My 2015 Travel Recap
Say yes to adventures. My 2015 has been full of adventures, from the west coast to the Roman ruins. I have what is called the "Travel Bug". Once you go overseas and really begin to explore the world, you never want to stop. I hope I inspire everyone to travel the world. I feel it is one of the most important things in life. I have never seen such beauty in my entire life. I want to know the world before I become a part of it. My eyes are open now.
South Beach, Miami
Miami is always a cheap and easy trip for a New Englander like myself. I went to Miami for New Years with my bestie and travel buddy Erica. We went to the Versace Mansion, which has delicious dinner and impeccable views. We also went to the Shelborne for our NYE night out. Brunch at the Delano is expensive but their pool parties are SO much fun!
California Dreaming', Los Angelos
Im in Cali!!!!! California is gorgeous and has a mix of everything. We ended up staying in Santa Monica, a beautiful beach town. We adventured to the Hollywood hills to go hiking. Venice beach is next to Santa Monica and quite the sight to see. I loved the mountains in the skyline next to the beach, so stunning. For dinner we went to Yard House in downtown LA. We then ventured off to have drinks at the Library Bar. Another restaurant we had dinner at was The Pent House in Santa Monica. It has impeccable views of the beach and delicious food. I had grilled squid for the first time! I visited LA in April and the weather was perfect!
Before Leaving for Europe!
A Roman Adventure
Rome... my heart stopped when I walked the ancient streets for the first time. It is so incredibly gorgeous here with ancient charm and the most delicious food in the ENTIRE world. We stayed at the Maison Giulia which is walking distance to all the sights and restaurants you could want. It is also next to the Roman Tiber River. The Pantheon is a located in a plaza about 10 minutes walking distance from that hotel. There you can have lunch and admire the ancient building. It was at the time the largest dome in all of Europe. I suggest doing the City Wonders guided tours for the Vatican and Colosseum to avoid waiting in long lines. The capital building of Rome is stunning. If you walk up the stairs to the back part of the building you can see the scene that was shot in the movie Eat Pray Love. It overlooks all of Rome. All the restaurants in Rome are amazing. The restaurants in the plazas are more expensive than the ones scattered off the streets but it is all amazing food. Also there is no tipping in Europe! You only tip if you really want to. Gelato is something you HAVE to try. Food is not that expensive in Europe. I bought an entire pizza to myself for 4 euros (almost $5).
Cinque Terra, Italy
Cinque Terra are the five lands on the Mediterranean in Northern Italy. It is a beach town with a lot of locals. I enjoyed being on the water and relaxing. We hiked over one of the mountains where they have irrigation and vineyards. It was a stunning place to be. Completely breathtaking and relaxing.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Pisa is a cool place to stop by but I wouldn't spend more than a day there. They have an airport which is convenient if you are traveling to Cinque Terra.
Madrid, Spain
Spain was quite the relaxing trip. We stayed with locals and relaxed a lot by their pool. We ventured to the city center, did a boat tour, and walked around the gardens. Madrid has a lot of cool shops. Plaza Mayor is one of the places we went to. They have restaurants lined up around the plaza for people to dine at. I ordered prosciutto, eggs and fries.
Beyond the Forbidden - Istanbul, Turkey
Turkey is a stunning place with ancient charm. I enjoyed seeing all the artistic mosaics. I was only in Istanbul for a very short period of time but if you do venture over here, check out the Blue Mosque. It is not too far from the airport and is quite the sight to see. You must cover your head to enter so I wore my scarf. If I were to go back to Turkey I would travel to Cappadocia. It is so gorgeous and their skyline is filled with hot air balloons. I would also visit the shopping bazaars for spices and clothing.
Highlights from NYC
New York is like a second home for me now because I travel there so often throughout the year.
