There are several reasons I wanted to visit Italy. First, my cousin moved there from Jamaica and talked about how awesome the place was. Second, I was sold by the photos of Italy, and third, because it was so easy to go from one country in Europe to another. I decided I would make it a three-country run within my 2-week vacation span.
Where do I begin when describing my experience in Italy? Love, history, food and friends are just a few words that come to mind. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect on my visit, but I knew I was ready to make my trip to Italy one to check off my bucket list, and one that I was sure I would enjoy.
I was greeted at the airport by my friend Sarah who was raised in Rome, but lived in Pescara. We spent the night in Rome before heading to Pescara, where we roamed the streets of Rome at night, to get some background on all there was to do. She was very detailed about what to look out for as a tourist, as well as what to be sure to experience while there. Rome was beautiful at night, and as we strolled by the Colosseum I I got even more excited about my visit.
The following day was our road trip to Pescara, and boy was it beautiful!! The mountainside and lush vegetation were breathtaking. The highway was so charming (not sure this is the right word) with mini cars that were perfect for an everyday commute on the cute narrow streets. We stopped at a very serene town called Scanno to have lunch. To say it was beautiful is an understatement. Italy has a whimsical feel at all times and a calming romantic vibe that allowed you to feel completely relaxed.
We got to Pescara and immediately I felt as though I was in a more developed version of Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The island feel was even more obvious and going to the parties on la Lampara beach that night was an exact replica of beach parties in my island home. We had a blast that night. The parties were from one end of the beach to the other with an intermingling of tourists from all over the world enjoying the beauty of Italy.
The following day we spent time relaxing, and decided to visit a local restaurant called Arrosticini. This was an awesome experience. The restaurant was in front of a farm where they raised the sheep and grew vegetables used in their menu. While there, I also learned they made their own wine, named da Luigi. By far this was one of the best meals I’ve ever had in all my travels. The meat was so soft, and tasted fresh, and the wine had a sweet taste that made it easy to forget it was an alcoholic beverage. We laughed and talked the entire night; no one could have guessed that I was generally a quiet and reserved? person. I had so much fun!
Day three involved a trip back to Rome to do the “touristy” stuff. I stayed in a villa exactly 3 blocks from the Colosseum. It was great. Breakfast was typically from a coffee shop that made cappuccino to perfection, and we savored delightful pastries. Lunch and dinner were all rolled into one, as the pizza that may have started as lunch was often only partially consumed with enough left over for dinner. My fill came from the amazing wine that accompanied every meal.
I still cannot fathom what makes the Italian cuisine so much more delectable than any American cuisine I have ever tasted. Maybe it’s the fresh ingredients or the wine, that made every day seem dreamy and nostalgic. For me, every moment spent in Italy was awesome.
My visit to the Colosseum, an iconic symbol of imperial Rome which lies in the center of the city, was an eye-opener. What I appreciated most about this structure was that even though Rome is a developed city, this historic site was undamaged; the rest of the city was built around it and complemented it. What was so important about the Colosseum you ask? Well, it was not only an amphitheater but a symbol of power for the Roman Empire. The structure itself is amazing and is built with over 80 entrances and designed to hold 50,000 people. Although built back in 70 AD, it only took 10 years to complete. This structure truly showcased Roman engineering techniques to the world. The games played at the Colosseum in the past are said to have killed over 50,000 people and about a million wild animals.
I can fully understand how this iconic structure has become one of the wonders of the world. It brought great respect to Rome and showcased its strength. Not only was its ingenuity extremely credible, but it highlighted Rome’s power as an undefeated empire.
Italy!!!!!!!!!! One of the most loved vacation spots that holds a power and magic that is unmatched in a many ways. I will always think of it as a country of beauty, strength, power and great confidence. Its history holds firm to this day and its capital honors this tradition even today.
One wonder of the down and 6 more to go ~ Summer 2014
My first trip was however unplanned and was a nice medley of beautiful country sides and a city with an interesting mix of old and new working together as one. The result is a wonderful city called Italy.
