most of us declare for the New Year, “This is going to be my year.” Flash forward to December of 2019, and as I reflect on this year, I could easily say that 2019 beat me down and dragged me down the curb a few times over, but the honest truth is, 2019 was a year that I needed to experience and the reminder that life is precious, make the most of it.
When I reflect on this year and think of the best words to use to describe it, the only two that come to mind are growth and transformation, and to be honest, growth and transformation are rarely a pretty process. They are both pretty ugly, and none of us want to experience them, but life makes sure that we do when we need it the most.
Almost two weeks after saying that 2019 was mine for the taking, I got bit by a street dog in Colombia, which at first was just a few puncture wounds, no big deal. Or so I thought. Quickly it escalated to cellulitis of the hand. Next thing that I know, I’m in the E.R. in Cartagena being told that what they said was the rabies injection that I thought they had given to me the day of the bite, was actually a tetanus shot. There I sat, in an E.R. in Colombia, being told that I need to get a double dose of the rabies vaccine ASAP. Also that if the antibiotics that they prescribed to me didn’t get rid of the infection in my arm, then there was literally nothing that anyone could do. I felt defeated, but the show must go on, so I continued on my merry way while taking antibiotics both orally and injected and prayed that I didn’t have rabies. Thankfully, I did not contract rabies. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be writing this right now because I would be dead.
Colombia thankfully was only a small scare, but looking back on it now, it was just a precursor to what would be the rest of my year. Two weeks after my Colombian street dog adventure, I was back in the U.S. visiting my family and friends and taking a course to become a certified medical interpreter. Since I was in town, I made plans with my stepdad to go out to eat with him and his mom (my grandmother) and catch up. The day we were supposed to meet up, a polar vortex hit our city, and there was no way in the world that he or I were going to leave our houses because we both despise cold weather. We canceled our original plans and decided I would visit him at his home two days later.
When I went to his house, we talked for a few hours about everything that had happened since the last time we saw each other. I told him about my motorcycle accident on my 30th birthday in Colombia, having raging food poisoning on the streets of India, and my most recent adventure, my brush in with a Colombian street dog. In typical dad fashion, he shook his head in disbelief and dismay. He told me to start being more careful and to quit going on these crazy trips because something always happens to me. (There is nothing but the truth in what he said.)
After hearing my crazy stories, he asked me when would I move back home because he missed me, and he wanted me back home. He said he thought the best thing for me was to go home for a while and be with my family and spend time with everyone. I told him that I was going to try to get my interpreter certification so I could come back home and work as an interpreter for a bit and then head back to Panamá, and if everything went according to plan, I would move back around March. I told him that when I moved back, we would start going on walks together and hanging out to make up for the missed time. When we got around to saying our goodbyes, I promised him that I would be back sooner than he knew. He told me to give him a hug, and as I did, he squeezed me extremely tight like he always did, and then told me that he loved me. He started crying, and I said, “I love you too, dad. Why are you crying?” He said, “I just love you so much. I love you so much.” He gave me a kiss on the forehead and another tight hug, and I was on my way. Little did I know, I would never be able to take another walk with him or visit with him again. My dad died a day and a half later of a heart attack in his sleep. I was the last person to see him alive and to talk to him.
My dad’s death triggered a downward spiral in my life. I had forgotten what it felt like to lose someone that you love and how your heart feels like it is shattering into a million pieces when you hear that someone who you love is no longer here. I am not a stranger to loss or grief. When I was in high school, I lost two grandparents and my father the morning after my high school graduation. Loss and grief and I had already met face to face when I was younger, but now what I was 30 and hadn’t felt that pain in my many years, I had forgotten how absolutely horrible it is.
My dad (stepdad) was in my life since I was four years old, and he was what I believed to be the best dad. The day that he married my mom, he got down on one knee with two rings in his hand and asked my sister and me if we would be his family. From that day forward, we were his daughters. I never questioned if my stepdad loved us because he demonstrated it to us daily. His actions spoke louder than words, and where I felt a lack of love from my biological father, my stepdad would try to make up for it by always telling me how proud he was of me and how much he loved me. I always knew that I could count on him for anything I needed, and he would always be there for me. He helped get me through some of the toughest moments in my life when my grandfather and my father passed away. He pushed me to move forward, and he was always one of my biggest fans. When he passed away this year, my world felt like it fell apart. I lost someone who loved me no matter what, who always had my back even when I messed up and who would remind me of how great I could be even when I couldn’t see it. My soul felt crushed after I found out that he had passed away.
He passed away February 2nd, and the months following his passing were filled with numbness, sadness, and pain. I couldn’t understand why my stepdad passed away right before I was planning to move back home. We had made plans to hang out together and see each other, and now it was all gone. I didn’t know why it happened, and I knew I was never going to get the answer. Someone who I loved dearly was taken away from me without any warning. I was mad at the world.
After I moved back home in March, I went through months of not understanding, being depressed, and just feeling as if I was never going to get back to feeling like “myself” again. It wasn’t until July, the month of both of our birthdays, that I started to feel true happiness again. I was traveling around my state and other cities nearby, spending time in nature and taking photographs of butterflies and flowers. As I started to feel better and think about what it is I want out of life, I realized that I wanted to finally do something that I had been talking about for years. I wanted to start a blog and discuss travel and tell all of my crazy stories to the world. I kept going back and forth on if I should or if I shouldn’t, and if I started it, what should I name it? From a little help from my friend’s mother and a sign from my stepdad (a butterfly), I came up with the name Janel Has Wings, and then I got online and researched how to start a blog. The rest is history.
I am not the same person that I was starting in 2019, and I know that I will never be. I moved back home, which was something that I never truly wanted to do, I lost my stepdad, two grandparents, and a friend, and I was working a job that I didn’t enjoy which is something that I said I would never do again. All of this combined reminded me that life is fleeting, and we should make the most of it while we can. Life will never be perfect, and there will be problems and loss, but there will also be those really incredible moments that make it worth it. If anything I’ve learned in 2019, it is to allow myself to feel “negative” emotions but never give up. It took feeling like I had lost it all to find myself again. I’m thankful for 2019 and the life lessons that accompanied it, no matter how hard they were. I know that walking into 2020, I am a totally different person than I was at the beginning of 2019, and I know that 2020 will push me to continue to grow and transform myself into the person I am meant to be.
P.S. Thanks, Dad, for the wings! 💖
“May the tears you have cried in 2019 water the seeds that you are planting for 2020.” -Steve Maraboli
Louisville just got a little tastier thanks to Pastelitos by Annia. For those who do not know what pastelitos are, they are a delicious Cuban puff pastry that can put a smile even on the grumpiest face. Annia Garces, a local baker originally from Cuba, has taken the traditional Cuban pastry and put her own spin on them by not just offering the conventional fillings such as guava (guayaba) guava with cheese (guayaba con queso) and coconut (coco) but also adding her own unique flair by making Nutella and dulce de leche (caramel) pastelitos as well.
I saw that Annia had posted some photos on her social media of her pastelitos for sale, so I reached out to her and told her I was interested in trying some, especially the guava with cheese because those are my favorite. Annia invited me to her home to try her pastelitos fresh out of the oven.
Once I arrived at her home, we began to discuss what made her start selling the classic Cuban pastry. Annia explained that ever since she was young, she always wanted to be a baker and have her own bakery. It isn’t weird that being a baker was a dream for her because each generation in her family has at least one baker. She has a great aunt in Cuba who was a baker and an aunt in California who owns her own bakery, so the baking talent is in her genes. She also says that she remembers that when she was around 15 years old, she met a lawyer who not only practiced law but also owned her own bakery, and she thought, “I want to be like her someday.”
Flash forward to 2019, Annia was working in a law firm, but something was still missing. She said that one day she decided to go ahead and bake some traditional Cuban pastries and see what people thought of them. One of the first things she made were pastelitos, and when she decided to make them, she chose a recipe that uses butter instead of lard like most pastelito recipes. She says that the fact that she uses butter is one major thing that sets her pastelitos apart from the rest.
After having friends and family try her pastelitos and confirm that Annia was on to something, she decided it was time to put them out into the world or at least Louisville for that matter. She began announcing that she was making pastelitos via Facebook and giving people notice before when she would be taking orders or how they could place orders. She was surprised at the amount of response that she got because seeing how not everyone in the Louisville community knows what a pastelito is, there was still a lot of interest in trying them. By the time she was finished discussing how many great reviews she has received from people about the taste of the pastelitos, I was ready to get my hands on one.
First, let me say that I am a huge pastelito fan, and I have been since I was a kid, so when I saw Annia post her pastelitos for the first time, I knew I had to get my hands on one. Seeing how I’m a bit of a pastelito connoisseur, my favorite flavor has always been the guava and cheese. I know most people may have a question mark pop up in their head when they read guava with cheese, but trust me, this combination is absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious. I told Annia that I specifically wanted to try the guava and cheese first because those are my favorites, and it would give me some indication of whether I would like the others or not.
One of the first things that I noticed about Annia’s pastelitos is that some of the pastelito fillings overflow on the top of the pastelito, which isn’t typical for the pastry puff but trust me, I’m wasn’t complaining. I don’t know about the rest of the world, but there is nothing worse than biting into a pastry and just tasting the dough and no filling. It’s one of my least favorite things about pastry puffs because they tend not to have enough filling for my liking. Just by looking at the pastelitos that Annia placed in front of me, I knew I wasn’t going to be disappointed.
The amazing pastelitos featured are coconut in the front, second row is guava with cheese, third row is Nutella and the fourth row is dulce de leche.
All it took was one bite to confirm my suspicions. The flavor of the guava and the taste of the dough were on point. The pastelito isn’t too sweet nor too savory. It’s truly the perfect combination of both. The flakiness was precisely the way it should be (in my opinion), and the fact that I didn’t have to take two bites to get the full flavor taste was beyond my initial expectations. Honestly, it was love at first bite.
After inhaling my first pastelito, because let’s be honest, I don’t play games when it comes to food. I asked Annia which pastelito flavor is her most popular/bestseller, and she said surprisingly it is the dulce de leche. Dulce de leche is the Latino version of caramel. It isn’t quite caramel, but it is incredibly close. Dulce de leche is extremely popular throughout Latin America, especially in South America. For example, if you go to Argentina and don’t try dulce de leche then you haven’t truly lived an Argentine experience because that is how popular it is. I’m very familiar with dulce de leche, and to be honest, sometimes it’s even too sweet for me, so I was a little skeptical about trying it. Still, once I put my skepticism to the side and bit into the dulce de leche, I was officially sold.
