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Where I’m Traveling Abroad In 2018
Excited To Explore 10 New Countries!
My 2018 travel mood is as follows: I want to experience black culture abroad, find balance and peace in peaceful nature (because living in NYC will drive you up a wall), and learn more about the history of ancient Europe.
EXPERIENCE BLACK CULTURE ABROAD
I love being black. We are so dynamic, versatile, and true to who we are. We’re also diverse, which sparks my fascination with experiencing black culture abroad and seeing how we continue to thrive and flourish in spite of all the BS we’re endlessly put through. I’ll be wearing my culturally appropriate Black & Abroad tee.
TANZANIA
Stone Town in Zanzibar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the oldest Swahili towns in East Africa. It was established by Arab slave and spice traders in the 1800’s who built ornate houses made of stone. It’s on the Indian Ocean, which is where the islands of Seychelles are located.
HAITI
The FIRST independent country formed as a result of a slave revolution, making the Haitian Revolution the most successful slave revolt in history. Enough said.
BAHIA
Bahia is a former port in Salvador, Brazil where African slaves were processed through in transit to the Americas. Now, it has the second highest population of African people in Brazil.
As a defense against their slave masters, the African slaves created a martial art disguised as dancing, called capoeira. The history isn’t widely documented but more about the origins and art form is here. It’s a big part of the Afro-Brazilian culture that I’d love to see in person.
FIND BALANCE & PEACE IN NATURE
Every now and again, I retreat from the NYC concrete jungle to restore balance in my mind in spirit. I used to take these things like fresh air and grass for granted, but nature is just what the doctor ordered for peace and tranquility.
BARBADOS
The Caribbean is the best for unwinding and relaxing on beautiful, clean, and calm beaches. I’m not a big beach person, so I can sit there for a couple hours, then I’m on to the next adventure. I haven’t heard of any must-dos in Barbados, so I’m open to suggestions!
AZORES
I recently learned about the Azores. They’re a chain of lush, pristine volcanic Portuguese islands off the coast of Lisbon. It’s not very developed – the population is 250K (Brooklyn, alone, has 2.6 million). I want to experience it while it’s still fairly untouched and hike, visit the 15th-century old vineyards, and feast on a vegetarian version of cozido das Furnas, a local stew cooked underground in a volcanic chamber. Ohh, yum.
IRELAND
I’m curious to learn about the culture, especially the history of the country and people. Plus, Ireland seems majestic and mysterious. I’ve heard that driving up the coast is amazing.
NEW ZEALAND
I’m ready to take on the adventure capital of the world! Disclaimer: I’ll be avoiding any and all circumstances where I could potentially be eaten by wild animals, attacked by bugs, or situations that are just completely unnecessary (like bungee jumping). 🙂
LEARN ANCIENT EUROPEAN HISTORY
When I visit Europe, I feel like I’ve stepped into a National Geographic documentary. While the US is considered young as a formally established country, the documented history of Europe dates back centuries. That’s so fascinating to me and I like learning about it.
GREECE
Greece hit my radar long ago, during the TGIF days of Full House and Jessie Katsopolis :). Then, I ate at Greek food at Souvlaki and I was sold. I want to learn about Greek history in Athens, then head to the beaches at Mykonos.
PRAGUE
I’ve heard that Prague is beautiful and has stunning gothic-style architecture. I’ll be checking out some of these spooky, creepy places.
READY TO KICK OFF YOUR 2018 TRIP PLANNING?
I plan out all my trips at the beginning of each year, which saves time and money (and potential mistakes) later on. Here is how I do it and get organized.
Check out more travel posts below for inspo!