Of course I’m speaking of the Colosseum in Rome, but my story didn’t begin there. It started as an invitation to visit the mother of a very good friend. I consider myself fortunate to know her for a short time of her life here on earth. Danuta Maria Rusiniak invited me to visit Poland where she lived. I became close to her because of the amazing doll clothes she made. They were so perfectly done I wanted my very own adult size version. While she measured me and designed clothing (some of which I still own today), we would talk about general life stories. She spoke Polish but we communicated well enough that our conversations typically had me mute and soaking up all the stories she had to tell about life and the lessons she learned.
During my first visit to Europe, Poland was a very unique view of the western world. Yep as with most of my international trips, I was the only black person I encountered in Poland. Danka, although more mature than me, seemed to have much more life and energy than I did. She took me on an adventure every single day. We started our day early in the morning and explored Poland until evening. We visited the Krzywy Domek (The Crooked House), Sopot’s pier, Długi Targ (Long Market), World War II museum and Old Town Gdansk.
The early summer days in Poland were crisp and vibrant. While the weather was good outside, there were always people that filled the shops and sidewalk restaurants. gdansk had the most amazing shops and cutest amber jewelry. The beach in Sopot was a pastel blue with the longest boardwalk I’ve ever seen, and it actually the longest pier in Europe. The war museum highlighted the horrific times of Hitler. There were unique glass pieces “made in Poland”. Each day was a delightful surprise of this lovely European county called Poland.
Danka also knew Germany very well. She had worked there for some years so her German was still very good. Germany was just a one and a half hour flight from Poland. I had no German training what so ever. Danka was always there to help me figure out what I wanted to say especially in the stores.This is what I think made my trip so comfortable and fun. Being a mother of an amazing young lady close to my age, she was a natural at taking care of a younger person. She went above and beyond to make each experience enjoyable. On the train rides, and there were many, we talked about life lessons and what was most important. She taught me to see the heart of people not just what they did or said but their inner beauty. There was never a dull moment throughout or time together. I learned so much from her and what I miss most was her passion. She had a passion for design, and passion for life and a deep love for her only child Kinga.
While we spent a few days in Germany, what I grew to appreciate the most about Germany was the fun people we met along the way. The atmosphere was very relaxing and social. We would visit Alexander Plax often as it was a central stop for our train. While there were often greeted by strangers who quickly became friends as we joined in having a few bottles of amazing German beer, (well more like one and a half for me – German beer is strong, but I loved it!).
Our mornings were filled with educational tours to places such as the Berlin Wall and Brabenburger. Our evenings were spent in the social atmosphere of the always lively locals who laughed and talked and enjoyed the company of each other learning about culture and life. There was never a dull moment. Our night time conversations were always filled with laughter and a recollection of how fun the day was. I miss Danuta So much!!!
Because of her my view of Europe became one of social affairs, of people who took the time to enjoy life of laughter, of fun, of insightful life stories, of being reminded to unwind as it energizes you to take on the tasks ahead.
I will miss her because she was my introduction to seeing life in a new way and a reminder to take life at it comes but never forget to enjoy the moments it gives you. I will miss her because her life was cut short in 2016. I will miss her because I no longer have the lively soul to help me look past the surface.
I will miss her because she was my introduction to seeing life in a new way and a reminder to take life at it comes but never forget to enjoy the moments it gives you. I will miss her because her life was cut short in 2016. I will miss her because I no longer have the lively soul to help me look past the surface.
Europe will always remind me of her. The city streets, the lively people, the insightful conversations the moments in time that should be cherished. This was Danuta, this is Europe. After my trip to Germany I was able to visit Italy and see my first “Wonder of the World”. I however could not mention Europe and my first trip there without mentioning the soul that brought it to life for me.
~ in memory of
Danuta Maria Rusiniak
I decided to travel to Japan in 2016, as a birthday gift to myself. This was my first trip to Japan and I was very excited and I was not sure what to expect but I knew that my love of ancient culture far exceeded my love of modern culture and lifestyles therefore my anticipation was high.