Annia’s flavor palette for her pastelitos is perfect for people who crave something sweet but do not want to have a toothache after they eat. A friend of mine accompanied me to Annia’s house, and he is not a fan of any sweets, he refuses to eat chocolate when someone tries to give him a piece. He tried the coconut flavor and said that he liked it because it wasn’t extremely sweet and overpowering. We both agreed that Annia’s pastelitos hit the spot, but don’t make you feel like you are on a sugar high afterward.
It is safe to say that I was highly impressed by Annia’s pastelitos that, in fact, I even took two boxes home with me to save some for later and give to some of my friends to have a taste. The feedback that I got from everyone who tried them is that they loved them, and when I told them that they only cost $1 a piece, they were shocked. That’s right; 1 pastelito costs $1. So if you are looking to take a treat to one of your upcoming holiday parties or think that your office needs a pick me up, you can get a dozen delicious pastelitos for $12. They are great alongside a fresh cup of coffee or just as a mid-day snack or dessert for your events.
In order to get your hands on some delicious Pastelitos by Annia, you must order either through her Facebook page, which I have linked at the end, via email, garces.annia@gmail.com and you can call or text her orders by phone at 502-744-1528. Annia allows customers to mix up the different flavors that they want to buy, and you can order any amount that you choose. She also works with people who have specific food allergies as long as they let her know when ordering. The only thing that Annia said that she cannot accommodate is for people who are following specific diet trends and want a ‘healthier’ version because let’s be honest, in these pastelitos, butter is queen.
Besides pastelitos, Annia has also created cakes, pies, and other pastries for customers. If you aren’t interested in pastelitos but want to try one of her many delicious pastries, then feel free to contact her directly and let her know what you are looking for. Annia is currently dedicating herself solely to her baking business and is no longer with the law firm that she previously worked for. She has decided to take a leap of faith and pursue what most of us consider the American dream, which is to become successful. There is no doubt in my mind that the pastelitos, cakes, and pies are just the beginning of what will be a very successful local Louisville baker.
Annia Garces, baker and founder of Pastelitos by Annia.
Although I know how to stretch a dollar when it comes to traveling, I also know when to indulge on pricier destinations. I’m no foreigner to the concept of “making it rain” when the amount of money that I plan to spend is worth the experience I plan to have. When it comes to traveling, it is essential to know when to break your piggy bank and when to leave it alone. These 5 destinations are all destinations that I have traveled to myself that were worth every single dollar, even though they are more expensive than your typical destination.
The following are My Top 5 Luxury Destinations for 2020 that are worth every last dime, part of your 401k, and your tax return.
1.The Maldives- Paradise on earth. Seriously, there is a reason why people obsess over these islands. The lavish water bungalows, the impeccable hospitality, and the turquoise color waters of the Maldives leave an outstanding impression on anyone. Maldives is a paradise because there is an option for everyone. One of my favorite things about the Maldives wasn’t the fantastic bungalow over the water, that’s obvious, but it was swimming with sharks. I had no clue that the reef sharks there would get extremely close to you while you were in the water. Reef sharks are not aggressive, and for the most part, they are generally pretty small, so there is no need to worry about Jaws attacking you in the middle of a paradisiac island but prepare yourself to see one or two fins swimming by.
Why is it expensive? Considering the Maldives is made of 26 atolls that are all spread out, getting from one island to another can only be done by boat or charter plane. Also, it is in the middle of the Indian ocean, so everything must be brought in from other countries. Combine these factors along with the luxurious hotels, and you’ve got a recipe for one of the more expensive destinations to visit.
The average daily cost of food and accommodation: Food will depending on the resort menu prices which can range from $20 all the way $100 a day; A night in a 4-star resort will range anywhere from $250-$1,500 + depending on the type of room and the resort.
The views from the over water bungalow.
2. Sydney, Australia- Ah! The Land Down Under. Let’s be honest, most of us have a burning desire to go to Australia just so we can see a crocodile and let our inner Steve Irwin (R.I.P.) shine as we yell, “By crikey, it’s a crocodile!” Ok, maybe that is just me, but Australia is appealing to any traveler because it is typically on the opposite side of the globe. When you think of an exotic destination that is far away, more than likely, you are going to think of Australia. Sydney isn’t Australia’s capital, but it is the most popular destination. When we see images of Australia the first one that typically pops up is the Sydney Opera House being plastered all over postcards and Instagram pages not only show the beauty of the city, but it appeals to all travelers.
Why is it expensive? The first part is how far it is for most people. Apart from the distance, it is secluded, so it makes goods more expensive. It is also a massive continent, so if you want to see as much as possible on a 14-day trip, be prepared to fly from one destination to another. Australia isn’t quite as big as the U.S., but it is still enormous. The best transportation mode if you are crunched on time and want to see the most is flying, therefore, be prepared to buy plane tickets from one destination to the other.
The average daily cost of food and accommodation: Food will cost you between $30-$50. A 4-start hotel in Sydney will set you back between $150-$300 USD per night.
The Sydney Harbor and Sydney Opera House.
3. Lausanne, Switzerland- Welcome to the land of divine chocolates and cheeses. Oh, and don’t forget a landscape that is something Monet could only dream of replicating. Pictures of Switzerland just don’t do it justice. It is a country that you have to experience for yourself to understand the true beauty of it. I have yet to see a video or photograph that clearly embodies how stunning it is. Lausanne, in particular, is a breathtaking city because it is on the shores of Lake Genova, which ensures not only spectacular views but all of the Instagram opportunities that you can imagine. An hour away from Lausanne is the cute town where one of the most renown cheese brands is located, Gruyères. If cheese isn’t your thing and you prefer more of an adventure, a three-hour drive east of Lausanne will land you right in the middle of the Swiss Alps. I hear people talk about how expensive it is all the time, and it is true, but if you have the finances to afford a trip to Lausanne, Switzerland, book it now.
Why is it expensive? It is well known amongst travelers that Switzerland is a destination that requires spending a lot. Why? They use a different currency than members of the European Union. The Swiss Franc is overvalued, and therefore prices are higher. Is there a sticker shock when you first arrive? Yes, but once you see the Swiss Alps with your own eyes, you no longer care about food prices.
The average daily cost of food and accommodation: Food will cost you between $50-$80. A 4-star hotel in Lausanne will run you between $150 – $250 dollars a night.
The stunning views from Gruyères.
4. Reykjavík, Iceland- If you haven’t heard of Iceland by now, then your internet services are probably limited where you live. Ten years ago, a patron at the bar that I worked at told me that he was from Iceland and was working in the U.S. temporarily. First, I was shocked that someone from Iceland was in Louisville, KY, but once the shock factor wore off, we began talking about the tourist attractions that Iceland has to offer. As soon as he mentioned the Northern Lights, I was sold, but I was also curious to know why I hadn’t heard much about Iceland before. Flash forward a few years, and everyone and half of their families are planning trips to Iceland. Why? The possibility of seeing the Northern Lights while visiting is good, and with tours that allow you to climb glaciers, why wouldn’t you want to go? Plus, let’s not forget the famous Blue Lagoon that floods Instagram feeds because it is such a popular spot. Iceland is an adventure-lovers dream, and if you don’t like to live on the wild side, but you enjoy nature, then you have no problem finding something to do while you are there.
Why is it expensive? Iceland is another secluded island that has to import most of its goods. Being secluded and the cost of living combine to make higher prices than the average country.
The average daily cost of food and accommodation: A nice meal in a restaurant in Reykjavík will set you back around $40-$60 per person, not including drinks, and a 4-star hotel will cost between $150 -$250 USD.
Letting my inner figure skater shine through on top of a glacier in Iceland.
5. Dubai, U.A.E.- Whoever says that everything is better in Texas, clearly, has never been to Dubai. Do you want to see the tallest building in the world? The Burj Khalifa can be found in Dubai. You can also see the world’s biggest water fountain from above when you visit the Burj Khalifa. The truth is, whatever already exists in the world, Dubai has said, “We will make it bigger and better.” Not only have they delivered on their idea, but they have quickly become a popular destination amongst travelers. Dubai is appealing to travelers because although it is located in the middle of a desert, there is so much to see in the city. Want to visit the world’s largest aquarium? Take a ride over to the Dubai Mall, and while you are there, make sure you check out the indoor ski slopes, as well. If you work up a sweat from all of the shopping that you do while in Dubai, then you can head over to the beach and cool down. If you are looking more for an adventure, then I suggest going on a desert safari. It ended up being the one thing that I enjoyed the most while in U.A.E. Riding in a Jeep and feeling like it was going to flip at any moment was precisely the thrill rush that I needed.
Why is it so expensive? Dubai is located right in the middle of the desert, and although it’s location factors into the expense, it is also a city built off of oil money. If you factor that in along with the number of billionaires who call Dubai home, and you can figure out why it is expensive.
The average daily cost of food and accommodation: Food will run you between $30 – $50 USD and 4-star hotel accommodations will cost between $250 – $350.
Sitting in the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
And there you have it. These are my Top 5 Luxury Destinations for 2020. What better way to bring in the New Year than booking a trip to a luxurious foreign land with priceless views.
With 2020 right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking of all of the beautiful places that the year can take you. I typically start planning trips six months ahead of time, but when the new year approaches, I begin to get more realistic about where exactly I want to go. The other thing that I start to get realistic about is my budget for my future travel plans. The following destinations are all places that I have been and have been kind to my backpacker’s budget. In a lot of cases, the most expensive part of traveling to each destination is going to be the airfare to get there. I’ve also taken the liberty to include some of my contacts for each location. If you are looking to book an affordable trip or tour and don’t know where to start, then feel free to contact them. I asked their permission before posting this.
The following are My Top 10 Budget-Friendly Destinations for 2020 for anyone wanderlust addict.
1. Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena was on my bucket list for a long time, and finally, I went for my 30th birthday. The only thing that I didn’t like about it was that I had never been to before. Cartagena is an excellent mix of Caribbean and Colonial vibes. Known for its beautiful blue beaches and the famous Ciudad Murallada (Walled city). With horse led carriages traveling down brick streets, Cartagena takes you back in time when the Spanish first landed in South America. The modern Caribbean flair comes from the bright colored homes and the very Caribbean attitude of the locals. It is a must-see for any traveler. Cartagena is the most expensive destination in Colombia, but it is still relatively cheap, considering it’s a popular place to visit and the number of tourists that arrive daily. A hostel will set you back around $20 a night and food will cost you around $10-$20 a day depending on where and what you eat.
Walking through the beautiful streets of the Getsemani neighborhood in Cartagena.
2. Bali, Indonesia
There is a reason why this Indonesian island is a hot spot for backpackers, bloggers, and professional travelers. It’s one of the happiest islands you can imagine. Bali was my first real introduction to Asia, and it left such a great impression on me that I always tell people that they have to go to Bali at least once in their life. It’s also an excellent destination for solo female travelers to meet other travelers like themselves. Depending on what corner of the world you live, the most expensive part about your visit to Bali is going to be your plane ticket. Besides that, welcome to the island of $2 meals and $4 alcoholic beverages. A hotel (not hostel) will cost around $20 per night, and they are really nice considering the price. One of the reasons that my Bali experience is so memorable is the tour guide that I had, Widy. He asked me what I wanted to see in Bali and also suggested places that not many tourists get to see. He went above and beyond to ensure that my experience in Bali was enjoyable and that I left satisfied knowing that I saw what I intended to see plus some. If you are dying to see Bali and have no idea where to start, then feel free to contact Widy on WhatsApp. +62-813-3726-4922.
Visiting the famous rice paddies in Tegallalang, Ubud, Bali.
3. Havana, Cuba
If you haven’t heard that traveling to Havana is like going back to the ’50s, then where have you been hiding? Havana is more than a trip to the past. It’s old colorful buildings, clothes hanging on laundry lines between homes, old people sitting on their balconies “chismeando” to each other (gossiping), young people dancing cubatón (Cuba’s version of reggaetón) in the streets and the home of smiling faces everywhere. Cuba has been on many people in the U.S.’s bucket list, and recently the doors to Cuba were opened, and cruise ships filled with tourists filled the streets. Unfortunately, policies have changed, and getting to Cuba isn’t as easy anymore, nor is it as cheap as it once was. The good news is that when there is a will, there is a way and this way is a very budget-friendly one. I have the perfect contact for anyone looking to tour the island, not just Havana. My friend Marissa leads tours around Cuba and even takes them to her family’s home in Pinar del Río. Not only do you experience the natural beauty of the island, but you get to experience what it is honestly like for Cubans. Anyone interested in seeing Cuba and having an authentic Cuban experience, you can book her tours on her site below.
https://www.facebook.com/MariMundoTours/
Holding the Cuba flag in Varadero, Cuba.
4. Barcelona, Spain
A great European country that is easy on the wallet but filled with fun cultural experiences is Spain. The country is big enough to travel around the different regions and feel like you are taking multiple trips in one, but also small enough to not be overwhelming to the novice travel planner. My personal favorite city to see in Spain is Barcelona. The gastronomy is to die for, the Mediterranean coast is picturesque, the culture is unique, and in case you haven’t heard yet, Spaniards love a good fiesta. If you are looking for things to do while in Barcelona then make sure to read my post “The Perfect Day in Barcelona.” If it is your first trip to Europe and you are trying to find the best city to start with then put Barcelona at the top of your list. A hostel will cost you around $30-$40 per night and food will run between $20-$30 per day. Barcelona is one of the most affordable popular Western European destinations.
Standing in front of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
5. Buenos Aires, Argentina
I could never understand why my Italian grandfather decided to live in Buenos Aires for 13 years until I decided to go, and I finally discovered why for myself. Buenos Aires is the perfect mix of European architecture with Spanish and Italian culture and a South American flare. Buenos Aires is a city filled with vibrant hipster neighborhoods such as Palermo and La Boca, and magnificent architectural finds such as the Teatro Colón. One of the other architectural wonders of Buenos Aires is its famous cemetery, La Recoleta. I know suggesting visiting a cemetery sounds morbid, but it was my favorite part of Buenos Aires. Apart from the mausoleums being extremely ornate, there are tons of famous Argentinians buried in La Recoleta, the most renowned being Evita Perón. Apart from these great spots to see, there is a tastier reason to visit Buenos Aires. Argentine steak and Malbec wine. Argentina is known for its great beef, and an excellently prepared steak and a glass of Malbec will only set you back a few dollars. The most expensive steak meal that I paid for in Buenos Aires cost $12. Accommodation in Buenos Aires ranges in price, and it depends on the area of the city that you want to stay. I stayed in an area that was close to La Recoleta and Palermo. It cost me $42 per night, but it is one of the best hostels that I’ve ever stayed in. It is called Benita Hostel and can be found on Booking.com.
At Evita Perón’s mausoleum in La Recoleta.
6. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
White sand, blue water, and so much Mama Juana (their version of moonshine) that I can almost taste it while I’m writing this. The Dominican Republic is a terrific island to travel to if you’ve never been out of the country, if you are on a budget or if you are looking for a getaway that guarantees a fabulous time. Dominican Republic is a hot spot for U.S. tourists because you can get great all-inclusive deals for one of their best-known destinations, Punta Cana. If you are like me and you want to see more than a resorts pool bar, then I highly suggest touring other parts of the island, especially the capital, Santo Domingo. The Dominican Republic is easily accessible for budget travelers because so many Dominican resorts offer all-inclusive deals that include accommodation, food, and alcohol and sometimes flights as well. If you haven’t been outside of the U.S. are you aren’t quite sure about seeing a different country on your own, then an all-inclusive deal is a great way to get your feet wet in the world of travel. It’s also a terrific way to plan a group trip that is affordable for most budgets. An all-inclusive offer for Punta Cana for four days can run anywhere between $1,000 all the way to $2,000. It depends on the kind of resort and what is included in the package. The packages do not include any activities outside of the resort, so if you are looking to see more of the Dominican Republic, keep in mind that you will have to pay for all off-resort activities separately.
7. Katmandu, Nepal
Nepal is often a country that is often overlooked because not many people know what a gem it is. Nepal is known for one significant natural beauty, Mt. Everest, but what people don’t know is that Nepal is much more than Everest. While planning our trip to India, my friend and I decided to include Nepal, and it ended up being our favorite part of the journey. Part of the reason was that Katmandu isn’t nearly as busy or hectic as India, and the locals were extremely friendly to tourists. Apart from being less hectic, Katmandu is also filled with UNESCO World Heritage sites, which contain gorgeous Buddhist and Hindu temples. Although the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal in April of 2015 did a lot of structural damage, many of the UNESCO World Heritage sites are still intact. Apart from the cultural sites, the natural beauty of Katmandu is that the Himalayas surround it. The sheer beauty of Katmandu is breathtaking. Although the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal in April of 2015 did a lot of structural damage, there are still plenty of beautiful sites to see. You can expect to spend around $5 per day on food while in Nepal, and accommodations can range between an extremely budget-friendly $15 per day all the way to $40. Depending on how you choose to travel. If you plan on visiting Nepal then I suggest contacting my tour guide, Raveen Shrestha. He is a local that speaks excellent English and goes above and beyond to ensure that you have an amazing experience. I plan to visit Nepal again and I will be contacting him to take me to other sites in the country. You can contact Raveen directly on WhatsApp. +9779803478328.
Watching the sunrise over the Himalayas in Nepal. A moment that I will never forget.
8. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is a gorgeous city on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It’s home to one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites, known as it’s Old Town, which is a medieval city that you can explore in just a couple of hours. Apart from the Old Town, Dubrovnik also is a great place to relax and get some sun. During the summer the beaches are filled with tourists from all over the world. One thing that tourists typically look for while traveling is a great place to party. Dubrovnik’s nightlife lives up to most tourist’s expectations. Dubrovnik is a great place to relax during the day and rage at night. My only suggestion while staying in Dubrovnik is to make sure that you don’t stay at a place at the top of the cliffside as I did. Trust me; your legs will thank you for not putting them through a CrossFit style work out just trying to get to your room. Although Dubrovnik isn’t the cheapest Croatian city, it is still extremely budget-friendly. A decent hostel will cost you around $20 a night and three meals a day average between $20-$30 depending on what you choose.
The wonderful Dubrovnik steps that I have very fond memories of. Still smiling after walking up and down 10,000 steps for the third time in one day.
9. Prague, Czech Republic
Most college students and backpackers will say the following words when you ask them about Prague, “The beer is cheaper than water.” Although this is a fact, another fact about Prague is that it is also a beautiful city that gives travelers a great taste of Eastern Europe. A must-see spot in Prague is the Charles Bridge, which allows pedestrians to cross the Vltava River while going from the Prague Castle to the Old Town or vice-versa. The bridge is lined with gorgeous statues on both sides. Apart from Charles Bridge, the Lennon Wall is another popular spot that many tourists visit to leave messages of inspiration for others or to get a classic photo for Instagram. A decent hostel in Prague will cost you around $15 per night, and food will run about $20 per day, depending on what you choose. The portion sizes in Prague are pleasantly big, so if you don’t eat a lot, you might find that one decent meal a day is enough to hold you over.
Standing on the Charles Bridge over the Vltava River.
10. Agra, India
Who would have guessed that visiting one of the seven wonders of the world would be inexpensive? Well, it is. Apart from being home to the Taj Mahal, Agra is a great way to get acclimated to India before exploring the more populated cities like New Delhi and Mumbai. The Taj Mahal isn’t the only attraction in Agra. There are several other attractions built by the Mughals and just as magnificent as the Taj, one being Agra Fort. In general, India is extremely affordable for backpackers and travelers alike. One thing is that you also have to be willing to haggle prices with locals in order to get the best prices. When I traveled to India at the end of 2018/beginning of 2019, I traveled around the country by using a tour company. I typically don’t book tour companies, but India is a big country with a massive population, and just the thought of booking everything on my own was overwhelming. I paid more than what someone would typically pay for two weeks in India, but I don’t regret it. I paid $1,400, which included hotels, meals, entrances to all of the museums, historical sites, and temples and also included private transportation, and it covered my four days in Nepal as well. The truth is, I could have spent much less if I would have booked it myself, but at the time, I was a busy school teacher in Panamá, and the price that I paid was worth avoiding the headache of coordinating everything by myself.
