The Great Escape to Cartagena, Colombia

When a colleague of mine invited me on a ladies trip to Cartagena, Colombia, I without hesitation said yes! As I mentioned before, I love to travel! Any opportunity to experience a new place and culture is always a go in my book. We spent four days in beautiful Cartagena, exploring the city, submerging ourselves in the culture, enjoying the amazing cuisine and even finding time to participate in a community service project. The entire experience was amazing and I can’t wait to visit again with my husband in tow.

I have to admit, I almost didn’t make it on this trip. Our itinerary was set 6 months prior but just as we were scheduled to leave, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) was made a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). I made the conscious decision to proceed with the trip despite family recommendations. The airline that had a 7 hour wait to cancel flights so by the time anyone answered we would have been half way to Colombia. In hindsight, I am glad I didn’t cancel because it was such an amazing experience.

Weekend Cartagena Itinerary

Thursday

We arrived at the Rafael Nunez International Airport in Cartagena (CTG) around noon where there was about a 45 minute wait to get through customs, but one of the ladies on our trip mentioned that it is usually a breeze to get through and the delay may have been due to coronavirus precautions. We were then taken to our hotel via private transport.

Where We Stayed:

We booked our stay at Allure Chocolat hotel by Karisma, a beautiful four-pearl boutique hotel set in the heart of Cartagena within walking distance to the historic walled city center and Getsemani. When we arrived however the manager informed us their computer system crashed and the reservations were cancelled. They instead had us stay at their sister property Allure Bon Bon hotel by Karisma, a short four minute walk away. The Bon Bon was a smaller hotel but just as amazing and we were able to enjoy the amenities of both hotels including all meals (free of charge) in addition to being refunded a night’s stay - Win! We enjoyed an amazing lunch at Allure Chocolat’s Restaurante Red Knife before freshening up and heading out for an incredible horse drawn carriage ride tour of the walled city and a scrumptious seafood dinner at El Santisimo.

Restaurante Red Knife - This is the restaurant of our main hotel where we enjoyed lunch everyday. They have 4.5 star rating on trip advisor and the food is amazing. If you end up here, try the grilled sea bass or salmon.

Restaurante Red Knife

The Bread was amazing

Sea bass with creamy yuca & casserole jus - divine!

Horse Drawn Carriage Ride/Tour - We booked our horse drawn carriage tour of the walled city through Panamericana. Our bus picked us up at our hotel around 7pm and took us to the meeting point to board our carriages. Our tour took us through the walled city where we enjoyed street vendors and the well lit night scenery. We window shopped all the boutiques and shops from our carriage and were even entertained and serenaded by local artists. Our english speaking tour guide was amazing even though it was challenging to hear him over the horse trotting.

El Santisimo Restaurante - This is where the tour ended and where we had dinner. It is rated 4 stars on trip advisor but I could easily give it 5 stars. We enjoyed various seafood dishes that were all very fresh and seasoned to perfection. The restaurant also carries chicken and beef dishes to suit any palate. An inviting atmosphere with excellent service - the food was the best I’ve had in ages.

I do not remember the names of these dishes but they were all delicious! The menu on their website has not been updated so I can’t recommend the dishes by name, but rest assured they were all delicious.

Friday

This day was filled with exploration and adventure. The great thing about Cartagena is that almost anywhere is accessible by foot. We explored the neighborhood of Getsemani - the hip new community for soaking up local culture. Pizzerias and casual bistros serving up Colombian staples line the streets, which are well known for their vivid murals. Local artists and residents decorate the streets to bring an exquisite experience. Brewpubs, cocktail bars, and Salsa bars keep the party vibe going.

I really loved the colorful doors throughout Cartagena and learned about the significance of the door knockers. “A tal casa tal aldaba,” or “To each house its door knocker” refers to the practice of displaying a resident’s social status or profession on their front door through the design of its knocker. A knocker shaped as a fish or other sea creature meant the owner of the house was a member of the sea merchant community, or some other trade related to the sea. Lion head door knockers represented members of the army, militia leaders, and other protectors of the city. The clergy, meanwhile, marked their homes with knockers in the shape of hands. A home with a lizard-shaped knocker were those of high society members, typically with some kind of royal connection. In all cases, the size and quality of the door knocker was also demonstrative of the resident’s social status: If you wanted to show off your credentials to passersby, only a finely crafted big brass knocker would do.

When you walk through this close knit community you’re greeted by vibrant depictions of Caribbean life displayed on the crumbling stucco walls of authentic Spanish Colonial buildings. Almost every street is lined with Getsemani Graffiti with bright murals showcasing culturally significant images from the historic to the modern.

Actual mural of this Getsemani local painted by a Getsemani local artist.

As afternoon approached we headed back in the direction of our hotel to freshen up and get ready for our community service project - but not before having another delicious meal at Restaurante Red Knife.

