Islands US Travelers Can Currently Travel To

Me trying to remain calm after reading that the EU is opening boarders but will not allow US travelers

Not sure about you, but I am aching for an international adventure! 🌎

Even though I would love to skip off to Amsterdam or Berlin to scratch my travel itch, it’s just not realistic in the foreseeable months. As unfortunate as this news is, I understand because the pandemic is still not under control in the US.

Even if the US was allowed entry, it’s questionable how comfortable I’d be on a plane with recycled air for a long international flight. What about you?

Laying low or ready to fly internationally to Europe as soon as we’re permitted?

I am still waiting for the moment when the EU will allow US citizens back in but if you are bold and just can't take it anymore, here are the islands that are currently allowing (and not allowing) US Travelers! 

(I found the above charts on Jet Blue's website on August 5th #notsponsoredbutwouldlovetobe) 

Seven Places I'm Going Once Quarantine is Over

If you read my last post, you'll know I am currently going through a breakup. There is never a good time to end a relationship, but during social distancing while there is a pandemic happening in the world takes the cake for the worse possible time. 

The feeling of being alone is that much more amplified. I can't just call a friend to meet me and sob to her while having a cocktail at a cute bar. I am stuck by myself in my apartment, alone with my meticulous thoughts about the end of my relationship and our new social climate of solitude. 

If it were a normal time in the world, I would have gone out to brunch and sipped on said cocktail with a friend to discuss my failed relationship and gotten her support (in person). I am already brainstorming places I would like to go once this all wraps up in the next few months. 

Here are seven places I'm hitting once quarantine is over.

The Crown and Public Hotel Rooftop

Both of these places have expansive views of New York City. You can grab a drink with some friends and just enjoy each other's company while taking the skyline. Much needed after being cooped up inside. 

While We Were Young 

This is one of those very girly and sceney places that serves pastel colored cocktails and attracts fashion and lifestyle bloggers. Most sceney places are just visually cute and the food is just so-so, but not here. I've sat at the tiny tables a few times and have always enjoyed their burger, which is always solid. When it's warm enough, they open the front of the restaurant so a summer breeze, (and probably the loud sounds of sirens) flow in.

My Fire Escape

Feeling a need to be outside while still following the social distancing guidelines, I moved Franklin (my aloe plant, whom I love very much) and climbed out of my window and onto the fire escape. The fresh air seemed even fresher from just outside of my window. Even when quarantine is over, you'll still be able to find me there with a glass of wine.

Employees Only

This narrow space is perfect for striking up a conversation with a stranger at 1am. You'll need a sharp eye if you want a seat at the bar, which is always packed. The drinks are shaken to perfection. 

Time Out Market

Live music, good vibes tons of food options and lots of outdoor seating? It's in Brooklyn (eh) but is a perfect place to spend an afternoon with some friends while taking in views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline.

Fig 19

Artsy and inconspicuous. You'll enter through a confusing minimalistic gallery to then find a dimly lit speakeasy behind an unsuspecting door. 

Since the coronavirus has overcome the world, I am taking this time to be grateful for what I have and for the future experiences to come. It is a luxury to be able to plan what I would like to do once this difficult time in the world passes and I don't take that for granted. 

Best Places to Eat in Puerto Rico!

Oh my, Mallorca. 

Thinking about all the delicious food I ate while in Puerto Rico makes me want to hop on a plane to go back for seconds. 

I had a fantastically tasteful, solo trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico! Breaking from the New York City doom and gloom of the winter months by taking a tropical vacation to the Caribbean was just what my sun deprived skin, needed. I booked the trip on Christmas Day (ho ho ho) and jetted off in mid-February.

I decided to stay central in the charming city of Viejo, San Juan (old San Juan) to be able to walk outside and be right in the pulse of the city. Old San Juan has lots of restaurants and eclectic shops, is buzzing with block parties, and is a perfect place to stay if you want to travel around to different neighborhoods of Puerto Rico like upscale Condado, residential Santurce or to be transported to one of the beautiful surrounding islands like Culebra or Icacos. 

I was ready for nice weather and sparkeling clear, blue ocean waters, but was pleasantly surprised to fall in love with the Puerto Rican cuisine! Beef, chicken and crab empanadas, Mallorcas with ham and cheese, avocado stuffed with tender, well-seasoned beef, and soft breads – Mm! 