The Taj Mahal. One of my bucket list dreams that came true in 2018.
And there you have it. These are my Top 10 Budget-Friendly destinations for 2020. As I mentioned before, with the majority of these destinations the most expensive part is going to be the flight getting there. These 10 destinations aren’t the only budget-friendly locations, but they are ones that I have visited and can confidently say that they are worth every penny. If you’ve been to any of the places listed above or if you have any other cities that you would recommend to check out that are budget-friendly, feel free to comment below.
First and foremost, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone is enjoying their time with their closest friends and family today. Seeing how it is Thanksgiving, tomorrow is Black Friday and Saturday is Shop Small Saturday, so I figured this is the perfect opportunity to give my readers a gift-giving guide that supports local Kentucky products and businesses.
Black Friday is the day where people all over the U.S. pour their hard-earned money into the pockets of major corporations such as Target, JCPenney, Macy’s, etc. I’m not going to tell anyone to not shop at these major corporations because let’s be real, who doesn’t love Target? But, I wanted to discuss something very important to me and an alternative to handing money over to massive corporations — shopping local.
When we buy local products, shop at local businesses and companies, we support our community directly. The money that we spend at small businesses in Louisville and Kentucky, in general, helps feed families and ensures that people in our state have jobs. It also creates an awareness of local artisans, farmers, designers and entrepreneurs. I love supporting my local friends and local business owners because I know that the money I spend goes to helping their families and maintaining jobs for their employees.
With all of this being said, I’ve come up with a list of what I believe to be as some of the best local finds for the holidays and a way that you can surprise your mom, aunt, uncle, brother-in-law, cousin, and even grandma with something original and local. The following 15 locals businesses and products (in no particular order) are my top choices.
1. Bourbon
Who would I be kidding if bourbon didn’t make this list? When someone says the name “Kentucky,” people either respond with “Derby,” “fried chicken,” or “bourbon.” Although I know that there is so much more to our state than these three things, I must admit that I love two of the three. Derby and bourbon. With that being said, bourbon makes for a great gift. Plenty of bourbon distilleries make mini bourbon bottles that are great stocking stuffers, and if a family member (or yourself) needs that extra push through the holidays because, well, it’s the holidays, then bless them (or yourself) with the gift of bourbon. It also helps for those awkward moments when your family is fighting at the dinner table at Christmas. (Sips bourbon.) My top three bourbons that are great tasting and easy on the wallet are Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, and Four Roses Small Batch. There are too many bourbons to name, but if you are just now entering into the bourbon realm, these are a good start.
2.Bourbon balls
Lots of people enjoy indulging on sweets during the holidays, and I include myself in that group. Kentucky is known for bourbon, and one of the best things made with bourbon is bourbon balls. A mix of semisweet chocolate, bourbon, and chopped nuts are just part of what makes the yummy chocolates that melt in your mouth and leave you with a bourbon after taste. Sometimes I don’t know whether I ate chocolate or if I sipped bourbon; either way, I love it. One of the best places to buy bourbon balls is at Muth’s Candies in Louisville. It is Louisville’s oldest candy shop and is right in the heart of Nulu. If you can’t make it to Louisville or if a trip downtown sounds like too much of a headache, you can purchase their amazing sweets online. They make great gifts for anyone and since their gift boxes range in sizes, you can even use them as stocking stuffers. You can never go wrong with bourbon balls from Muth’s.
https://www.facebook.com/MuthsCandy1921/
3. Holiday Mug from Play With Clay
Clay is a local artist who creates hand-painted mugs and takes special orders. She has painted famous people such as Frida Khalo and Cardi B and has even created cups of people’s pets per their request. Her unique request mugs cost between $20-$30 per cup, and they are the perfect way to give a personalized gift to someone you love. During the holidays, she is running a special on holiday mugs. They are $15 per holiday theme mug. I got this Grinch and Max cup from her for $15. She is currently creating holiday mugs and taking Christmas orders, so if you are looking for a great way to give a loved one a personalized gift, feel free to reach out to her via Instagram or Facebook.
https://www.instagram.com/playwithclay/
https://www.facebook.com/PlayConClay/
4. Revelry Gallery
Besides being an art gallery, Revelry Gallery features handmade jewelry, art, prints, photography, and home décor that is all made locally. It is one of my favorite places to purchase handmade jewelry, and right now, they have tons of cute jewelry for the holidays. It is also one of my go-to shops for local souvenirs. I have purchased drink coasters for my sister and brother-in-law there because they contain local images such as Old Louisville, Butchertown, etc. Another excellent souvenir gift that they sell is posters of local Louisville neighborhoods. When I was living out of the country, I would also stop by here and pick something up so I could have a little piece of home with me wherever I went. They are another great NuLu find. They will be having special discounts this Saturday for Shop Small Saturday and will also have a Cyber Monday special incase you want to avoid driving around town.
https://revelrygallery.com/
https://www.instagram.com/revelryboutiquegallery/
5. Cross Stitch Coven
Cross Stitch Coven are two local girls who have taken your grandmother’s favorite pass time and turned it into a statement piece that can be placed anywhere around the house. If you have a great sense of humor and you . are not easily offended, then this is about to be your favorite thing. Although their cross stitch features funny phrases and a dose of realness, they also do customized cross stitch pieces and trust me, some of the detailed work that they do is just insane. You can follow them on Instagram and message them directly with your customized order, or you can purchase off their Etsy website. They also have some of their work for purchase in Works The Metal, another local business that features local art and is also excellent to check out for holiday gifts. My recent personal favorite is this one below. If you are from Kentucky or if you keep up with the news, then you know that saying goodbye to Matt Bevin as governor was the best Christmas gift this state could get.
https://www.instagram.com/crossstitchcoven/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/crossstitchcoven
6. Magnolia and Fig
In a city filled with cute boutiques, it’s hard to pick and choose which to go to and what has the best options. After moving home from Panamá, I found Magnolia and Fig in Middletown. What impressed me the most about this cute boutique isn’t just the adorable clothes and jewelry, but it is the fact that they carry sizes S to 3X. Living in a small “big” city, many women want to wear something and not worry about running into someone with the same outfit. Magnolia and Fig provides that same experience to women of all sizes and shapes. They are having tons of Black Friday specials tomorrow, and if you haven’t heard of them and you want to brighten up your closet or surprise someone with a cute beanie or necklace, head over and take advantage of their sale.
https://www.instagram.com/magnolia_and_fig/
https://www.facebook.com/magnoliafig/
7. Pastelitos by Annia
Annia is a local baker who is originally from Cuba, and to represent her roots, she has brought a traditional Cuban recipe to Louisville that will send your taste buds spiraling. Annia uses her family’s original pastelito method to create these delicious pastry puffs. The different flavors include coconut, guava, guava with cream cheese (my favorite), Nutella, dulce de leche, and cream cheese. Each pastelito costs $1 and she asks that you order at least two days prior to the date that you need them. The holidays mean office parties, family gatherings, and potlucks with friends. Take the hassle out of baking something yourself and order some pastelitos. They will be a hit no matter where or with whom you choose to celebrate the holidays. I also suggest eating them for breakfast as actual Cubans do.
https://www.facebook.com/annia.garces.98
https://www.instagram.com/pastelitos_by_annia/
8. 4peaks Woodwork
What holiday setup is complete without a cheeseboard? Any good host would tell you that no party is adequately set up without a meat and cheese board. That’s where Tommy at 4peaks Woodwork has everyone covered. Tommy is a local craftsman in Oldham County who creates fantastic pieces of art made from wood. He makes everything from the boards you see here to furniture. Tommy sells his pieces on Etsy, but he can be contacted via Instagram, Etsy, or Facebook if you are looking for a customized piece. His meat and cheese boards are the perfect gift for the person who loves to host parties, the chef in the family, and if you are looking for one for yourself, then look no further.
Andre is a local farmer who raises organic poultry, beef, pork, and shrimp. He uses a style of farming that ensures that the animals are always moving around the farm and that they have plenty of space. I recently did a feature of him on my blog and the fantastic job his farm does of delivering a product that is organic, fresh, and delicious. The farm is running specials on some of their meats during the holidays, and it’s the perfect gift for the office, your dad who can’t get enough of summer sausage or the person who wants to know that their product is ethically farmed and produced. Besides you are going to need some meat to fill up the board from 4peaks Woodwork.
https://faulriversideky.com/
10. Serena’s Soaps and Salves
Mother/daughter duo Lora and Serena sell homemade goat milk soaps, lotions, and healing salves for a variety of skin conditions. They use all organic products to make the soaps and salves, and I can vouch that they smell and feel amazing. I met Lora at the beginning of fall, and she told me that her daughter, Serena, has Down Syndrome, and they created the business because they wanted her to prove to herself and others that her condition will not keep her from accomplishing anything. Every product is packaged and labeled by Serena herself, and she is very involved in the business. Hearing her story instantly inspired me, and when I checked out their products, I fell in love. Not only are their products incredible, but the fact that they are local and Serena’s story makes supporting them that much better. During the winter our skin tends to get dry and crack, give someone the gift of smooth, healthy skin by gifting them a soap or lotion from Serena’s Soaps and Salves.
https://www.serenas-soaps-and-salves.com/
11. A reading from Alex Grant Medium and Psychic
Maybe you’ve always been curious about what it would be like to see a medium, but you’ve been afraid to do so. My friend Alex Grant is a local medium who offers her services for group events to help take some of the fear of seeing a medium out of the way. Alex is extremely professional and has a very laid back personality that will make anyone feel comfortable. Alex provides answers that make sure that people leave feeling better than when they walked in. For her Black Friday special, Alex is having discounts on all of her one on one readings tomorrow. People also request her services for parties during the holidays as a fun way to spice up a holiday party and get a message from spirits. Contact her through her website or Instagram to book a group party session.
https://www.psychicalexgrant.com/
https://www.instagram.com/alexgrantpsychicmedium/
12. Wine from Old 502 Winery
Kentucky may be known for bourbon, but Old 502 Winery has something for those who pass up the bourbon and go straight for the vino. It is Louisville’s only urban winery, and a fun fact is that all of their wine is created by ingredients that are provided by Kentucky farmers. Although they focus on wine, they haven’t ignored the strong connection that Kentucky has with bourbon. The first-ever wine that they sold is called Bourbon Barrel Red. It is also my personal favorite. It is a red wine aged in bourbon barrels, hence the name. It is my go-to local wine, and I enjoy both the reds and the whites. Their wine is a great way to lift spirits at any holiday party. If you don’t live in Kentucky, you can purchase them online on their website, and they even create cute gift baskets just in time for the holidays. Besides, with the holidays and the amount of things that you have to do, who doesn’t want a great glass of wine-or two?
