Back during my final semester of college, I was studying abroad, living in Paris with a host family. Within the first month of being there, one of their daughters, Mathilde, asked me if I’d join her and her friends for dinner. Elated that I’d be included in a real French gathering, I accepted. She said everyone would be coming from work, so I shouldn’t dress up too much. But there would be about 15 people at dinner. I thought, “where would we go with 15 people for dinner in a city famous for tiny tables?” In any case, I figured it would be fun and I’d make a bunch of new friends. Little did I know, that dinner would initiate…
Kate
Like most travelers I know, I cherish the music I discover while abroad. And I have decided to share some of it with you here. So this is the first track of my music series, Kate’s Travel Playlist. Music is one of the many treasures to uncover while traveling. As the easiest point of entry into other ways of life, it allows us to relate to different cultures like nothing else. We get to take it home with us. And any time we listen to that song or album from a trip, it instantly transports us back to the place and time we discovered it. This week I am featuring the sexy, French vocals of: Brigitte A friend I made…
Ibiza, Spain is an incredible place on this planet that made an indelible mark on my life. It is known internationally as a party destination, like Mykonos or Miami. And, because of its rep, many people rule it out when planning their vacations. But that’s not the part of the island that interests me most. It is the extraordinary people and the natural beauty of Ibiza that has brought me back time and again. Ibiza sits in an island chain off the east coast of Spain, near Valencia. And it is beautiful with white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and lush mountainsides. It is a perfect spot for beach vacations when sunbathing and chilling out is your MO. There are small…
On a recent trip to San Francisco, I felt the call of duty, as a travel journalist, to try out a new travel app. There are so many these days from apps for booking airfare and accommodations, flight status checkers, interactive guides, and the list goes on. So, on this trip, I chose a city guide that would help me navigate while on the ground. And this app did its job. But it also caused some seriously undesired consequences.…
I just got back from a trip to San Francisco. And one thing that really impressed me about San Fran was the food. I live in New York City and I often think there couldn’t possibly be a city in the US that has better food. But I found that San Francisco rivals it, if not surpasses it, with its fresh ingredients and innovative creations. Don’t hate me New Yorkers! Here are three restaurants I enjoyed that helped me draw this very bold hypothesis… 1. Wayfare Tavern This place has a very rich ambiance. I’d describe it as: comfy historic San Francisco meets saloon meets swanky downtown bar. As soon as you walk in, the atmosphere exudes a real sense…
I love to travel. Who doesn’t, right? I love it so much that I want to make it my job and a huge part of my everyday life. And what’s more, I want to help and inspire others to seek meaningful travel experiences. But what is travel anyway? I think that foremost it is a state of being. It is a place I reach where I’m my best, where I am truly alive and ready to experience the extraordinary. It is like falling in love with a place and with life itself. When I travel, everything is new – and so am I. I feel new because I can look at my life from a different perspective and I can…