A Japanese design, much like the country itself, is pristine and clean. The people have an unmatched respect for nature, each other and to visitors who explore their island home. Nevertheless, the Japanese have proven that they are able to live in harmony and peace, and have attained one of the highest living standards on earth.
Needless to say my first impressions of Japan surpassed my expectations. I started out by travelling with a group and our tour started out in Tokyo. The city of Tokyo is amazing and beautiful with a layout that lends for easy navigation. A country that often seems to move to its own beat, Japan has long been an innovator in digital technology.
So there is no surprise that the focus of Tokyo seems to be on anything technological and high tech stores line every street in this humming city. Even the fashion boutiques are filled with designs that are unique and clean cut. Even their street fashion continues to be influential throughout Asia and around the globe. I was so happy we started there.
Our first stop was the Tokyo Tower, which is basically a replica of the Eiffel Tower although not as tall. From the observatory one has a panoramic view of the Tokyo. Its cleanliness and the pristine nature of the city are evident. The Japanese have developed very unique customs and cultural trappings infused with modern designs. There is an interesting mix of modern high rise buildings and ancient temples. (Side note- this attention to design detail is even evident in the hotel bathroom with faucet, soap dispenser and water heater as one unit).
Our next stop was the Asakusa Kannon Temple which boasted really elaborate designs and bright colours. The Asakusa Kannon Temple is a Buddist temple and is one of Tokyo’s most colourful and popular temples. The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they returned the statue to the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, the temple was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo’s oldest temple. The temple and its gardens are very manicured and it also has a nearby shopping arcade where visitors may purchase authentic craft items. Visitors come to worship at the temple, to shop or maybe just to sit in the gardens at the back of the premises where there is a nice pond with koi fish and a bird sanctuary.
Within the temple there is a waiting area or foyer, and on entering the temple the first thing you notice is that almost everything is of a golden design. Most persons offered money then proceeded to do their prayers in the shrine. It was my first experience or encounter with a Buddhist temple and while it was a lively and bustling place there was an air of solemnity. They have nurtured traditions, which serve to dissipate stress and enhance personal and social well being.
Our next was Mount Fuji. Mt Fugi at that time we visited was just poking her head out of a thick cloud cover as the area was just coming out of winter and moving into spring. The ride up the mountain was most breath taking as we could appreciate the landscape from a different view. Interestingly at the base of the mountain sits a hotel with a roller coaster right below the mountain. We were only able to go up the mountain to about 3000 feet, as the higher altitudes were not yet reopened after the winter season. Mount Fugi has a very spectacular view that is often experienced with a completely different weather system from the rest of Tokyo. For example, it may be snowing up in the mountain and sunny in the rest of Tokyo.
Our next stop was the city of Hakone
Hakone is located in the suburb area of Tokyo and be accessed by cable car. It is a beautiful, quiet and peaceful town. It has amazing houses with well-tended gardens. There are several hot springs where one may choose to take a bath. The shops along the route offers authentic Japanese craft and wares that vistors may browse and purchase. These include their renowned Japanese dolls and earthenware. If you are a fan of teas, there were several tea shops well as fashion stores.
After Hakone, we took a train to Kyoto. My love grew. Kyoto has more of the old style Japanese architecture that seemed to frozen in time along with the unique Japanese culture. Kyoto has old temples, a Geisha area and unique gardens. Kyoto had fast become my favourite town because it held all the styles and designs that I was most attracted to. This included calligraphy and the homes were made from wood and rice paper.
Being in Kyoto during Cherry Blossom season made my visit even more unique and special. Everywhere there were cherry trees that appeared to be wearing a huge pink cloud. Years ago the Government and its people gave the citizens of the United States cherry trees that were planted around the tidal basin in Washington, DC. Every year during the blossoming time, a festival was held in celebration of the friendship between both countries??
The tour continued with a visit to the Nijo Castle, the Ditpkjni Temple, the Sojan Temple and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. My favourite was the Kikatuji Temple or the Golden Temple. It’s a three story temple with the bottom level made entirely of wood, while the two top tiers made of golden leaves and its sits in the middle of the lake. Here again it was evident that great detail was paid to include nature without intruding or disrupting it. Everything is done in harmony.