https://www.facebook.com/old502/
13. Bourbon Barrel Foods
For that person who will take any chance they can get to fire up their grill, or for the aspiring chef, and/or for the parent who likes to add a little flair to their family meals, let me introduce you to Bourbon Barrel Foods. Bourbon Barrel Foods is a local company that is known for its microbrewed soy sauce called Bluegrass Soy Sauce. It is the only microbrewed soy sauce in the U.S. and the first ever to be aged in bourbon barrels. If soy sauce isn’t something that tantalizes your palettes, then no worries, they have plenty of other products that are sure to please any chef. From grilling spices to bourbon smoked sweeteners, they’ve pretty much created it all. My brother-in-law swears by their rubs, and I can vouch for them as well. You can purchase their products online or in their store on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville. They have tons of gift sets available to make your holiday shopping that much easier.
https://www.facebook.com/bourbonbarrelfoods/
14. Create your own ornament at Glassworks
Each year our local glass studio provides the ability to create your own art by blowing your very own glass ornament. It is a way to get hands-on and create a decoration that you will cherish for a lifetime. If you don’t want to blow your own glass ornament but know someone who would, it also makes a great gift. Flame Run is part of the Glassworks family and has a list of several decorative options to choose. You can even blow your own bourbon glass, which is perfect for all of the bourbon you plan on drinking during the holidays. Check them out on their website or visit them in person at Glassworks at 815 West Market St.
https://www.facebook.com/flamerunglass/
15. By Any Means Fitness
The holidays are a time of gathering, drinking, and eating. By the time December is over, we all have to adjust the waistbands on our pants and take a sad sip of reality tea and face that we’ve gained the typical holiday weight. It’s understandable; we are living our best lives. The truth is that the best gift that you could ever give someone or yourself is the gift of your health. Djuan Means and Jordan Parker Means are a dynamic duo of personal trainers that can help you lose those holiday pounds and begin a journey to a healthier version of yourself. They do everything from personal training, HIIT classes, and even female-only boot camps. I go to their gym and swear by them because they are always motivating and inspiring their clients to achieve their goals. They have several different pricing packages depending on what training you are looking for. I have their $99 a month plan where I can go to unlimited boot camp and HIIT classes. Right now, you can get $100 off personal training from today until December 7th when you pay in full. A membership to the gym is an excellent gift for someone that you know wants to improve their health. It’s a wonderful gift to give yourself, as well.
https://www.byanymeansfitness.com/
https://www.instagram.com/byanymeansfitness/
https://www.instagram.com/jordanparkermeans/
No matter what holiday gifts you choose to purchase this season, remember to support our local businesses, artists and products. They are what makes Kentucky proud and what keeps Louisville weird.
The other day I was able to visit and experience St. Matthew’s newest taco sensation, Taco Choza. Taco Choza is a small Mexican restaurant that is making big waves amongst the taco aficionados in Louisville. It’s known for its amazing tacos and excellent dining experience. As a self-proclaimed taco aficionado, of course, I had to check it out.
When I first arrived, I was greeted by one of the owners, Jose Cordoba. He was working the register and was able to assist me in choosing which tacos he thought I would like best. He recommended the street tacos, Baja fish tacos, vaca frita tacos, and veggie tacos to try a little bit of everything. Jose was helpful and walked me through the menu and different choices. He was able to answer any questions that I had about the flavors and varied options. I was a little surprised by the price of their tacos, seeing how they are $3.99 each, but Jose explained that their tacos are the size of two average tacos. Once I ordered the tacos that he suggested, he said that I couldn’t skip out on their margaritas or the guacamole. I figured I’m already eating four tacos; At this point, go big or go home.
While waiting for Juan to work his magic and prepare the tacos, I started discussing the idea and concept of Taco Choza with Jose. Jose explained to me that he met Juan while Jose was assisting his wife in her own business. Jose and Juan hit it off immediately, and Juan invited Jose to the restaurant that he worked at that which was under different ownership. Jose decided to visit Juan, and once he did, he saw an opportunity. Jose pitched the idea of becoming a partner of the restaurant with the previous owner and having Juan work as the chef. Once they accepted Jose’s pitch, they decided to do a rebranding of the business.
He said that one of the essential parts of rebranding the restaurant was coming up with a name. I am bilingual and speak Spanish fluently, so I knew the meaning of the name is Taco Shack, but I asked Jose where they got the name. Jose said that surprisingly, it was the owner of the building who suggested it. The owner pointed out that when you look at the building from the outside, it looks like a shack. Jose and Juan realized that the owner was correct, and they loved the idea, and that’s how Taco Choza was born.
While Jose and I continued discussing the concept and establishing the restaurant, the next thing I knew, my tacos and guac were sitting in front of me. First of all, these tacos are massive. Massive in the sense that they are filled to the brim with toppings. I was expecting just a simple taco with a sprinkle of toppings, but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of food in front of me. Jose wasn’t kidding when he said that one of their tacos is the equivalent of two tacos anywhere else. The portion size totally justifies the price of their tacos.
One of the tacos that Jose suggested that stuck out to me immediately was the vaca frita taco because vaca frita is a traditional Cuban dish. Jose, who is originally from Cuba, said that he wanted to represent his roots along with his partner and chef Juan Pascual’s Mexican roots. They both decided to create Cuban additions to the menu, so there would be a mix of both of their cultures represented. Honestly, I was skeptical about vaca frita on a taco, but once I tried it, I realized that it is an incredible combination.
Every single bite of each taco was as if I were in my own version of food heaven, which includes tacos and margaritas. The chef, Juan, has mastered the art of making tacos. I lived in Mexico for three years, and I can say with authority that this man knows exactly what he is doing when it comes to making a delicious taco. I can’t tell you how many times I have eaten a carne asada taco in Louisville, and it still hasn’t quite lived up to the street tacos in Mexico, these did. With each bite, I was transported back to San Luis Potosí where I lived and where I would order carne asada tacos almost daily. The tacos weren’t just delicious, but they brought back so many of my fond Mexican gastronomy memories. It was at this moment that I understood all of the hype and why Taco Choza is the talk of the town.
After realizing that the food was as excellent as the customer service, I decided to try their margarita because no visit to a Mexican restaurant is complete without sipping on a margarita. The margarita tasted just the way I would expect one to taste, and I could tell that if I had a few, I’d probably end up standing on a table and singing mariachi songs. Luckily for Jose and Juan, I decided only to have one. If you aren’t a margarita fan, they have plenty of imported and domestic beers to choose from, and they even have White Claw for those of us who prefer to indulge in food calories over alcohol calories. If alcohol isn’t your thing or you are visiting with your children, then they also carry soft drinks and a variety of Mexican beverages such as Jarritos and horchata, which are classic Mexican drinks and add to the authenticity of the restaurant.
Jose and Juan decided to accompany me during my meal and discuss some of the feedback that they have received since opening on November 12th of last year. Jose and Juan said that they envisioned being successful, but they are beyond surprised by the number of fantastic reviews and the success that they have experienced. Neither of them expected to end up being listed on Yelp’s top 50 restaurants in Kentucky, nor were they expecting to be named on The Daily Meal as one of “The Best Restaurants in America for 2019, According to Yelp.” They also pointed out that they were just recently rated the #14 as Best Mexican Restaurants in the U.S., According to Yelp on Buzzfeed.
The truth is, Taco Choza is deserving of all of the recognition that they are receiving. It’s a restaurant where all walks of life can come and enjoy excellent food and a great atmosphere. It’s quaint enough to make hipsters believe that it is a hidden gem, families can take their children and know that they will actually eat their food, and it’s a place for people like me. Someone who loves tacos and looks for authenticity and a great atmosphere. It can all be found in one location, Taco Choza.
What seems to set them apart from the very saturated and competitive Mexican food market is the consistently delicious food and excellent customer service. José makes sure that customers have a pleasant ordering experience, and Juan ensures that they leave satisfied and with their palettes astonished. It’s the perfect combination, and it is what is winning Taco Choza a spot on everyone’s go-to taco destination list, and I promise you it will become your go-to Mexican restaurant once you try it.
Taco Choza is located in the heart of St. Matthews at 3922 Westport Rd, Louisville, KY 40207. Their hours of operation are Monday – Thursday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. until 9 p.m.
To view their menu and for additional information check out their website below.
http://www.tacochozaky.com/
You can find them on Facebook and Instagram at the links below.
This Saturday, November 23rd, 2019, they will be doing a special celebration for their year anniversary, and in order to give back to the local community who has supported them since day one, they are offering specials on tacos and margaritas. If you haven’t visited them yet, then this is the perfect opportunity!
Street taco. (Carne asada)
Veggie taco.
Vaca Frita taco.
Jose taking a customer’s order.
Starting from the left: CThhips & guac, street taco (carne asada) baja fish taco, veggie taco and the vaca frita.
What is it about Bali that makes it so unique for everyone who visits? I’ve tried to come up with the best way to describe Bali to the world, and quite honestly, finding the words to describe such a magical island is almost impossible. My personal experience in Bali felt as if I were soul searching and looking for answers to questions that I didn’t even know that I had. Bali was my first official “Asian” experience seeing how I had only visited the Asian side of Turkey before going to Bali. What I found in Bali were smiles, peaceful landscapes, and a sense of belonging.
Bali feels like if you found your very own magical stone, and of course you don’t want to share it with the world because you are afraid it may lose it’s magic. The sad news is that anyone who has ever browsed the travel section of Instagram has seen all of the photos of Bali, so everyone knows where to find your secret stone.
The true essence of Bali isn’t only in its landscapes but in its people. The people of Bali are so welcoming, and they want you to enjoy their island just as much as you do. I found that every restaurant, temple, and small shop that I went to the owner or the person working there greeted me with a big smile and a positive attitude. At some points during my visit, I would ask a stranger for help finding a particular place, and if they didn’t understand me, they would hand signal for me to wait, and they would come back with someone who spoke English. It is one of the very few places that I have seen strangers go above and beyond to help tourists. The majority of the population on the island are practicing Hindu’s who believe in karma which is something that I also believe it. People there believe that what you put out into the universe is what you will eventually receive. I believe that is one of the factors that makes the vibe there feel so positive.
