Friday  

Lunch – Tides Restaurant

After arriving on an early morning flight, you can unpack your bags then head to a delightful lunch at Tides Restaurant. It’s bright, cozy and stunning coral stone walls makes for the ideal island getaway ambience. Its blue and white caribbean theme can be found throughout the bar and restaurant with its main dining room opening out onto the crystal clear waters of the island’s west coast. The staff are excellent and food is exquisite. A great first activity for your trip!

Surfing – Boosy’s Surf School

Book an afternoon surf lesson from 3-5pm at freights Bay with Boosy Surf School. Christian Boos is a superb teacher, as he guides through the process, from being on your first board to standing on top the board while you are surfing along the coastline. During the first part of the lesson, you are taught the basics on top of the Freights Bay hill. You then proceed to slowly walk down the side of the hill towards the small break of beach. Once you are in the ocean, Christian ensures you are looked after and he gives quick feedback on improvements that can be made to your new surfing style. It is quite the fun afternoon and that water is stunning!

Dinner – Champers restaurant

This is one of the most popular restaurants in Barbados and is usually always booked up so call-in ahead of time and reserve a table out on the patio! I always have a great experience at Champers with its fabulous customer service and laidback ambience perfect for an intimate dinner. The seafood and wine options make it a top choice in my books. You can even go early to watch the sunset with some lovely cocktails.

Bar/ Nightclub – Harbour Lights

The ultimate tourist bar/ nightclub in Barbados is the infamous Harbour Lights! I do not think I have ever visited Barbados without making a pit-stop at this awesome beach side club! It is an outdoor venue located right on the beach so wear comfy shoes and prepare yourself for a Free Drinks, all night-long party with a mix of international and local music.

Saturday

Cool Runnings Catamaran Cruise

As you board the yacht, the warm and friendly crew welcomes you and prepares you for an all packed day of entertainment and relaxation. The cruise takes its passengers to many stops along the west coast of Barbados where you can snorkel, swim with sea turtles and sun tan on the catamaran’s large nets at the front of the yacht. The cruise offers a scrumptious, local lunch to help soak up all that rum punch that you will have on your way back down the coast. Music will start playing a little louder and some of you may decide to join in the festive dancing sessions that the crew will most definitely want you to be a part of. I have done this cruise twice and looking forward to my third booking!

Dinner –Buzo

As I am from Trinidad and Tobago, I have eaten at Buzo T&T enough times to know that I had to visit the new location in Barbados. It was a dream. Outstanding customer service and I loved the décor. It is an Italian restaurant situated on the south-west side of the island and it is a must-visit during your stay. The appetizers, pastas, desserts and wines are undeniably mouthwatering and even if all the tables are full, you can still find a sweet spot at the Bar and have a romantic dinner for two!

Sunday

Beach – Ju Ju’s Beach Bar

Ju Ju’s is a charming beach where the locals love to enjoy a chill Sunday by the water. You can rent umbrellas or lounge chairs and spend your day sun tanning or sipping on some yummy rum punch from Ju Ju’s beach bar. If you are up for some more adventure, you can partake in the many water sporting activities offered on the beach.

Early dinner – The Lone Star

I unfortunately have not been to the Lone Star but I am including this restaurant as it is a must do of mine on my next visit and hopefully on yours, especially if you are planning on spending your day at Ju Ju’s beach. A few minutes’ stroll from Ju Ju’s beach bar is this attractive and elegant restaurant. It is open-air fine dining at its best. There is also a boutique hotel on top the restaurant, where you can spend your amazing weekend at!

Other Key Tips:

Spend the Day at Accra Beach

Stroll along South Coast Boardwalk

Visit the 50th Anniversary Mural

Check out my Instagram Page @thetrinitraveller for details on my Barbados and Trinidad fashion pieces

I recommend creating a folder titled “Travel” on your phone (iOS and Android) and downloading these fabulous Free Travel Apps. These Apps have made traveling much easier and smarter than ever before. Here is my list of the Top 10 Free Travel Apps you ought to download before your next trip!

1. TripAdvisor
It is your hotel, restaurant and activity finder all in one! This essential tool guides one on selecting where to go, where to stay and eat and even what to do. The best part is that you can peruse through tons of reviews and photos to ensure you select what is right for you. Before deciding on where to go for my next trip, I do all my planning research on this app. This ensures that I am maximizing my experience in an upcoming and unfamiliar country. I cannot dare travel without the help of this multifunctional and superb app!

2. Skyscanner

Skyscanner is by far the best search engine for Flights that I have come across. I have booked dozens of flights on Skyscanner as I always find better deals here as compared to Expedia, Kayak etc. You can also book hotels and rent cars on this website, especially if you are looking for an all in one package deal. This App allows you to view the cheapest times to fly by using their month view calendar feature. It also  alerts you when the price of the flight changes.