Another great attraction is the Geisha Town we visited. There are a lot of stories about a Geisha, but for me the overarching story is that the girls represent beautifully decorated dolls that bring such beauty and sincerity to their environment. They are there to serve and to give, yet there is so much power in what they do and represent.
The Japanese people are innovative and while not lacking in technology, their number one focus is working in tandem with nature. Nature and the environment are features in every aspect of their lives and their design. Japan is my Asian love. The fascinating culture and the pristine designs speaks a lot to my personality. The nature of my being is not a loud one , and I believe that when I do speak it needs to be strong and meaningful. I feel that one’s story should impact the life of another. The people of Japan are bold but reserved, so they let the culture and design speak for them. One may be quiet yet still tell a lifetime of stories.
I feel a connection to this land and its people.
I love Japan
]]>I recently visited Curacao, and was prompted by a native to tour the slave museum. Now Curacao is a very unique island with a unique mix of cultures due to a diverse population made up of persons from Holland, and other regions of the Netherlands, as well as various Caribbean territories, including Jamaica; all around making Curacao a melting pot. Despite this diverse culture, with the majority of the population being Afro-Caribbean, what I found was that there is still racism and blacks are looked upon and treated differently in Curacao.
I was invited to visit the slave museum by a native Curacao woman. What stood out the most for me on the tour of the slave museum, is that throughout history, black people were never given a fair measure of life and opportunities for advancement. Ours is a history of challenges; always overcoming one obstacle or another; always fighting to improve our lives and prove ourselves a valuable part of the human race. What made me most proud however, was the fact that even through all of this, black people still to this day continue to fight, continue to move forward, continue to press ahead; “and still we rise.” In the initial stages of the tour there were a lot of artifacts featuring the Roman Empire, as well the story of Jesus. One could link all of these stories back to Ethiopia and to Africa in general. We were then ushered into another section of the museum that was located within a courtyard with several buildings on the perimeter. In the middle of the courtyard stood a sculpture bearing the resemblance of a face or a skull but when one looked closely at the sides (left or right) one could clearly identify the outline of the African continent.
The African Art Exhibit depicted early African life. We saw spears, huts, mud homes, entrances to homes where the doors were made of solid mahogany, architecture of Cairo, examples of Islamic architecture, how ships were made, and the African way of life prior to slavery. During that era, we could see how black men lived like kings. Again, there was a lot of reference to the history of Ethiopia and Egypt. We were also shown art from other areas of Africa. These were an interesting compilation of shapes that were bright, boisterous and beautiful with vivid, bold colors.
We were next taken to an area that discussed the timeline of the Middle Passage between 1441 and 1861 from the time of Henrique the Navigator, the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States. An example of a slave house was on display that showed how slaves lived. These huts were made of solid concrete on the bottom, with thatched roofs made of palm leaves. There were also images of the typical African family before slavery with mother, father and children all living as a happy unit. Photographs of wealthy black men attired in fine robes and nice garments could be seen throughout the exhibit. In the beginning of the discussions of how and when slavery began, there was an account of the Triangular Trade. The Triangular Trade refers to the shipping of goods from Britain to West Africa in exchange for slaves. These slaves were then shipped to the West Indies in exchange for sugar, rum and other commodities, which were in turn shipped back to Britain.
Next, we came to the Caribbean Slave Exhibit. This exhibit showed the most vivid depiction of slavery and all its horrors. We saw chains and shackles used to restrain the slaves. There was also detailed discussion of the Suriname Maroons; Western Africans who managed to escape European enslavement. I was completely overcome with was the slave ship. The slave ship was elaborate and remarkable considering the time is was made and used. While we could not see the inside of the ship, as we walked past there was an opening in the floor leading to a lower level. This was the place where black people were shackled and chained for months on end, in filthy, inhumane conditions while the ship traveled from the coast of West African to the Americas. The thought of carrying human beings in such condition was very disturbing. It was then that the whole reality of slavery hit home, and I pondered on the immense suffering of the black race. Looking from the outside on such and impressive vessel, one could not come to the reality that such a vessel could hold such horrific, inhumane suffering and atrocities in its belly. When I considered how these people were taken from their home, from their lifestyle without consent or desire and forced into this system of slavery, it made all the accounts in the history books more than just stories; it made it real.
