At least to me. I decided to start the new year talking travel – my favorite subject and something I wish I can do the entire year. So, without much delay, here are the top travel destinations for January – or February – if you decide you need a week or two off to recover from all the holiday stress, or planning a romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day or simply getting married and need a wintertime honeymoon destination.
You know what I appreciate the most about traveling across the pond? The opportunity to wander into an actual bookstore – whether a chain or a tiny corner store – and just thumb through the reads. I can do this for hours and often times end up buying, I kid you not, ten books to read until my next trip. So with that said, these are the three books I cannot wait to read – from the rest of the 15 book recommends for 2018-2019: How to prep – ahead of the time – Christmas morning breakfast – ten ideas to choose from This topic cannot be discussed soon enough in my household – Where to travel in 2019. A list of Valentine’s Day dresses sparked my curiosity this week before Christmas – realizing while scrolling through the suggestions, some are equally a wonderful choice for New Year’s Eve celebration – like this one: And my favorite – I’ve been waiting for a long time for the Mary Poppins sequel which opens tomorrow nationwide and …
There is definitely a romantic feel to winter travel, even if in some places snow and freezing temps are involved. The idea of cozying up with your loved one, or not, but instead tucked under a blanket in front of the fireplace, travel in winter is wonderful, especially to destinations with the ideal accommodations from this list: Hint: Also great gift ideas for her or him.
In recent years I’ve fallen in love with the English countryside, which is where I was 20 years ago, dreaming of owning a cottage in England somewhere. I suppose I’ve made full circle. You see twenty years or so ago, I was walking about a street fair in San Francisco, and I noticed a set of photographs taken by a man in a booth aiming to sell them. They were all photographs of the English countryside. I bought four, already framed, and hung them in my home as soon as I walked in through the door – vowing to myself that I needed to see England past London. Two years back, I visited a friend who’d been living there for a while, and asked her to take me around the country – since she drove and I didn’t have the guts to. And surely, the experience was worth every penny. Here’s the thing, there is nothing like seeing the English countryside in your own personal car, not so much a group tour, but at your …
On the flight from London to San Francisco last May, I sat one seat away from a man who was editing photographs on his computer. Which I could have sworn were taken for National Geographic Magazine. I meant to ask him if he were a famous photographer or just an amateur like myself, always in search of the most colorful of things to photograph – which I do, every chance I get. But then I realized, as I side-eyed his meticulous editing techniques that he was no amateur and he had an eye to manipulate or enhance his photographs for a professional portfolio. I am sure of it. In honor of all photographers, amateur or professionals – wildlife, or still-life, color or not, I am sharing some of a list of NG wildlife photographer of the year. Other interesting articles: What would make us care enough to save endangered species? Striking Images from world best wildlife photographer my gallery – just in case you are curious.
When I watch a film or a television series, I always feel the need to know the behind the scene stories. Such as, why the actors chose to portray the role, the budget for the film, whether the story is accurate or simply a made up one, and all other trivia to get well-rounded perspective on the experience. I do the same for travel. I aim to learn as much as I can about an upcoming travel destination, and sometimes just read historical events that have shaped the world. Like these ones:
It occurred to me over the weekend, that some would rather go away for the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, then plan a family dinner get-together. Which is fine. And for that reason, or actually for any reason to plan a getaway in the next coming months, there is a list of 19 destinations here, from which I picked my top five.
In some parts of the world, November is still the best time to travel, while others, although a bit chilly with a chance of snow, may be the most romantic and a refreshing alternative to the busy season. It all depends on what it is you’re looking for in November travels: {Disneyland photo source}
I have a very deep-rooted connection to France – and in the past have very seriously considered relocating there – using the reason that I need to get to know family on my father’s side spread across the country. But really – it’s because I feel that I have lived a past life in Paris. Because, the moment I step out of the plane, I belong, in the most peculiar way. It could very well be that I have been there a million times over the years and I understand the geography – but I would like to think that it is truly because I am longing for that past life I am sure to have lived. How does this relate to the best bakeries in Paris? You ask. Well, if you’ve been, or are a fan of this fair city, you would know that the foundation of it all is based upon these facts: Fashion, Food (which includes chocolate, pastries and champagne), Decor, Art, and that je ne sais quoi culture, only some of …
I’ve noticed the changing of the leaves in a subtle way, here in San Francisco and from the looks of this map, we are not due to full on changing of the leaves until – well – perhaps November or never? Although I doubt that. Because I have seen a dozen or so maple leaf trees – not many – perched along the avenues in the city, among a few other trees I am unable to identify – are slowly turning colors. But if you happen to need a full-on dose of the Fall changing foliage sometime soon, than book a trip – Northeast if you happen to be in the states, or Northwest, if you happen to be across the pond, itching to see first hand our version of Autumn changing leaves. And I learned a thing or two about the type of leaves – which I couldn’t make out when staring up at those trees in any number of neighborhoods throughout the city with the leaves in process at the moment. So …
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