After lunch we got ourselves freshened up and packed our luggage filled with dental supplies including toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouth rinses and floss. In addition we had school supplies including book bags, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, crayons, folder pages, puzzles etc to give to orphans of the orphanage located in La Boquilla. It was a deeply satisfying experience. It was the first time this orphanage had ever been visited from the outside and the first time that they’d ever received donations. The pastor was so thankful and grateful. This is easily one of the most memorable moments of the trip.

The experience of visiting the orphanage and giving back to the local community touched us all so deeply that we decided all of our travels together will have some purpose to it and bear a humanitarian side. Our travel group is now called Travel On Purpose (TOP).

After our community service project we took a historical walking tour where we learned all about the history of Cartagena and shopped for emeralds, coffee and chocolate.

Did you know that Colombia mines and produces the most emeralds for the global market. It is estimated that Colombia accounts for 70-90% of the world's emerald market. The more you know!

Saturday

This was an early day, as we took a break from the busy city life to venture out to Rosario Islands. Our day started at 7:30am - our bus picked us up at our hotel and took us to the coastal town of Barú where we were whisked away by speedboat to the beautiful and picturesque Rosario Islands where we swam, snorkeled, sun bathed and enjoyed the local cuisine.

The boat ride going to Rosario Islands was smooth but the return was treacherous! The ocean was really rough and I acquired some bruises from holding on for dear life. Tip: If you do venture out to Rosario Islands, go very early and leave before 2pm. If you leave any later the seas may be too rough for you to return to Cartagena resulting in you spending the night on the Island.

Sunday

This was our last day in Colombia, it was bittersweet but we woke up early so that we could enjoy our last beautiful sunrise and delicious breakfast at Allure Chocolat. After breakfast we lounged around a bit before we were picked up and taken to the airport.

Entrance to the walled City. I sure will miss this view.

The next day Colombia closed their borders and travel in and out of the country was banned in light of the Coronavirus. We got out just in time.

Overall, I am very happy that I didn’t cancel this trip to Cartagena. I would go back in a heart beat! I am also happy to report that we have been back from our trip for 17 days and are all symptom and virus free. My husband and I are already planning to visit once the borders have re-opened.

How to Make The Most Out of A Long Weekend In Iceland

My husband and I love to travel! We’ve come up with a theory that, usually around the 6 week mark from our last vacation is when we feel that itch to hop on an airplane again.

Our most recent adventure brought us to Iceland. Iceland is popularly known as the land of fire and ice and I’ve never come across a more accurate description of a place. The local people are extremely warm and welcoming, despite the cold temperatures. We spent a long weekend there and tried to experience as much as possible during our short stay. Here’s how we made the most out of our long weekend trip in Iceland:

Planning our Trip

The word planning is a bit of a stretch. This trip was very spontaneous! We pretty much booked the flights and hotel on Expedia and added the activities. We flew into Keflavik International Airport (KEF) via Jet Blue and Iceland Air from Pittsburgh with a layover in Boston.

Best Times To Visit

We took our trip to Iceland at the end of January. Needless to say, it was COLD. I would not recommend going during the winter months unless you have a penchant for cold weather. The best times to visit, as told by the locals, is during the summer months. However, if you want to see the Northern lights early Spring or early Fall is best.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Foss Hotel in Reykjavik. It is a really nice, boutique hotel located right in the heart of the city and in walking distance to the city/town center where all the shops and restaurants are. It’s also near the water so there was a nice view from our hotel room window. A delicious buffet breakfast was included with our stay. The other great thing about staying here is that it was right next to a bus stop (Bus stop #12 to be exact). It is important to note that tours and excursions will pick you up at the bus stop closest to where you’re staying so it is a god idea to stay somewhere very close to avoid walking too far. There are plenty of lodging options in Reykjavik- small boutique hotels, apartments and Airbnb’s are available.

Hotel Lobby

View of the city from hotel

Extended hotel lobby/cafe

View from our hotel room window

Weekend Itinerary:

Friday - After arriving at the airport, we got a private transfer to our hotel in the city of Reykjavik. It took about 45 mins from the airport to our hotel and since we got in late and were tired, we took a 4 hour nap and began our day around 9am on Saturday morning.

Saturday - After breakfast we went on a walking tour of city center and of course did a little shopping. There are countless ways to spend time in the city, but we decided to walk through the harbour district of Grandi which in recent years has been developed from an industrial area to an artistic venue filled with workshops and galleries. We also explored the main shopping street, Laugavegur. Later that evening, around 8pm our shuttle picked us up for a Northern Lights tour.

