Travel Year in Review: 2014 Most Memorable Moments (Part I)

As I reflect on my professional, personal, and travel achievements for 2014 my heart is filled beyond measure. Professionally, I was recently promoted in my role as a finance professional, 4 weeks ago. This was a goal that I’ve been working on for the past year and a half. Personally, I just completed an intense 10-month prep program for women intending to pursue their MBA degree. In regards to traveling, I did not get to blog as much as I would have liked to this past year. However, I still was able to dedicate some joyous time to this passion of mine and do some traveling within the U.S.  

Vizcaya Museum and Garden in Miami, FL

At the very start of the year (January 2nd to be exact), I was a guest at the Vizacaya Museum and Garden. I was home for the holidays and ready to enjoy some much needed mother-daughter time. This hidden gem reminded me of my time in Versailles in France. The exquisite attention to detail in the architecture and the breathtaking view from the backyard was enough to make me forget I was in the fast paced city of Miami, where the nightclubs don’t close until 6am. My mother and I ended the day by strolling around the garden, with a fabulous mini photo-shoot session to go with it.

My beautiful mother

Women’s Travel Fest in NYC

I attended the very first Women’s Travel Fest hosted by Kelly Lewis, founder of Go!Girl Guides, in early March. This was a one-day event that aimed to inspire and empower women to travel the world, and to help create newfound travel connections. This absolutely made my day! Not only did I meet up with other travel bloggers I’ve connected with via social media, I also made some great connections with travel magazines and websites. The highlight of this day was meeting Samantha Brown the world renowned traveler from the Travel Channel.  She was the one who helped me to expand my view on international travel at the tender age of 18. On the flip side, this was also the day that I heard the very emotional, chilling and surreal story of Sarah Shourd, the American hiker and journalist who was held hostage in solitary confinement for 410 days by Iranian forces. This is a story that all female travelers should know about.

Samantha Brown and I

Sarah Shourd being interviewed

Summer, summertime (In my Will Smith voice)

Sometimes getting on a plane, train or taking a road trip isn’t always possible. And this was exactly my dilemma during the spring and early part of the summer.  Luckily, I live in the city that never sleeps. I’m a firm believer in creating the life and adventure that you want and desire. No way was I going to spend a summer bored, when being a tourist in your own city is so doable. I finally visited The Cloisters, the medieval museum and garden has been opened since 1938. It’s apart of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) and you can take the A train going uptown to 190^th. The weekend of my birthday, I crossed something off my bucket list and vision board. I treated myself to a solo helicopter ride. Thanks Groupon! Viewing the city of New York and the Statue of Liberty from such high angles I did, definitely has me wanting more. I would much rather take another helicopter ride than go skydiving again {more on this later}. Last but not least, it wouldn’t be a summer without trying new brunch spots.

Finally made it to The Cloisters

 

My first time in a helicopter



The wind blowing in my hair

He was the best!

View of Central Park from my helicopter ride



Brunch with my girls at Apt. 78

Travel Year in Review: 2014 Memorable Moments (Part II) coming soon…

What was your most memorable moment in 2014?

What Inspires You to Travel?

Do you ever wonder why some people find themselves in constant search for something more in life while the others look content? How it seems that going to their 9-5's, watching reality T.V. shows and maintaining the same routine is all that their heart desires. Yea, me too!! I don't think I really knew myself until I started to travel. I was only 12 years old when I took my first memorable trip. I could remember it like it yesterday. I went on a 4-day college tour to Atlanta, Georgia. I'm originally from Miami, Florida so to most this would probably be considered just a simple trip. However, for me I finally realized how much the U.S. had to offer beyond my immediate neighborhood. 

Meeting new people, trying new foods and learning about new places in person instead of from a book vastly expanded my interests. I stepped out of my shell, became more confident and started trusting my decisions more. You see, that first college tour trip to Atlanta, GA forced me to communicate with new people and remove myself from the comfort zone I loved so dearly. This is when I was bitten by the travel bug as most avid travelers like to say. 

Top: Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with my cousin Sierra ; PALMS Hotel in Las Vegas w/ a college friend
Bottom: Enjoying the view in San Juan, Puerto Rico; At the Official 2013 Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C.

What inspires me the most about travel is that unknown factor, the potential for a new adventure. I like to plan the basics when it comes to trips, such as transportation, housing accommodation and at least one non-touristy activity but nothing too crazy. I feel like there has to be an element of surprise.

Left to Right: Top of a cathedral in Valencia, Spain; The Fontainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach;  Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, French desert Profiteroles; Versailles in Paris, France, My mom and I at South Street Seaport in NYC and a Weekend Girls trip to Paris!

When I applied for my very own passport I was 20 years old. I was just accepted in a Study Abroad program and I was off to Valencia, Spain. In hindsight, this is when I realized that traveling is so much more. In my early 20's I will admit that I was a bit close-minded and saw things from a unilateral perspective, which was MY perspective. Well living in another country where you don't speak the language immediately demands a change in your outlook. I progressively adapted and learned that other cultures, languages and traditions were quite similar to my own. 

Soon, I began to take in each moment and kept it close in mind, reflecting often. Travel inspires me to keep going and to never give up. It inspires me to look a little deeper into someone’s eyes because everyone has a story. Travel keeps me on my toes by trying new challenges, whether I’m out of town or in my own urban playground. I love traveling- actually it’s safe to say that I am in love with traveling. The definition of inspiration is a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul. Travel is my inspiration!

What's your inspiration?