There were displays of slavery in America. The most compelling part of that exhibit was how colored people were considered and treated as property. There were photographs of sale signs (owners selling slaves), signs of owners offering rewards for runaway slaves or of owners looking for slaves that were kidnapped by other white men. The life of the black man was measured only in monetary worth.
One part of the exhibit showed Marcus Garvey and was dedicated to his role as a black leader, liberator and pioneer for the emancipation of the black race. There was an ‘eerie’ display of the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) uniform, and displays of the Buffalo Soldier and the role they played in the American Civil War to bring an end to slavery. This immediately brought to my mind the song of the same title by Bob Marley.
The museum tour ended on a high note however that enforced the fact that although our race was enslaved we have made mammoth strides. We have great examples of individuals who pioneered this change; Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Marcus Garvey, Rosa Parks and more recently, our 44th President, Barak Obama. An exhibition that started out as a very sad yet informative telling of our history, towards the end made me realize that no matter where we are, how far from home we travel, we all belong to the human race. As humans, we have done grave injustices to each other. During the dark period of our history, blacks we treated as property to be bought and sold at the White man’s whim. Our race was treated so horribly, yet we are still here today, fighting in our country, in our communities even in our own families for the right to be treated fairly and equally. The wonderful thing that makes me most proud is we are still fighting; we never give up. Throughout different eras of history we were oppressed time and time again, and even now in present day politics it is still evident. But I look up to my race as a people who never give up, a people with an indelible spirit. Leaders have emerged from among us that give us great examples of people who don’t give up, nor take the easy way out.
]]>No matter what, as Maya Angelou appropriately states,
“still we rise.”
From my monthly corporate pay check, I give myself a pay check. So while my pay check takes care of my monthly expenses and obligations, groceries, gasoline etc., my portion does only what I want to do. Invariably most of this money goes to travel. It’s not cheap to travel so you have to be wise financially in how you attain this goal.
Another way to attain this goal is to work in “reverse”. When planning a trip, add all the cost for airfare, hotel, spending money and other incidentals, and make a budget with some flexibility for changes or price increases that may come into effect and impact your budget. Now when you have a total, considering the timeframe for the travel, you can now calculate how much you need to pay yourself from your salary in order to attain that budget in a specified time. As soon as you have the airfare book the flight, and now you have just two other major expenses to cover.
One important rule of thumb is never keep this money in the same account as money for bills and other recurring expenses. You may even arrange with the payroll department at your company to do a direct deposit of this 10% into a separate account. You must exercise discipline and not touch this money for any other purpose. Keep a tab on the amount saved so you will know when to book your hotel, or book the tours you are interested in.
A credit union is a great place to stash away this saving that does not have the typical hidden fees of other banking institution.
[bctt tweet=”Lesson – give yourself a pay check from every pay period; its a sure-fire way of ensuring that you can in fact Play Hard at what you love.” username=”@sanchadesigns”]
Lesson – give yourself a pay check from every pay period; separate your monthly expenses from your pay check, put it into an account that is not easily accessible that will accrue interest. Its a sure-fire way of ensuring that you can in fact Play Hard at what you love.
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This was not a challenge for me in the first, or second, or even the third year of my career, because I honestly wasn’t as interested in travel at that time. In the fifth or sixth year with my employer, I got an amazing opportunity to travel to China and to Thailand. That was my first long distance visit to faraway lands, as previously my travel experience was a four hour hop to Jamaica and other Caribbean Islands. Now this sixteen hour flight and trip really opened my eyes to new possibilities. After that experience, I’ve been able to travel to several other countries including Europe and visited Poland, Germany, Italy, France and then on to England. I later did some island cruises to Puerto Rico and several islands of the West Indies.