Iguana panini anyone? Hunting Iguanas is legal because there are so many of them in Puerto Rico and because they eat fruits and veggies in crops. During my tour of El Yunque rainforest, the guide said this meat gets sold in PR and also on the US mainland. The next time you order at a restaurant, make sure your beef or chicken is actually that! 

I’ll pass on any sort of Iguana sandwich, but not on any of the below. 

Make sure you head to these spots if you’re ever in Viejo, Puerto Rico!

La Bombonera 

If you like bread, meat and cheese – this is the place for you. Try a Mallorca. A Puerto Rican sweet-bread sprinkled with powdered sugar and often pressed into a warm, comforting sandwich. I had one with ham and swiss cheese and I’m still seeing it in my dreams. It tastes like, a croissant, brioche bread and potato bread mixed into one. The service was warm and friendly just like the vibe of the colorful city. 

El Jibarito

At this colorful spot, you’ll find tourists and locals enjoying all the Puerto Rican classics. One order of empanadas comes with five pieces and if you order the beans and rice you’re sure to be pleasantly stuffed. Pro tip: leftover empanadas make for an excellent breakfast the next day. I am still sad to this day that I didn’t get the tres leches cake but I heard it is fantastic. 

La Ó

If your scene is more trendy and conceptual, head to this chic spot for a cocktail and sip it in the outdoor garden. This place also has gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options. I went for a light pasta with olive oil and scallops (I’m not a big seafood person but wanted to try something out-of-the-box since I was on vacation). The meal wasn’t my favorite, but wanted to add it to this list to illustrate that OSJ offers a wide variety of food options. 

Pirilo

This place is rustic and cute but touristy. After all the fried dough and cheese, if you need a dang salad you can find one here if you manage not to order a pizza. I had a solid mixed green salad at this place along with a glass of crisp white wine. 

La Casita Blanca

This place, hands down, is my number one recommendation for Puertorican food on this list. 

La Casita Blanca is off the beaten path but is so worth the trip to Santurce (a more residential neighborhood in San Juan). You will be pleasantly greeted and walked to your table. Then very shortly after you will be presented with a big chalkboard with Spanish writing which has the menu of the day written on it. It’s all in Spanish with no English translation (so you know it’s real). 

Pro tip: use their Instagram to show what you want or google up a storm to make your decision. 

I speak poor Spanish that I remember from high school but the server was pleasant and patient and helped me toward my choice: Avocado stuffed with beef and red beans and rice. 

It was per-fec-tion. 

Before the main dish came out, they brought out a soup and a fried dish called Bacalaitos as an appetizer (at no charge) and once your finished with your meal, you get a shot of Chichaito (licorice flavored rum) to send you on your happy way. 

Lunch on a catamaran 

Because you’re on vacation and it will be great. Go to Culebra and thank me later. 

Best Restaurants to Take Your Mom in New York City

Clean up your apartment then buy some eggs and milk to put in your fridge because your mom is coming to visit! Mom visits are the best no matter your age because they are always happy to see (and nag) you after greeting you with a warm smile and a hug. Hopefully she likes the big city and wants to sightsee and take in the buzz of the crowded streets. After all that meandering, you both are bound to get hungry, but where to go? You want the restaurant to be nice and upbeat but not overly trendy with fashionistas taking IG stories everywhere. So where to? I'm here to share the answers. 

Here is my list of the best restaurants to take your mom when she comes to New York.

Uptown:

Maison Pickle

Mole (upper east side) 

The Writing Room 

BG restaurant in Bergdorf Goodman

Baccarat 

Downtown:

Beauty & Essex 

Delicatessen

Gemma

Gelso & Grand

Mercer Kitchen 

Lure Fishbar 

Midtown:

Smith & Wollensky 

American Cut

Quality Eats

Kashkaval Garden

Cleo

Barbounia

Meatpacking:

Top of The Standard 

Santina 

RH

La Sirena 

How to Plan the Perfect Vacation From a Guy's Perspective

Guest-blogging for The Chic Paige… for Taylor Paige… for someone whose real name in itself already is somewhat of a nom de plume, no? When I was first asked to contribute a piece to a blog of “style.travel.chic,” I felt intimidated in the best of ways – or excited one might say. I do love to travel; I do try to be stylish; and just in case I didn’t already believe it myself, I do know now that at least my S.O. thinks that I’m chic, too. In short, I’m flattered. 

Yes, our first trip together (to Cuba of all places) went very smoothly. And that is owed to, first and foremost, Taylor Paige who is herself an “evolved human being” (if I may return the kind compliment from her previous blog entry, mine is version 2.0). Truthfully, as my S.O. so convincingly and compellingly argues in version 1, it really comes down to the basics of respectful human interaction. The fundamentals of any relationship, romantic and otherwise. And so voilà: Here are 4 tips to ensure the success of a trip with your S.O. – from a guy’s perspective.