3. Airbnb

If you are looking for a space to sleep in that can accommodate all of your desired needs, I highly recommend booking an apartment for your next vacation using Airbnb. Airbnb presents you with a more authentic experience by staying with or at a local’s household. The App recently added a new feature called “Trips” that enables you to pay a little extra for your host to be your local guide. Airbnb plans to become an all-in-one app where you you’re your stay, car and activities at the same time. Downloading the App makes finding any information on your stay very easily and your booking will be stored on your passport if you are using an iOS platform.

4. Google Maps

Google Maps is still known as the top navigation app available for both iOS and Android; trumping Apple Maps in every category such as accuracy of data, route planning and turn by turn navigation. My favourite functionality of this wonderful App is its ability to track your movements and display where you are in comparison to your surroundings while you are offline. It is absolutely amazing for findings specific locations, even when you happen to get lost on your little outdoor excursion. A new functionality is its ability to allow users to view buildings up close such as restaurants so you may observe how busy the location is in real time.

5. Google Trips

I have just downloaded this App and it is fabulous. Google Trips automatically pulls reservations from your email (gmail account) and records all of your booked flights, hotels and car reservations in one place. Once you have made all your bookings for your trip, Google Trips will organize it for you in your own personalized itinerary! You will no longer need to print all your reservations and walk around with tons of unnecessary paper. The App will also provide you with information on restaurants, bars and activities for your upcoming trip!

6. WIFI Finder Free

In this day and age, more travelers cannot seem to go 24 hours without using the internet but for good reason – you may have gotten lost and cannot find your hotel or restaurant or you may be a travel blogger and need to post that amazing photo you just got of an amazing location. Worry no more! WIFI Finder Free has a database of over 2 million hotspots in 50,000 cities worldwide as well as Wi-Fi passwords to ensure you can access free internet while travelling. All you have to do is type in your address and the App will present you with a list of cafes, restaurants and locations with free Wi-Fi!

7. XE Currency Converter
This is my ideal App for currency conversions as it can convert every currency in the world. I even use it when I am not traveling as XE is a well-known and trusted currency exchange site (XE.com). This App allows you to choose and save specific currencies making it very simple to use whether you are in a rush or would like to use the App offline. XE Currency also updates its rates every minute to ensure you are always provided with accurate and relevant information.

8. Google Translate
Google Translate is a top translation app as it quickly converts whole paragraphs, phrases and even spoken words into one of its 103 different languages stored in its platform. I have used this App while traveling as well as for translating business documents and it has been super helpful! Google Translates also has some great features such as allowing its users to listen to translations, repeating your words in a foreign language as well holding your camera up to text (ex. a sign or menu) and instantly translating the message.

9. The Weather Channel

This App’s simple and colourful interface makes it easier than ever for users to navigate its functionalities. The Weather Channel’s main menu features the city’s current temperature, rain and road conditions as well as the time of the next sunrise or sunset. The App has hourly updates and predictions (ex. It will rain at 3:30pm) and 10-day forecasts. It also describes airport conditions near you and can track severe weather like storms and hurricanes via its weather alerts function.

10. Gate Guru

Do you have a long layover during your next trip or always seem to be prone to flight delays? Make sure and download the Gate Guru App. As a member of the TripAdvisor family, Gate Guru makes your airport experience a little more pleasurable with its ability to integrate your inputted itinerary and inform you on where to check in, current airport weather conditions, security waiting times and real-time flights status information such as delays. The App provides you with a map of hundreds of airport terminals as well as over 35,00 reviews of the airport’s many amenities like restaurants and shops.

Extra Tips:
1. Download the Apps for all the Airlines that you are travelling on. You can board the plane with the e-ticket in many countries as well as be up to date on any changes to the flight times.

2. Social Media – Download Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook! Ensure you have enough iCloud space to capture all the moments around you! This is especially useful when remembering restaurants, bars and hotspots during your trip.

We arrived into Lisbon on the morning train from Faro; a quaint little town on the Algave coastline of Portugal. The train rode onto the magnificent 25 de Abril Bridge, often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge, and took us straight into the heart of the city. You even catch a glimpse of the Christo Rei (inspired by the iconic Christo Redeemer Statue of Rio de Janeiro) that welcomes you to this Portuguese gem.

The city’s cleanliness, scrumptious seafood, deliciously fruity cocktails and its vibrant nightlife offered more than what we could had imagined. One day, I had even decided to take a small journey walking up, down and sideways across the intimate hilly alleyways of the city center to come across dozens of old-fashioned shops and trendy restaurants while meeting visitors from all backgrounds in this super friendly and warm city. I believe that getting lost in the heart of city can be one of the best ways to experience its charming culture.

