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New Orleans at Christmastime

I can't think of a better place to spend the Christmas Holiday. Walking down Bourbon Street on Christmas, listening to a young brass band play "Stand by Me" on the street, Mardi Gras beads hanging from trees in the Garden District. There was something crude and romantic about the way the city lit up for the holiday. From midnight on Christmas day to 3:00am, I explored the jazz bars around Frenchmen st. and made it over to Mimi's to watch DJ Soul Sister spin soul and R&B records. It felt like being in a fantasy land, if that fantasy land had Christmas lights, $3 beers and James Brown records. Special thanks to the Roosevelt Hotel (pictured below) for the most spectacular indoor lights display.

"The 45 Places to go in 2012"

It's here! This year The New York Times puts Panama in at #1 on the list of the 45 Places to go in 2012. I'm pleased to see, at #2, one of my most recent and favorite destinations - Helsinki! Helisinki happens to be World Design Capital for 2012, as appointed by The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design. Not only is Helsinki one of the most welcoming places that I have ever visited, it is also one of the most progressive and forward-thinking.

The first African country on the list is one of my country's neighbors, Tanzania (#7). Two Californian cities - Oakland (#5) and San Diego (#14) - make the top 15. Thanks to Mr. Richard Branson and the fine folks at Virgin Galactic, Space is the #20 place to go in 2012.

I'm pleased to see a much more eclectic mix on this year's list. Who wants to join me in the Maldives? Here's hoping!

New York Times Slideshow: Where to Go in 2012

Favorite Restaurants: Patois in New Orleans, LA, USA

Patois
6078 Laurel Street
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Patois is located in the gorgeous Garden District neighborhood of New Orleans. This restaurant is amazing! Everything from their specialty cocktails to their wine list to their varied and creative menu makes this restaurant a real NoLA gem. From duck confit to potato gnocchi, there's an amazing array of dishes to try. Don't forget to have some of their incredible desserts (I recommend the homemade chocolate mint ice cream). Did I mention that this restaurant is AMAZING!? Thank you to the wonderful staff for a truly memorable Christmas Eve dinner.

St. Louis Cemetery No.1, New Orleans

Merry Christmas from New Orleans!

Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans 2011

First day in New Orleans!

I arrived in New Orleans yesterday and, already, I'm in love with the city. Proper updates to follow. For now, I am still in recovery from the amazing fried shrimp po boy (and life changing oysters) at Acme Oyster House.

Every single person I've come across - from my Haitian cab driver J.B. to my waitress Rhonda - has shown so much southern hospitality. I never want to leave!

Santa Cruz and Big Sur, CA

Last month, I drove up north to Santa Cruz and Big Sur for a wedding. The wedding was for one of my dear friends, and a very talented photographer, Danielle Tice. There's nothing like hanging out by the beach, eating and drinking with great friends.

December and January travel plans

I've decided to postpone my Mali/Senegal trip to 2012. My next travel plans are :

Photo courtesy of art.com

NEW ORLEANS
I'm going to be spending Christmastime in New Orleans, Louisiana. This has been one of my dream trips for ages, and I'm excited to finally make it happen. I can't wait to eat beignets and grab a cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde, listen to live Jazz, and to explore the city. Did I mention that I can't wait to eat beignets? I especially can't wait to see New Orleans all lit up in Christmas lights.

MADRID
A day or two after returning from New Orleans, I'll be on a plane to Madrid for New Years, my birthday, and some serious relaxation. Oh, and I will also be taking a Spanish class for a couple of weeks.

I can't wait to tell you guys all about it!

The Joys of Solo Travel

Reading a book by the pool, overlooking Cape Town

Inspired by the charming Christine of C'est Christine (her post here), I decided to post about the joys of solo traveling. I am expert in few things, but I can safely say that I am an expert in enjoying my own company. I am an only child, I live alone, and I spend most of my time alone. I love spending time with my friends, with my family, and with perfect strangers in other countries, but there is a freedom and a peace to being all by yourself on an amazing holiday.

What I love about traveling solo...