1. Don’t simply propose to go on a trip together unless you really mean it

This may sound rather trite and intuitive. Yet I challenge you to raise your hand because you’re the one who has never suggested going on a trip with someone (e.g., your S.O.) because it conveniently fit into the conversation or made for a nice suggestion in front of your group of friends. Ironically in my case, it happened just like that: I voiced the thought because it fit nicely into the conversation we were having in the presence of my S.O.’s entourage (at a rooftop cookout, mind you). The difference is, I really wanted to do a trip together. So, take note: You will not want to scramble to come up with a reason for why you suggested a romantic getaway if you weren’t planning on following through. Period.

2. Be involved in the planning from the get-go. And show it.

As is known, some people love to plan trips while others loathe it. That is okay. Yet especially if it was youwho conceived of the idea of traveling together, my advice is to show how engaged you are in preparing for your trip. I learnt this the hard way. For while I am not a last-minute planner (at least I don’t think I am), I do take my time to delve into articles, peruse travel books and consult friends who are either from or have been to wherever it is I am going. (If anything is intuitive, learning about your destination is a non-negotiable must. Otherwise, what’s the purpose of going there? You can ask 
Taylor Paige who will effortlessly convince you of the value of learning at least the basic communication formulas and local lingo of your destination.) But I digress… I noted that I like to take my time in planning for the trip, which is okay. However, especially if you go to a place like Cuba, where you will not have the luxury of browsing and booking an AirBnB excursion led by a local the day before (much less the morning of), you need some advance planning; advance planning that you communicate regularly. My S.O. expressed her excitement about the upcoming trip on a daily basis in the form of text messages with lovely suggestions for on-site activities, excursions and accommodations. I expressed (also on a daily basis) my appreciation for her thorough search and ideas – claro. But I should have also made known the outcome of my own research on at least an equally regular basis. Why? Because while I had certainly done my own due diligence, I came to suspect and eventually realize (thanks to her very subtle and sweet hints) that my S.O. felt she was shouldering the bulk of our trip’s preparations. That is an impression you do not want to convey and/or want your S.O. to have. If you do your own research (and I hope you do) and have your own suggestions for your vacation together, make them known. It signals commitment and conveys dedication, which nurtures excitement and gives your S.O. continuous reason to – quote – *pause for deep breaths followed by warm fuzzy feelings of joy and bliss*.

3. After the trip, make your photos and videos available within, say, one week (max.). 

This trip was another opportunity for me to (finally) take this seriously. I sadden a bit when I think of the dozens of photos I have of family, friends (and my S.O.) that I have never shared with them (and with her)… for no significant reason other than – and I am embarrassed to say this – comfort and convenience. For you can look at and watch those photos and videos together anytime, right? Yes, BUT… Connect via AirDrop, send an email, hand them over on a USB, … Just make them all available no longer than one week after your return. Because if you do – who knows? – they might find themselves on your S.O.’s style blog. 

4. When you have the opportunity to write a contributing piece for your S.O.’s blog about the trip you took together, do it sooner rather than later.

In spite of the prominent announcement for a guy’s/my modest P.O.V. at the end of the original HOW TO PLAN THE PERFECT VACATION WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND, I doubt that many were anxiously awaiting my contribution. But that doesn’t matter. Because regardless of how many may look forward to the sequel of a blog entry, you can safely assume that your S.O. is looking forward to (reading) it more than anyone else. I am no fan of making assumptions, but you can safely make one here. Don’t rest on your laurels from having been asked to contribute to your S.O.’s blog. Get it done ASAP (unlike me) and have fun doing it (like me). 

 M.S. 

(Taylor Paige’s S.O.)

How to Plan the Perfect Vacation with Your Boyfriend

So it happened. 

Your significant other asks if you want to go away on vacation together. *pause for deep breaths followed by warm fuzzy feelings of joy and bliss* Amazing! After the sparkle in your eyes clears away and the initial flattery and excitement wears off, now what?! Do you say yes right away or do you take time to think about it? What will traveling together be like? Who pays for what? Do you have to spend every moment of the trip together? Will you clash when it comes to where to stay and what to do? What if the AirBnB is terrible! Will this trip bring out the worst in each other and ultimately end the relationship that's just beginning to take off? Ah! 