First off – where is the best place to stay for a young traveler who is on a budget and looking for some travel buddies?

As we were students and had little money to spare on luxury, we booked the top rated hostel in the city –  Yes! Lisbon Hostel and the experience was fantastic! It is one of the more modern and well-kept hostels that I have been to. Not only was it super clean, but the rooms were comfortable, the staff were awesome and we got a home-cooked tasty meal for a reasonable cost while making tons of new friends! There are also many tops hotels and lovely apartments in the city that you can find on Tripadvisor or Airbnb, but I recommend staying close to the Santa Maria Major neighbourhood for ease of access to Lisbon’s lovely sights on a quick weekend trip.

What are my top choices for sightseeing during a short weekend stay?

Day 1

Praça do Comércio (Terreiro do Paco)

As we had stayed in the Yes Lisbon Hostel, we were located literally steps away from the famous Praça do Comércio (english: commercial square), making it one of the first stops on our list! It is an absolutely huge and spacious square right on the waterfront, surrounded by dozens of lovely cafes. The square is also located right where you can catch a tram to any touristy destination of your choice. Fun Fact – It was once the site of the royal palace until the deadly earthquake of 1755, which destroyed the royal palace – reducing it to rubble.

Chiado & Rossio Square

A few blocks inland from the Praça do Comércio, we roamed the neighbourhood of Chiado and stumbled upon a loud and vibrant protest in the Rossio Square. The square is known for its relaxing/ people-watching cafes where you can stop to have breakfast, lunch or a yummy coffee. However during our stay, it was time when I captured some of my favourite photographs, as the protestors had decorated the main status of Rossio Square in yellow fabric. Unfortunately, I do not remember their reason for doing so, but I am sure it was a good one! Also note that this is the square where you will catch the train to your next destination – Sintra!

Sintra

After catching the train from Rossio Square, you will arrive in Sintra. I very sadly did not make it to Sintra and Ihope you do not make the same mistake! Based on what I have heard and read, here is what I gathered on the amazing town of Sintra. Its many castles and historic mansions are set against a spectacular backdrop of lush hills. Sintra’s many castles include the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, the hilltop and storybook Palácio da Pena, Quinta de Regaleira, the Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle), and the Palácio de Monserrate. It sounds like a fairty tale town and I am definitely not missing out on it on my next visit to Lisbon.

Bairro Alto

A night out on the town could not have been completed without visiting the Bairro Alto neighbourhood with its winding streets along the hills of Lisbon and amazing bars with the most delicious cocktails. The hostel we stayed at for sure had to take us to several of the bars in this area. Make sure and stop by as it is the happening place to be on a weekend Lisbon night.

Day 2 – Santa Maria de Belem

Jerónimos Monastery

The Mosterio dos Jerónimos is one of the world’s most remarkable UNESCO world heritage sites as it is a prominent example of the Portuguese Manueline style (Portuguese late gothic) and it was where the monks of the military-religious Order of Christ provided assistance to seafarers in transit. It was built in the 16th century to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s trip to India, as he was the first European to reach India by sea. I unfortunately only explored the exterior and gardens of this remarkable structure, but a little bird recently told me that the visit to its church is free and you can skip the long queues by securing your ticket for the Monastery inside this same church.

Torre de Belém

After exploring the Jerónimos Monastery, we made our way along the waterfront to the Torre de Belém, which is also classified as a UNESCO world heritage site as this iconic Byzantine and Gothic tower guards the entrance to Lisbon’s harbor. The tower was also built in the early 16th century in a similar Portuguese Manueline style and is a quite a stunning site to see. I am pretty sure you have already seen dozens of photos of this majestic piece of history. It was a must see but we decided not to make the trek inside due to its large queues, so it may just be worth it to admire its picturesque style from the outside!

Pasteis de Belem

While in the Santa Maria de Belem neighbourhood, we took a quick stop at now my favourite little blue café in Lisbon– Pasteis de Belem. This adorable café is known as the top place in the city for the traditional Pastesi de Nata (custard tarts), based on the original recipe from Jerónimos Convent, so make sure to snag a few and sip on some delicious coffee to get the full experience. There so many desserts so we had to be wise with our choices! As it is the best pastry place in Lisboa, the lines will be long so be prepared to wait or visit it early on in the day.

Here is some extra Lisboa Travel Tips:

1 – Book a place near to Santa Maria Maior neighborhood in Lisbon for ease of access to all my top rated sites to visit!