Meeting New People
I find that, when I am with other people, I feel less of a desire to branch out and meet new people. Actually, it's not so much that I don't desire it, but I don't seek it out. When I'm alone, it happens, whether I like it or not. When I was in Tunisia last year, I decided to head out to the Sahara desert (alone!). I had no idea what to expect or bring, and I certainly had no idea of where I would stay upon arriving. All I knew is that I could quickly take a taxi to the internet cafe and look up some bus schedules for the following day. Armed with a notebook and pen, I jotted down a sloppy list of bus times. The next morning, I packed up half of my stuff (doing that always makes me think of George Carlin) in a duffle bag and took a taxi to the medina in Tunis. When I got there, I realized I had been taken to the wrong station, despite my perfectly-spoken, early morning French. I opted out of waiting for another taxi, which was proving to be impossible, and I decided walk for at least 30 minutes to the bus station. When I got there, I was energized by my hunger, sweat, and confusion. I bought a bus ticket for a 10+ hour bus journey to the Sahara and sat down. Because I had missed the "luxury" coach (read: has a toilet) by 30 minutes, I was forced to take the bus that locals take. This was absolutely a blessing because I sat down and, within minutes, a lovely Turkish woman in her early 30s struck up a conversation with me. She told me she had been living in Tunisia for a few years and has some family in Tozeur (where we were headed). About an hour in, my notebook was half full with recommendations. About an hour before we arrived, she already called in to her family to arrange for them to give me a ride from the station, help me find a place to stay, and help me arrange to start camel trekking the next day. I find that, people see that you are by yourself, and they feel a natural pull towards you. It opens you up to wonderful experiences and people.

Lunch, all to myself! (Marrakech)

Cafés
Okay, so, "cafés" isn't a reason, but you get the point. There is nothing more amazing than being in a group of 4 or more people, having a 4 hour long dinner and walking home together. I've had some of my most amazing nights doing just that (especially in Spain). But, I find no greater joy than being in café, alone, for hours with a delicious coffee and a good book. I also enjoy this because when I'm alone, I can quietly observe, eavesdrop, and people-watch. Also, there is no one to judge you when you order 3 coffees in a row and decide that you need that extra croissant.

Doing Whatever the Fuck You Want
You can change your plans at a moment's notice, you can decide not to have a plan, and you can enjoy and be free. It's so wonderful to explore and really experience things by yourself. It's nice to take long walks without wondering if your companion is tired, or bored. And, it's nice to sleep in, or wake up early, without worrying about somebody else's schedule. I also find (like Christine) that you get more opportunities when you are alone. My wonderful driver in Morocco, Jalil, was able to take me to the Imlil Valley on a day's notice when a Cuban family hired him to go there. There was one empty seat in his van and I was able to tag along for half the price and explore and hike for hours, alone, when we arrived.

Go somewhere, by yourself!

Memories of India

Couchsurfing: Isabel, Girona (Spain)

You might remember the lovely Isabel from this post about her visit to Los Angeles. I love her! She was one of my favorite Couchsurfing experiences and one of the most lively, fun, and worldly people I've ever met. She has traveled all over, is multilingual, and she has a lovely home in Girona. She's also a damn good dinner companion.

Favorite Restaurants: Earth Cafe in Essaouira, Morocco

Earth Cafe
6 Khaima place
Derb Ellalouj
Essaouira, Morocco

Tucked away in the medina in Essaouira is a little vegan restaurant called Earth Cafe. A little bit overwhelming is the fact that it sits next to at least 4 or 5 other vegetarian restaurants. All of the signs and buildings are brightly colored with handmade signs and welcoming faces inside. I chose Earth Cafe because it was quiet and deserted, and I had just spent the day at the beach. It was nice to be inside, eating a [delicious!] veggiee burger with some mint tea. The two lovely ladies who run this place are just a few feet away cooking and laughing. It feels like being in someone's home, and the food is delicious and healthy.

Checking in

Almost 2.5 months later, I'm checking in! Apologies for the complete neglect of the blog. Ever since starting work on my film in April and working on some other projects, I've had to push back my travel plans. I'll post a proper update soon!

Couchsurfing: Arena, Mallorca (Spain)

I spent a few days with Arena in Mallorca. She was lovely enough to draw a map of a hike that I could take through Deia. While there, she cooked dinner for us, gave me tips on what to do in Mallorca, and introduced me to her friends. After a nice dinner with about six of us (languages were getting confused, alternating between French, English, and Spanish), we went to a jazz club, and ended up helping a man move his refrigerator through an alleyway after midnight. Soon afterward, it started to rain heavily. We ran all the way to her apartment and drank tea while our clothes dried.

Couchsurfing: Laura, Brighton (UK)

I'm going to do a few features on some of my experiences couchsurfing while traveling. It is one of my favorite ways to travel and to experience new places, and I've made some amazing friends along the way!

I was only in Brighton for a day and a half before returning to London, so I wrote to Laura to see if I could stay with her. She was amazing and picked me up from the station, helped me lug my bags to her flat, and then we were off. We walked around the town, and grabbed dinner at the adorably named Food for Friends. I spent the evening with her watching bad British television and drinking tea. The next day was a short trip to the beach, and then I was off to the next adventure. It's amazing how the people that you meet along the way (even for less than 48 hours) can really stick with you.

Lucky Magazine July 2011

If you happen to swing by a newsstand, pick up the July issue of Lucky Magazine. I'm in it! And, check out my slideshow on Lucky.com HERE.