Although it takes time out of a 9-5 work schedule; with careful planning, long distance travel is achievable. This became my quest and developed into a passion. Now the challenge is real – balancing my commitment to my job while taking time off to travel. I will share my experiences.
Most employees are given an allocation of vacation days and technological advances makes the implementation of flexible work schedules, working from home, working on weekends, and working extra days in order to earn days off is worth exploring. For example, if you work 40 hours between Monday and Thursday, or 40 hours between Tuesday and Friday, then suddenly you have a weekend that starts on Friday and extends until Monday. The one drawback with that is because of the limited time, you may have to do trips closer to home, travel within the country you live or maybe even take long road trip. These short trips can be amazing. If you live in the United States, you may even be able to pull off a trip to the Caribbean or to Canada. I have found that whenever one travels to a different country, getting on a ‘hop-on-hop-off” bus is a great way to explore and hit all the highlights. From there you can now make informed decisions about how and where you spend your time and your money.
Now when it comes to vacation time you usually get two weeks off. This time could now be used for a trip to Europe, Asia or a Caribbean cruise. If one is flexible enough to include a long weekend (that you earned by racking up a 40 -hour work week in four days) in that time slot, then you have extended your vacation by an additional four days.
When you take vacation; you do not necessarily need two full weeks in one location. You get to the location, explore, and have an amazing time, always mindful to make the best use of your time (e.g. if you decide to spend a week in Asia, make sure that your days are fully packed with things to do). If for example you get there on Thursday, my first suggestion would be to rest up from your long flight, and start your activities on Friday morning. Now you have another five or six days ahead to do all you plan to do. You could even add another location destination before its time to head home.
In keeping a full-time job and travelling, you are definitely making plans for your future. That sense of security is one thing that forced me to make plans to balance both of these passions in my life. If I were to quit my job to travel, then the prospect of owning a home, having medical insurance and a retirement plan would be farfetched; although I admit that there is a possibility that you could own a home and rent it out while you travel, and in doing so earn an income.
There are people out there who like me require full time employment, but also love to travel. Let us explore these possibilities together.
]]>It’s the most unique hotel I’ve seen to date!
While in Cusco, Peru this past February, we drove past some of the most amazing views of the country; I must say I was very surprised at how amazing Peru was. I did not expect such magnificence. On our way to The Sacred Valley Ollantaytambo, I discovered this unique lodge on we stopped to view the coolest hotel on the hill, Sacred Valley Skylodge.
The lodge is located on the edge of a cliff and to get to your room, you have to climb / hike up the side of the mountain. The views from above however were amazing!!!!
Just imagine sleeping among the clouds, being surrounded by nature and overlooking beauty while you relax from a busy day visiting Machu Picchu. There’s nothing more relaxing than being in such a state.
Take a moment to view the video and possibly plan to venture out and visit this unique accommodation.
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There has always been a soft heart in my heart for my “Auntie Pat.” As long as I can remember, she has loved, cared for, and protected me.
From a very young age, Auntie Pat has inspired me, because she has always been energetic, open-minded, a lover of life, and someone who works hard to make it happen for herself. She sees no barriers, but embraces life to the fullest and is very determined. Because of this she has been a real inspiration to me, and my mentor.
She has zeal for travelling the world, and I can still recall bits and pieces of her travel adventures she shared with me as a child. I was always impressed with the art work from parts of the world I had only read about at that point. I also specifically remember saying to her
“I want to be just like you.”
___
Although most of her accomplishments inspired me to do great things in life, her travel log was the one I was most impressed with.
Recently I spoke with her about traveling; because by this point I had traveled to a few places and could hold a conversation about the similarities, likes and dislikes of the various countries we had both visited.
I was also seeking advice from her on where next to visit. Below are bits and pieces of our conversation
Q. What is the one thing you look forward to when in a new country?
Q. List the countries you’ve traveled to. (in order of visits)
• UK
• Canada
• Greece…had a pen pal there spent a week and his handsome older brother showed me the islands. I also saw Jim Brown on the Galaxy Club Stop at the Athens Hilton…we were the only black people there!!