2 – If you are heading to Lisbon via Plane, I recommend using Portugal’s local airline called TAP Portugal

3 – Another popular neighbourhood to visit in Lisboa is Alfama with its narrow alleyways, rich colours and impressive views all around.

4 – Lovely beach town very near to Lisboa that you can check out to get some fun in the sun – Cascais

5 – You have more than a weekend to spare and looking for a proper beach escape, check out Faro on the Algave coast or Porto in the north.

For all you soca music fans, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)’s Carnival is the place to be to get that full-on experience that you having been searching at other festivals! For the carnival virgins, download some soca music, start dancing in your room and get excited, as this festival is a once in a lifetime event that cannot be missed!

Carnival – What it is all about?

Carnival was introduced to T&T during the late 18^th century by the French who would parade down the streets for the two days preceding Ash Wednesday, which is the start of Lent (i.e. 40 days before Easter). These are known as the last two days before one must give up something they truly desire – so Why not throw a crazy party? This tradition was parallel by the African slaves whom eventually turned this celebration into one of the greatest festivals of all time. Those of African descendants influenced the music, the costumes and large number of events to occur during the “Carnival season”.

Carnival season usually starts a month before the actual street parade where one can partake in music competitions for pan, calypso, soca and chutney as well as costume competitions such as Kings and Queens as well as Kiddies Carnival. The atmosphere is pulsating with positive energy and loud music. It is quite difficult to escape.

I will take you through the process of how one organizes “costumes” which are basically your tickets to enter this amazing street/ road festival.

Costumes – Tickets

Start your journey to Trinidad Carnival by securing your costume in one of the many band available.

Why buy a costume, can I not just make my own?

If only this was the case! But unfortunately no you cannot do this. Think of your costume as a ticket to entering a festival. Carnival is a competition of the various bands of masqueraders in beautifully hand decorated costumes competing to win the best band of the year. Carnival Bands come in all sizes. The largest and more up-beat bands are: Harts, Tribe, Bliss, Fantasy, Island People, Trini Revellers!

As the theme of each band changes annually, the costumes change the same. Once you buy your costume, you will receive wrist bands that allow you enter the band within a secured area on the streets in which the bands roams and the revellers “chip down d road”.

During the summer months of July and August, these Carnival Bands have “band launches” to display the new costumes for the upcoming year. Within a few days of the band launch, the costumes become available to purchase the “Band House” or online. Therefore you need to determine which band you will play with at least 6 months in advance. Costumes can sell out within days after up the event but I recommend buying as soon as they are available (by July/August).

Getting there & Accommodation

Flights – Once you book your costume, I would recommend booking your flight! You can direct flights to T&T from London, Frankfurt, New York, Miami, Orlando, Houston, Toronto and many Caribbean islands. Key airlines to look into include Caribbean Airlines, Liat, British Airways, American Airlines, Jetblue, WestJet, Condor etc. For more listing on flights check here.

Accommodation – If you are a large group, I would recommend renting an apartment in Port of Spain on airbnb or tripadvisor. Top hotels in Port of Spain include the Hyatt ($$$), Hilton ($$), Carlton Savannah ($$), Radisson ($$) and Mariott ($$).

The Event

Listen to Soca Music

You will hear Soca non-stop once you arrive in T&T around Carnival time so it is best to catch up on the best tunes of the season. One way to do that is to search carnival soca music on youtube or look out for DJ mixes online such as DJ Private Ryan or DJ Marcus Williams or DJ Nick Pena. Top soca artists include Machel Montano, Kes, Bunji Garlin & Fayann Lyons, Destra and many more.

Pre-Carnival Activities

Book your trip to T&T a couple days before the Carnival Event so that you have time to visit Carnival pre-parties, pan yards or relax in the sun to get that tan beforehand! Carnival schedule is updated one month before the event at Trinidad Carnival Diary – have a look around December and it ought to be online!

Key Essentials for the Ladies

Not only do you have to buy a costume for Carnival, but a popular new tradition is to buy another costume to wear on the Monday. This is called “MondayWear” – it usually consist of a monokini that is decorated lightly with beads and feathers. Other recommendations include buying boots (with dr schools insols) for true comfort on the road, accessories such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, earcuffs and of course glitter and diamontes for your face. Many ladies book make-up, hair and even spray tan appointments months in advance to ensure they look perfect on the day, even if it means waking up at 4am.

Carnival Monday

J’ouvert (Optional but worth it)

It starts at 3am where you arrive in Port of Spain with an old pair of clothes and sneakers to parade in the streets until sunrise where you will be covered in mud, paint, powder or cocoa powder. Organize your J’ouvert package from numerous bands that specialize in this unique activity. The big bands include Red Ants, Cocoa Devils, Fantasy, Simply J’ouvert etc. If you are playing carnival, best not to take a nap and go straight through until Carnival if you can handle it!