All of these thoughts flooded through my brain when my boyfriend asked me to go on vacation with him. Solo world traveling, I can do. No sweat and no problem. However traveling to the Caribbean, with a man, for a long weekend had me lost in the sauce. This was uncharted territory on my personal relationships map. I was so excited he asked but in true Taylor fashion, I took my time before agreeing to anything. 

Since this was baecation numero uno, I had no clue how to plan for it or what to expect. Before saying yes, I talked to a few of my friends about their experiences traveling with a significant other and what their "norm" was. Talking it out definitely helped me to navigate if I wanted to go or not but ultimately it was my own gut feelings mixed with a little research that convinced me to say yes. I came across "how to travel with your significant other" blog posts and YouTube videos...but not many how to actually plan the trip and the conversations to have before you go away together. In light of spreading a little more knowledge on the subject, here are my top 6 tips to plan a baecation.

1. Think before you say yes or no. Let your S.O. know you'd like to take some time to think about taking a trip together. A little extra time will help you clearly sort out if you feel going away with this person is a good idea or not especially if the relationship is new. If you have any second thoughts that you would feel uncomfortable with this person for a prolonged period of time or it just doesn't make sense financially, probably not the best idea to go.

2. Talk about how you will spend $$. Will one person pay for the other all the time or will you split the bill? Luckily, my boyfriend is an evolved human being and simply asked me about how I felt about spending money while we were away together. We took the 50/50 approach with everything: flights accommodations, stuff to do, visas and food. Although, I expressed I didn't want to count every penny we spend to tally up who paid for what. I felt that would detract from the flow of the trip. Chat with your boo to figure out what works best for you both before the trip.  

3. Decide where to stay together. Will you stay in an AirBnB or would you be more comfortable

in a hotel? Talk it over about what you are thinking in terms of accommodations. I don't stay anywhere scary or crusty and that was properly communicated! We sent a few pictures of AirBnBs back and forth and picked one we both liked. 

4. Express your concerns. If you are unclear or worried about something regarding the trip, tell him! Discussing will hopefully resolve any reservations you may be thinking. 

5. Be ready for all the togetherness. This was a big one for me. I currently live by myself and I've never lived with a man. I wasn't sure how I would do being in the same space as my boyfriend for a few consecutive days. I asked him about how traveling would be and he spelled it out. Commuting would all be together - just like how we sometimes commute to the beach in New York together. We didn't separate during the trip, but he let me know we didn't have to spend the entire time of the trip together and we could do activities independently. Definitely helpful if you need some time to yourselves. 

6. Relax and enjoy it! If you were asked to hop on plane somewhere to a beautiful destination, chances are that person is excited and willing to get to know you a little better. Take in the culture of wherever you both are traveling to and soak in all the good times. You will have lots to talk about and reminisce over once the trip wraps up and hopefully it will have been a positive experience. 

I think my first trip with a boyfriend went pretty smoothly, but let's ask him to see what he thinks. Be on the lookout for part two of this post from a guy's perspective on what makes a baecation successful!

xx

Oh and in case you were wondering, we went to Havana, Cuba and it was vibrantly fabulous! If you're curious to know what traveling to Cuba is like, you can read more about it here or if you're more into visual vlogs click here! 

What to Expect when traveling to Havana, Cuba

As soon as I stepped outside of the Jose Marti airport, I immediately (started to sweat) was taken with excitement after laying my eyes on Havana, Cuba. Only a hop, skip and a jump from Florida, my boyfriend and I had a colorful long weekend in the Caribbean. 

Charming Habana is so much more than the amazing content you can see on Instagram. You will see first-hand how a communist society functions and how it impacts the people who live in it. Despite crumbling buildings, lack of access to basic goods (on one of our tours, our guide told us she couldn’t find toothpaste), and very scarce rations provided from the government in “Bodegas”, Cubans are warm, welcoming and upbeat. While getting ready to go on our trip, I really didn’t have any concrete ideas about how Cuba would be before getting there. So here are a few things you can expect if you ever visit Havana, Cuba. 

Scenery of Havana & A Hidden Forest

In your hotel or AirBnB, you will probably hear Cuban music playing from the streets in the evenings. As you stroll through old Havana, you will meander past seafoam green, pastel pink, and baby blue buildings. Vintage candy colored cars come around the street corners honking their horns while trying to not run over the tuk tuk like taxi drivers in the narrow streets. To my surprise, there is a forest in the middle of Havana. We stopped there during our car ride and thank goodness we did. I was beyond happy because it was roasting hot outside under the Cuban sun. The forest has plenty of shade and a relaxing stream to give yourself a break from the heat. 

