Travel

Leaning Tower of Pisa is officially on the calendar for 2026!

I went to Florence for two days and stayed at Hotel degli Orafi along the Arno river! I visited the Uffizi Gallery, woke up early one morning to walk along Ponte Vecchio (my favorite bridge) without any tourists! I took in the sunset on the stairs overlooking Florence at Piazzale Michaelangelo, and shopped for leather goods👜 👜👜👜in the leather market and at my favorite store Choice Leather.

In Rome I visited some of my favorite places like Villa Borghese, The Vatican, Via Condotti/Tritone, Trastevere. I took my Instagram followers on a tour of Rome making sure I didn't miss any of the usual tourist spots like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Castle St. Angelo.

I visited Windsor Castle, which was breathtaking, and imagined myself as the QUEEN that I am, being served cucumber sandwiches and English tea. A girl can dream, right?!?

In the past, I was looking for all of the tourist “hotspots” and checking them off the list. While there are some sites you have to see (such as the Colosseum), I was able to go off the beaten path and hang out at Villa Borghese and casually stroll through Trastevere!

When you vacation in Cartagena you’ll spot Palenquera women dressed in bright costumes, balancing bowls of fruit atop their heads on any street throughout the Old City.

You made me feel right at home while being far away from home! Never looking over my shoulders. Never questioning the color of my skin! Never feeling the need to “fit” in!

Traveling feeds my soul like nothing else! I love the planning of the trip and my outfits. Fun fact! I plan my outfits according to the days' adventure! I love a well-coordinated picture.

When I received the invitation to visit Dubai I had so many questions. Of course, my number one concern was what to wear? Always a lady…right?  When you think of the Middle East you think burkas, niqabs, and hijabs.  However, I learned that the Middle East is not homogeneous. The laws of the land are different in each country. Sort of how each state in the U.S. has its laws that govern that particular state. Also, don't confuse laws with tradition and culture. Dubai is probably the most liberal of all the countries in the Middle East while Suadi Arabia is the strictest. There is an abundance of expats living in Dubai. I met people from all corners of the world who have made Dubai their new home. Dubai is Miami, Chicago, New York, Vegas, and MARS!  Yes, MARS all rolled into one. When I envision Mars I imagine something out of this world. When you see the Burj Al Khalifa for the first time you will understand. OUT OF THIS WORLD!   While there were Emirate Muslim women who were traditionally dressed in their garb. Some women were dressed in their everyday designer threads, shorts...yes shorts, and pretty much whatever they felt like wearing.   The stigma of having to be covered from head-to-toe is just that, a stigma. Honestly, I believe much of this comes from the images that we see on T.V. whenever the conversation is about the Middle East. So, what did I end up wearing?  Pretty much the same things I wear here in the U.S. I chose to cover my head to honor their culture and tradition when I visited the mosque in Jumeirah One. When in Dubai as with the case of being in ROME you simply abide by the customs and traditions. Overall, I didn't feel any restrictions in “what to wear!” The Emirates welcome foreigners with open arms. Their hospitality and willingness to please go above and beyond. They want you to feel at home while being away from home. If you decide to go to Dubai go with an open mind and leave your hometown expectations at home. Soak up the culture, traditions, and food.  And by all means, wear what you like… I did! Remember… Being a lady never goes out of style!   Hey Lady💋™  

My fascination with Italy was reaffirmed in 2003 after seeing a movie called Under the Tuscan Sun starring Diane Lane. She was a recently divorced writer who was depressed and feeling down on her luck. Her best friends gifted her with a “Gay and Away” tour of romantic Tuscany. Albeit she wasn’t gay.