Walking around the city

The Northern Lights

What would a trip to Iceland be without seeing one of its famous attractions, the Northern Lights? One thing to note here is if you are planning your trip in advance, there is no way to know when you will have the best weather conditions for this beautiful natural event. Lucky for us, after braving 3 hours in the freezing cold(heated buses are available when you need a break from the cold), the lights showed up and lit up the night’s sky. If you want great pics it’s best to take a professional camera and a tripod. We used our iPhones and downloaded the app Nightcap.

Sunday - This was a full twelve hour day of adventure. We did the popular Golden Circle Tour topped off by a visit to the Blue Lagoon.

Ready for our Tour!

The Golden Circle Tour

The Golden Circle tour by GeoIceland was a great choice as it took us to the most popular destinations. Our guide was very knowledgeable and the group was relatively small, around 12 people.

• Kerio - We drove through Nesjavellir, where pillars of steam rise from the all-encompassing mountains and followed the winding road until it took us to Kerið, an otherworldly volcanic crater which embraces a lake in the crater's bottom. This lake, however was frozen over at this time of year.

• Geyser Hot Spring - One of the amazing things about Iceland is that despite the cold temperatures, the land is bursting with fire. Iceland is highly geologically active with many volcanoes, hot springs and geysers. The Haukadalur area is a popular tourist spot, where visitors can see Strokkur and Geysir, which are the two biggest geysers there. The first erupts every 5-10 minutes. Here you relax and take in the scenery over a cup of coffee and even pick up souvenirs at the on site shop.

• Gulfoss Waterfall - A short distance away, the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, Iceland's single most popular attraction, awaits you. You follow a footpath all the way to the river's edge and as you look down into the gorge, you manage to get a sense of this waterfall's unspeakable power. The Gullfoss waterfall is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland and although it’s not the biggest waterfall, it certainly is magnificent.

The next stop was the Þingvellir National Park, where we walked the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and explored the beautiful area which is fundamental to Iceland's history: the Icelandic parliament, Alþingi, was founded in Þingvellir in 930 and held its sessions here until 1799. This is the cradle of Icelandic culture, unchanged for millennia, and every rock and pebble has a story to tell. 

Through the valley

North America on my right, Europe on my left

The Blue Lagoon

Looking for the ultimate Icelandic spa experience? Then you need to visit the Blue Lagoon, it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. It is one of the 25 wonders of the world and is a geothermal spa that stays at around 102 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.

Monday - On our last day we woke up early and enjoyed a hearty breakfast, took a walk around city center one last time before being transported back to the airport.

Visiting Iceland was perfect for a weekend getaway. I’m not sure if I would have stayed longer even if the opportunity presented itself. It’s not the typical jet off to a tropical Island that I’ve become accustomed to but it was a nice change. I learned a little bit of history and experienced a different culture and way of living. Definitely recommend!

Paradise Found: Turks & Caicos Islands

Turks & Caicos is one of the most beautiful Caribbean Islands I’ve visited! (besides Jamaica, of course - I’m biased). It’s surrounded by the largest sand banks in the world which allows for crystal clear, turquoise blue water. It is scenic, quiet and a lot less touristy than other surrounding islands. It is truly paradise!

On My way to Turks & Caicos!

My girlfriends and I recently enjoyed a long weekend “girls trip” to this beautiful island. This was in the month of November when the temperatures in the northeastern parts of the United States were rapidly falling and we were all in need of a little sunshine.

We spent 5 days on this breathtakingly beautiful island and the only thing I (kind of) regret is not photo documenting the entire trip. But, that is the magic of this place; It makes you slow down, unplug and completely immerse yourself in all it’s splendor.

Below you will find a travel guide that can be handy if you ever find yourself planning a getaway to beautiful Turks and Caicos. A fair warning - Turks is not a cheap place by any stretch of the imagination. It is very much geared towards luxury and not at all considered a budget destination.

Grace Bay Beach

How To Get There:

Several islands make up the Turks & Caicos Islands and thus there are several airports. Since we were going to Providenciales , we flew into the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) which is the main airport on the island. We all flew separately from different North East airports. The cost from New York (JFK), Washington, DC (DCA) and Pittsburgh (PIT) ranges from $450-$600 at that time of year.

We also rented a car upon arrival so that we could not only get to our villa in Provo but enjoy exploring the Island. We rented from Grace Bay Car Rentals for around $220 for 5 days.

Commute from the airport to our Villa

You can get around via Taxi or rental car. If you are staying at a hotel in Grace Bay (touristy area) and have no plans to leave your resort then this might be unnecessary. However, if you’re staying away from the resort area (like we did), you will need a rental car to get around. Keep in mind that in Turks and Caicos, they drive on the left (the British way). Most steering wheels will be on the right. Not to worry if this freaks you out initially, my American friends adjusted quite quickly.

Local Currency:

The local currency is the United States Dollar (USD), so no conversions to worry about for my American friends.

Weather:

Since this is the Caribbean, expect tropical weather. The average temperature ranges between 80-90 degrees year round with sprinkles of showers randomly which seizes quite quickly.