The bands usually start around 11am in Port of Spain. If you are driving, go early to get a good parking spot near to where you band finishes for the day. A safe and reliable spot to park is St. Clair. Pack a little bag with essentials such as phone, id, cash, makeup, sunscreen and camera! Your band will provide you with food and drinks but take your time as the sun is hot and there may be not shade for hours at a time. Enjoy yourself and don’t go too hard as remember you have another 24 hours of partying to go!

Carnival Tuesday

The bands start much earlier than Monday and everyone is in their full costume. It is quite the sight especially at the stage where the costumes come together to present a show to the numerous judges determing who has designed the most awe-inspiring costumes for that year! It is a long day and there is even after parties in secret locations for selected bands. Have a great time and don’t stop dancing!

Post Carnival

A Carnival cooldown in Tobago for the following few days to relax those poor feet and burnt out bodies. Book your flights or boat across to Tobago at least two months in advance to ensure you get a spot as this is top post carnival activity!

Carnival Newbies

Grab your friends, Buy some costumes, Book your flights and get some good dancing shoes as this is a once in a lifetime experience!

Check out “Trinidad-Eat, Stay, Do” and “Tobago – Eat, Stay, Do” for more information on the best places to stay, the best places to eat and top activities to do in this beautiful sister isle nation.

Visiting Rio in only 3 days is quite the tight squeeze, but on my recent trip to Brazil, that is all the days I had set for Rio, based on my fab yet intense Brazilian itinerary. I suggest at least 5 days to really enjoy and see all the sights! However if you only have a short stint in Rio, here is a quick guide to make sure you get in the best activities and must-dos!

Day 1

Jardim Botânico – Botanical Gardens

Known as one of loveliest tropical gardens in the world, this park is situated right in the middle of the city. We caught a bus to the Botanical Gardens, got off a tad bit too early but enjoyed the stroll to the grand entrance of the park. We grabbed a map and made our way through the lush gardens where we eventually stumbled upon a striking pond full of massive lily pads and of course the famous walkway of magnificent palm trees. Taking photos around lunch time is quite the difficult task, as the park is busy busy -even on a Monday, so try and make it as early as you can. This amazing walkway leads to the park’s superb fountain, where we came across little monkeys that my friends were totally obsessed with. After about the 50^th photo op, I had to put a stop to it and move on, but they are very adorable! Make sure and pack water bottles as it can get quite hot! Even though I took hundreds of photos, I made sure to spend a few minutes on one of the park benches and admire the nature. The beauty around is unreal and you may not see a park like this again so take it in! More information click here.

Parque Lage

As you exit the Botanical Gardens, you can walk a few blocks north along the main street to a venue called Parque Lage, where you will find another small yet beautiful park looking out onto the Corcovado. Making your way through the park, you will discover a quaint and well-kept colonial building. As you climb the stairs, you will come across one of the chic-est cafés in Rio called Plage cafe. The bohemian vibe of this café and art school allows artists to freely roam the grounds and express their views on beautifully painted canvases spread out across the ground floor of this open air café. A wide selection of lunch items can be uncovered on their menu with a relaxed and friendly staff. Sit back, enjoy you meal and embrace the café’s scenery.

Day 2

Corcovado – Cristo Redentor – Christ the Redeemer

We unfortunately did not book the train in advance and decided to take a very long bus ride to the entrance at Cosme Velho train station to catch the train, only to find out that the train was full for the next 4 hours. So we decided to trust the advice of the locals/ tourism officials around us and ended up booking a mini bus to take us up to the Cristo Redento statue. I highly do not recommend this option! 3 mini buses and 1.5 hours of lines later we finally arrived at the statue! Partially drenched in sweat with leg cramps. The area surrounding the statue was absolutely packed with tourists- trying to capture that special yet unique photo – this proved to be the impossible for us that day. So we spent a total of 15 minutes at the statue but after the trek and the endless heat from the blazing sun, we could not handle a minute more. It is an amazing sight and views of the city from the statue are breathtaking. Key tips – for a crowd free and care free experience – go early and book the train here!