Getting there

Ok. It’s really not as impossible as you may think. Sifting through the muddy regulations was the most difficult part. There are now 11 ways you can travel to Cuba as an American. Peace out cruise ships because getting to Cuba this way is now a no-go. You can find out all “licenses” that will permit you to go here. The license isn’t a physical document or piece of paper.Took me a minute to figure that one out. It’s just the category you select from when you book your flight and get to the airport to get your travel visa. We went under the “support for the Cuban people” license. This means we were not allowed to do anything to support the Cuban government. 

This license is kind of vague and there isn’t a rule book on what constitutes this type of support. To stay compliant, we made sure any tours we booked were OFAC compliant. All of our guides and tours were given by local Cuban born people. We also created a detailed itinerary for what we would be doing since lots of idle free time would be a no-no. 

It’s kind of hard to know what is government owned and what’s not when actually in Cuba.  A tip If you are looking for a vintage car ride is to look at the license plate to determine if privately owned or government owned. If you see the letter “B” on the plate, it’s a government car (don’t get in there). If you see “P” it’s a privately owned car (safe!). 

Public Bathrooms:

Toilet seats weren’t really a given in my experience in Havana. Maybe brace yourself for that. A bit of culture shock when there is no seat on a toilet (not that I would sit my bare ass on any public toilet seat. Squat life). Even more shock when you have to throw used toilet paper into a bin next to (but not in) the toilet. Whoa buddy. I came across this first, in the airport bathroom, and the next times were in restaurants. I also read toilet paper isn’t necessarily something that is always provided so I brought a roll but did not have to use it since toilet paper was provided in the places I visited.

Bodegas:

We have bodegas in NYC but in no way do our corner stores function like the bodegas in Havana. The only similarity may be the bodega cats. The Cuban people go to these small shops knows as Bodegas, once per month to get their food rations from the government. The ration amounts are based on how many people are in a family’s household. Basic rations could include: 5 eggs per person, a little salt and cooking oil, a few pounds of rice per person, a few pounds of chicken per person, a few pounds of coffee and some sugar. Rations help families have food since wages are often only 25-30 pesos per month. This made me think of when I first came to NYC and made around $490 per two weeks. Even though this amount is poverty level by US standards, I would be extremely wealthy in comparison to what most Cuban people make. Eye opening.

The Food

I had heard from people who had been to Cuba before that the food was nothing to brag about. Most of the goods that come to Cuba are imported and as a result most foods aren't that fresh. I have to honestly say that the food wasn't too bad at all! Peep the delicious tacos I had!

Language

Most people in Havana speak Spanish with some or very little English. Our AirBnB host spoke English as well as our local tour guides. Brush up on your high school Spanish vocab so you can have a basic conversation with your host or the locals around La Habana. Another option is to venture to Cuba with a Spanish speaking person to help you chit chat with anyone you encounter.

Grocery stores

This is not your Fairway or Whole Foods experience. Lightyears from it. The grocery stores do not have rows and rows of endless brand names goods with equally never-ending rows of generic products on the shelves. If you’re someone who likes to buy your food from the grocery store while on vacation, ask your local tour guide if any stores you may consider buying things from are government owned first. This way you can avoiding purchasing any goods from these types of government owned markets in order to stay compliant. Most government owned establishments will be very, very cheap. Like .5 cents in US currency for a pound of a particular vegetable cheap. The government can afford to sell produce at this cost while if locally owned, the goods will cost more. One of our tour guides mentioned the government provides land to farmers at no cost but requires a non-negotiable fee of 90% of their goods. The local farmers must give away most of their goods for no pay! The other 10% of goods the farmers harvest gets sold to private locally owned businesses at higher costs. So, the farmers have an opportunity to make some money this way. Local businesses sell fruits and veggies at a higher cost as a result, but spending your money here will support the locally owned Cuban businesses. 

Currency
There are two currencies in Cuba. The CUC (the money foreigners use and what we used) and the CUP (local money). You will have an opportunity to exchange your cash at the Jose Marti airport and you will want to bring plenty of cash with you. You can try to put your bank card into a Cuban ATM but it won't work and then you'll be sad in Havana with no cash. Be sure to bring as much cash as you need for the duration of your trip. Also, a pro tip is go to your bank and convert your USD into Euros. For example, I brought about $300 Euro and exchanged it to about 330 CUC. #winning

Stray animals:

I hadn’t read about how many dogs and cats there are running around in the streets of Cuba. Most were cute and none were aggressive. Even the dogs that looked like the zombies from the Will Smith movie I Am Legend. Just something to be mindful of if you plan on visiting. 