If you’ve been to Bali and you are reading this and laughing because you know that the traffic on the island is insane and it’s almost terrifying to watch as motorcycles, buses, and cars maneuver around each other, know that I’m not oblivious to the chaos on the island. If you’ve been on Canggu beach, then you know that not only is it riddled with trash and plastic everywhere, but it is also filled with drunk tourists at night. For a lot of people, especially environmentally conscious people like myself, it is off-putting to see the amount of trash around the island. It also makes me sad to see the number of tourists who use it as their playground to get wasted, but can you can’t blame Bali for the irresponsibility of tourists. Even though these things harm the image of Bali, they will only ruin your visit if you allow them to. Besides, what better way to give back to an island that fills your heart with so much joy than picking up any piece of trash that you see lying around. The hoards of drunk tourists and the plastic on the beaches shouldn’t keep you from visiting the island and experiencing the joy that is Bali.
When I think of Bali, I think of beauty, peace, and happiness. It sounds cliché to hear someone say, “I went to Bali and found myself.” but this tends to be an overwhelming sentiment amongst travelers who have experienced Bali for themselves. It’s hard to describe a place so dear to my heart, but the best way that I can is by using the word magical. It was a foreign land that made me feel like I was home, and not every place that you visit feels like home. I only hope that anyone who decides to visit Bali experiences the same sense of calm and peace that came over me when I visited.
My favorite European city is usually at the top of most people’s bucket lists and for a good reason. Barcelona is home to amazing Guadí architecture, Mediterranean views, and of course, fantastic tapas (small plates) and cervezas. It’s a city that takes you in and wraps you with warmth, culture, and gastronomy that is out of this world. I’ve been to Barcelona on several different occasions, and each time I fall more in love with it than the previous visit and I can safely say that it is my favorite European city so far. Having been to Barcelona several times I’ve come up with a way to spend the perfect day in Barcelona whether you plan to stay there for a week or just a twenty-four layover, I’ve got you covered.
The first thing that you need to know if you are visiting this magnificent city is that its official language is not Spanish. The official language of Barcelona is Catalan, and it is the primary language that you see written on the metro stops and buildings. No need to worry though, they have their Spanish and many times English translation below. The official coin is the euro since they are still currently part of the European Union. Although Barcelona is still technically part of Spain, they voted to separate from Spain, and it is still a sore subject for many people around Spain. It’s not something I would discuss with just anyone that you meet because conversations about it can get tense, and it doesn’t matter if they are for it or against it, it will spark emotions either way. Although the future of the city is still unknown one thing remains certain, it is a must see!
Barcelona is a very sprawling city, and considering the length of your stay and your itinerary, I suggest using the metro. The metro is a quick and easy way to get from one area of Barcelona to another without having to spend a lot of uber/taxi fares. The metro is also conveniently located throughout the city, so it makes it extremely convenient. My biggest suggestion to travelers while riding a subway anywhere in the world is to watch your belongings. Barcelona, just like Paris, New York, and any other major metropolitan city falls victim to pickpocketers, and there is nothing that will ruin your vacation or trip quicker than someone taking your money, credit cards or passport. Be aware of your surroundings and put your backpacks or purses in front of you, not behind you. If you are a seasoned traveler, then you already know the deal, but for many people who haven’t traveled on the metro systems before, this is all new knowledge. You can get a metro card at any of the stations and refill it as you go. Once you have the metro card, it’s time to hit the streets.
My first stop in Barcelona always is and probably always will be La Sagrada Familia. La Sagrada Familia is a cathedral that was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. It is the second most visited cathedral in the world, and in my personal opinion, it is the most beautiful cathedral in the world. Sorry to the Vatican, but La Sagrada Familia wins for me.
La Sagrada Familia has tons of stained glass windows that change the colors inside of the cathedral, depending on the time of day and the light that shines through. It truly is a magical experience to see the colors inside of the cathedral differ between morning, afternoon, and evening. If you can swing going at different times of day during your trip, then I suggest it even though that means paying the entrance fee more than once. The cathedral is still currently under construction, and it has been that way for many years. Although La Sagrada Familia is still currently under construction, visitors are allowed to go inside and tour it and experience the beauty of the cathedral for themselves. While booking the tour, I suggest choosing the entrance + tower option. The reason why I say this is because it allows you to walk up one of the four towers and get some incredible views of Barcelona from above. It is definitely worth the additional cost. I suggest spending at least an hour at La Sagrada Familia. Although you purchase your tickets ahead of time on the internet, the queue is long, so try to arrive before your entrance time, and if you can opt for the earliest entrance, which is 9 a.m., then choose that one. Most people don’t like to wake up early while they are on vacation or traveling, so you beat the masses by arriving early.
Find your tickets here.
https://sagradafamilia.org/en/
After basking in the fantastic views at La Sagrada Familia, I suggest heading to Passeig de Gràcia. Passeig de Gràcia is a main avenue in Barcelona, and it is bustling with cafés, shops, and restaurants. It is also home to several Guadí architectural artworks, including Casa Milá, also known as La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.
Just like Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà and Casa Batlló are two top tourist destinations, so you will want to buy your tickets before visiting; otherwise, the lines are long and frequently sold out. I have been to both, and I enjoy them both the same, but you can look at photos online to determine if you prefer to do one over the other. They both have rooftops that you can walk on and take pictures of Barcelona from above. When purchasing tickets for La Sagrada Familia, there is the option to buy entrance tickets to either Casa Milà or Casa Batlló or both. It is more cost-effective and convenient to purchase them all prior, but if you aren’t sure about when to go to each, then I would buy them separately online. The tour in each house is around an hour, and they provide interesting background into the life and works of Gaudí, Barcelona’s most famous architect. If you love history, architecture, or just experiencing something different than what you are used to, then I highly suggest checking both of them out. Once you have finished visiting Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, then it’s time to head to Plaça de Catalunya.
Find your tickets to Casa Batlló and Casa Milà here:
Plaça de Catalunya isn’t only a massive plaza in the middle of Barcelona, and it is considered to be the city center. It is so centrally located that it is the standard meeting place for catching up with someone. As you can imagine, the metro stop there is bustling and full of people. Mentally prepare yourself for a crowd when arriving at Plaça de Catalunya. One of the reasons why Plaça de Catalunya is so popular is also because it is the head of the most famous pedestrian walkway in Barcelona, Las Ramblas.
Las Ramblas is a massive pedestrian street that stretches from Plaça de Catalunya to Port Vell. The street is filled with vendors. They sell anything from souvenirs and clothing to quick bites to eat. Las Ramblas is an experience all on its own. Although it isn’t an actual building, it is a main point of interest. You can grab some souvenirs or do a lot of people watching. Las Ramblas is busy at all times of day, and some people who do not like crowds try to avoid it, but everyone should experience it at least once. Just as I suggested being aware of your belongings on the metro, I have the same suggestion for Las Ramblas. Any place that draws big crowds of tourists or people is a playground for pickpocketers. Just make sure you are aware of this, and you will be fine. It should never deter you from going there.
While walking Las Ramblas, you cannot help but notice Mercado de La Boqueria. It is a massive food market located on Las Ramblas, and it is a must-see. Besides, by this time, you are probably hungry and what better way to check out the local food scene than a local food market. The food scene in Barcelona is top-notch, in my opinion, and the view of most of the top gastronomers in the world. Something to try while visiting would be jamón serrano. It is a dry-cured ham, and it is delectable. If you don’t eat meat or pork, then I suggest trying patatas bravas. They are the Spanish version of fries that are to die for. They are potato wedges with hot sauce and aioli (mayonnaise seasoned with garlic) on top of them. My mouth is watering while I write this. Although I suggest trying these two typical food items, there are so many others to check out in La Boquería that I recommend walking around and checking out whatever calls out to you. You cannot go wrong in La Boquería.
After you’ve tasted some of the local treats, then you can walk off some of the calories by heading over to Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. The Gothic Quarter is located off of Las Ramblas, and it is also a popular point of interest. Barcelona’s gothic quarter was the old city center, and it remains a bustling part of Barcelona. It is compiled of small shops, plazas and it is home to some of Barcelona’s best nightlife. During the day you can take advantage and walk around and admire the gothic architecture and the Gothic Cathedral, which is one of the main attractions in the quarter. The Gothic Quarter is also filled with tons of street musicians and artists that give it a unique local flare as well. It’s fun just to walk around and get lost in the quarter for a few hours.
If you’ve had enough of the Gothic Quarter and looking for a change of scenery then head back to Las Ramblas and walk towards Port Vell, the tale tells sign that you have reached Port Vell is the famous Christopher Colombus statue at the end of Las Ramblas. Port Vell is a great spot to capture beautiful photographs of boats on the Mediterranean. It is also a great way to walk from Las Ramblas to La Barceloneta.
La Barceloneta is the most popular beach area of Barcelona that provides excellent views of the Mediterranean during the day and a crazy nightlife scene during the summer. It is also the best area to check out another traditional Spanish dish called paella (a rice dish containing seafood). During summer, it’s nice to walk along the beach during the day and catch some sun rays or spend the actual day there soaking up the sun. It is a place that cannot be passed up while visiting Barcelona, but if it isn’t summertime, walking along it is still fun.
After checking out La Barceloneta, I suggest making your way to Parque Güell. It is not close to the city center, BUT it is the spot for some of the most magical Barcelona sunsets, in my opinion. Parque Güell is another beautiful Guadí masterpiece, and it is my second favorite to La Sagrada Familia. I love nature and art, and when you combine both, I’m in Heaven on Earth. Parque Güell is a trendy tourist destination; therefore, prepare yourself for the typical crowds and long lines and buy your entrance tickets online prior. The entrance to the park is sold out a lot of times, so if you do not purchase your tickets prior, you will more than likely be disappointed when you arrive. Either they have tickets available for a few hours later, or it’s sold out.