Sugar Loaf Mountain or de Pão de Açúcar

After an intense but once in a lifetime morning visit to the Cristo Redentor Statue, we headed over to the Sugar Loaf Mountain for some more unforgettable sightseeing. We arrived at the cable car station just

before sunset and luckily there was barely a soul in the line to buy tickets. Except we randomly bounced up one of our Trini friends from back home whom was visiting Rio at the same time! I am actually insanely afraid of heights so I thought that I had to prepare myself for this outing. However once you start moving up the cable car, you feel at ease, especially in a packed cable car a lot of people moving around and trying to get a good view out the glass. The first hill that you will arrive at is called Urca Hill; it has lots of space to roam but the best views are at the Sugar Loaf Mountain or second hill, that you have to take a second cable car to get to. It is small space on the second hill, so make sure and get a peek near the ledge of the cable car entrance to capture a breathtaking 360 degree view of Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Bay and the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The sunset was incredible and relaxing! We were lucky enough to have sunny weather and a perfect and clear view of the city. I will definitely do this adventure again on my next visit! For more information on the Sugar Loaf Mountain click here.

This was an intense day of sightseeing, so I would recommend spreading these activities over a two day period.

Day 3

Copacabana Fort

One morning was dedicated to having brunch at a lovely restaurant located inside the Copacabana Fort, which is situated between the neighbourhoods of Ipanema and Copacabana. You have to pay a small fee to enter the fort, but as you make you way along the cobble stone road, you will find this chic restaurant called Confeitaria Colombo. It served a delicious breakfast; I had ordered the full breakfast package which I was unable to finish and thoroughly loved. The views from the restaurant are spectacular as you have an amazing view of the Copacabana beach while sitting along the water.

Lounge by a Copacabana Pool

We had originally wanted to stay in a hotel along the Copacabana beach front, but we opted to stay at an amazing apartment in Ipanema (which was for sure the better option). So one afternoon, while walking along the Copacabana beach, we stumbled across one of the hotels we had done research on, Being very naughty girls, we decided to walk into the hotel as if we were guests and somehow sneaked into the elevator. Of course, we had no idea which floor the pool was on, so we literally pressed every button to every floor possible. We assumed it would be on the top floor so slightly panicked when it would not work but 2 floors down from the top floor, the doors magically opened out onto one of the most wonderful hotel pools. We bought some Caipirinhas and lounged by the pool for the afternoon.

Santa Teresa

We had only visited Santa Teresa after dusk for a lovely dinner up on the hill. But I truly wished we had taken a stroll in this charming neighborhood during the afternoon or even taken a ride on the antique tram. Our taxi ride down the hill after dinner was perfectly safe until we somehow managed to freak ourselves out. After all the scary and unwanted rumours of visiting Rio, we became very wary of the city and unfortunately clouded our judgment. We has asked our driver to stop at the famous Escadaria Selaron for a quick photo op, but he told us to keep our bags close as it can be dangerous area at night. (that’s what we could sort of understand from his hand gestures, given our embarrassingly low level of knowledge of Portuguese). So we quickly ran to take photos and all of sudden – what appeared to be a stranger – started asking if he could take our photo. We politely said no and hastily ran back to the taxi, only to see it completely empty. Half panicking, we turned around to find our sweet taxi driver standing behind us! He was the kind sir whom was trying us to take our photo. We apologized profusely and made sure to give him an extra tip! Tip – Be aware but be kind!

Nightlife

We visited Rio Scenarium in Lapa on our last night after dining at Aprazivel restaurant in Santa Teresa. It was a Wednesday so not the most happening night was still so much fun! We danced to the local music and admired the professional samba dancers glide across the dance floor. We also sat next to some Argentinian celebrities who also seemed to be doing the same trip as us as we saw them a few days later in Buzios. Locals and tourist alike visit this club and hopefully next time we will be back on during the weekend!

Where to Stay?

We booked an apartment on airbnb in Ipanema, even though we had originally wanted to stay in a fancy hotel in Copacabana. Not only was this best option, as we had a phenomenal view of the Morro Dois Irmaos or Two brothers mountains but we were in a totally safe area with lots of restaurants and bars around. We also had an amazing and helpful host. Philippe! This is actually also the name of my father, my boyfriend, two of my uncles, the name of our driver in Rio and of course our close friend we had met up with in Rio and his new friend he met the week before. Oh how my life is surrounded by Phils! J We also randomly booked our apartment on the same street as a friend of my sisters whom was very generous and showed us around one night where we came across a trendy local restaurant that I mention below!

Where to eat?

Breakfast – Cafeina (located in Ipanema for amazing acai bowls), Confeitaria Colombo (located at the Copacabana fort for a brunch with a view)

Lunch – Plage cafe (located near to the Botanical gardens with great views of the Christ redeemer and relaxing atmosphere in nature), Aprazivel (located in Santa Teresa for delicious food and amazing views of the city)

Dinner – Fogo de Chao (all you can eat Brazilian steak house in Botafogo), Esquina 111 (trendy local bar with food in Ipanema)

Brazil travel Tips

1 – Caipirinhas, which are Brazil’s national cocktail made from cachaça, come in a number of flavours – not just your typical lime. You can get kiwi, strawberry, pineapple, passionfruit and many more!

