Hi, it’s us. We know, we know. You don’t know us. Not the collective us, that is. We are Vienna, Lesley, Mariela, Zach, and Shannon...five bloggers coming together for the month of May to cross-promote each other’s work, and hopefully elevate our own work in the process.
Read MoreFLAN B
There is a lot of excitement in the US surrounding Cuba these days. Since President Obama announced at the end of 2014 that he would take several steps to put an end to the embargo with that country, it’s been a recurrent topic in the news and Americans have reportedly been traveling to the island in increasing numbers…everyone wants to go there first! Even Mr. Obama has scheduled a visit next month, making him the second US president to do so in over 80 years.
Read MorePhoto Credit: Jesse van Kalmthout : : Fotografie
SOMETHING BLUE
Chances are you’ve never heard of the Statia blue beads…have you? No worries, for sure you’re not the only one out there who hasn’t. In fact, if it weren’t because my good friends Marlies and Sybolt decided to get married in St Eustatius, I would have never made it there or heard about these particular blue beads...
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LA BELLA QUISQUEYA
About a month ago I spent a week in the Dominican Republic, on a work-related trip. This may easily have been my 10th visit to this wonderful island, so I have to admit I am a fortunate person indeed. As in every previous stay, I really enjoyed my time there, even though I was on work mode for the most part and despite the fact that I came down with a terrible flu a couple of days after arriving, which I blame on my crazy travel and all those hours spent among airports, airplanes and hotels.
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ON AIRPORTS AND AIRPLANES
Throughout my life I’ve traveled so much, for both work and pleasure, that I’ve developed this strange love-hate relationship with airports and airplanes. I mainly think they’re a necessary evil…they’re the gateway to the world, although often times they’re simply not fun. I, however, liked focusing on the positive they bring to people’s lives…not only they have made the world a much smaller place but they have helped us connect on a much deeper level. That, by itself, is just remarkable.
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TO THE BEAT OF SAMBA
Yes, indeed! It all started with my first visit to Brazil back in the middle of summer 1985. My parents decided to take me on a trip to this wonderful country, as a present for my 15th birthday, in lieu of having a Quinceañero (the traditional party for girls turning 15, in Peru and in most Latin American countries). Although I was very excited and intrigued about what I’d find on this adventure, I never anticipated this trip would become a turning point in my life.
Read MoreTHANK YOU!
I’ve been meaning to write this piece for a couple of weeks but being the procrastinator I am Thanksgiving Day had to arrive, along with all the respective Facebook posts as reminders, for me to finally take the time to do it. No excuses for extra delays, this post was definitely past due!
Read MoreTHE VOICE
No, I’m not going to talk about Frank Sinatra or about the TV reality show that bears that name. Instead, I am dedicating this space to one of the most distinctive characteristics that definitely make me who I am: my one and only voice! I must start saying that for most of my life I’ve had a love-hate relationship with my voice and although generally speaking I’ve come to terms with it, even nowadays at times I’m totally fine with it but at other times I can’t deal with it…
Read MoreRANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
One of the rewarding things about traveling to unknown places is that you’ll always be surprised in unexpected ways by what you’ll encounter along the journey. The surprising factor can be anything unique to a place from a peculiar scent to a colorful landscape to the flavors of typical dishes. Yet, the one factor that always brings a smile to my face and a very particular feeling of joy is people’s acts of kindness, especially when they happen randomly, when you don’t see them coming.
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