International storyteller writing my way around the world. Specialties include travel, food, culture, hotel reviews and expat life with expertise in Spain. Experience with B2B and B2C publications.
Moving Abroad Doesn't Mean Leaving Racism Behind, Say Black American Expats
For generations, Black Americans have moved overseas, citing a wide range of reasons from seeking adventure to searching for a better quality of life. For many others, though, it was a desire to free themselves from the weight of racism in the U.S. that ultimately prompted their departure.
Recent years have brought increased interest in moving overseas, especially following major events that further illuminated ongoing racial inequalities in the U.S. What’s often left out of this expat narrative, however, is that the U.S. is not the only country with problematic anti-Black racism.
Here's Why Travel Advisors Should Be Booking Their Clients' Bucket-List Travels Now
As some cities and countries around the world implement regulations to stop a second wave of COVID-19, all signs seem to indicate that American travelers are feeling optimistic and ready to travel in 2021 — or even sooner.
As cooped up travelers look to the future, travel advisors are urged to start planning and booking their clients’ 2021-2022 vacations now, with a focus on bucket-list trips.
The Art of Maintaining Friendships When You’re At Different Stages of Life
As my friends and I continue going further down our separate paths, our differences in timelines and general goals grow more stark. So, along with my happiness during the inevitable growth spurts of life also comes a fear of how our friendships will change and a sense of mourning for the simpler days when we had much more in common than our shared pasts.
That’s not to say I don’t still cherish my friendships in the present tense or have any intention of turning my back on them. To help ensure that doesn’t happen, I sought expert advice for staying friends at different stages of life.
Worried the Van Life Movement is Too White For You? Here's Some Advice from BIPOC Van Lifers
The idea of living and traveling in a van may evoke images of long-haired hippies and flower power, but now a new generation is embarking on this lifestyle. This year in particular has seen a rise in the popularity of vanlife as people searched for alternative ways to travel amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
But with increased popularity also comes the reality that the world of vanlife seriously lacks diversity. Luckily, there are vanlifers of color who are paving the way for both newbies and those still in the dreaming phase of getting started.
Here’s What Vanlife Is REALLY Like
Like most spaces in the travel industry, representation of vanlife is not very diverse. Type “#vanlife” into Instagram and you’ll be flooded with photos of mostly young, straight, cis-gendered, able-bodied white people. But that image only tells a narrow part of the story. A deeper dive shows that diversity does exist in the vanlife community, and those people have stepped into the social media limelight to showcase their perspectives.
Need To Know: Ouijazilla
Some artists express their creativity with canvas or clay, but Rick "Ormortis" Schreck sticks to what he knows best: Ouija boards.
So You’re Ready For In-Person Dating? Here’s How To Do It Safely
For those interested in dating during the pandemic, offerings made available by various apps to make connecting online easier than ever may have felt like a godsend. For instance, Tinder allowed free access to its Passport feature, which allows users to connect with anyone on the platform globally; Bumble expanded its distance filters to allow for nationwide dating; and OkCupid added questions that allow users to share their feelings about dating during the pandemic.
But as the pandemic conti...
Viewfinder: Tokyo Shifts
Mixed materials, wacky color combinations and precise selections of the smallest details—these are just a few of the sartorial tropes that vivify Tokyo’s street fashion scene, which, according to Japanese journalist and photographer Rei Shito, is the best in the world.
Malta Is Open to U.S. Tourists, but There's a Catch
There are slim pickings nowadays when it comes to international travel for U.S. citizens, but the short list of countries allowing them entry is steadily growing. While the European Union still maintains its travel ban on Americans, a few member states — like Croatia — have made an exception. In the case of Malta, that exception comes in the form of a loophole.
The island nation just south of Sicily will allow American tourists to enter the country only if they have spent the previous 14 days...
Park Your RV for Free at Over 1,200 Wineries, Breweries, and Farms With This Membership Program
RV travel has never gone out of style, but it’s certainly experiencing a boost this year. And where there’s a trend, there’s always a way to one-up it.
Enter Harvest Hosts, a membership-based network that allows users to stray away from the usual RV parks, and instead stay for free at over 1,200 wineries, breweries, farms, and other attractions across North America, Matador Network reports. Each host site has its appeal, but some of the more unique options include an aviation museum, a wildli...
I gave my Afro-Latino boyfriend the 'police talk' before visiting the US. After George Floyd's killing, I watched his baptism into American life.
After I moved to Cartagena, Colombia, I felt free in a way I didn't realize was possible growing up in predominantly white neighborhoods in the US.
But when I started dating my boyfriend, an Afro-Latino man from Colombia, I realized how different our life experiences were.
I had to give him the "police talk" before we visited my family in Florida, and I feared for his safety once we arrived a few months ago.
Now, following the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, my in...
Eurovision Finally Lands in the U.S. With a State-versus-state Singing Competition
The U.S. already has its fair share of talent-based TV programming, but soon, Americans won’t be left on the sidelines to watch all the fun of Eurovision. During the 2021 holiday season, the team behind the European singing competition will launch its stateside sister version: the American Song Contest.
While Eurovision’s annual competition pits nations against one another to perform an original song with impressive vocals, the American version will feature representatives from each state. Ac...
City Guide: Los Angeles
Sprawling over 500 square miles, Los Angeles is the largest city in California, comprising 200-plus neighborhoods—or 400-plus, depending on whom you ask. It’s this difficult-to-define aspect that makes exploring L.A. so rewarding. Beyond the glitz and grime of Hollywood, L.A. invites nature lovers to its beaches and mountains, serves as a beacon to artists of all kinds, poses for likable Instagram shots and celebrates diversity through its vibrant immigrant communities. People often portray L...
Cartagena de Indias Newsletter
This week we’re exploring Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, where pirates once plundered, coconuts cure what ails you, and the streets feel like a party all year round.
Cruising down the Mississippi River is the ideal escape
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