2 – In the airport, check on your gate number as often as you can (even up to 10 mins before the gate opens) as the gate number changes constantly and I mean constantly! It switched 3 times in one hour for us in Sao Paulo!

3- Taxis – use registered taxis – app EasyTaxi – as unfortunately we got ripped off by a gentleman who seemed pretty nice and helpful but charged us twice as much as he originally stated.

4 – Buses – get familiar fast with the bus system. Saves you tons of money and easy to use once you get it! More information click here.

5- For the Christ the Redeemer Trip, book the train here

6 – Be wary of ATMs as I had quite a lot of money stolen on my trip so try to take out as much cash or USD before your trip.

7 – Local Brazilian airline is convenient and reliable GOL airlines. Direct flights using GOL from Tobago to Sao Paulo.

If you have been following any travel groups on instagram or pinterest recently, you most probably came across some blow-mind photos of either the amazing hot air balloon rides of Cappadocia or the white terrace pools off the cliff of Pamukkale. If you have not come across these mesmerizing sites, don’t fear but just note that Cappadocia and Pamukkale are ranked as some of the top travel destinations for 2015 and I strongly recommend for you to include them in your next travel itinerary. Despite the short time I had spent in Turkey this summer, a mere 5 days (way too short, I know!), it was worth the non stop pace and adventure. I am very much interested in going back and seeing the rest of what this incredible country has to offer. I can’t lie that it was a bit worrying to visit Turkey this summer, being situated so close to a country undergoing an intense civil war. However given the size and safety mechanisms put in place near tourist zones, I felt comfortable to explore a country that was on my wish list for way too long. My slight anxious feeling was also “xanax-ed” after I had decided to organize my visits to the destinations outside of Istanbul, through a certified tour company called “One Nation Travel Agency”;  plus this was the cheapest option.

Turkey is considered to be a nation of the Asian continent, as 97% of its territory is found in West Asia and the Middle East. However once you step foot in Istanbul, you get quite the taste of the European side as it was was in the lands of Christendom. Turkey was founded in 1923 from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire and it offers more than your typical landscape from dome-and-minaret filled skyline of Istanbul to Roman ruins; from heavily indented Aeagan coastline with sunny beaches  to cold and snowy mountains of the East; there is something for everyone —whether they be traveling on an extreme budget (like myself) or traveling by a multi-million yacht. This blog piece highlights the three main areas I had visited on my trip and my recommendations on sites to explore, foods to try and activities to engage in:

Istanbul

 Where to start? History, Art, Culture and Food are a few of the unique features that draw travel seekers to the heart and soul of Turkey. I had visited Turkey this past summer, in the month of July or the time of Ramadan. For those of you who are not familiar with the tradition of Ramadam – it is a month long time of fasting, prayer and celebration during which Muslims abstain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. It is a great time of year to visit the city, especially in their warm summers, as once the sun sets, the historic Sultanahmet square becomes the city’s feasting center;  you are surrounded by the inviting spiritual atmosphere where busy with families and groups of friends bringing out their best delicacies and talk until all hours of the night.

Given the short time of 36 hours in the city, I unfortunately only had the opportunity to stay in and visit one district of the city – Sultanahmet. It is the most touristy district but it is the prime area to revisit and appreciate  the historically great Ottoman and byzantine empires. My quick but effective process to seeing Sultanahmet in less 35 hours was:

1. Book a place through Airbnb in Sultanahmet – my apartment was just what I needed-safe, clean and decent view of the infamous Bosphorus – thanks to Saban Olcer, Ekim Apart. Transportation to and from the airport was also arranged a small extra cost through Saban.
2. First night – book a restaurant for dinner at Seven Hills restaurant to get the best view of the mosques and Bosphorus
3. Wake up early and visit the Grand Bazaar
4. Grab some breakfast at any one of the local cafes – don’t forget to try the infamous Turkish coffee
5. Roam through the hall ways of one of the most popular souks – you can buy all sorts of local goodies from jewels to lamps to spices to turkish delight sweets to turkish baths towels (these are a must have and are the best and most fashionable beach towels)
6. Once you find a treat that you can’t tear away from – buy it! Put on your poker face and start bargaining – you can even try walking a few steps away and you will hear that price drop in half like there is no tomorrow!
7. Take a stroll down the main avenue of and stop off in the main Sultanahmetsquare and explore the two mosques that perfectly combine significant artefacts of two of the world’s biggest religions
8. The majestic Blue Mosque  or Sultan Ahmed mosque of 1616 portrays the brilliance of Sinan, the most respected architect of the Ottoman period (note: a scarf is needed to enter mosque however covered garments are provided at the entrance
9. Architectural byzantine beauty of the one and only Hagia Sophia – previously a church, mosque and now museum
10. Get some lunch at Giritili restaurant – we were the only ones in the restaurant but it is a cute gem tucked away behind the mosques, with a fixed course of yummy seafood.
11. Book a Hamman with Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam a few days in advance to make sure you can walk right in when you are ready to get that undeniably relaxing experience! This hamman is absolutely gorgeous; it is a bit on the pricey side but it is totally worth it!
12. Book a cruise on the Bosphorus – I did not get a chance to take a cruise on the Bosphorus but I will save that for my next trip!