The People 

Most people we interacted with were kind and welcoming and we had no issues during our time in Cuba. There are people on the street who may try to sell you something or ask for money. Pretty typical of any big city. NYC life has me unphased by this but if you do not live in a city this may be something to adjust to. Just say “no, gracias” a few times and the person will get the hint. I will say, if someone hands you a flyer, take a look at it before you throw it away. Someone handed my boyfriend a flyer and it ended up being for a “dark and decadent underground club for artists”. We decided to go, and it was a dark and decadent night indeed. There we people dancing on top of the couch in the middle of the dancefloor while using the beam on the ceiling to sensually swing from the ceiling. Look for the coffee bean face.

Overall, I’m thrilled to have visited Cuba. It’s differences helped me to understand how a third world country exists in 2019. The visit also allowed me to take a step back and realize all that I have and come back down to earth when I start complaining about all that I do not have. For more visuals, check out my Cuba travel vlog on my channel! 

Is Cuba on your travel bucket list? 

A Piece of Paris and A Little London

From my first "Bonjour" to my last "Au revoir" I took in as much Parisian culture as I possibly could during my time in France. 

Oh the baguettes. 

Sandwiching Paris between flying in and out of Heathrow airport was one of my brighter ideas of all last year. For some time now, my mom had been talking about going to Paris. Not sure where she got the idea...and it doesn't matter since whisking off to Paris is always a good thought!

As a birthday gift, I decided to gift her a trip to London and Paris. Bada Bing and shout out to my job at an investment firm. 

A little nerve racking because I've only ever rolled solo abroad. #independent. So having another person to plan for and take into consideration was kind of a challenge! When I travel by myself and I mess something up or get lost it's not a big deal because I just fail in peace and no one really knows. womp womp. But with my mom coming, if something doesn't go smoothly she would also experience it. The stressss...

All in all, it turned out to be a fabulous trip with just a few minor hiccups but the highlight was definitely Paris and all of it's romantic and swanky glory. 

I will say, London's streets and neighborhood names are extremely reminiscent of New York City. Well, I guess it is the other way around. NYC basically took a bunch of names from London and voila! You have Greenwich, Kew Gardens, Chelsea, and Soho. But the attitude in the city of Paris feels more New York. You know, that I-don't-care-about-you-because-I'm-fabulous-and-everyone-wants-to-be-here, kind of attitude. 

The aesthetic of Paris is completely captivating and wandering around was my favorite thing to do and something I want to do more of. I'll be watching airfare because I think I'm ready for another trip back to the city of lights. 

The Epic Palace of Versailles in France

Me + Arch de Triumph, Paris

Taylor Poppins in Notting Hill in London 

Living Life in London 

A stunning sunset in Paris

Delicious Crepe from Au P'tit Grec in Paris

Me in my Apartment 

Tea and Croissants @ Cafe De Flore in Paris 

You better know what and where this is 

Paris

Most amazing woman I know and me  

Luxembourg Garden, Paris 

Sips tea in London 

Travel Diaries | Porto, Portugal

When I think of Porto, Portugal I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and picture captivating views of the city that overlooks the twinkling Douro river. Porto felt like Lisbon's more refined older sibling. You know, the sibling who has a more refined pallet and can handle port wine. Speaking of which, when I checked in to my hotel, they gave me a complimentary glass of port! Yasss! 

If the views won't make you cry, the steep hills certainly will. Hello quads. Breathe deep and keep moving upwards because there are pretty buildings and churches around every corner.

My second day in Porto, I wanted to find viewpoints that over look different points in the city. I found an innocent looking pathway that lead to a bridge. Somehow, I didn't realize this was the very, very high bridge that lead to the town of Gaia. The concierge at my hotel said the only thing good about Gaia was the view of Porto. The shade. But I don't disagree because once I crossed that bridge (my legs have never felt such nervous sensations) I was in absolute awe with the outline of the city. 

I sat for hours.

My stomach started to growl so I ventured back to Porto to grab a bite for lunch. After I finished eating, the view was still calling my name. And back to Gaia I went. 

I said this in my Portugal vlog (shameless plug) but I think I liked Porto even more than Lisbon.

Traveling breathes life into me and only makes me more curious to see more pockets of the world.