The Travel Chica

Live Simple. Consume Less. Experience More.

Ya mon… a glimpse of Jamaican culture

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When you think of Jamaica, the phrase “ya mon” immediately comes to mind. I assumed this was an exaggerated stereotype of the way Jamaicans speak. Turns out “ya mon” is ubiquitous in Jamaica.   And yes, you can find it in the Urban Dictionary.   In explaining the brief glimpse I got into the local culture, […]

Jamaican Food: Delicious and possibly deadly

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The thing I research the most for any travel destination is the food. I have my priorities straight. I arrived in Jamaica with a list of local dishes and native fruits to try.  I succeeded in tasting them all.  I discovered after I returned that one of my favorite foods can be poisonous if prepared […]

Finding simplicity in Jamaica

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I had gotten caught up in a lot of things. I had a constant feeling that I should be working on my growing to-do list. Some stress was good. Some stress was simply unnecessary. I had fallen back into the mode of creating obligations for myself that did not always align with my priorities. I […]

Review: Katamah Beachfront Resort

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Katamah is beachfront, but I would not call it a resort. And I mean that as a huge compliment. For me the term “resort” evokes visions of an over-built, over-populated, over-air-conditioned property where you over-indulge and are expected to never step foot off the property. Katamah is actually my ideal temporary travel home.   The […]

PHOTO: Golden Gate Bridge at 3am

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On my way back to the airport from Sonoma, I stopped to take some night photography of the Golden Gate Bridge. I think this was worth staying up all night before my flight back to Columbus. Golden Gate Bridge at Night

How to make the most of a road trip

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When I picked up the rental car at the San Jose airport in the early morning, I was greeted with rainbows and mountains. A great start to a road trip. My plan was to drive to San Francisco where I hoped to drive across the Bay Bridge and across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods. […]

PHOTO ESSAY: Quiet, quirky Bolinas

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I made time for a slow drive up the coast of California on my way to Sonoma.  I did a bit of research and hit the road from the San Jose airport.  I had read that Bolinas is different than most coastal California towns.  They have actively tried to keep outsiders away, so of course […]

My top four vineyard picks in Sonoma and Napa

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Now that you know my tips for surviving wine country, I will share my top five vineyards to visit in the Sonoma and Napa area. Keep in mind that there are hundreds of vineyards, and while I certainly had my fair share of wine, there are hundreds out there I have yet to explore. If […]

How to survive four days in wine country

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I developed an appreciation for wine (i.e. became a wine snob) when I lived in Buenos Aires and explored the wine regions of Argentina and Chile. Upon returning home after two years of travel in Latin America, I was looking forward to the opportunity to experience more of my own country. Last year I learned […]

A taste of Italy in San Francisco

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San Francisco is known as a foodie destination. I only had a few days to explore the city, so I decided a food tour would be the best way to get lots of small bites and learn about the culture and history of San Francisco.  After extensive research (and wiping the drool off my keyboard), […]