Where We Stayed:

Our Villa was exquisite! We stayed at Sunrise Ridge - the main house, and it was phenomenal. It is located in the exclusive Turtle Tail neighborhood of Providenciales and is a 5 acre estate set on one of the highest points of the Turks and Caicos islands.  The ridge has captivating views of the Ocean, Flamingo Lake and the island of Providenciales. Our villa came decked with a swimming pool, Barbecue, outside dining, private decks and a fire pit.  It had everything we needed and was stocked with things from blenders to coffee makers to beach chairs, umbrellas and coolers. Cost was ~$1000/night and varies depending on the time of year.

Aerial View of our Villa

Ocean View From The Pool Deck of Our Villa

This Hammock By The Pool Was My Favorite Spot.

The Courtyard Where I Had My Morning Tea Each Day

View From The Living Room

Kitchen and Dining Room

View From The Bedroom

Food:

• Since we stayed in a villa, we stocked up on food at the nearby grocery store - Graceway IGA Supermarket, which was about 10 minutes away. Even though we had ample food at the house we wanted to experience the restaurants on the island.

• The Deck at Seven Stars - We went here on our first night in Turks for something quick to eat. We ended up grabbing bar food (choice from the menu) and was quite satisfied. The conch fritters are divine.

• Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar at Grace Bay Resorts - Go here on a Saturday night when there are lots of people and the energy is high. However, expect long wait times for food as they get super busy. The food and drinks here are quite pricey but really good.

• Coco Bistro - Located in the heart of Grace Bay in walking distance of all the resorts. The food and atmosphere are really nice and a must try.

• Hemmingway’s - We ate here on our last night in Turks. The ambience, customer service, food and drinks are excellent! I had the curried lobster and wanted more when it was done.

Don’t let the look of this fool you. I waited a very long time for this Grouper from Infiniti Restaurant and it was worth every second.

What To Do:

You go to Turks because of the beaches! and the main one is Grace Bay Beach on the north side of Providenciales.

• Horse back riding tour with Provo Ponies - this was quite fun and rather relaxing.

• Sunset drinks at the very modern, and sleek boutique Hotel Gansevoort - One of the best things here is the beach bar. The drinks are really good and they make a mean mojito.

• Snorkeling at Turtle Cove - We didn’t make it here but were told by the locals that this is the spot for snorkeling as Smith’s Reef is VERY beautiful.

• Bonefishing at Juba Point Salina - If you’re into bone fishing, this is where it’s done because of the low depths of the water. The water here isn’t suitable for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding or anything of that nature.

• Flamingo Lake to see the flamingos - Want to go flamingo spotting? Flamingo pond is where you want to go. The number of flamingos will vary with the time of year.

Soothing Horse Back Ride with Provo Ponies

As I mentioned, the one thing I (kind of) regret is not taking more photos. If I had thought about doing a travel guide I certainly would have. However, a visit to Turks and Caicos should definitely be on your bucket list in my opinion. It is one of those very simple yet breathtakingly beautiful destinations that you ought to experience. Of course, do your research and have an open mind.

Experience does for the soul what education does for the mind. - Casey Neistat

And we’re out.

Venice, Italy

I love Italy! I haven't been to very many cities, but of the ones I've visited Venice is my favorite. I love the fact that it is small enough to explore in just a few hours and not miss a thing. You can go cafe-hopping for coffee, wine, pizza and gelato; go shopping; sit and relax in the small squares; take a ride on a water taxi or gondola and so much more.

Venice is known as the city of canals. The city literally sits on water. There are no roads and everyone gets around by Gondola, water taxi or by foot.

St. Mark's Square is the heart of Venice. It is always extremely busy with lots of tourists and locals going to and fro. It's the perfect spot to people watch.

Piazza San Marco

St. Mark's Basilica

Busy Busy St. Marl's Square

The Campanile Di San Marco is the bell tower of Veniceand offers the best view of city. Catch the elevator to the top to check out the scenic view! 

The Ponte di Rialto is Venice' most famous bridge which spans the Grand Canal. This is the magnificent view of the city from the Rialto Bride. I took many many selfies (which I will spare you), but it is especially breathtaking at sunset.

A trip to Venice would not be complete without the infamous Gondola Ride! 

The world famous art of Lace Making - Here this lady demonstrates how lace is made. It is so intricate and takes many many years to complete.

Lace making

Lace Making

Beautiful Canals and allies for lots of Photo ops!

FOOD! From Pizza to Pasta to Gelato, I could not stop eating. The taste of authentic Italian cuisine is quite different from what I had been accustomed to.

If a trip to Italy is on your mind, you must have Venice on the itinerary! I took this trip back in 2015 and my memories of this place are still very vivid. If you have questions about tours and accommodations reach out via email.