• Italy
• France
• Kenya
• Egypt
• Brazil
• Peru
• Panama
oooh…in between all of this… the Caribbean….almost all of the big ones and a few small ones, e.g., St. Kitts and Anguilla & the Grenadines
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Australia
• India
• China
• Tibet
• Estonia
• Norway
• South Africa (3 times and I am ready to go again)
• Haiti
• Cayman
• Bahamas
• Cuba….another favorite
” show_quote_icon=”yes” text_color=”#424482″ background_color=”#e2e2e2″ quote_icon_color=”#ceb42f”]
Q. What is your favorite country to visit. And why
“Wow…Indescribable !!! there is so much to see and do. So far on each of the 3 trips I have revisited sites, such as
Table Mountain…Robben Island and Zulu Land. (actually, I think I am of Zulu ancestry!!)” show_quote_icon=”yes” text_color=”#424482″ background_color=”#e2e2e2″ quote_icon_color=”#ceb42f”]
As you can see it’s quiet easy for me to be inspired by this woman.
___
It’s no wonder Pat Pessoa owns a travel agency – ATLAS Travels, in Kingston Jamaica, sending people all over the world. Her love for travel continues to inspire me tremendously; and in her everyday life she inspires everyone else to make the world their Oyster.
Below are just a few photos from her past trips
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A few things I’ve learned from traveling is to pay attention to as many things as you can possible take in. Prior to your trip one of the most important thing to put in place is to make sure that you have a copy of all important documents. Make a colored copy of your passport as well as keep a photo in your phone. This will be your security in case you lose your actual passport. Do the same for visas, especially those that apply to the trip at hand. Never keep these copies in the same place as the original documents. There are a lot of things that you are responsible for when traveling and to have a lost important document would really put a damper on your trip as well as take a lot of extra time out of your schedule to resolve the situation. Mistakes happen daily and this method will add an extra security measure to your ventures.
When it comes to your credit cards the best method of protection besides calling your credit card company to tell them of your travel plans including location and dates; is taking a photo of the back of your card. This is typically where your card contact information is printed. In this case if your card is stolen you have the card info to call the card company and report the incident.
Airports around the world have increased security checks, sometimes resulting in long lines and delays. Getting to the airport in plenty of time is advised. Sometimes however it also leaves you with a lot of free time in the airport. Use this free time wisely to secure last minute details that you couldn’t get to before leaving your home. It is also a good time to maybe purchase a gift for someone (including you). With so much going on it can be easy to miss certain things that are important to your departure, and so once you have checked in, gone through security and identified your gate, take a few moments to place your passport in a reachable location since you may need it to fill out your customs form. Your passport is best located in your pocket or in a purse that you will keep with you in your seat. This time out can also be good for doing one last check on your emails, placing your house and car keys in a secure location and making sure your phone company is aware of your travel plans.
Before any long flight, after you have checked in and identified your gate, walk around as much as possible as this will aid in circulation since there will be a lot of sitting while on the flight. While on the plane it’s best to get up and walk around for a bit once every 3-4 hours (if you are not sleeping :). A quick walk to the bathroom or up and down the aisle is a good practice to help in ensuring your legs don’t get too cramped. . Comfortable shoes are a must when travelling; the best option actually is to wear comfy socks during the flight. Most times you are not able to tell if your circulation is OK while on the flight until you are ready to disembark. Sleeping is always a great option. Your body will be in a more relaxed state and it helps to pass the time. Comfort is very important but not your number one priority. Keep a bottle of water handy as the air could get dry, keep in mind however the more you drink the more you’ll need to make a bathroom run, so keep it in small amounts.
One final tip- while you are in the airports it is helpful is pay attention to everything. Double check you flight status, making sure you are still on time or delayed. Browse the food areas to prepare yourself adequately for in-between snacks if needed. This is especially useful if have dietary restrictions or if your airline typically don’t supply what you will need. Pay attention to the announcements within the airport as there may be changes in your departure time and gate. Watch out for your belongings at all times. Always do a check on your travel documents.
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