Unfortunately I had gotten food poisoning from dinner at a restaurant on my last night in the city so I can only recommend to not eat at the turkart terrace restaurant – great view but bad lamb kebab. This also did not make waking up at 4am for a morning flight any easier, especially for my boyfriend Phillip whom was quite sick in the apartment, on the drive to the airport, at the airport, on the plane and on the bus ride and at the new hotel lol. Thank you for that unique adventure turkart terrace restaurant! We started off our adventures to the inland of turkey on a rough foot but I am glad the food poisoning had only lasted one full day.

Cappadocia

Our amazing three day with One Nation Travel started with a pick up at our airbnb place at 4am and transfer to Sabiha Gökçen domestic airport to check-in to our domestic flight to Kayseri. We were picked up at the Kayseri airport and transferred to our chic Flintstone Cave Hotel in Cappadocia. Cappadocia is an area in central highlands best known for its unique moon-like landscape (the “fairy chimneys”), underground cities, cave churches and houses carved in the rocks. We began our first day with a walking tour through the valleys of Cappadocia; I thought I was doing fine as I had not felt in the same state as Phillip. However within one hour of dredging through the insanely warm desert of the valley, I began to feel — not so great – I was transferred immediately back to the hotel where I had spent the rest of my day and night! Good thing that by 5am the following day, I was up and ready  for my hot air balloon ride. It was AMAZING! The view is of course unreal and the sunrise makes the experience even more breath-taking.  We booked the Hot Air Balloon ride through One Nation Travel as an extra cost to the tour but please do book it or you will miss out! During the visit of Cappadocia, you will also be taken on mini tours to give you a sense of local carpet and onyx factories/ enticing you to buy some local treasures  – only buy what you truly want but these mini tours are a great way to understand the process in making these handmade products.

Pamukkale – “the Cotton Castle”

We took an overnight bus to Pamukkale which was I thought was quite comfortable- but perhaps just a tad bit smellier than I would have anticipated. If you a lady travelling by yourself – be aware that you might have to move seats if a local man has bought the seat next to you. Its custom for single men to not sit next to a single woman on public transportation.  Its accepted as common practice however I do hope one day, these customs can be adjusted to suit the modern day traveler. We arrived at the Denizli main bus station and was  transferred to Koray Hotel to freshen up. We got a guided tour of the Pamukkale and Hierapolis area- we checked out the Red Spring Waters of Karahayit and then visited the ancient city of Hierapolis – wonders included the Roman Baths, Byzantium Gate, Apollon Temple, Theater and Antique Pool. You have the option to swim in the famous Cleopatra Pamukkale Antique Pools, however I recommend just renting a locker in the Pools area and walking down with your swimwear to the true wonder – the White terrace shallow pools filled with thermal waters along the cliff of Pamukkale. The terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water with a very high mineral content from the hot springs.

Key notes:

• e-visas: check online if you require one for entry into Turkey. Trinidad and Tobago is no longer on the list YAY!
• Exchange money at the Grand Bazaar for some better rates
• What to buy in Turkey? Favorites include Leather clothing, Carpets, Silk and Turkish delight and Turkish coffee
• What to eat in Turkey? Beef is the most important meat (lamb is also common), eggplant (aubergine), onion, lentil, bean, tomato, garlic, and cucumber are the primary vegetables. Some Turkish desserts include baklava and Turkish Delight.  And of course drink Turkish coffee.
• Fun fact: Istanbul is not the country’s capital – it is actually Ankara.
• Turkish Airlines – recommend to enter and leave turkey

Turkey has a historically rich timeline and has way too many wonders to capture all in one trip. If I do get a chance to visit again in the near future, I will check out more of Istanbul, Ephesus and the beautiful towns along the Aeagan coastline such as Marmaris, Oludeniz and Antalya. Turkey is known as the territory where East meets West however I somehow got my Westerner self to go visit a more Eastern place that I shall never forget. Start planning and do not hesitate to contact me if you need any more advice on this incredible nation!

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