Parque Güell is not something that you want to miss or skip out. Even if nature isn’t your idea of a good time, the views of Barcelona from Parque Güell are hard to beat. Most bloggers would suggest going as early as possible to get photos with the least amount of people possible, and this is true. There is a big crowd, and getting the perfect Instagram shot is nearly impossible if you don’t go early, but the best time to visit is right before sunset, aka the golden hour. It is crowded in the afternoon and evening, but the sunsets that I’ve witnessed from Parque Güell are to this date the best sunsets I’ve ever seen in Barcelona. You may not get the best Instagram shot, but you do get some of the best mental photos you can imagine. I try to get to Parque Güell no later than 4 p.m. so that I can walk around and enjoy the gorgeous Guadí architecture and find a spot to sit to enjoy the view. The park closes at 6:15 p.m., so if you are like me and arrive at 4 p.m., you at least get a couple of hours to check it out before you have to leave.
Purchase your tickets here:
https://www.parkguelltickets.org/
After taking in an incredible sunset at Parque Güell, I typically backtrack to Las Ramblas, and there is a good reason why. Food and nightlife. As I mentioned before, Plaça de Catalunya in the center of the city and the surrounding areas are the best to find food and drinks, and this is especially true in the evening in the Gothic Quarter. Some of the best nightlife in Barcelona is in the Gothic Quarter. One of my favorite places to grab a drink is at El Bosc de Les Fades (The Forest of the Fairies). The reason why it is such a popular bar to check out is that it is like being inside of a hidden forest. Hence the name. Of course, I am drawn to a fairy forest because I love nature and fairies, but I have yet to meet someone that has said that they hated visiting El Bosc de Les Fades. It is like being transported to a whole different place. Outside you have the hustle and bustle of a huge city, and inside you have the calm, tranquil forest-like vibes. It is a great place to grab a small glass of beer (caña) or my favorite traditional Spanish wine drink, sangría. It’s a great place to hang out and meet both tourists and locals and find out the best place to party. Barcelona’s nightlife is ever-changing, and every time I visit, there is a new place to check out or another place that has become more popular. I always like to ask locals in my age group, where they recommend and determine which place sounds bests and head there.
Check out El Bosc de Les Fades below:
http://www.museocerabcn.com/en/bosc.html
My typical perfect day in Barcelona includes all of the aforementioned stops and places of interest. This itinerary is great for those who are limited on time and/or those who are like me and want to see as much as possible in a day. This itinerary can also give you a blueprint of how you would like to plan out your visit to Barcelona. It is a massive city with lots of fun things to check out and do, but in my opinion, everything that I’ve mentioned in this blog is a must-see. I love Barcelona because of its food, architecture, culture, and friendly vibe. It’s a great city for any age group and a fabulous place to make your first visit to Europe.
Parque Güell
Port Vell
More views inside La Sagrada Familia
Inside La Sagrada Familia. Check out that lighting!
It’s that particular time of year where the air gets crisp, the leaves begin to change color, and the smell of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes is all around you. It is also when everyone is suddenly excited to wear layers of clothes, only to have to strip the majority of them off by 2 p.m. because it is suddenly 70 degrees outside. That’s right; I’m talking about fall in Louisville, Kentucky.
It’s a special time of year because it is also when Louisville seems to have tons of events and fun things to do for all age groups. I’ve spent this fall doing ALL of the things and have narrowed them down to my personal top 10 things to do in Louisville during the fall season. The list is in no particular order.
1. Walk Hillcrest Avenue
If you are local and you have never walked Hillcrest in October either during the day or night-are you even a local? Hillcrest Avenue is located in the Crescent Hill neighborhood, and they go all out for Halloween. Tons of houses on the block go all out with their decorations. You have everything from guts and blood to a tribute to everyone’s favorite scary sisters-The Sanderson Sisters. (Hocus Pocus lovers know who I’m talking about.) I suggested walking it during the day and at night because you get two different perspectives. During the day, you can see all of the detail that goes into the decorations, and at night, the real spectacle begins. The lights and animation add a spooky touch. My personal favorite is “Hillcrest Cemetery.” The owner creates his own characters and makes up funny tombstones with their names and how they died. I love seeing the new additions each year. If you are in town and looking for something fun to get you in the Halloween spirit, then head towards Hillcrest Avenue. The best news is that it is free and you can walk down the avenue day or night.
My favorite house on Hillcrest Avenue. Read the tombstones!
2. Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular in Iroquois Park.
For the past seven years, Louisville has had the privilege to showcase 5,000 jack-o-lanterns in one of our local parks-Iroquois Park. It’s an event that is appropriate for any age group. Take a stroll through the park and awe at the fantastic jack-o-lantern carvings that line the walkway. The spectacular does cost money, and the price depends on if it is a weekday or weekend. My suggestion is to buy your tickets ahead of time and be prepared to wait in a long line. If you buy your ticket for the 6:15 p.m. time, you will not enter until 7:15 p.m. when they open the trail, and depending on how long the line is; you may not walk into the entrance until 8 p.m. The wait is long, but it is worth it.
A pumpkin featured in this year’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. I loved the wings. 😉
https://www.jack-o-lanternlouisville.com/
3. Go to Huber’s Orchard and Winery
Ok, before anyone gets upset with me, I know that Huber’s Orchard and Winery isn’t located in Louisville or Kentucky and that it is in Starlight, Indiana, but let’s be honest, what Kentuckian hasn’t visited Huber’s? Huber’s Orchard and Winery is a family farm that is mostly known for two things; pumpkin picking and WINE. If you are like me, you go for the wine more than the pumpkins, but if you have a family, then it’s an excellent excuse to take the children and make a family excursion out of it. Huber’s is very family-oriented, and they have a little bit of everything for all ages. Visiting Huber’s is free, and it is around a 30-minute drive from Louisville. Yes, you have to cross the bridge into Indiana, but Huber’s grounds are gorgeous, especially in fall with their pumpkin patches and apple orchards. For those who do enjoy adult alcoholic beverages, they have plenty of wine readily available, and if you haven’t had their sangria, then you haven’t truly lived life yet. It’s a perfect way to spend the day, whether it be with friends, your partner, or your family. No one ever leaves disappointed.
Welcome to Kentucky, where college football and basketball are KING. We do not care about professional sports but bring up college sports, and we won’t stop talking. Football season and fall just so happen to coincide, which means tailgates filled with food, beer, and good old rivalry. There are two major rivals in the state, the University of Louisville (the best team) and the University of Kentucky. We all have our favorite team, and on game days, we are not friends with our rivals until the game is over. If you ever get a chance to go to a tailgate either for a U of L game or a U.K. game, do it! Tailgating is where people grill out, drink beer and bourbon, and party before the game. The name “tailgate” is because people use to drop the tailgate of their trucks and sit on them and drink and eat before the games. The name stuck around, and now it is the thing to do before any football game.
Tailgating a Louisville Cardinal Stadium. GO CARDS!
5. Visit a haunted house/Waverly Hills Sanatorium
One of the fun fall activities for the older crowd is visiting haunted houses and corn mazes. There are tons of haunted houses to visit in Louisville and the surrounding area, and it all just boils down to what you are looking for. My personal favorite is Waverly Hills. The reason why I think it is the best haunted house in Louisville isn’t because of the Halloween production that they put on during October, but it is because the actual building is scary A.F. to look at. Waverly Hills Sanatorium was a hospital built during the tuberculosis outbreak in Louisville. Locals have heard all types of scary stories about Waverly Hills and the many patients that died there who now haunts the building. It’s always featured on the top scariest/haunted places in the U.S., and every year in October, the owners turn it into a haunted house for people to go and get scared. In my opinion, you don’t even have to enter the haunted house to get scared. The outside of the building is scary enough, and knowing that people were tortured and made into guinea pigs to find a cure for tuberculosis, well, that’s enough reason to believe that it is haunted. I don’t recommend taking small children, but if your children are into it, then go right ahead.
https://www.therealwaverlyhills.com/
6. Go hiking at Red River Gorge
A two-hour drive south of Louisville to Slade, Kentucky will put you smack dab in the middle of some of the best fall scenery that you can imagine. If you want the typical fall Instagram photo of red, orange, and yellow leaves, then look no further. The Gorge not only provides the best fall photo backgrounds in Kentucky, but it contains some of the best hiking trails in the state. If you love Mother Nature like me, then you cannot miss out on a chance to hike at Red River Gorge. There are tons of trails for all levels of hikers, and the landscape is breathtaking during fall. It’s a great way to get a breath of fresh air and escape the hustle of the city.
Soaking up all of the sunshine possible before winter, because IT’S COMING!
7. St. James Art Fair
Every year, artists both local and from other parts of the U.S. gather in the most historic part of the city, Old Louisville, to put on the most prominent art show in Louisville. It is something that I look forward to every year because it exposes local artists and also gives you a chance to meet artists from other parts of the country. I always find something special while I’m there. It can be jewelry, paintings, or drawings, but there is always something that calls to me. This year I was able to find a lot of pieces that I loved and bring them back home with me. The location of the show is unique because it is in the historic part of Louisville, so you are surrounded by large Victorian houses and the iconic St. James Court Fountain. The art fair happens on the first weekend of October, and it is free to attend. All ages are welcome.
https://stjamescourtartshow.com/
8. Attend a Fall Harvest Festival
During fall, there are harvest festivals all over the city, it seems. Most of the festivals include food from local vendors, apple cider, beer, face painting, and fun activities for children. It’s a nice way to spend some time out of the house and enjoy local vendor’s foods and buy some local crafts since most of them have local artists attending as well. If the weather is nice, it makes for a great way to spend the day or at least a few hours. Louisville is a food and beverage city; therefore, any excuse to try new food and drinks is a good one.
9. Pick a pumpkin at a local farm
There are several places around Louisville that you can go and pick out the perfect pumpkin for your fall decor. Gallrein Farms is a local farm located in Shelby County that has pumpkin patches, and they also do a lot of fun fall activities, including hayrides, petting zoos, and picking pumpkins. Huber’s in Indiana also has pumpkin patches, but if you want to stay within the state, then definitely check out Gallrein Farms.
Picking pumpkins at Huber’s Orchard and Winery.
10. Attend Colorfest at Bernheim Forest
This is another event for anyone who loves fall and nature. What better way to combine both by attending Colorfest at Bernheim Forest? Bernheim is a quick 30-minute drive from Louisville, and they always have wonderful family-oriented events throughout the year. Their fall event is called Colorfest, which is appropriately named because it is during the time of year when all of the trees have changed color. There are tons of fun activities to do while there, such as going on a hayride, slingshotting pumpkins, face painting, hay mazes, and mud pies. The event takes place on a Saturday and Sunday so you can plan your weekend accordingly. It costs $10 per car, and the money goes towards saving our local forest.
Getting ready to enjoy a hay ride around Bernheim!
I was born and raised in Louisville the majority of my life, and I had no clue that we have a waterfall known as “The Niagara of the South.” Nor did I know how easily accessible it is. It is an easy drive from Louisville, around two and a half hours depending on the driver. It may or may not have been a little quicker in my case. 😉 I used the GPS app Waze on my phone to guide me, but once you have been there, it is very easy to find.
I will say that I was a little nervous traveling to a part of Kentucky that I have never been to. I know this may sound ridiculous to some people, especially those from around here, but going to the country is intimidating to me. I’m always worried about having car problems, running out of gas, or not having a cell phone signal and being stuck in the middle of nowhere. It’s not fear, but those thoughts do pop up when I’m planning on going somewhere that I haven’t been. Luckily, after arriving in Corbin, Kentucky, the location of the falls, I realized that there were gas stations, restaurants, and I wasn’t in the “middle of nowhere Kentucky.”
Before leaving my friend and I decided that we would stay the night in Corbin and that way we could have two full days to explore. We chose to stay in the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, which I found on booking.com. The Cumberland Falls State Resort is quaint and has country charm, but if I were to go back, I would probably stay somewhere else. The convenience factor of the State Resort Park is that it is a 2-minute drive from the actual falls. If you want to catch a glimpse of this natural beauty in the morning, afternoon, and evening, it is incredibly convenient. The reason why I probably opt out of staying there in the future is that the rooms are very outdated. It was like traveling back in time with a very sixties feel. Considering the facilities, I feel as though it is overpriced, but it is a State Resort Park, so you help maintain the Park while taking advantage of the location.
Once we arrived, we decided to check off our main object, the falls. Cumberland Falls is one of the most accessible waterfalls I have ever been to, besides Niagara Falls. Anyone can access the different viewpoints except for one which is not wheelchair accessible, but the rest are wheelchair and stroller accessible. I saw every age group while I was there, young children, their parents and grandparents, and then people like us, young travelers. The actual falls are immense and impressive. Kentucky is currently experiencing an awful drought, so I can only imagine what they look like when it rains. Although they weren’t as grand as what they are typically supposed to be, I was still surprised by the size of the falls. Drought or not, they are a sight to be admired.
After taking our pictures of the falls and seeing a rainbow over it for a few minutes, 😉 we headed to the gift shop to see if they had any maps or suggestions for what to do in the area. The workers at the gift shop provided us a map of the falls, and surrounding hiking trails and they suggested that we explore the Eagle Falls trail. we decided to head to the recommended trail, Eagle Falls. We drove from the visitor’s center to the beginning of the trail. If you leave the parking lot and take a right, cross the bridge, you will see a small parking area on both sides of the road. The one to your right is the trailhead for Eagle Falls.
The trail is marked throughout the entire path. The trail is an easy walk but can be challenging at times, considering there is a lot of going up and downstairs. I’m not a professional hiker, I enjoy hiking for fun, and I found the trail to be easy. The trail leads down to the banks of the river and wind around to a waterfall that has plenty of boulders around to it lay down and relax. The entire time huge trees and boulders surround you. I went on September 16th, 2019, and was surprised to see that the majority of the leaves haven’t changed colors yet, but there were a lot of leaves falling while we were there. The entire loop is 1.8 miles, according to the app AllTrails. My phone said that it was 2 miles back and forth.
We came across other people while on the trail, and there were several locals who gave us tips on other places to check out in the area. One of the places that were mentioned several times is a trail called Dog Slaughter Falls. The name is totally awful, and the reason for the name is even worse (you can just imagine based on the title alone), so I’m not going to get into that, but it was a name that we heard repeated several times. We decided that we would check out Dog Slaughter Falls the following day and that since we completed the Eagle Falls Trail pretty quickly, we would head back to the tourist information center and choose another trail.
We chose to check out the #2 Trail. It is approximately 5 miles, and it follows the shoreline throughout parts of the trail. It was more difficult than Eagle Falls, and at times it was confusing. Several paths intertwine with each other, so we found ourselves on other trails at some points. Apart from the track not being as clearly marked, some parts were more complicated due to the terrain and them being downhill. We were able to manage, but I wouldn’t recommend this trail to someone inexperienced.
My worst nightmare also almost became a reality while on this trail. I almost stepped on a snake. As we were walking and taking in the views, I looked down and thought what I saw was a stick but quickly realized that it had a head. Luckily, I stepped back and allowed the snake to continue on its merry way while I stood a few feet away, trembling in fear. I love mother nature and respect all of its creatures, but I have a horrible fear of snakes. I know it is irrational, but I’ve been afraid of them since I was a child. It doesn’t help that my stepdad used one to scare me while I was young. (Inserts childhood emotional trauma here, lol.) Thankfully both the snake and I were able to continue on our peaceful ways without any issues.
Since it was getting later in the day and I had a mini heart attack from my snake encounter, I figured it was the time that we called it a day and looked for something to eat. As I said, I was shocked that there were various restaurant options in Corbin because quite honestly, I had never really heard of Corbin before. It was Mexico’s independence day on that day, so my friend and I decided to check out a local Mexican restaurant called Santa Fe. To our surprise, the food was delicious, and the portions were huge. Neither of us was able to finish our entire meal.
We also met one of the owners while we were there who is a Cuban immigrant and has been living there for twenty-three years. Admittedly, it’s an odd place for someone from Havana to end up, but he told us that he loves the area and that the locals treat everyone as if they are family. As I mentioned earlier, I am very wary of traveling in the country, and part of it is because people in small towns are not always accepting, and they become very suspicious of outsiders. His comments took some of my initial worries about locals away. I even met another patron who told me about the app AllTrails that has maps and guides to trails that are nearby. I downloaded it and used it the following day when we went to Dog Slaughter Falls. She also gave us a lot of information about what to do in Corbin and nearby. Moral of this part of the story, never judge a book or a place by it’s cover. 😉
One of the places that they mentioned to us while we were at the restaurant was Sanders Cafe or otherwise known as the original KFC. I know in my previous post I slammed KFC a little bit, but I do have to recognize and be grateful that Kentucky Fried Chicken has put Kentucky on the map internationally. If it wasn’t for Colonel Sanders, I’d probably have to carry a map of the U.S.A. with me everywhere I go so I could point out where I’m from. My friend and I decided that when in Corbin, we might as well see the birthplace of the fried chicken that we dislike so much. The Sanders Cafe is the original KFC, and it has been converted into a museum and restaurant. The left side of the restaurant is a functioning KFC, and the rest is filled with memorabilia from the original design, including the Colonel’s office, the original kitchen, and bathrooms. It was a nice stop and probably something I would have never done if someone didn’t suggest it. My mom dislikes KFC just as much as I do so I decided to buy her a souvenir as a joke. I’ll include it in the photos.
After touring the original KFC, my friend and I decided that we would head back to the falls and try our luck to see if we see a natural phenomenon called a “Moonbow.” Once a month, when there is a full moon, a “moonbow” can be seen across the falls. The moonbow looks like a rainbow, only that it is white, and it only occurs during the full moon. The Cumberland Falls website has a schedule to which dates each month it can be seen. We stood outside for hours in the night sky at an attempt to catch a glimpse of the moonbow but to no avail. Even though we were disappointed that we didn’t get to see the moonbow, it was pretty cool to see the falls at night and hear the crashing of the water. Once we decided that we had waited enough, we headed back to the lodge and got some rest for the following day.
Once we were able to get up and enjoy a quick breakfast, we checked out the app that was recommended to us and saw that Dog Slaughter Falls was one of the top recommended trails in the area. Although I am not a fan of the name, at all, we decided to check it out. If you plan to go, I suggest downloading the app as well. It gave us driving directions to find the trail, which was difficult because it is not marked. Once we arrived, the app also allowed us to download a map of the trail on our phones which was awesome because I had no cell phone signal. (Thanks, T-Mobile.) Once we located the trailhead, we were on our way.
Dog Slaughter Falls is an easy trail considering there isn’t much change in altitude, and there are signs everywhere that indicate which way to go. The sign at the beginning says that it is only 1 mile, but we found out that it is 2 miles to get there and 2 miles back, making it a total of 4 miles. The trail is easy, but it does get a little complicated towards the end when you arrive at the falls. There is a downhill pitch that requires precaution, but besides that, the trail is overall easy. While you walk towards the waterfall, you are accompanied by a stream and shade provided by the many trees in the area. There are lots of stunning views along the trail and plenty of opportunities to take photographs. Kentucky’s woods/nature provides stunning views that most people (including myself) would never imagine. Once we arrived at the waterfall, we spent around an hour or so hanging out, taking photos and enjoying the fresh air. The scenery is breathtaking and relaxing and allows you to feel one with nature. Once we got enough dose of nature, we decided to go ahead and head back home to Louisville.
The trip overall was inexpensive, fun, and exciting. I highly recommend making the trip to Cumberland Falls and checking out the surrounding hiking trails. I know that I will be returning to check out other trails. Some of the tips that I would give anyone planning to go would be to take plenty of water, (make sure you have a reusable bottle), sunscreen depending on what time of year it is, bug spray (Kentucky is mosquito heaven during the summer), and the weirdest but probably most important thing to take would be bear spray. There are black bears in this region of Kentucky and the best way to protect yourself from a black bear attack, (besides walking slowly backward and making lots of noise), is to use bear spray.
Here is a list of the trip expenses for anyone interested in how much a trip to Corbin and Cumberland Falls costs.
Gas- I used a full tank of gas which cost me $40. Gas was $2.55 at the time, and I have a 16 gallon tank. Food- Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant- $36 for dinner for two. (I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys TexMex.) Park Entrance- $0.00. That’s right. Free.99. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park- One night stay cost a total of $105.00. Found on www.booking.com. Souvenirs (optional)- $5.99 for a coffee mug from KFC and $18.99 for a T-Shirt from the Falls Gift Shop. Spending time in nature = Priceless.
Helpful apps while used on the trip: Waze (GPS) and AllTrails (Hiking App)
I’ve also created a video recap of my hikes on YouTube which can be found by clicking below.
